The Dallas City Council on Wednesday authorized the city manager to execute a contract with AirX to replace the Dallas Wasco County Library heating, ventilation and air‑conditioning system for an amount not to exceed $423,640.

The project has been budgeted in the city’s Capital Projects Fund, the council was told, and will be treated as a 50/50 project with the library district. Staff also said the project was awarded a $115,000 grant from the Department of Energy’s Efficiency and Conservation Block Program to help pay for the work.

City Manager Matthew Clebs presented the recommendation and described the procurement process. “Those proposals were opened on April 29. We got three bids, and AirX was the lowest responsive and responsible bidder,” Clebs said. Mike, the facilities supervisor who led the design and procurement work, told the council the existing system dated to 1967 and had exceeded its service life; he estimated a typical lifespan for a new system at about 25 years.

The council moved promptly. Councilor McLaughlin made the motion to authorize the manager to sign the contract (contract number 2025‑004), and Councilor Richardson seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Staff said the city will execute the contract and then draw down the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Program grant funds. City staff also noted the library functions as a designated clean‑air shelter, increasing the urgency of replacing an unreliable system.

Background: the city procured engineering and design services from MKE & Associates before issuing a request for proposals. Staff described the replacement as a long‑identified need for the library building.

The council did not set a new service‑life guarantee beyond staff’s expectation; the facilities supervisor said the new system is expected to last roughly 25 years. Staff also thanked Anne Morehead and others for assistance securing grant support.

What’s next: the contract will be executed by the city manager and construction scheduled; staff said work is expected this fall. Councilors and staff thanked library board members in the audience for their involvement and support.