Rick Anderson, Veregy
By Frank Phillips
DLC Media News
BRAZIL – The City Council gathered more information Wednesday night about the potential advantages of converting to solar power.
Rick Anderson of Veregy said Indiana is one of the top 10 states in the nation for energy costs “and that’s not where you want to be.”
The two main reasons are coal and heavy regulation “and neither is going away soon,” he said.
Good news for taxpayers is the Inflation Reduction Act gives municipalities 30-60 percent back for the investment in solar energy.
Three projects were mentioned during the meeting: Retrofitting street lights for solar, retrofitting the wastewater treatment plant to run on solar energy and retrofitting air conditioning at city hall to be powered by solar energy.
Brownstown, Shelbyville and North Vernon are three cities working with Veregy on converting to solar energy, at least in part, Anderson said.
“This is something we really need to take a hard look at,” due to high energy costs, said Mayor Brian Wyndham.
In other business:
The City Council voted to approve tax abatement on final reading for Indiana Powder Coatings located on Tower Road.
The company is seeking tax abatement on a 138,000 square foot building costing $1.6 million. The company currently has 25 employees and plans to hire six more, said attorney Traci Orman, reviewing the company’s application.
David Hale, plant manager, said the company is currently operating at 50 percent capacity for one shift a day and plans to increase production.
“If you haven’t seen it, you should drive by,” said Mayor Brian Wyndham. “It’s quite an operation.”
The original investment was $8 million, Orman said.
The City Council made an additional appropriation of $20,000 from the General Fund to offset overtime pay by the police department.
The cruise-in cost the department at least $5,000 in overtime pay, said Mayor Wyndham. The recent murder and military call-up of city police officers also cost overtime for the department.
The question was how to fund the overtime shortfall.
“This is really a General Fund thing,” said Councilman Shane Litz when the Rain Day Fund was brought up.
“There is no doubt we need to do this,” said Councilman Brad Deal.
Council members Karen Boes and Brad Deal expressed appreciation to city workers for the way they continue to work to clean up limbs from the storm damage.
“Everybody came together well,” Deal said. He also expressed appreciation for the way residents volunteered to clean streets immediately after the storm.
The next city council meeting is set for 5 p.m., August 9th in City Hall.