EVANSTON — Once again, the need for air conditioning in the Machine Shop and a request for funds to move the Wahsatch water tower to the railyards were the topics for discussion at the city council work session held on Tuesday, Aug. 27.

First on the agenda was Gina Sundquist, who had first requested to be put on the council’s agenda earlier in the month and was part of a controversy with a city staffer and later with Evanston Mayor Kent Williams.  Both encounters were reported in the Uinta County Herald. This led to Sundquist asking again to be put on the work session’s agenda so she could present her concerns.

Sundquist was prepared with a list of questions for the council and paused to hear their answers after each question.

“How often has the need for air conditioning in the Machine Shop been on the budget agenda?” Sundquist asked.

Williams said he didn’t know if they had an immediate answer, but it was determined that this was the first year it hadn’t been included in the budget since Evanston Community Development Director Rocco O’Neill was hired by the city several years ago.

Sundquist moved on to her next question and asked how much revenue did the city gain from the rental of the building.

Williams said he wasn’t sure, but he knows they aren’t money makers.

Next Sundquist asked, “With it being on the budget discussion every year, why hasn’t it been a priority? What were the other things that caused it not to be passed within the budget?”

Williams indicated that it had been scrapped each year for higher priorities.

Sundquist asked if they had ever gotten a cost estimate to add air conditioning to the Machine Shop.

Councilmember David Welling said the council had received a proposal in 2020 from Tom’s HVAC, and the cost of swamp coolers for the building came to $122,000, while the cost of air conditioning was $148,000. The city would have to certify the roof structures first, before air conditioning could be put in. The council also agreed that the cost now would be much higher than the estimate they received four years ago.

Sundquist asked if there are any grants available that could help defray the cost, but Mieke Madrid, the city’s grant writer, said nothing available aligns with the cooling needs. She said there are energy-saving or energy-efficiency grants available, but not specific to air conditioning.

Sundquist asked about using reserves and asked how much the city currently has in reserves.

The council, along with Evanston City Treasurer Trudy Lym couldn’t provide an answer. Lym said reserves fluctuate from month to month but wasn’t able to provide any figures during the meeting. Councilperson Evan Perkes, however, used the word “plenty” when Sundquist inquired about the city’s reserve balance.

Lastly, Sundquist asked if the council would consider putting air conditioning on their agenda during the next budget discussion.

Welling said the city usually has lots of other needs every year, such as road and street repair that are a priority.

Sundquist suggested the city have fundraising events, and she would be willing to help with those.

She ended by showing the council research she had done on portable A/C units that only cost around $600 each. The city could buy multiple units, and they could be moved around to different buildings.

“This could be a short-term solution,” Sundquist said. “The heat in the building is a health care issue and I don’t want anyone else to get sick by being here. This is all I wanted to do, to bring ideas to your attention.”

Councilmember Jesse Lind said he thought the AC units were a great idea and Mike Sellers added that he’s used similar units and they do a great job of cooling.

Williams said they would look into the reserves and there would be a discussion about the issue.

“The machine shop is mostly used by citizens and the taxpayers pay for it,” Hegeman said. “The buildings are not marketed well, and if we can pay just shy of $5 million for [the incoming brewery at the Roundhouse], we can spend what it takes to make the Machine Shop marketable.”

Eskelsen was next to speak to the council and asked that his request for a budget amendment for $84,000 to relocate the Wahsatch water tower be put on a future council meeting agenda.

Mayor Williams told Eskelsen the council needed firm cost figures, not just estimates as he had provided earlier at former meetings.

“I brought you figures that I received from contractors,” Eskelsen said. “Some people will contribute time and equipment to bring the tower here and help to restore it.”

He said Rocky Mountain Power has already agreed to donate the time to raise the wires the tower will have to travel under on the way here. He said several partners are willing to help, and people are eager to move forward with the project.

“We want to get it moved this fall,” Eskelsen said.

Treasurer Trudy Lym told Eskelsen and the mayor that the budget amendment request will have to be advertised in the paper first before it can be put on the agenda.

Councilmember Mike Sellers said he did not want to see the footings put in and then just sit there without the tower.

Hegeman suggested contacting the Uinta Trade School to see if they want to get involved in the restoration of the tower, as they may use similar projects for training and education.

Eskelsen hopes the council will vote on Sept. 17 to amend the budget to allot the $84,000 for the project.