GOSHEN — The Elkhart County commissioners have awarded a bid to install a new cooling tower at the Elkhart County Jail.

The commissioners signed a contract Monday with the Hydronic and Steam Equipment Co. of South Bend to build the tower for $248,254. The tower would enhance the jail’s cooling system and add a space to store water.

The commissioners approved an emergency resolution Jan. 22 to seek bids for the project out of concern that the tower’s installation would take several weeks to complete. Without a new cooling tower, the jail’s air conditioning would be at risk of breaking this summer.