Committee formed to shed light on solar concept for jail
Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/64902/
Members of the Washington County Finance Committee opted to wait Tuesday to set aside money for a solar hot water system at the Washington County Detention Center.
Last week, the county Energy Committee forwarded the proposal to the Finance Committee to set aside $ 50, 000 for the possible installation of the system for the kitchen / laundry and administration areas of the detention center in hopes of cutting into about $ 400, 000 in annual utility costs at the jail. This amount was a major part of the county’s $ 735, 560 utility bill last year for its 12 buildings.
Justice of the Peace Steve Zega, vice chairman of the Finance Committee and chairman of the Energy Committee, said there has been some public discussion about the solar heating idea. He asked for any comments about it.
JP H. L. Goodwin asked County Administrator John Gibson about concerns over meeting jail standards.
“ We don’t know, ” Gibson said.
However, he said, County Judge Jerry Hunton, who was not at the meeting Tuesday, formed an energy committee comprising Ron Wood, the county building and grounds supervisor; Robyn Reed, environmental affairs director; and Wayne Blankenship, grants administrator; to look at energy issues.
“ What we would like to do is look at this a little more in-depth, ” Gibson said, adding that officials want to perform a cost / benefit analysis.
They also want to visit with Maj. Randall Denzer, who oversees the detention center, about how jail standards fit into the situation.
Hunton is open to the idea of solar heating, Gibson said, “ but we’d like to do a little more research before we go out for bid on it. ”
He said the Huntonformed energy committee also will look into other options to try to cut the county’s monthly energy costs. The committee will report its findings to Hunton and the Quorum Court Energy Committee, Gibson said.
Still, Goodwin motioned to set aside the money for the possibility of solar heating or to pay for any alternatives for saving on energy costs. His motion died for lack of a second.