Blackford County Courthouse HVAC Systems Failing; $4,500-per-Month Maintenance Contract Under Review

From the Blackford County Commissioner Meeting on July 20, 2026

Multiple HVAC systems in the Blackford County courthouse are failing or degraded, and the commissioners are weighing a $4,500-per-month predictive maintenance contract with Sub-Zero HVAC. A decision was deferred to the August 3 meeting.

The county facilities manager reported that the clerk's office main HVAC unit is at end of life — one of the oldest in the building, never replaced in prior renovations. Sub-Zero has been "Frankensteining" it together using parts from dead units. Replacement quotes are being gathered.

A separate unit in the East Probation office, installed in December 2025 by previous vendor Havel, failed completely when summer heat arrived. Sub-Zero determined Havel installed it incorrectly, causing it to run hard and fail prematurely. Sub-Zero had to replace the TXV valve and clear a clog caused by the improper installation. This was a brand-new unit that should not have needed repair.

Multiple other units have condensation line clogs requiring professional service.

The facilities manager recommended Sub-Zero's Tier 2 predictive preventative maintenance agreement at $4,500 per month. Commissioner Lancaster noted that 12 months at that rate equals $54,000, which exceeds the $50,000 threshold requiring a second quote. The facilities manager will gather comparison data showing what the county spent on Havel invoices versus the proposed agreement.

The commissioners also directed that a failing cooling tower float valve be replaced immediately. The internal valve keeps failing due to water deterioration, causing excessive water and chemical usage. An external float valve has been recommended as a longer-lasting solution.

That $4,500 monthly contract would cost the county $54,000 per year. The commissioners will vote on August 3 after reviewing cost comparisons.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County Commissioner Meeting, July 20, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.