Infrastructure Grant: John Popa's Response

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To read the grant proposal click on this link

https://www.leelanau.gov/downloads/leelanau_county_re_eied_application_application_february_2024.pdf


SOLAR PANELS AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER

  • We know you applied for a grant to install solar panels 
  • But now you need to seriously consider withdrawing from that grant 
  • I am not against solar panels or alternative energy of sorts 
  • I am against it if it does not make economic or practical sense 
  • I am definitely against installing solar panels here as proposed 
  • If someone wants to install them, like many mentioned...good for them 
  • I disagree using grants, gifts, credits which puts this country in debt, causes inflation, and lowers our standard of living as a result 
  • You may ask 'what do I know'? 
  • You probably know that I was a career registered engineer 
  • I was also a county facilities engineer...which is badly needed in this county (wave hand around) 
  • However, I was summoned back to Consumers to be a Certified Energy Manager 
  • It was in infancy 25 yrs ago....there were only a few thousand of us 
  • Was the hardest test I ever took 
  • We evaluated buildings (wave around).....I did it on a commercial/industrial scale 
  • We didn't take sides, add feelings, etc....we just evaluated all the factors 


SO WHAT?

  • Well, I looked at this proposal, and you need to withdraw the grant...it stinks 
  • I hope each one of you reads this report word for word...get a pen out. 
  • The County does not need to be into solar generation...let the utilities do it 
  • Utilities have the skills and background...you don't 
  • No one here will be on this Board in 20 years 
  • You need to have someone look at this...took me less that 8hrs 
  • You don't have a facilities engineer...that person could have looked at it 
  • I talked to most of you, and I thank you 
  • You are constantly making decisions that involves taxpayers money, and you represent us....
    It is not an easy job, and I thank you 
  • However, there is a big difference between needing something for the County......
    and wanting something because of your internal feelings 
  • In the little time that I have, I will try to cover some points 


1. This is the worst place in the country to support solar energy


2. Top of page 7 mentions "educating the public'. That is not defined anyplace in the state laws that define your duties...
   and you took an oath. That is simply wrong to use our taxpayers money and time to do this. 


3. Joe DeFores spent a lot of time developing this report. He should have been a lobbyist, because he's good. However, this is a conflict       of interest because $8000 is directed to this organization as identified #17 on pg 31. 


4. Stay out of the Electric Vehicle initiative, page 7. You aren't just going to the grocery store, and then just wait at your desk...you are            here to serve the public during all weather conditions, time of day, and the seat is warm. 


5. Middle of page 8, Locating the panels above parking lots is a terrible idea. 13ft up in the air, maintenance, need a bucket-lift to work         on them, clean them, plowing around the posts, salt corrosion on posts, bird poop and nests. 


6. Throughout the report it mentions lower costs of solar energy. Bottom of page 8, says it will save $35,000/yr...cost is $1.1 M......
    31 year payback!! 


7. #2 on page 13 says up to $1.2 million over the life time. So like I just mentioned...it will take 30 years. 


8. Biggest thing left out of this report is yearly expenses and end-of-life. That is terrible. None of us will be here to maintain these,                  replace, or take them down.

 

9. National Renewable Energy Lab states that maintenance is $31/yr per installed Kilowatt. Some state $1000 per twenty panels. Any            way you want to look at it, it is approximately $11,000/yr. Where are you going to get this money? You do not need to spend taxpayers      money on solar energy. 


10. The yearly expense, including valuable staff time is over $1/4 million

. 

11. Take that money, and give it to the Sherriff department so that we can hire and retain officers. 


12. Bottom of page 8 says you will save $35,000/yr. Fine, but you have to subtract maintenance...it's then closer to $24,000/year                         savings...46 year payback. Plus, the terrible location of this installation will definitely increase the maintenance. This is a terrible error      in this report. 


13. Top of page 8 states 1.58 MW annually. Not sure what that is...is it load or hours? Consumption? 


14. Really need to look at Pgs 22-24. Grants and changes to grants are not easy to implement. You need money. It is cumbersome. You         need to stay out of electric generation...you do not have the time, skills, or budget. 


15. A very big item is man-power, to build it, and then maintain it. 


16. Really look hard at page 28. 

- with the staffing mess that you are in, you are now going to add to it
- 3 weeks of work for the Administrator, just to build it (hire, evaluation) -3 weeks of work for the Finance Director (that is a                  revolving door) -1-2 weeks of Treasure time (if I was a treasure, I would tell you to go fly a kite...I have compliance duties) 

- 3-4 weeks of Facilities Manager time (wow...facilities doesn't have the manpower to do the job properly now) You do not even        have a Facilities Engineer...that is terrible. 


YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS PROJECT RIGHT NOW!

This whole project could go to hell if you don't administer it right or finance it correctly right from the start. 

  • You do not have the time 
  • You do not have the skills 
  • It is a terrible cost/benefit project with a 40+ yr payback 
  • Horrible installation location that was thought of at the last minute -Project will add you your yearly expenses and manpower 
  • Pushing off expenses and demolition down the road 
  • Solar panels in this area, for economic reasons, is marginal or nill -Leave it to the utilities to generate electricity 
  • You have been elected and need to be responsible 
  • You can't let feelings about saving the climate involve our money -This project is not free. It comes out of the inflation production act. -It increases our debt and lowers our standard of living 
  • Who is going to administer, run, maintain a public relations effort? 

Improving County Government Openness

By Gary Hosking • 22 Jun, 2024
“Power corrupts, and there is nothing more corrupting than power exercised in secret.”

Infrastructure Grant: John Popa's Response

By John Popa • 09 Jun, 2024
To read the grant proposal click on this link https://www.leelanau.gov/downloads/leelanau_county_re_eied_application_application_february_2024.pdf SOLAR PANELS AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER We know you applied for a grant to install solar panels But now you need to seriously consider withdrawing from that grant I am not against solar panels or alternative energy of sorts I am against it if it does not make economic or practical sense I am definitely against installing solar panels here as proposed If someone wants to install them, like many mentioned...good for them I disagree using grants, gifts, credits which puts this country in debt, causes inflation, and lowers our standard of living as a result You may ask 'what do I know'? You probably know that I was a career registered engineer I was also a county facilities engineer...which is badly needed in this county (wave hand around) However, I was summoned back to Consumers to be a Certified Energy Manager It was in infancy 25 yrs ago....there were only a few thousand of us Was the hardest test I ever took We evaluated buildings (wave around).....I did it on a commercial/industrial scale We didn't take sides, add feelings, etc....we just evaluated all the factors SO WHAT? Well, I looked at this proposal, and you need to withdraw the grant...it stinks I hope each one of you reads this report word for word...get a pen out. The County does not need to be into solar generation...let the utilities do it Utilities have the skills and background...you don't No one here will be on this Board in 20 years You need to have someone look at this...took me less that 8hrs You don't have a facilities engineer...that person could have looked at it I talked to most of you, and I thank you You are constantly making decisions that involves taxpayers money, and you represent us.... It is not an easy job, and I thank you However, there is a big difference between needing something for the County...... and wanting something because of your internal feelings In the little time that I have, I will try to cover some points 1. This is the worst place in the country to support solar energy 2. Top of page 7 mentions "educating the public'. That is not defined anyplace in the state laws that define your duties... and you took an oath. That is simply wrong to use our taxpayers money and time to do this. 3. Joe DeFores spent a lot of time developing this report. He should have been a lobbyist, because he's good. However, this is a conflict of interest because $8000 is directed to this organization as identified #17 on pg 31. 4. Stay out of the Electric Vehicle initiative, page 7. You aren't just going to the grocery store, and then just wait at your desk...you are here to serve the public during all weather conditions, time of day, and the seat is warm. 5. Middle of page 8, Locating the panels above parking lots is a terrible idea. 13ft up in the air, maintenance, need a bucket-lift to work on them, clean them, plowing around the posts, salt corrosion on posts, bird poop and nests. 6. Throughout the report it mentions lower costs of solar energy. Bottom of page 8, says it will save $35,000/yr...cost is $1.1 M...... 31 year payback!! 7. #2 on page 13 says up to $1.2 million over the life time. So like I just mentioned...it will take 30 years. 8. Biggest thing left out of this report is yearly expenses and end-of-life. That is terrible. None of us will be here to maintain these, replace, or take them down. 9. National Renewable Energy Lab states that maintenance is $31/yr per installed Kilowatt. Some state $1000 per twenty panels. Any way you want to look at it, it is approximately $11,000/yr. Where are you going to get this money? You do not need to spend taxpayers money on solar energy. 10. The yearly expense, including valuable staff time is over $1/4 million . 11. Take that money, and give it to the Sherriff department so that we can hire and retain officers. 12. Bottom of page 8 says you will save $35,000/yr. Fine, but you have to subtract maintenance...it's then closer to $24,000/year savings...46 year payback. Plus, the terrible location of this installation will definitely increase the maintenance. This is a terrible error in this report. 13. Top of page 8 states 1.58 MW annually. Not sure what that is...is it load or hours? Consumption? 14. Really need to look at Pgs 22-24. Grants and changes to grants are not easy to implement. You need money. It is cumbersome. You need to stay out of electric generation...you do not have the time, skills, or budget. 15. A very big item is man-power, to build it, and then maintain it. 16. Really look hard at page 28. - with the staffing mess that you are in, you are now going to add to it - 3 weeks of work for the Administrator, just to build it (hire, evaluation) -3 weeks of work for the Finance Director (that is a revolving door) -1-2 weeks of Treasure time (if I was a treasure, I would tell you to go fly a kite...I have compliance duties) - 3-4 weeks of Facilities Manager time (wow...facilities doesn't have the manpower to do the job properly now) You do not even have a Facilities Engineer...that is terrible. YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS PROJECT RIGHT NOW! This whole project could go to hell if you don't administer it right or finance it correctly right from the start. You do not have the time You do not have the skills It is a terrible cost/benefit project with a 40+ yr payback Horrible installation location that was thought of at the last minute -Project will add you your yearly expenses and manpower Pushing off expenses and demolition down the road Solar panels in this area, for economic reasons, is marginal or nill -Leave it to the utilities to generate electricity You have been elected and need to be responsible You can't let feelings about saving the climate involve our money -This project is not free. It comes out of the inflation production act. -It increases our debt and lowers our standard of living Who is going to administer, run, maintain a public relations effort?

