MANTI—Manti appears close to a decision to replace the central air conditioning system on the Manti City Annex at a cost of about $150,000, although the city council would still have to vote on the expenditure.
City Manager Kent Barton said there are two air conditioning units on the roof. Each has multiple compressors and coils.
The manufacturer lists the lifespan of the units as 20 years. Manti’s units are 21 years old.
Recently, a compressor in one unit went out. The cost of replacing the compressor was $13,000. “I’ve really tried to push myself to do the $13,000” but fear “I might be back in a year asking for as much or more to replace a major part,” Barton told the city council at its Sept. 8 meeting.
“We have tenants in the building and we have a responsibility under the contract” to provide a comfortable environment, he said.
“If we fix it, we’re just fixing an outdated problem,” Councilman Darren Dyreng said.
The estimated cost of replacing one of two of the rooftop units is just under $100,000, Barton said. But because of economies in installation costs and the need to bring a crane on site just once, it will cost $150,000 to replace both units.
“It appears it makes sense to…save $50,000 by replacing both at the same time,” Barton said Tuesday.
He said the city has a maintenance reserve fund specifically for the annex, and there is enough money in the fund to cover the $150,000.
