WCMessenger.com: County looks at ways to use energy efficiency grant

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County looks at ways to use energy efficiency grant

By Kristen Tribe | Published Thursday, October 29, 2009

County employees ended commissioner's court Monday with a celebratory cheer - the meeting lasted only one hour.

Commissioners usually take three to four hours to wade through lengthy agendas, but county business was straightforward this week.

Commissioners approved accepting as much as $100,000 from the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Precinct 2 commissioner Kevin Burns said the money could be used to make the courthouse more energy efficient.

"We could possibly use it for geothermal heat on the courthouse and get some of these air conditioners off these little thresholds that aren't designed for that load," he said. "It would be an excellent way to fund that."

County engineer Chad Davis asked if the grant money could be incorporated into construction plans for Weatherford College.

County judge Bill McElhaney said they are still researching possible uses for the money but felt it was best to accept the funds now so they would be earmarked for Wise County.

He also said the city of Bridgeport needs $35,000 for a project and requested use of the county's leftover grant funds. McElhaney said they will find out if the money from this particular grant can be redistributed to cities.

The judge also gave commissioners copies of the ballot for the election of directors for the Wise County Appraisal District. Every taxing entity could nominate candidates.

The candidates are Jane Carroll, Ray Cook Jr., Don Handley, Joey Luttrull, Jesica McEachern, Randy Moss, Jimmy Parker, Gail Quanz, Paul Seagraves and Brent Wilson.

Taxing entities must submit votes by Dec. 15, and Burns suggested McElhaney put it on the Dec. 14 commissioners' agenda.

He said the county has a large number of votes and can greatly affect the outcome, especially by waiting as late as possible to submit its votes.

The county has 1,060 votes out of 5,000. The only taxing entity with more is Decatur Independent School District with 1,065. The next closest to Wise County is Northwest ISD with 747.

In other business, commissioners:

- awarded a bid for the heating/air conditioning service and repair contract to Mann Refrigeration of Bridgeport;

- co-awarded a bid for pea gravel to Trinity Materials, TXI and Topway; and

- accepted a $1,000 bid from the First Baptist Church dba Whitestone Fellowship in Runaway Bay for "struck-off property" from the Wise County tax roll.