Police station upgrades approved

The Camas City Council has approved a $384,632 construction contract with Battle Ground-based Copper Mechanical, LLC, for improvements to the Camas Police Station.

Camas engineer Justin Monsrud told Camas City Council members in a staff report presented to the Council at a Dec. 16 meeting, that the 28-year-old police station, located at 2100 N.E. Third Ave., in Camas, “has mechanical components at the end of their useful life” that are in need of refurbishment or replacement.

“Staff has worked with Windsor Engineers on a construction contract to address the mechanical deficiencies,” Monsrud noted, adding that, on Nov. 20, the City went out to bid for the replacement-refurbishment project and received six bids, with the lowest being Copper Mechanical’s $384,632 bid.

Monsrud said the project will “replace the existing rooftop air handler units, install new rooftop condenser units, replace the building’s exhaust system and address other mechanical items noted within the facility condition-assessment report.”

With a 10% change-order baked into the contract, the total amount for the mechanical component upgrades could be as high as $423,095.

Monsrud told Camas officials in his staff report that “this project has adequate funding” through the 2023 Limited Tax General Obligation bond, which allocated funds for major facility maintenance projects.

“This project will benefit the Camas Police Station by meeting the most current mechanical and energy codes,” Monsrud added in his staff report. “For example, the new condensing units will meet the most current environmental codes for refrigerant,” a known greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.