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New HVAC system approved for Peters Township Public Library

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Improved circulation at Peters Township Public Library will apply to the air inside the building.

Township council voted unanimously Monday to award a contract to replace the 22-year-old heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, in part addressing some concerns related to COVID-19.

One component of the $499,700 contract with low bidder East West Manufacturing and Supply Co. of Castle Shannon is the installation of an anti-microbial ultraviolet light system. Other facets include replacing air-handling units and boilers, removing the existing hot water duct coils and control valves, and installing a new control system.

“What you’ll be doing with those air-handling systems is to increase the quantity of outside air that’s being circulated in the building,” township manager Paul Lauer said.

The township’s 2021 budget includes a $400,000 appropriation for the project.

“Normally, I would be suggesting that we go back out to bid, but on this particular project, I think it makes sense for the township to proceed,” Lauer said. “The reason why I suggest that we move forward is, this project will take out the heating and air systems in the library. So there’s only a window where we can keep the library open and do this work, and it’s in that transition period between winter and spring or summer and fall.”

His preference, he told council, is to have the worked performed sooner rather than later in the year because of concerns about keeping the building heated should a delay occur.

Lauer said his staff would “work hard toward finding savings elsewhere in the budget” to cover the extra cost. He said the township’s budgetary surplus at the beginning of the year “far exceeded the amount that we anticipated.”

A reduction in library HVAC costs also is anticipated.

“The new system that they’re proposing is much more energy-efficient,” assistant township manager Ryan Jeroski said. “You’re looking at utility savings probably in the neighborhood of 15 to 20% annually over what we’re spending now over there.”

Also with regard to savings, two other contracts awarded Monday were for less than what is called for in the 2021 budget.

Replacement of the roof mansard at Fire Station No. 1 on East McMurray Road has an appropriation of $225,000, but the cost of hiring low bidder Liokareas Construction Co. of Bethel Park is $189,123.

Bids for the project had been received in October, but council rejected them because the lowest, at $201,890, far exceeded the 2020 appropriation of $125,000.

This year’s budget also includes $40,000 toward rehabilitation of stormwater ponds, and Slusarczyk Excavating of West Brownsville has been awarded the contract for $35,264.84.

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