Jackson Free Press

The city is moving ahead with funding $5.8 million in contracts with Johnson Controls Inc. and Siemens Building Technologies Inc. this week.

Earlier this month, the Jackson City Council approved the contracts, which finance upgrades to the electrical system in most city buildings, including fire stations and city traffic signals. The contracts also fund annual system maintenance fees with both companies worth about $30,000 combined.

Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. told the council at its April 5 meeting that the city would save as much in electrical fees as it invested in the contracts and would receive the benefit of more efficient electrical systems that would continue to save the city money for many decades to come. In addition, if the city does not see a significant annual reduction in its electric bill courtesy of the upgrades and monitoring service the two contractors could reimburse to the city their annual payment.

The city is partially financing the contracts with federal stimulus money.

The council has already approved the upgrades, but this stage in the process requires council approval to move forward with financing for the upgrades through Bank of America's national subsidiary Banc of America Public Capital Corp., which won a contract bid to oversee the financing.

City administration is also putting before the Jackson City Council a 2010/2011 budget revision proposal, although Johnson's administration would not release an explanation of the budget revision prior to the 4 p.m. council work session scheduled for today.

"It'll be ready and available at work session today," city spokeswoman Quita Bride said.

Previous Comments

ID

163577

Comment

Keep up the good work, Johnson. You are continuing the promise of putting Jackson "BACK ON TRACK". Keep walking silently while carrying that BIG STICK that continues to knock down barriers and open doors of opportunities for making Jackson the Best of the New South!

Author

justjess

Date

2011-05-18T19:57:34-06:00