When costs soar and revenues don’t always ride along in tandem, progressive leaders make certain that renewed efforts are undertaken to assure there’s an ability to balance the difference in a meaningful way. Such is the case in the City of St. Joseph where city management has focused on continuous quality improvement and the St. Joseph City Commission will receive a report this evening showcasing several prime examples.
Over the past couple of years, the City of St. Joseph’s Department of Public Works has been working to improve Public Works Facilities. The city’s Director of Public Works, Tom MacDonald says, “The primary focus has been to complete long needed repairs and to address energy inefficiencies.” Tonight he will detail completed projects including; replacement and repair of roofs, insulation, windows, shop heaters and gas lines that have resulted in a tangible payoff.
MacDonald says that associated with that work, the City of St. Joseph has also received energy efficiency rebates from American Electric Power in the amount $2,818 for replacing metal halide lights with more efficient fluorescent fixtures with occupancy sensors, and Michigan Gas Utilities in the amount of $1,629 for replacing doors, roofs, and ceiling fans. He adds, “We also expect to see ongoing savings, estimated at nearly $4,000 per year from these changes, depending on usage and energy costs. Replacing and repairing old and leaky piping in the facility as part of the project will surely also result in savings.”
MacDonald’s report tonight will also showcase another ongoing capital improvement project in the form of the replacement of downtown decorative streetlight poles and their conversion to LED lighting. He says Mike Christensen has been working on that project as well and the replacement of 125 lights with LEDs resulted in an AEP energy rebate to the City of $6,875 and the bonus comes in the expected reduction in electric usage which is expected to save approximately $7,800 per year.
MacDonald’s report says, “Casting a wider net in obtaining competitive bids on cleaning and restroom supplies has led to 6-month savings of approximately $1,200.”
Another focus on recycling is paying off, too, as MacDonald says, “Changing the city’s scrap metal recycling program by having separated on-site containers on site which are picked up by the contractor, rather than having city staff store and deliver commingled scrap, has saved a significant amount of time and effort. The savings are difficult to quantify but one-year revenues from scrap metal recycling are approximately $12,300.”
City Commissioners will be happy to learn that the leadership and diligence of Facilities Manager, Mike Christensen has been invaluable in the successful completion of those projects and rebate applications, when they get the detailed report tonight.
