Lincoln County officials approved last week replacing an aging boiler at the courthouse.

The commissioners received three bids and selected the lowest, $96,954, from Johnson Controls in Kalispell, to replace the HVAC boiler on the courthouse roof. It regulates the heat and air conditioning.

The county replaced its leaking hot water boiler, installed in 1978, last year and Lincoln County Maintenance Director Joe Nagle was concerned the other boiler was running on borrowed time.

“It takes months to get things lined up and I’d rather see it get done sooner than later,” Nagle said. “Our biggest concern is it goes down this winter and we’re without hot water.”

A crane is needed to help install the unit and Nagle said it’s important to get it reserved.

District 1 Commissioner Brent Teske asked Nagle if Johnson was good at providing service and he said they were. District 3 Commissioner Noel Duram and Teske agreed it was important to act before it became an emergency. 

District 2 Commissioner Jim Hammons motioned to pay for the unit and the work from the county’s payment in lieu of taxes fund, Duram seconded and the vote was unanimous.

The county also received bids from Comfort Systems ($146,690) and Columbia Mountain ($99,000).