Court approves replacement of three courthouse HVAC units, declines full seven‑unit award amid higher bids

Kerr County commissioners on Monday approved replacement of three 10‑ton HVAC units on the courthouse roof after staff reported the single bid received for a seven‑unit replacement far exceeded the FY25 capital allotment.

Shane Evans and county staff briefed the court on the replacement project. Staff received one bid of roughly $999,500 to replace seven units — far above the $70,000 that had been budgeted for FY24‑25. Staff and the project selection committee asked the court to consider options: reject the bid and rebid, fund the full scope at the higher cost, or proceed immediately on the most critical units.

Airtech (vendor representative present) and staff explained that new federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations and refrigerant phase‑outs have raised equipment costs and limited available equipment lines; some newer refrigerants are less readily available and the newest models may require longer lead times. Staff said three of the units were 10‑ton units that could be replaced with available, less‑expensive models now, while the four other units would require different refrigerants and higher cost and lead times.

Commissioners voted unanimously to proceed with replacing the three most critical 10‑ton units now (job award to vendor per selection committee recommendation) and to return with a county‑wide HVAC replacement plan to address the remaining units in future budget cycles. The court directed staff to report back with a comprehensive multi‑year plan for HVAC replacement across county facilities and to explore possible budget amendments or other financing for larger‑scale replacements.