TEXARKANA, Ark. - The Miller County Quorum Court Budget and Finance Committee considered an energy savings plan for the county and budget amendments during their regular meeting Monday.
Skip Woessner with McKinstry spoke to the committee once again and told them they needed to approve the energy savings program soon if they were to receive a 1:1 return for any energy put into the grid through solar panels. Woessner first spoke to the committee in August and showed them how Miller County can save energy costs without spending additional money, as the company would find ways to save costs on solar panels and get rebates from energy companies.
The county did not put out a request for proposals for the work and two other companies have shown interest in performing similar services. The committee voted to table the decision until an additional meeting could be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15 prior to the Quorum Court meeting.
The committee also considered budget amendments that appropriated $6,500 to the Miller County Sheriff's Department from the Ark-La-Tex 100 Club for body armor, $3,000 to the Office of Emergency Services for trailer repair and $7,158 in grant funds for security upgrades to the courthouse.
They also approved a transfer of $12,000 from the telephone and fax line item in the Sheriff's Department to machinery and equipment for the purchase of new computers. In addition, they approved the transfer of $500 in the Health Department budget from utilities to small equipment and $20,000 for the jail from salaries full time to part-time.
An item to approve the Volunteer Fire Department Handbook and Administrative Board was tabled.
The next Quorum Court meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 in the second-floor courtroom of the Miller County Courthouse, 400 Laurel Street.