The New Ulm Public Library is getting a rooftop air conditioning unit replaced after the City Council approved the project at its meeting this week.

The current unit is 14 years old and has lost one stage of its two-stage compressor.

The council agreed to accept a $17,950 bid from Gag Sheet Metal to replace the unit rather to repair the compression.

Repairing the compressor was estimated at $3,895-4,250. The unit still uses R-22 refrigerant, which would raise the cost of the repair job. That consideration led city staff to recommend replacing the entire unit rather than a partial repair.

It is estimated it will take 20 weeks for the new unit to arrive, which should be in time for an installation next spring.