Johnston taking proactive approach to maintaining its buildings

An assessment has found that most County-owned buildings
are in good or fair shape.

SMITHFIELD — Johnston County now has a roadmap for maintaining millions of dollars in public buildings.

With help from a consulting firm, the County has completed a comprehensive assessment of its 29 buildings. The next step is to fully deploy software that uses the assessment data to tell the County when to replace everything from exit lights to roofs and heating and cooling systems.

“We’re using that data to move from reactive maintenance to a proactive maintenance model,” explained Daniel Clifton, director of Buildings and Grounds.

The software, known as a computerized maintenance management system, or CMMS, tracks building assets and schedules preventive maintenance. The goals are to help ensure the County doesn’t overlook routine maintenance and to reduce the chance of costly emergency repairs.

“We are currently using the software in our HVAC department for preventive maintenance, getting daily reports on what is due, and that has helped us a great deal,” Clifton said.

Soon, the software will go to work across all of Buildings and Grounds. 

“We’re trying to do it a little bit at the time so I don’t overwhelm my guys,” Clifton told Commissioners on July 20. “But in the next 30 to 60 days, the entire department will be moving over to that CMMS.”

The assessment itself provides a snapshot of each building's condition. Engineers and architects evaluated everything from roofs and heating and cooling systems to plumbing, electrical systems and building exteriors. They estimated how much useful life each major system has left and what it will likely cost to repair or replace it.

The information will help County leaders prioritize projects, budget for future repairs and replacements, and make informed decisions about when to invest in maintenance.

Commissioner Bill Stovall said Buildings and Grounds now has a powerful tool at its disposal. “These systems typically prompt you on what preventive maintenance measures are needed and when,” he said.

Commissioner Butch Lawter applauded the work. “I think you’ve got all the information that we’ve been looking for for quite some time,” he told Clifton.

“I expect it’s going to be better,” he said of maintaining county buildings.