Powell will begin its $820,000 energy-saving project by requesting bids this month and next from companies qualified to perform the work.
On March, 15 counties and eight cities, including Powell, were given an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant for projects that reduce fossil fuel emissions, improve energy efficiency in the public sector and create or preserve jobs.
The grants were created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Powell was given $821,861 to install solar panels and LED lights at the city's Village Green Municipal Building, 47 Hall St., and make energy improvements at its Parks and Recreation Department offices, 260 Village Park Drive.
Powell City Council approved the city to employ a design-build method when contracting with a company to do the work.
The city will pair with a single design-builder, who will serve as the architect or engineer and the general contractor, rather than hire more than one company and have the city oversee the work.
"When you do design-build, you eliminate the middleman, so to speak," said City Councilman Brian Lorenz. "It helps the city and contractor form a better partnership because you only have two parties."
A single contractor provides an accountable party if mistakes are made, Lorenz said.
"When something goes wrong, the accountability in the traditional system becomes diluted," he said.
Also, a design-build method saves staff time, said city Public Information Officer Jeff Robinson.
"There are built-in project supervisors, which frees up (city employees') time to do other things, so we'll be able to do other things and not worry about the details (of the project)," Robinson said.
If the design-build method works well, the city could continue to use it.
"I would think it would certainly be considered as a viable way to do things. We'll be interested to see how everything goes," Robinson said.
Lorenz said he would encourage using the design-build method wherever feasible.
The project is expected to be complete by summer.
As part of the work, a 75-kilowatt panel system will be installed at the Municipal Building -- 21 panels on a south-wall awning and 252 panels on the roof -- expected to cost $621,115.
The grant will replace 315 fluorescent and 30 incandescent lighting fixtures inside the building and 33 high-pressure sodium fixtures outside with LED lights.
That is expected to cost $160,369 and save on light-bulb replacement and maintenance.
Another $38,000 will go toward energy improvements at the parks and recreation building, which include better insulation, window and thermostat replacements, and light sensors for outside lights.
It's expected the energy-saving improvements could slash city utility bills by more than $18,500 a year, according to city estimates.
The city has scheduled a pre-bid meeting for Jan. 10 at the Municipal Building. Bids will be accepted through Jan. 31.
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