County officials are facing thousands of dollars in repair bills after the compressor in an air conditioning unit failed at the courthouse this week.

Clark County Judge-Executive Henry Branham said the compressor on the chiller quit working Wednesday. An inspection of the unit showed the compressor failed, but the entire chiller needs to be replace because of extensive corrosion.

Branham said the chiller was installed as part of the courthouse expansion in 1980. The compressor was replaced about seven years ago, he said. The unit controls the air conditioning for much of the courthouse including the family courtroom, the family court judge’s office and Branham’s office.

At this point, the county is looking for options. Branham said a compressor, if one could be found, would cost about $10,000 to $15,000. Replacing the entire chiller could be closer to $90,000, he said.

“They’ve been telling us about this chiller all along,” Branham said.

If the project goes through the bid process, it could take a couple months to complete. Window air conditioners would control the heat inside the courthouse in the interim, he said.

If Branham declares an emergency situation, the county could avoid the bid process and make the purchase as soon as possible, he said.

Branham said he was expecting more information Friday afternoon about repairs or replacements.