Lehighton approves proposal for HVAC mechanical engineering for replacement of annex cooling tower

Lehighton has taken the next step toward the replacement of its annex cooling tower.

On a 6-0 vote, borough council on Monday approved Lehigh Valley Engineering’s proposal of $9,750 for HVAC mechanical engineering for the replacement of the cooling tower at the annex. Councilman Darryl Arner was absent.

Before the vote, council President Grant Hunsicker said council needed to act on the matter.

“We’ve got to do something with it because it heats in the winter and cools in the summer,” Hunsicker said.

After the meeting, borough manager Nicole Beckett explained what the next course of action will be.

“I will be discussing the next steps with Lehigh Valley Engineering, and we will proceed with the design and bidding of the replacement,” Beckett said.

Beckett previously said a recent proposal from the borough’s HVAC contractor had come in over $100,000, hence the need to bid the project.

In May, council agreed to advertise the replacement of the cooling tower after it heard from Annex building manager Tom Evans.

Evans deemed the problem “a major issue,” and told council that the top of the cooling tower should be replaced, adding that the frame had started to rust out.

Evans said at that time doing so could cost about $115,000.

He said the cost to replace the cooling tower last year would have been about $96,000.

In November, council agreed to spend $13,979 Lehighton to fix water issues at the building at 110 N. Third St.

Evans previously said they had been having water problems for some time.