LEWISTON - Well, it's only been occupied for a few months, but mechanical issues at Lewis-Clark State College's newest building have become an annoyance for at least one neighbor.

The LCSC campus has been abuzz the last couple of months.

"It sounded like a large vacuum cleaner," said neighbor John Forsmann.

But Forsmann, and especially his wife, didn't like the song the new nursing building was singing.

"It was going constantly," said Forsmann.

Forsmann lives across the street from the campus' newest addition. But Sacajawea Hall, which was dedicated late this August, is already facing mechanical problems.

"The vibration to the house was our big concern, and then my wife was complaining constantly about earaches, pain and not being able to sleep," said Forsmann.

Forsmann said he wasn't alone. He said his fellow neighbors shared concern with annoyed faculty, which finally caught the attention of campus maintenance.

"We have a noise problem," said LCSC Physical Plant Director Matt Graves. "There are 15 fume hoods, chemical fume hoods in the building and they're all exhausted through two huge fans."

Graves said one of those fans had a bearing that was malfunctioning, and the heating and cooling system blew a couple of fuses, leading to what Forsmann described as a constant and obnoxious vibration.

Forsmann said he's left wondering one thing.

"I just think the taxpayers are going, 'Gee what are you doing putting in this system that goes out this fast'," said Forsmann.

So how could this happen to a building so new?

"It's common," said Graves. "It's common because you're running the equipment under load for the first time, and you're understanding how those systems work."

Graves said he won't rule the same problem out when the temperature changes again, but said that's what their one-year warranty is for, which is covering the repair costs. Graves said a crane that is on campus to replace the system's motors should finish work Tuesday.

"We're just making sure everything is working right, and pretty much just protecting the state's assets," said Graves.

"I just hope that it's fixed and doesn't cost the taxpayers anything," said Forsmann.