Posted: 12/24/07
City will purchase two new
boilers for city hall heating
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The Caledonia City Council decided to spend $16,800 on a permanent fix instead of taking a $10,000 band aide approach on a ruptured steam heating line that runs between the fire hall and city hall.
After conducting pressure tests on the line, Randy Klinski of Winona Controls of Caledonia, reported the steam main has a significant leak. "The pumped condensate line holds a pressure test, however, given its age, it should be replaced at the same time," Klinski stated in a memo to the council during the Dec. 17 meeting.
City staff had noticed the old steam heating system, which is located in the city auditorium, and connected to city hall via a buried steam main, wasn't as efficient. They also noticed the ice and snow directly above the buried main was melting.
"We'll be mowing grass along that spot pretty soon," Administrative Coordinator Mike Gerardy joked.
Klinski felt instead of digging up the existing steam lines, which would include tearing out the sidewalk and addressing asbestos removal issues, the city would be farther ahead installing two high efficiency water boilers to handle city hall.
"The new boilers would decrease the cost of heating the building and improve building comfort in mild weather," Klinski explained. "The current steam to hot water converters deliver 180 degree water whenever heat is needed. The new boilers would reset the water temperature based on the outdoor temperature. For example, on a 40 degree day the water temperature would be 110 degrees. On a minus 20 degree day, it would be 180 degrees. This would increase building comfort and increase system efficiency."
It was also pointed out by installing the new boilers, the city would not only eliminate the leaking pipe issue (by just capping the steam main off) but would also eliminate some other old equipment including two steam to hot water converters, two steam self-contained control valves, and multiple steam traps.
By taking the $10,000 band aide approach, the city would still be utilizing the existing steam system, "and who knows how long that is going to last," City Administrator Bob Nelson noted. The current steam heating system is 20 years old and has a life expectancy of 30 years.
"It makes a lot more sense to me to spend the extra $6,000 to have the problem permanently fixed," Fisch said and made a motion to purchase the two boilers for $16,800 from Winona Controls. His motion was seconded by Councilman Bob Standish and unanimously approved.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com