Death by Taxes?

14 Sep, 2023
Here is a list of millages and local taxes you are paying every year: School, County, Road, Parenting Communities paid for by the Early Childhood millage, Township, Senior Services, Library, Recycling and possibly Village with sewage/water. Are we missing any? Oh yes, sales tax and gas tax are local as well. These taxes would have to be approved by a vote of the people, but how likely is a millage to be defeated in May of an off cycle election? Given the number of taxes being levied on Leelanau County residents, how likely is it for young families to purchase a home and move into Leelanau County? If you are a renter, you don’t escape paying for millages and property taxes as they are included in your rent. The Democrat County Board is currently studying the possibilities of additional taxes for: child day care, solar and wind power, a juvenile delinquency home with Traverse City, electric vehicles, and affordable housing, all of which will be funded by Leelanau County taxpayers if approved. How do you think the Dems plan to fund these projects? Right now, they’re seeking grant funding. What do you think will happen when the grants dry up or they do not receive the grant and believe you “need’’ these government programs? Last year, when the Democrats took control of the County Board, they immediately raised the county millage back to the maximum amount after it had been lowered the year before. In 2022, the new Board of Commissioners (BOC) subcontracted with an affordable housing guru for $60,000 to “talk” to every township about how they can accomplish work force housing. This action was taken after our county had a committee studying affordable housing for the last 20 years. Then, the BOC voted to add a costly ordinance for septic inspections on home transfers. These inspections will cost the home owners between $400 to $12,000 depending on inspection results. What is the impact of these septic inspections on young families who want to buy property here? On April 10th, 2023, our county Treasurer reported that the county has $6,896,736.72 in investments raising over $400,000 in interest so far in 2023. The county also has currently available cash assets of $5,524,703.00 totaling over $12.4 million in county cash assets.These cash assets do not include special funds such as the Building and Safety Reserve Fund, which currently has over $1 million in emergency funds, and Parenting Community Funds. The $12.4 million is available to spend before the county even collects 2023 summer taxes. Both the County Clerk and County Treasurer have stated publicly that county taxes could be lowered, but the new Chairman has indicated by his vote that allowing you to keep a few dollars of your own money is not as wise as the county collecting it and spending it. He and the rest of the Democrats believe it is much better to add your dollars to the already burgeoning county coffers so that they can spend your money for you. Recently Leland, Suttons Bay and Bingham voted in a new millage to support their local libraries. Previously, the townships had already been collecting millages that they used to support the libraries. When the library millage vote passed, Bingham Township reduced their millage by the amount that was designated for the library. Both Suttons Bay and Leland Townships kept the additional taxes as a windfall and are now spending these dollars on wage increases and park facilities such as pickle ball courts and dog runs. How do these additional taxes help the elderly on fixed incomes? Do you want to keep a representative in place who believes he or she can spend your money more wisely than you can?
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