*Updated to reflect when normal operations will resume.
GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – UPDATE, 6/13/2024: The City of Gainesville says the air conditioning system at City Hall is once again operational and cool air is blowing through the ducts.
A city spokesperson says employees who were sent home on Wednesday will return to work on Friday and normal operations will resume on Friday, June 14.
This is actually earlier than initially anticipated. The city says the time it took to repair the system was brief. They were able to get replacement parts for both units in the HVAC system quickly.
ORIGINAL, 6/12/2024: There’s not much worse as a Florida resident than dealing with the unbearable summer heat that leaves pools of sweat in the shape of continents on the back of your Hanes t-shirts.
That is, unless your air conditioner is broken.
At Gainesville’s City Hall, such a problem with the air condition system is prompting the closure of almost all in-person services.
Gainesville City Manager Cynthia W. Curry says the problem is leading to unsafe heat levels inside the building. Curry has therefore asked all City Hall employees to work remotely until further notice.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a high temperature of 93 degrees for Wednesday with a heat index value making it feel like 100 degrees. The extended forecast shows temps will remain in the 90s all week.
The feeling inside of City Hall as of now is one fully encapsulated with the harsh reality of the Gainesville heat. Upon walking in, it seemed most of the workers adhered to the precautionary warning sent out by the city manager and are working from home.
Gainesville’s Public Information Officer, Rossana Passaniti, says the air conditioning had previously shown signs of breaking as early as last week.
“The air conditioning unit did show some signs of distress last week with the extreme heat,” said Passaniti. “Right now, our team is assessing to find out what the options are, and we’re waiting for an assessment to see what is wrong.”
“It’s just a nearly 60-year-old building that will occasionally have mechanical issues,” said Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward. “The city keeps a healthy, very conservative financial reserve so that unplanned repairs such as this are a nuisance, not an emergency.”
Ward suggested the air conditioning may affect workers who are based in city hall but says most of the workers based outside of the government building will not be.
The city says the Gainesville City Commission’s General Policy Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday; June 13 has been cancelled.
The city says steps are being taken to restore climate control and reopen the building. They hope to be able to resume regular hours by early next week.
Passaniti says it’s “premature to say” if the air conditioning will be repaired by next week.
The city is directing anyone who needs to pay business tax, handle parking permits or citations, or pay customer invoices to handle those transactions online.
If you have questions, they ask you to call Revenue and Receivables at 352-334-5024. “Leave a voice message, and a staff member working remotely will contact you with more information,” said the city in a news release.
The City Clerk’s Office will remain open for Qualifying Week in Florida to enable walk-in candidates to come in and file their paperwork for candidacy.