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Newton County approves budget amendment to repair courthouse air-conditioning units
Summary
The Commissioners Court approved a budget amendment to pay for repair or replacement of courthouse HVAC units after members reported leaking coils, unavailable replacement parts and structural installation challenges; estimates ranged from about $40,000–$60,000 with a one-time chiller option discussed.
Newton County Commissioners Court approved a budget amendment July 14 to repair the courthouse air-conditioning units after officials described leaking coils, difficulty sourcing replacement parts and structural obstacles that make some rooftop or attic units hard to service.
The court discussed estimated costs: one commissioner suggested the work would likely cost the county between $40,000 and $60,000, while others cited unit-level estimates of a little over $20,000 for some replacements and a one-time external chiller solution that could cost roughly $150,000 but might avoid recurring problems. A motion to expend funds for the necessary repairs was made and approved by voice vote.
What was said: County staff and commissioners described two separate aging HVAC systems serving multiple offices, including the sheriff’s area and several administrative offices, and said some geothermal units installed previously are now outdated. A commissioner urged exploring a chiller option as a long-term fix: “That may be a good option ... you may spend 150,000 one time and be done with it forever.” Another estimated some replacement units would be “a little over 20,000.”
Procurement and next steps: Commissioners instructed staff to proceed with the budget amendment to secure funding and to obtain engineering input and contractor proposals; the motion as recorded directs county staff to contract for the repairs and report back on timelines and final costs.
