Commissioners given updates on projects

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert County Board of Commissioners received an update on the county electrical aggregation program, as well as a Courthouse renovation project during its meeting on Tuesday.

The commissioners first met with Bill Bradish of Palmer Energy, who informed the commissioners that the final discount for county political subdivisions where voters approved electrical aggregation last year would likely be 18 percent.

The discount, according to earlier remarks by Bradish, affects the generation portion of customers’ electric bills, with transmission costs unchanged.

Bradish brought paperwork required by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to officially designate the commissioners as the administrator for the aggregation plan within the county. Approval from the PUCO is expected sometime in February or early March. After that approval is received, cards would be sent out to those electric customers in the county affected by aggregation. If customers do nothing after receiving the cards, they will automatically be signed up for the program. Only customers who return cards will be removed from the program.

The aggregation program discount has steadily increased since Bradish first brought the program to the attention of the commissioners last year. Bradish has noted that the rate initially offered by First Energy — the only electric utility interested in providing a rate — was just 3 percent. However, other companies later became interested in participating in aggregation, causing the discount rate to grow.

In addition to providing electric generation discounts to areas where voters passed aggregation levies, the program also includes what is likely a one-time fee of $10 per customer that will be shared by the county and each political subdivision whose voters approved aggregation.

Also Tuesday, the commissioners met with Bruce Miller and other representatives of Garmann/Miller Architects to further discuss a planned Courthouse renovation project first proposed by Common Pleas Judge Charles D. Steele.

Although the commissioners first looked at renovating only the Common Pleas Courtroom, subsequent proposals have included replacing lighting and HVAC systems in the entire Courthouse — and even in other county-owned buildings as well.

However, after bids on the Courthouse project came in over estimates, Miller has gone back “to the drawing board,” so to speak to see what changes can be made to get the project costs down to allowable limits.

According to information provided by Miller on Tuesday, renovating the Common Pleas Courtroom, including restoring the courtroom’s stained-glass dome, and providing HVAC systems for the Courthouse would run $1,560,600.

Of that amount, $800,000 would be provided through low-interest loans provided for under House Bill 300, state legislation that allows governmental entities to install more energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems and repay those loans with energy savings generated by the new systems.

Of the remaining funds needed, $375,000 would come from a special Common Pleas Court fund generated by mortgage foreclosure and other fees, leaving $385,600 that would have to be funded through other means.

The commissioners decided Tuesday to limit the project to the Courthouse, although other county buildings had also been considered when looking at the feasibility of using HB 300 to fund installation of energy-efficient systems.

Miller also told the commissioners that Window Creations of Ottoville, one of the bidders for the stained-glass renovation portion of the project, had asked to withdraw its apparent low bid, noting that the work could not be done for the bid price.

The architect also noted that he would be talking to Heyne Construction, the apparent low bidder on the overall construction work, to see whether that company’s bid could be tweaked enough to bring it within allowable limits.

If the project gets the go-ahead, work would likely start this coming May, Miller noted.