July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
County passes on deal
Jay County Commissioners
After reviewing an analysis on the chiller in the courthouse, the Jay County Commissioners agreed that upgrading the system at this point doesn't appear feasible.
Roger Kochersperger of Havel Brothers, Fort Wayne, returned this morning with an analysis of the courthouse chiller and cost estimates for his company's compressor that operates by magnetically levitating internal bearings.
Kochersperger first approached the commissioners in January to pitch the product, which would reduce maintenance and operating costs when the chiller is in operation.
The new compressor would cost $68,449 to install, with more than $10,000 of that cost going into adding a transformer which would be able to feed a 480 volt stream into the system, since the current compressors only operates on 220 volts.
The courthouse chiller operates whenever the temperature is greater than 55 degrees, an estimated 4,872 hrs each year. At the courthouse's electricity rate of $.07 per kilowatt-hour, annual operating costs are about $20,000. With the new compressor, Kochersperger said that cost would be reduced to around $11,200 per year.
The compressor would pay for itself after about 8 years, which Kochersperger admitted was "a pretty long recovery period.
"The electric rate is the biggest factor here and you have an excellent rate," he said. He estimated that if electricity costs rose to $.10 per kilowatt-hour, the payback would reduce to about 6.5 years.
"That's the way we'll probably go when this one blows up," said commissioner Milo Miller Jr. of Kochersperger's product. "I hope we don't have to replace it (soon) ... but when we do, we'll probably lean that way."
In other business this morning, the commissioners:
•Signed two contracts to retain the services of financial consultant Greg Guerrettaz of Financial Solutions Group. The commissioners contracted Guerrettaz to complete an annual tax-increment financing analysis for the Premier TIF District at a cost not to exceed $2,500, as well as a contract for general services as needed for the year, not to exceed $23,000.
•Signed an emergency claim to pay $1,321.35 for an insurance premium for the retirement center.
•Were informed that Miller, as chairman of a group of elected officials in the region, will be traveling to Washington D.C. in March with members of the regional WorkOne council. Miller said he will likely meet with U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (R-6th District) and U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh during the trip.
During that time, the National Association of Counties will also be holding a conference, which he may also attend.[[In-content Ad]]
Roger Kochersperger of Havel Brothers, Fort Wayne, returned this morning with an analysis of the courthouse chiller and cost estimates for his company's compressor that operates by magnetically levitating internal bearings.
Kochersperger first approached the commissioners in January to pitch the product, which would reduce maintenance and operating costs when the chiller is in operation.
The new compressor would cost $68,449 to install, with more than $10,000 of that cost going into adding a transformer which would be able to feed a 480 volt stream into the system, since the current compressors only operates on 220 volts.
The courthouse chiller operates whenever the temperature is greater than 55 degrees, an estimated 4,872 hrs each year. At the courthouse's electricity rate of $.07 per kilowatt-hour, annual operating costs are about $20,000. With the new compressor, Kochersperger said that cost would be reduced to around $11,200 per year.
The compressor would pay for itself after about 8 years, which Kochersperger admitted was "a pretty long recovery period.
"The electric rate is the biggest factor here and you have an excellent rate," he said. He estimated that if electricity costs rose to $.10 per kilowatt-hour, the payback would reduce to about 6.5 years.
"That's the way we'll probably go when this one blows up," said commissioner Milo Miller Jr. of Kochersperger's product. "I hope we don't have to replace it (soon) ... but when we do, we'll probably lean that way."
In other business this morning, the commissioners:
•Signed two contracts to retain the services of financial consultant Greg Guerrettaz of Financial Solutions Group. The commissioners contracted Guerrettaz to complete an annual tax-increment financing analysis for the Premier TIF District at a cost not to exceed $2,500, as well as a contract for general services as needed for the year, not to exceed $23,000.
•Signed an emergency claim to pay $1,321.35 for an insurance premium for the retirement center.
•Were informed that Miller, as chairman of a group of elected officials in the region, will be traveling to Washington D.C. in March with members of the regional WorkOne council. Miller said he will likely meet with U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (R-6th District) and U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh during the trip.
During that time, the National Association of Counties will also be holding a conference, which he may also attend.[[In-content Ad]]
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