The final details are being hashed out on a contract between ABM Engineering Services and the Simpson County Board of Supervisors for the company to provide energy conservation services to the county.
The considerable expense involved is expected to be outweighed by savings realized in the county’s utilities budget.
Through actual utility savings and cost avoidance the county is guaranteed to save $88,000 per year. The contract agreement was prompted by the age of existing equipment and the need for repair and replacement of such equipment over the life of the contract.
Actual details of the contract are being hashed out between the board’s attorney, Danny Welch, and ABM’s legal department. The length of the contract is 20 years.
In addition to discussing the ABM contract at their Nov. 1 meeting, the board approved the claims docket in the amount of $151,965.40. They also approved the extension of the Emergency Order for bridge repairs so they could address bridge issues more promptly.
The board agreed to allow Tax Assessor Jaime Brewer to contract with Quantum Spatial for aerial photography of the county in digital format. This is required every ten years. This time the photography will be done in high resolution, which will be of better quality and allow for more detailed assessments. This photographic record is required by the state every ten years. This is the ninth year of the term. The project will cost the county $25,536.
The board agreed to approve a request from the Town of D’Lo for three 15-inch culverts 30 feet long. They also approved an application for a driveway permit for Joey Higgins on Highway 541 South.
The next meeting of the board is set for Monday, November 15, when they plan to accept bids for Election Systems and a Generator Bid. The board has also been asked to participate in a called meeting of the Simpson County Development District. A Council of Governments meeting on Tuesday, November 15, will be followed by a meeting on comprehensive land use at the Simpson County Development Foundation office.
The county will recognize Thursday, November 11, as a holiday, and county offices will be closed.
The board approved a hunting and fishing lease on 16th section land for Joe and Ryan McGuffee, which was approved at $648 for a five year term.
An additional 10-year lease was approved for Melisa Welch for one acre for a residence in the amount of $150 per year. A possible issue arose over construction on Dry Creek Road, where an endangered species, the Wood Stork, has habitat, but County Engineer Buddy Wolverton said it would not interfere with the project.
Road Manager Ben Warren reported to the board that requests for culverts to cross from public roads to private property have dropped drastically. The reduction may result from the fact that the culverts must now be paid for by the property owner. In the past the county provided the access to private property. The county will now install the culverts but no longer provide them free of charge.
