Energy consultant says Bradley County could save $2.6 million over 35 years

Full Bradley County Quorum Court Report

WARREN, Ark. – A lengthy discussion was held Monday at the Bradley County Quorum Court meeting about the possibility of powering all county offices through solar energy but no immediate action was taken.

A presentation was made by Jay Holstead and Walter Wills of McKinstry of Little Rock. The company does consulting, construction, energy and facility services.

Holstead said strategic energy planning would be offered. It would include efficiency opportunities including lighting, HVAC, water conservation and renewable or solar energy. Among the proposals would be installation of a solar panel grid on about 1 acre of land either at the Bradley County landfill or property the county owns on the U.S. 278-South bypass.

He said funding for the project could come from a $10 million low-interest fund maintained by the state government or grants through Arkansas Historic Preservation Program or the federal Inflation Reduction Act. Based on the county’s current electric usage of about 355,000 kilowatt hours per year, he estimated the county could save $2.6 million over 35 years.

In other action:

• Bradley County Medical Center officials Leslie Huitt and Leanna Williams presented a report on the closing of the hospital’s OB unit. Huitt said the unit had been losing $1 million per year and a decision was made to close the unit, including laying off three full-time personnel and no longer delivering babies. Future plans may include converting the unit into cardiac rehab or pulmonary rehab.
• County Judge Klay McKinney reported chipsealing projects were completed. He said the county has about $30,000-$40,000 left over in state aid road funds and will receive $172,000 in July. “That will get you about one-half mile of blacktop,” he said. McKinney noted the Arkansas County Judges Association plans to petition the General Assembly to increase the state aid funds for every county.
• CADM Architects did a bid-letting for a new county Emergency Services Building but the low bid was $2.043 million, which was about $300,000 over budget. McKinney said the county Road Department under foreman Danny Gene Adair and Raymond Quimby saved the county about $100,000 on the project by moving about 17,000 pounds of materials for the building’s foundation.
• McKinney said excessive use of the Bradley County Class 4 landfill by contractors from surrounding counties has swamped it lately. He said he would ask the Budget and Finance Committee to look at the landfill rates and possible restrictions on use of the landfill by county residents only.
• A motion was approved to give $500 Christmas bonuses to each full-time county employee and two part-time deputy sheriffs.
• Prior to the Quorum Court meeting, the justices sat as a levying court and set the following millage rates for 2024. There were no changes from the previous year in real estate and personal property tax rates: county general, 5.00; county road, 3.00; library 1.00; hospital maintenance, 0.4; Warren city, 5.00; Hermitage city, 5.00; Banks city, 1.40; Warren School District No. 1, 41.50; New Edinburg School District No. 5, 38.10. Total millage rates by school districts: No. 1 City, 55.90; No. 1 Rural, 50.90; No. 1 Rural Improvement, 50.90; No. 12 City, 55.90; No. 12 Rural Improvement, 50.90; No. 12 Rural Outside Improvement, 50.90; No. 1 Rural Banks City, 52.30; No. 5 New Edinburg, 47.50. Timber tax is 20 cents per acre.
• Sheriff’s Office reported the following revenues in October: Municipal Court Virtual Justice, $6,288.75; Circuit Court service fees, $584; fines, $20; Ordinance 291 (bond), $40; 10 percent bond account interest, 27 cents.

There were 20 transports in October, with 1,142 miles, county prisoners; 164 miles, Arkansas Department of Correction; 376 miles, court-ordered mental evaluations. There were 68 papers served, 29 tickets/citations issued and 18 inmates incarcerated. The total paid for housing inmates in October was $16,202.97.