Hamilton National Guard facility gets state funding for repair project

Almost $16,000 in state funds will be used for an HVAC and masonry renovation project at the Charles H. Jones National Guard Armory on Symmes Road in Hamilton. STAFF FILE PHOTO

Almost $16,000 in state funds will be used for an HVAC and masonry renovation project at the Charles H. Jones National Guard Armory on Symmes Road in Hamilton. STAFF FILE PHOTO

Ohio’s Controlling Board unanimously approved $15,950 in funding on Monday that will be used for an HVAC and masonry renovation project at the Charles H. Jones National Guard Armory on Symmes Road.

The HVAC and masonry systems at the armory are more than 20 years old, constantly under repair and have exceeded life expectancy, according to officials with the military installation that submitted a request for the funding.

“The commercial life expectancy of each of the systems is 20 years. The HVAC and masonry systems do not meet current code or provide adequate energy efficiency and will be replaced with functional energy efficient systems,” a spokesperson with the armory said. “The project has been designed and will now move on to the advertising, bidding, and construction phase.”

The renovation plan is a state and federal cost shared project with the Army National Guard Facilities Program contributing $7,975 in federal funds or 50 percent of the requested money.

The facilities program provides federal funding for operation and minor maintenance in support of maintenance and repair needs that are listed in the military’s Facility Inventory and Support Plan (FISP).

The Armory was named after Hamilton’s Charles H. Jones in 1982. Jones was a decorated veteran and local businessman who also served in political office — twice elected state representative of Butler County from 1957 to 1962.

Jones died in 2011 at age 92.

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