Heating, cooling headaches at Highland County Prosecutor’s Office – Hillsboro Times Gazette

Randy Parson, an employee of Tira Builders of Hillsboro, cleans up the front entryway of the Highland County Courthouse Tuesday afternoon in preparation for the installation of new front doors. Work continues on restoring the interior and exterior of the courthouse and adjacent Highland County Prosecutors Office, including the offices HVAC system, which has caused maintenance headaches - and even fires - for years.

David Wright | The Times-Gazette

In the oldest continuously used courthouse in the state of Ohio, battling the elements seems to be a part of everyday life and, while temperatures rise, work continues on climate control solutions at the adjacent Highland County Prosecutors Office.

Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins told The Times-Gazette Tuesday afternoon that her offices HVAC system has been faulty for some time, and her staff has reached a consensus on the matter.

Its hot, the prosecutor said over the hum of fans set up throughout the office.

Assistant prosecutor Molly Bolek said the best way to combat the heat is with a cold treat.

Its a good excuse to eat ice cream at 10:30 in the morning, Bolek said, to which Collins added, She had to eat it fast because it would have melted.

Bolek insisted that the morning ice cream fix was important for her pregnancy.

According to Bolek, the extreme temperatures in the past have come with a cost she nearly lost a pet fish to a wintry blast before former Highland County Sheriff Richard Warner revived the aquatic pet.

He saw its mouth move, and he put it in warm water and saved it, Bolek said.

A fish in Collins office, however, was not so lucky the creature froze to death during a cold snap, according to the prosecutor.

Collins said the climate control issue has plagued the courthouse for years due to the buildings outdated HVAC system. According to Collins, bad wiring in the walls caught fire twice last year, and that wasnt the first time it had happened.

Were used to it at this point, she said.

Collins, whose office is located on the second floor of the old stone county jail building adjacent to the courthouse, said she appreciated the Highland County Board of Commissioners for their efforts to address the problem. But she said she hopes its fixed sooner rather than later preferably in time for upcoming grand jury deliberations.

We mean this all in good fun, Collins said. They have been actively trying to fix this although I would like for the grand jury to not have to step over fans.

Highland County Board of Commissioners President Shane Wilkin said the commissioners are working with Plug Smart, a Columbus-based energy efficiency company, and Greenfield-based Wellers Plumbing and Heating to find a fix.

We are working with Plug Smart and Wellers to find a solution as quickly as we can regarding the HVAC issues they have been experiencing in the courthouse, Wilkin said.

In the meantime, work continues on restoring the courthouses exterior. A two-man crew was out Tuesday afternoon installing new front doors in the buildings main entryway.

Brad Tira, owner of Tira Builders of Hillsboro, told The Times-Gazette that the project was a little more complicated than he had anticipated, but that they would have a set of new, custom-made mahogany doors installed by Wednesday.

Reach David Wright at 937-402-2570, or on Twitter @DavidWrighter.

Randy Parson, an employee of Tira Builders of Hillsboro, cleans up the front entryway of the Highland County Courthouse Tuesday afternoon in preparation for the installation of new front doors. Work continues on restoring the interior and exterior of the courthouse and adjacent Highland County Prosecutors Office, including the offices HVAC system, which has caused maintenance headaches and even fires for years.

http://www.timesgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_courthousedoors.jpgRandy Parson, an employee of Tira Builders of Hillsboro, cleans up the front entryway of the Highland County Courthouse Tuesday afternoon in preparation for the installation of new front doors. Work continues on restoring the interior and exterior of the courthouse and adjacent Highland County Prosecutors Office, including the offices HVAC system, which has caused maintenance headaches and even fires for years. David Wright | The Times-Gazette

HVAC issues plague prosecutors office

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Heating, cooling headaches at Highland County Prosecutor's Office - Hillsboro Times Gazette