by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Financing for a proposed solar energy system for Hamilton County’s jail complex
and health department will remain under study by the County Council following
Wednesday’s council meeting. The proposal came from County Commissioners in June
and was tabled by the council in July for study by their finance committee.

The $8 million project would provide electric power for buildings on the Corrections
Complex and the Health Department building, using solar panels to collect energy
and convert it to power for lighting, heating and air conditioning. Several governmental
units in the state, including Sheridan Schools, are currently using solar power.

Steve Schwartz, a council member who favors the technology, says the plan is a “no
brainer” because the cost can be retrieved from money currently spent on electricity,
a cost that is rising. Other council members promise the finance committee will review
the plans in the next few weeks.

In other matters, the council gave approval to begin the process for right-of-way
acquisition to construct a “flyover” ramp and roadway from 146th Street to
southbound Keystone Parkway.

The construction, an extension of Lowe’s Way south, will enable motorists much
easier access to Keystone. Cost is estimated at $12 million with a third of the money
coming from federal highway funds.

And, after several months of consideration, council members approved a request
from elections administrator Kathy Richardson for electronic poll books. The $430,000
purchase will allow electronic tabulation and reporting of election results from the county’s 215 precincts. The equipment is currently in use in nearly half of the state’s
counties.

The council also gave its approval to the Hamilton North Library’s plans for a bond
issue to construct additional facilities at its Jackson Township libraries. And a resolution,
authorized by state law, was adopted which recommends all taxing units in the
county maintain their 2018 tax levies at current levels.