HCC moves ahead with solar panels
Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 by By Vicki Hyatt
After a pivotal, split vote to proceed with a solar thermal system in the proposed creative arts building, the Haywood Community College governing board is forging ahead in a unified mission. At a special called meeting Tuesday night, the motion on the energy system passed by a vote of 6 to 5, with board members Donna Forga, Lynn Barrett, Neil Ensley Randy Herron, Mike McConnell and Peggy Mellville favoring the motion and Richard Lanning, Bob Morris, Steve Sorrells, Dan McMahon and Charles Boyd opposing it. Board Chairman Mark Bumgardner only votes in the case of a tie, but indicated he would have voted for the motion had that become necessary. McMahon and
Boyd were sworn in as new board members Tuesday and were new appointees named by the Haywood County commissioners earlier this month.
The motion was a prelude to a second one where the board selected FLS Energy, the entity that installed a solar field near Canton, as the applicant with whom to enter contract negotiations to build the system. That motion was passed unanimously.
Even though the solar thermal heating/cooling system is part of the building design, HCC President Rose Johnson said the board was taking stock on whether to move forward with the solar thermal heating/cooling system as part of a potential solar development contract.
“By a simple majority vote, the board chose to do so,” she said. “It was important for the board to determine its action on that point because the solar thermal heating/cooling system is part of the project design that is out for a second bid.”
The board will negotiate a contract with FLS to install and maintain for a number of years both the solar thermal system, as well as photovoltaic cells that will be used to partially power the building.
Johnson said once negotiations are complete, the full board will consider the actual terms of a potential contract and determine if it wants to enter into that contract.
The creative arts building has been in the planning stages for about two years. It will be paid for with proceeds from a 1/4-cent local option sales tax approved by voters in May 2007. The college intends to secure a loan, which first must be approved by the county governing board, and repay the money with the sales tax funds. The commissioners recently approved an installment loan resolution that is the first step in borrowing up to $12 million for a proposed creative arts center and associated projects. There will be a public hearing on the project at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 16.
In previous meetings, the county commissioners have raised questions about whether it is wise to spend virtually all the funds expected to be raised from the tax for the next 15 years on a single building. That was one of the interview questions posed to the candidates vying for a spot on the HCC governing board.
Commissioners have also asked pointed questions about the cost of the building, including the costs associated with the alternative energy aspects of the project — expenses college officials say are required under a new state law upping the ante for energy efficiency in government buildings.
The project was first delayed as it languished in the state construction office awaiting review. The latest setback came when college leaders suspended a prequalification bidding process to allow all participation from all bidders.
The action was taken at another special meeting after discussion within the community concerning the lack of bidders based in Western North Carolina. Building and grounds committee Chairman Neal Ensley said the board determined the prequalification requirements were simply too strict and the board wanted to cast a wider net.
Debbie Trull, HCC’s executive director of administrative services and capital projects coordinator, said a pre-bid conference will take place at 2 p.m. Monday, July 26, in the auditorium and that bids are due on Aug. 12.
The 36,000 square-foot building will provide space for not only study disciplines such as fiber arts, jewelry making, woodworking and pottery, but provide multi-use rooms, labs and space for continuing education programs.
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