County commissioners could not agree at the November 27 meeting on just how much money the county should contribute to the ongoing work of the Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP), and with only three of the five commissioners present, not agreeing resulted in the matter being tabled for another meeting.
CCLEP Board Chair George Wilkes requested $4,000 to cap off the $21,000 needed for a second year of funding for half-time coordinator Virginia Danfelt. Commitments totaling $17,000 were already in from the city of Grand Marais ($2,000), Lutheran Community Foundation ($2,000), and the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation ($13,000).
“Your contribution demonstrates community support which is critical to our requests for foundation funding,” the request letter stated. “…CCLEP activities are already saving money for the taxpayers of Cook County through our involvement in energy efficiency projects such as the 2010 courthouse HVAC energy efficiency retrofit, the 2010 Grand Marais city building lighting retrofit, and CCLEP’s advocation for enhanced energy efficiency for the library expansion project and for the new community center/YMCA.”
In addition, CCLEP secured funding for a countywide energy plan and is meeting regularly to find ways to implement that plan. In 2013, CCLEP will be working in partnership with other agencies on a Cook County Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP) to help property owners save energy dollars. Wilkes also said the district biomass heating system proposed for Grand Marais is looking promising.
Commissioner Bruce Martinson asked why CCLEP was asking for twice what it asked from the city of Grand Marais.
“It’s just a shot at being fair,” Wilkes responded. The county budget is bigger and city residents would be paying twice—through both city and county taxes.
Commissioner Fritz Sobanja was ready to commit the $4,000 Wilkes requested.
Commissioner Jan Hall said the city benefits more than the county from CCLEP’s work and preferred to offer $2,000.
Commissioner Martinson pointed out that buildings in Grand Marais that benefit the entire county—the courthouse, hospital, community center, ISD 166 school complex, county garage, and law enforcement center—would all benefit from the biomass project. He made a motion to commit $3,000.
Quibbling over one or two thousand dollars is not worth it when you consider the long-term benefits of CCLEP’s work to both the government and residents struggling to make ends meet, Commissioner Sobanja said.
County board motions require three yes votes to pass, even when only three commissioners are present. Commissioners Jim Johnson and Sue Hakes were not at the meeting. Passing the motion seemed unlikely, so Commissioner Martinson withdrew his motion and they decided to discuss the matter at another meeting.
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