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The Finance Committee has forwarded a $3.6 million project request to the County Commission to replace the roof on the Annex Building and install new windows in the Courthouse and the Senior Citizens Center.

The commission will meet Monday at the Courthouse at 7 p.m.

Representatives from Trane Technologies Inc., which is under contract by the county to do an investment-grade audit on energy-saving upgrades to county buildings, explained the project’s financial scope to the Finance Committee at its Sept. 7 meeting. Trane is also under contract by the county to make energy-saving upgrades to School System buildings.

Finance Committee members questioned the county’s debt service and how much financial headroom would be available to do the roof-and-window project.

Owen Nevader, Trane’s comprehensive solutions leader for Tennessee, told the committee that the county has about $4.2 million that could go toward the project which would provide the $3.6 million for the roof and for replacing all the windows in the Courthouse and the Senior Citizens Center. He added that the remaining $574,000 could go to address other issues that might surface.

Commissioner David Eldridge, a Finance Committee member, initially motioned to table forwarding the project to the commission until the county could get a better bearing on all of its future debt-service requirements.

However, Nevader cautioned that tabling the project would delay it by at least a month and could require having to readjust cost estimates because they could increase due to inflation. He added that a delay could extend the project’s path into the holiday season, and some county officials might not be available to vote on it, delaying it even further.

He suggested that the Finance Committee forward the project to the commission on the condition that the debt-service issues are resolved.

The committee followed Nevader’s suggestion with unanimous approval.

County Mayor Chris Guess stressed that the roof on the Annex Building is needed because it’s on tap in the energy-savings audit to get more energy-efficient lighting. He added that it makes no sense to install new lighting if the roof leaks because it would damage the new lighting fixtures.

Nevader said the estimates for the project were based on a 4 percent interest rate to borrow the money.

County Finance Director Andrea Smith said the $4.2 million on a 20-year bond note would cost about $300,000 annually in debt service. She said Ashley McAnulty, senior vice president with Stephens Inc., the county’s financial advisor, could provide greater details about the county’s overall financial picture and how the debt service fits into it.

Smith said debt for other projects will be paid off in five years which could free up about $200,000 annually that could go toward new projects.

The county has also called on Trane to do a study on the Southern Middle Tennessee Pavilion to determine how much it would cost to restore the deteriorating facility.

The county government and the School System had been looking at ways to save on energy costs by developing a unified plan to address energy-savings issues in county-owned buildings and entered into the partnership with Trane in 2021.

Randy Mauldin, representing Trane’s business development/energy savings solutions, had said Trane has an extensive track record with other school systems and government entities through updating lighting and converting to new energy-saving technology. He added that the improvement process involves using automated control systems, targeting heating and air-conditioning unit replacement with more efficient units over time, better sealing windows and doors, installing improved plumbing fixtures and capitalizing on solar-energy options.

Mauldin also said the improvements would more than amortize their cost and Trane’s fees to implement and manage them.

He added that Trane would guarantee a set savings, and if the figure isn’t met, the School System would be reimbursed for the difference.

Mauldin had said Trane is the largest company at what it does and is the industry leader in the field. He added that Trane manufactures the products it offers and can sell and install them at a reduced cost.

Mauldin had said Trane has generated savings for other school systems and government operations and would do the same for Franklin County.