Slaybaugh said the HVAC unit has not been upgraded in roughly 40 years, even while airport facilities have been upgraded during that time.
Tonight’s contract approval for the $7 million HVAC unit is part of a continuing $130 million plan to renovate the terminal over the next decade, Slaybaugh said.
He said that also on Wednesday, the city successfully sold $32 million in bonds, the proceeds of which will be used to pay for the HVAC unit and the first phase of renovations for the terminal’s front canopy and main entrance to the airport.
Work on those projects, estimated to cost $16 million, are to begin in spring 2017, he said.