Bland aldermen continue to research electric-saving opportunities for city shed

Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Posted 3/20/19

Bland aldermen continue to bicker about the which basic services are needed at the city shed in order to keep costs down.

High electric bills to heat and light the city shed and how to reduce …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Bland aldermen continue to research electric-saving opportunities for city shed

Posted

Bland aldermen continue to bicker about the which basic services are needed at the city shed in order to keep costs down.

High electric bills to heat and light the city shed and how to reduce said bills have been an ongoing discussion at Bland city meetings. The issue that has been discussed at several previous monthly city meetings with former public works director Rodney Turner continues with new director Jason Lewis with one change -- Lewis’ March Bill was $295 compared to February’s $501 bill. Aldermen asked Lewis what he did.

“No lights on and I turned the heat down,” Lewis said.

Lewis added that replacing the light bulbs at the shop would cut the electric bill in half, without costing the city much more than their previous shop electric bill. Mayor Ron Shafferkoetter said someone brought up not heating the shop anymore. Shafferkoetter asked Lewis why that would be a bad idea.

“I feel that we need heat in the shop,” Lewis said. “I’m not saying that you have to have it cranked or anything, but if we have some kind of heat in the shop, the vehicles start so much better in the winter time.”

Lewis explained to aldermen that with heat, there was less of a worry that vehicles won’t start during any midnight emergency calls. Not to mention, it is a lot easier on the vehicles.

“And of course if I have to work in there on something, I am going to want heat,” Lewis said. “The problem is right now that the heaters that we have are way too small for the shop and are on the ceiling. Heat rises. So all the heat that they are producing are  up top and if you are down below, you are not feeling it that much. That’s why your electric bill is so high, because they are running non-stop and the the thermostat is also down low.”

Alderman Sherry Spradling asked how many city vehicles are in the shed and Lewis said four, including the city truck, dump truck and backhoe.

Lewis also pointed out that there are water pipes in there that would need to be kept warm during the winter. He said he does not have a heat preference, just believes the shop needs to be heated.

“The season is almost over, so you guys will have all summer to decide what you need to do,” Shafferkoetter said.

Spradling said Lewis needs heat if he is in there working, but not while no one is there.

“I have kept the heat turned down when I am not there and it shows on the electric bill,” Lewis said.

Shafferkoetter said when possible, the city needs to take care of their employees.

Lewis joked that he would like air conditioning in the city shed as well.

“You can leave at any time,” Shafferkoetter said joking.

Aldermen voted to pay the bills with a 3-0 vote.