HUMBOLDT — Monday night’s meeting of the Humboldt Council adopted a somber note when Mayor Nobby Davis recognized Saturday’s tragic accident that resulted in the drowning of a Humboldt man and the rescue of his grandson from the Neosho River.
“It was a terrible situation, and yet at the same time a miracle,” Davis said.
Davis commended Humboldt Police Officers and others involved in the rescue operation. “We appreciate your service,” he said.
Shannon Moore, police chief, said she would release a statement Wednesday morning about the incident, indicating Tuesday would include visits with the victims’ family members.
SOLAR ENERGY is on the horizon for Humboldt.
Council members unanimously agreed to have 124 solar panels installed behind the water plant.
SEK Solar of Chanute was hired for the job. The installation will produce about 100,000 kilowatt hours per year, an annual energy savings of about $9,500, according to Daniel Zywietz, co-founder of SEK Solar, which also has plans to install solar panels at the new Pete’s convenience store being constructed in town.
Monday’s plan was a reduced version of that proposed in April when City Administrator Cole Herder ventured putting the panels also on City Hall and at the sewer plant.
Routine maintenance on the roof at city hall presented challenges, Herder said, as does the uneven landscape at the sewer plant.
The project will cost Humboldt about $85,500, thanks to Federal Clean Energy Investment Tax Credits that will pay for 40% of the project.
Herder said the city expects to pay the tab across eight years “for something that should last 25-30 years,” including various warranties on equipment.
All told, the city can expect to save $309,183 in energy costs over the life of the panels.
Because the costs of materials are “fluctuating greatly,” in today’s economic climate, Herder said Zywietz had requested the city decide on the measure posthaste.
“He said some of the materials can be expected to increase 20% to 40%,” Herder reported. Zywietz’s current inventory allows him to proceed with the Humboldt installation in a timely manner.
Humboldt’s peak months for electric consumption are June through September while the sun’s energy output remains fairly constant throughout the year.
Herder said the city will benefit from net metering. During months that more energy is produced than the water plant can use, “it goes into Evergy’s electric system. And when we draw more than we can produce, we’ll draw from Evergy.
