The Legislative Council has approved a half million dollars worth of upgrades for the Capitol, mostly for new boilers.
Story last updated at 9/14/2009 - 10:16 am
Alaska's Capitol will get new boilers, ensuring steady heat for the Legislature and Gov. Sean Parnell's Juneau office this winter.
Fall may be chilly, though.
The Legislative Affairs Agency, which manages the Capitol, has shut down the Capitol's two aging boilers, installed in 1972. The first replacement boiler is scheduled to be in operation by Oct. 12, with the other ready to go by Oct. 28.
In the meantime, building manager Don Johnston is providing portable electric space heaters for employees in the building's legislative offices as needed.
The governor's office, which occupies the third floor, will be providing its own space heaters, said Sharon Leighow, spokeswoman for Gov. Sean Parnell.
Replacing the boilers will cost $458,500, a contract that was just awarded to Juneau's Trucano Construction, the sole bidder.
The contract was approved by the Legislative Council, the committee that manages the day-to-day business of the Legislature. Several other Alaska companies were solicited, but declined to bid, the committee was told.
The lack of competing bids was questioned by Rep. Peggy Wilson, R-Wrangell, and Rep. John Harris, R-Valdez, the committee's chairman. Johnston said the bid met the conditions of the bid and it was important that the work be done before winter.
A notice to proceed was issued to Trucano last week, Johnston said.
Trucano will cut up the existing boilers and haul them out of the building, he said.
The new ones are cast iron sectionals, and will be brought in pieces and assembled in the boiler room, he said.
"It is time for them to be replaced with some energy efficient plants," Johnston said.
The new boilers will also be more dependable, he said. About a year ago one of the two went down.
A specialized contractor had to be brought in from Moose Pass on the Kenai Peninsula, to fix it, Johnston said.
"They had to more or less rebuild it - it was a major, major repair," he said.
The repaired boiler passed state inspection, but left the Legislature Affairs Agency staff with concerns about its reliability.
"My concern is with the longevity of these things, they've reached the end of their maximum lives," Johnston said.
• Contact reporter Pat Forgey at 523-2250 or e-mail patrick.forgey@juneauempire.com.
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