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Commissioners OK $12,745 for Law Enforcement Center HVAC troubleshooting; county warned full replacement could top $300,000
Summary
Teton County authorized $12,745.53 to troubleshoot and partially restore the failing HVAC at the Law Enforcement Center (LEC), while staff told commissioners the building's aging LG system may require a near-term replacement estimated at roughly $300,000 to secure a full warranty.
Teton County commissioners on Feb. 25 approved payment of $12,745.53 to Mountain River Mechanical for troubleshooting and temporary repairs to the Law Enforcement Center's HVAC system, after public works staff told the board parts for the facility's older LG system have become difficult to obtain and two compressors already are out of service. The board voted unanimously to pay the invoice from remaining cash funds.
Public Works Director Daryl Johnson told commissioners the facility's HVAC is based on an aging Gen-3 LG refrigeration platform; parts have required import from Korea and service contractors estimate the county can keep the existing system running at reduced capacity only short term. "We just got a cost estimate in this morning of just over $300,000 for the Gen 5 system," Johnson said, describing that as a full-system replacement that would preserve a 10-year parts warranty if purchased before the system is no longer sold as a unit.
Why it matters: The LEC HVAC supports jail, records and patrol staffing; sustained equipment failure increases risk to staff and detainees and creates pressure for emergency fixes during cold months. Johnson said the county currently has three of four system modules running and that the $12,745 invoice covers diagnostic work, a replacement control board and related labor to get the system back to three-quarter capacity.
Commissioners and staff discussed options: continue paying troubleshooting invoices and attempt to source a compatible compressor for the Gen-3 system; purchase a Gen-5 replacement before the vendor stops selling system-level units; or pursue a system that uses a different vendor and piping configuration, which could require building piping modifications. Johnson said the Gen-6 platform is incompatible with the current coolant and would force a full retrofit of pipework.
Board action and next steps: Commissioners approved the troubleshooting payment and directed staff to return with firm cost comparisons, timelines and funding options for longer-term replacement before a final procurement decision. Johnson said any replacement likely must be funded outside current LEC line items and would require either remaining-cash transfers or budget action for FY26.
Ending: Johnson said he would work with county finance staff to present options to the board in the coming weeks; commissioners requested a clear timeline and preferred cost scenarios (repair vs. replace) before authorizing larger expenditures.
