Construction for an energy efficiency project in Sebastian County is targeted to begin later this month.
Sebastian County Judge David Hudson said the project was discussed during a preconstruction meeting the county had with project staff from the Dallas-based company McKinstry on Dec. 11.
"At that point in time, the game plan to bring subcontractors in and actually start construction was clarified, and the anticipated time frame to actually have people in construction is Jan. 29," Hudson said. "We will have some folks coming in and evaluating building areas prior to, but that is the target date to actually have the work commence. ..."
In an article published in the Times Record on Dec. 7, Hudson said although he did not know exactly when construction would start for the project, it would be in December.
"We are also encouraging the work to begin on the boiler in the jail earlier if the equipment becomes available, if it's able to be procured and delivered to the site for installation before then, and the jail boiler would be made a priority as it particularly could impact jail operation," Hudson said.
Hudson said the current boiler at the Sebastian County Adult Detention Center was installed in 1994. It is running at the end of its useful life, so it will be replaced.
The Sebastian County Quorum Court approved an emergency ordinance authorizing the county to complete an energy-efficiency project during its Nov. 21 regular meeting. It also approved an ordinance authorizing the funding of the Arkansas EPC Program for the county. EPC is a financing mechanism used to pay for energy efficiency improvements all at once, which are paid back through annual energy savings.
In a presentation to the Quorum Court during its Sept. 19 meeting, Michael Grabham, the south regional director of McKinstry, said some facility improvement measures would be applied to all county buildings while others would be applied for specific buildings.
The financial contracts for the project are also all in place, Hudson said. The project total is an amount exceeding $5 million, and the financing plan approved by the Quorum Court as part of the ordinance is over 15 years at 2.85 percent interest, according to an article previously published in the Times Record.
Hudson said construction for the project is anticipated to end by August.