News from the Town of Miami

The Town of Miami is working to secure its future by finding ways to save on energy costs – while rewarding employees for getting through a challenging year.

Toward energy conservation, the Town is working with Veregy, a company that offers engineering and energy-efficiency consulting.

The effort would focus on three proposed projects: improvements to the Town’s wastewater treatment plant, buildings, and street lighting.

At the wastewater treatment plant, the Town would replace two blowers, the bar screen, and aeration diffusers, and install a desolved oxygen sensor. The Town also plans to install a cellular-based control system at both the treatment plant and the lift station, to monitor flow and processes, provide alarms, and record plant performance.

According to Miami Mayor Sammy Gonzales, the result should be enhanced efficiency and fewer failures at the sewer plant.

To improve buildings’ energy efficiency, plans include installing Internet of Things thermostats to monitor and control temperature and humidity, upgrading interior lighting, installing solar photovoltaic technology, and replacing older HVAC systems. As an example, Gaudet said a 24-year-old air conditioner at the Senior Center would be replaced.

To reduce the costs of street lighting, Gaudet said the Town plans to switch to LEDs.

Veregy will guarantee the energy savings, as well as the equipment they install. Veregy will also arrange funding. The Town anticipates that the savings achieved through energy efficiency will pay for the program, Gaudet says.

“All in all, we will be getting a $3.1 million project through grants,” he says.

Should Town Council approve the contract, Gaudet says, the work should commence this summer.

The Town also found a way to give end-of-year bonuses to its employees. Gaudet says this is likely the first such bonus in at least five years.

The cost will be covered from proceeds from the sale of old fleet vehicles. The Town garnered a little over $8,100 by selling the vehicles at auction locally and in the Valley.

At its Jan. 10 meeting, Council approved approximately $7,500 in bonuses, which ranged from $150 to $250, depending on position. Council also awarded bonuses of $200 each to Gaudet and Town Clerk Karen Norris. “Town staff worked exceptionally hard during 2021, between change in administration, righting the ship with the budget, responding to fire and flood, in addition to day-to-day duties of Town employment,” Gaudet told Council. “Everyone stepped up – the police on the streets, the office staff, and even the library staff. The Senior Center went the extra mile feeding the seniors, including those in Top of the World who were stranded,” Gonzales says. “It’s important for our employees to know they’re appreciated.” “Our staff dug deep. We wanted to let them know that the work they did over the past year was seen and appreciated,” says Gaudet.

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