Orange County NC Website
...~rt~Qr-ma~-I-ior~ ...~-t-,e.m <br />DATE: November 13, 2007 <br />TO: Laura Blackmon, County Manager <br />FROM: Wilbert McAdoo, Public Works Director <br />RE: 10/23/2007 BOCC Meeting Follow-Up Action <br />On October 23, 2007 the following information request were made regarding <br />Whiffed Human Services Center Renovations. <br />10/23/2007 Provide a memo to the Manager on problem that have <br />occurred at the Whiffed Complex after its renovation <br />was completed in 2002. Include information on the <br />Following items: <br />A. The Library's meeting room's insufficient weight capacity <br />Response: <br />Bilger Engineering conducted a structural analysis of the A and B building. A <br />number of corrections were made to the building structures. Building A the <br />analysis revealed first floor offices and library conference room existing structure <br />beams were too small for modern day office loads or crowded conference rooms. <br />Management made the decision to delay making structural improvements due to <br />available funding. Bilger Engineering, stated it is ok to continue to use the <br />conference room but limit the occupancy to 20 people. Additionally Bilger states it <br />is ok to use the offices as long as file cabinets and bookcases are placed along <br />the perimeter. Orange County Inspections has posted the occupancy level of the <br />Library conference room at 20-person occupancy. Once a decision is made on <br />future use of the facility it would be prudent to consider improving the structural <br />integrity of the building. There is no imminent danger of the structure failing. <br />B. Chiller noise irritating nearby residents <br />Response: <br />Following installation of the new chiller neighbors surrounding the REWHS <br />building neighbors complained about the noise. Orange County staff meet with <br />neighbors and took corrective action to include installation on sound attenuation <br />blankets on the compressors and sound blankets on two walls of the chiller <br />enclosure. E.Inc. conducted five Industrial Hygiene Noise Samplings from <br />November 2003 to June 2005 around the Whitted building. All five samplings <br />results indicated that the chiller noise at no time during the testing emitted noise <br />above the Orange County Noise Ordinance beyond the property border. While <br />we have and can take additional measures to reduce the chiller noise we will not <br />be able to eliminate the noise entirely. We have not received complaints from the <br />neighbors since late 2005. <br />