Carbon County has switched gears in order to get an air conditioning unit replaced at the 911 communications center quicker than October.

On Thursday, the board of commissioners approved a proposal with A&W Plumbing and Heating of Nesquehoning to install five ceiling AC/heat pump indoor/outdoor units at the center for $60,000.

Previously, the county contracted for a single rooftop unit at the same price, but last week was notified that the unit wouldn’t be available until October.

The HVAC unit in question provides circulation to critical equipment and the dispatchers at the comm center. It had failed last winter.

Nothstein said because of the delay, the county looked at alternative options and found this solution.

They were delivered this week and will be installed next week, weather pending.

“I see an advantage of going from one unit to five units,” he said. “If one goes out, we’re not going to miss it as much as we would have normally with one big unit.”