In an effort to cut down on the county’s energy costs, the Effingham County Board is moving forward with plans to install a solar system on the roof of the county office building and replace all of its windows, including those the exterior doors.
The board approved the scope of work for one of two proposed energy saving projects after listening to a presentation from Blaine Meadows, an account executive with Centrica Business Solutions, who broke down the estimated cost and a potential timeline for the project.
Expected to cost just under $700,000, officials plan on offsetting this with the energy cost saved and by taking advantage of federal and state programs that incentivize renewable energy projects. They include Illinois Solar for All Solar renewable energy credits.
The county would have to have the solar system installed for a year before it would be eligible to begin receiving incentive payments.
“You would see that $162,000 come in year two, so that brings your net cost after two years down to $400,000,” Meadows said. “And that $400,000, you actually see that money pay for itself through the utility savings and avoided costs over 13 years.”
Meadows said the cost of both projects would be offset in 13 years, but the initial cost of the secondary project option would be about $85,000 cheaper than the project the county has decided to move forward with because, although it will still include the rooftop solar system, only the windows and doors on the first floor of the building would be replaced.
“That would still pay for itself in 13 years because although you’re taking out some scope, you’re also taking some savings from the windows,” Meadows said.
According to Meadows, the board’s next step will be to review its contract with Centrica, but Meadows noted that Centrica will have to apply for solar incentives before the contract can go into effect because it depends on the county being awarded those incentives. If the board approves funding for the project, construction would likely begin sometime around May of 2024 and be and completed around July of 2024.
Effingham County Board Chairman Josh Douthit urged his fellow board members to act quickly on the matter before the project becomes more expensive.
“I think we do need to consider this very hard,” Douthit said. “Obviously, any time we put a project like this off, incentives may drop off. I’m also of the opinion we should do it all now and do it right from the beginning.”
Board member Norbert Soltwedel moved for approval of the plans to move forward as the county checks to see if it has the funding available for the project. Douthit said he will further explore funding for the project and report back to the board with his findings.
“We’re not actually spending money yet,” Douthit said.
Douthit also said he will try to have this information ready for the board’s upcoming special meeting, which is scheduled for Nov. 29, so the board can vote on funding for the project.
Also during the meeting, the board unanimously approved a $10,000 contribution to Effingham County Public Transportation.
“Effingham taxpayers have never put any money into the Effingham County Public Transportation, and we are proposing to do that now,” Soltwedel said. “This will allow the fares for seniors and veterans to be waived, so there will be no fees for those folks riding the public transportation buses. We are hoping this will increase the use of these buses.”
Soltwedel said the transportation department will also receive $1.80 for every dollar it receives from the county for a total of $28,000.
“I think it’s a great thing,” Effingham County Program Compliance Oversight Monitor Kelly Lockhart said. “Giving money to transportation, and a lot of counties, townships and cities do it, does bring in more funds from the state.”
In other matters, the board:
• Approved the renaming of the Effingham County Memorial Airport as the Effingham County Regional Airport.
• Approved Christmas plans for county employees which include an employee luncheon and $25 gift cards.
• Approved a liability insurance renewal quote from CIRMA for the 2024 fiscal year in the amount of $583,138.
• Approved an amendment to the county handbook to include policy on the usage of county vehicles.
• Approved the disbursement of $28,536.35 in earmarked county ARPA funds for the Effingham County Fair.
• Approved the payment of final invoices to Lakeside Roofing Company, Inc. in the amount of $155,668.07.
• Approved the 2024 fiscal year salary schedule for county employees without committee recommendation.
• Approved the disbursement of $17,000 in county ARPA funds to the Effingham Regional Career Foundation for tuition and fees for the fall of 2023.
• Approved the Sarah Bush Lincoln Employee Wellness Program for the 2024 fiscal year.
• Approved a $130,000 increase in the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office’s budget for the 2024 fiscal year to help cover the cost of body worn cameras.
• Approved the sale of a delinquent property, a vacant lot in Edgewood.