County Board Selects Centrica as Vendor on Office Building Project

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Published on January 25 2024 5:21 pm
Last Updated on January 25 2024 5:23 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Effingham County board members Thursday selected Centrica Business Solutions as the approved company to advise the County on a major project at the County Office Building.

The Board is looking at whether to place solar panels on the roof of the building to reduce energy costs and whether to repair or replace windows in the building as a cost saver.

County Board Chairman Josh Douthit said that, even with the selection of Centrica to adivse the County on the project, no money has been spent by the County and no decisions have been made on whether to proceed with the project, either the solar panels or the window work. Douthit said of securing Centrica, "This doesn't cost us anything."

Things are expected to ramp up from this point, since a proposal for prospective vendors needs to be in place by the end of February for prospective vendors. There are deadlines in place to qualify for energy incentives on the projects, and those incentives have deadlines as early as May.

Board member Tim Ellis asked whether ending up not getting incentives could end the project and keep the County from incurring costs? Centrica representative Blaine Meadows said that provision can be written into the project contract. 

The vote to utilize Centrica to advise the County drew a No vote from board member Chris Keller. Keller said he is not in favor of the project as the "highest and best use of County funds", questioning "putting several hundred thousand dollars into a building almost 100 years old." All other members voting were in favor of securing Centrica as the consultant. 

County Board member Sandy Gillett sent a note indicating that she could not attend as she is battling illness, but indicated that she is "fully in favor of replacing windows" in the office building. Board member Elizabeth Huston was also not present for the meeting.

Meadows reiterated as he did at the regular monthly board meeting that Dan's Glass of Effingham has been selected for the window project if it is pursued.