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Pinwheels Will Represent Victims

By Staff | Apr 15, 2009

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and local advocates will be making that known through a special event April 24.

Theresa Hoskins, Wetzel County Family Resources Network Director, and Carla Wade, of the Child Care Resource Center sponsored by the Catholic Charities of West Virginia and funded by the Department of Health and Human Resources, told Wetzel County Commissioners March 31 that they will be installing pinwheels in front of the courthouse for each child abuse case Wetzel County has had in 2008.

Hoskins went to explain that last year there were 233 reported and substantiated cases of child abuse in Wetzel County alone. “It’s very sad to me that there was that many cases,” stated Hoskins.

While at the meeting, she also asked the commission to look over her budget request which has never raised in the last five years. She spoke of how this money also helps with the Family Resource Center’s annual Family Retreat, which will be a one day event this year at Lewis Wetzel Park in New Martinsville.

David D’Orazio of Johnson Controls was also present and handled information to the commissioners about what this company does in energy efficiency and spoke of West Virginia House Bill 4028, Chapter 7, article 1 which gives “County Commissions authority to enter into energy-savings contracts.”

It also states, “As used in this section energy-conservation measures to reduce energy consumption operating cost of county facilities.”

D’Orazio spoke of how Johnson Controls has done work on the West Virginia State Capital on a state level and they are the largest performance contracting company. He explained how there will be no up front cost to do a preliminary study for the commissioners to show them how to save money on their buildings with such things as upgrades of replacement windows, heating and air conditioning systems, insulation, and energy control systems.

“I am pretty confident we will find savings for you,” said D’Orazio. He further explained how the company can negotiate for the county, lock into rate plans for a certain amount of years with electric and gas companies, and then they cannot be raised.

Commission President Don Mason thanked D’Orazio for the information handled to the commissioners and said they need time to look over the materials and discuss the matter further.

At their April 7 meeting the commission agreed to let Johnson Controls do the assessment and then see if it would be financially feasible to implement any of the suggestions. “That’s pretty much the protocol as it relates to the process,” said Joseph Boetsch of Johnson Controls. “We can assess it and help with that process.”

The changes are generally made with lease funds that are paid for by the cost savings. If the cost savings are not sufficient to cover the lease cost, then Johnson Controls pays the difference.

“Banks love these types of deals, not that we’re a cosigner, but they’re sure they’ll get paid,” noted Boetsch.

According to him, only in one percent of their contracts has Johnson Controls ever had to pay for the difference between the cost savings and lease amounts.