Youngstown is looking to change how its buildings are heated, cooled


By David Skolnick

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The city is looking to change how five of its downtown buildings are heated and cooled, and a possible expansion of those services to three other city-owned structures and downtown businesses.

The city received two proposals Thursday for the work. One came from Youngstown Thermal, which currently provides those services to the five buildings; and Brewer-Garrett Co., a Cleveland-based company. But city officials won’t open the proposals until today and will take a while to evaluate them.

The city decided to re-evaluate its contract with Youngstown Thermal after Youngstown State University, the company’s largest client, voted to end its contract with the firm, said Mayor John A. McNally.

YSU’s contract with Youngstown Thermal expires in June 2016. The university recently signed a deal with Johnson Controls, a Milwaukee-based company, to build a new $16 million steam plant YSU officials say will save about $2 million a year in energy costs.

Youngstown Thermal provides steam to about 50 downtown buildings, but YSU makes up about 60 percent of its business.

“With YSU being a big client for Youngstown Thermal, when the switch is made, repercussions could occur at Youngstown Thermal,” McNally said. “We are concerned about their continued existence. That’s why we want to add privately owned buildings in the central business district to our plan.”

Youngstown Thermal not only plans to remain open, but to expand.

Jennifer Stofko, Youngstown Thermal’s chemical engineer, said her company wants to provide utility service, including replacing electricity with steam energy, to the five existing city buildings as well as the three others and more downtown businesses at a significant savings.

The plan would save about $30 million annually for downtown buildings, she said.

The city uses Youngstown Thermal for heating and cooling services at city hall, the police department, 20 Federal Place, the city hall annex, and the downtown fire station. It also wants to expand the services to the Covelli Centre on Front Street, the water department engineering office on West Boulevard and its wastewater treatment plant on Poland Avenue, McNally said.

The contract would be for up to 20 years with a proposed starting date of Sept. 1, 2016.

The city is giving the company it selects the option of building, operating and maintaining an energy plant in city hall or a nearby location.

“We are working to find a solution, and we’re exploring all options,” said Charles Shasho, deputy director of the city’s public-works department. “We’re trying to save money and improve services.”

Shasho and city Finance Director David Bozanich will review the proposals, and the city likely will hire an outside consultant to look at them too, McNally said.

“This is not just what’s best for the city, but also what may be better for downtown businesses,” McNally said. “Youngstown Thermal said they could offer a cheaper proposal. We’ll look at the different options that exist. This will take a while to determine what’s best. We want to reduce costs and have more-efficient services.”

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