COUNCIL BLUFFS — Workers at the Council Bluffs Post Office have been a little hot under the collar recently because they believed that building officials were turning off the air conditioner during the hottest time of the day.
A building maintenance official denied that. "The air conditioner has never been turned off intentionally," said James Califf, the building's maintenance official.
Perhaps the problem is that the heating and cooling system is 50 years old and needs replacement or major repair, said Cindy Martinez, acting postmaster for Council Bluffs.
A couple of times this summer, including once this week, parts failed and the humid air continued flowing into the building.
"There were two incidences when it got uncomfortably humid, and those were corrected within 24 hours," Califf said.
The air conditioning is turned off in the evening and not restarted until the first workers arrive about 2 a.m. Because of the recent intense heat and humidity, it takes longer to cool the building, Califf said. Workers said that has meant they enter a hot and humid environment.
The Post Office leases space in the building at 8 S. Sixth St.
"We've been paying a lot of extra costs ... keeping the chillers working," said building owner Michael Kim of Seattle.
One postal worker said it becomes noticeably hot and humid in the building between 3 and 3:30 p.m. Workers said patrons have commented on the warm lobby.
Kim noted that the dock area remains open to the heat during the day and said that could be a reason for the higher temperatures inside the building.
According to a heating and cooling contract, the building is to be cooled to the mid-70s-degree range. Daily records kept by Califf indicate the warmest it has been inside is 80 degrees.
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