YORKTON - Yorkton Council has approved the city proceed with tendering for a new air conditioning unit for City Hall and further to bring the tender results back to a future council meeting for awarding.
The decision was unanimously made at the regular meeting of Council Monday.
“In the early summer of 2024, facility maintenance staff began having difficulty with the operation of the air conditioner unit at City Hall. One of the two compressors failed. It is difficult for the unit keep up at times with only one compressor operational especially on really warm days,” explained René Richard, Director of Engineering and Asset Management with the city Monday.
Quotes were received to replace the compressor at a price of $25,000 with a ten week lead time.
Richard said given the lengthy lead time it did not seem worthwhile proceeding with repairs.
Also, the entire air conditioning unit is over 30 years old and nearing the end of its useful life.
At this point it’s not worth risking a repair in the dollar amounts quoted, said Richard.
Quotes were also investigated to replace the entire air condition unit. The quote came back at $208,000 with an eight to twelve week lead time.
The unit made it through the 2024 summer with only one compressor, however the other compressor and the unit itself could go at any time, noted Richard.
“This project could be added to the 2025 Capital Budget with funding to come from the City Hall Facility reserve. However, due to the long lead times, we would not likely be able to wait for the 2025 budget to be approved before tendering the air conditioner unit. If we could tender soon we would almost assuredly be able to have the unit installed before the summer of 2025,” he explained.
With Monday’s approval the tender results will be brought back to open council (likely Dec. 16) for award.
