P-0094 - Orange County Energy Program

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'74 ~, ~- ~ ~ '" ~ -~ ~~ Commissioner Gustaveson stated that he felt this plan could have good benefits for the County and that the County should take advantage of ~t~,h~iscc~~opportunity. ~~Upon~motion of Commissioner Gustaveson, seconded by Commissioner Willhoit, it was moved and adopted to adopt the Resolution authorizing the County's participation in a State Energy Conservation Program, and that the Resolution be forwarded to the appropriate State Agency. The County Manager proceeded to comment upon the cutback in the consumption of energy in the County Office Building. He stated that consumption of energy should be cut by 35 percent, and that thermostats had been reduced to 62 degrees and less at night. He added that the providers of coal for the Grady Brown Buildings had indicated that they could continue to .provide the County with coal as needed. The County Manager suggested that the hours of operation in the Recreation Depart- ment be reduced to 5 days a week, with Friday as the day to not operate. He suggested that in other county agencies, that to conserve energy, the thermostats would be .turned back. He added that a Gas Company did have a person spot checking building to see that thermostats are turned back. Commissioner Pinney stated that he did not feel there would be sufficient saving at the Recreation Department .to warrant a 5 day week. Commissioner Walker suggested that all County Offices go on a 4 day week with extended hours. Commissioner Willhoit stated that he would like to know what the State intention is concerning the 4~~day week and that he was interested in knowing what the per person consumption of energy is. e stated that unless there were corresponding changes in other institu- ion, he could not see Orange County going to a 4 day .week. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that this was not a short term matter, that thermostats would have to continue at 62 degrees. He asked that the concern of energy be moved up on the agenda of the the Commissioners and that the Board look at the long term problem of the consumption of energy. Upon motion of Commissioner Gustaveson, seconded by. Commissioner Pinney, it was moved and adopted to accept the County Manager's recom- mendation that offices remain on a 5 day schedule, with the thermostats set at 62 degrees, and reject the recommendation of the County Manager that the Recreation Department change from a six to a five day workweek. Commissioner Gustaveson suggested that~~.-the County Manager appoint someone to keep close check on the County Buildings to know what is needed in terms of thermo-efficiency and to make an energy inventory of the avail- ability of heating fuels in the area. Item 13: The Manager requests the Board's comments upon a proposed budget time table. Chairman Whitted suggested that the Board not require budget narra- tives from each agency. He stated that this was quite time consuming and expensive, and is not needed again this year. The Finance Director assed out additional budget information to the Board. The County Manager ~uggested that the Board review the information and that comments be made at the February 15th meeting. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that he would like to have each department or agency state what their program is about, so that he could get a real sense of the programs and services involved in relating to cost. ,He added that this was needed for the public's information and ac ~ nnmr~ari cnn fnr i-hc ('nmmi cci nnorc from nnc ~~o~r ~1-n ~nn~l~or ~i