Council selects new municipal court judge

The Peachtree City Council has agreed to participate in an energy-savings program that will ultimately net big energy savings for the city.

Trane, Inc. will replace light fixtures and hot water heaters to cut energy costs, said Tom Corbett, the city’s director of public works.

Additionally, the city will make changes to the heating, ventilation and cooling system at City Hall to improve comfort. All the changes will be financed for a total cost of $1.5 million including interest over a period of 10.7 years, Corbett said in a memo to council.

According to the energy audit conducted by Trane, the city will save $110,000 in utilities in the first year based on current utility rates. Once the new equipment is paid for, the city will save an estimated $200,000 a year for the following five years, Corbett said in the memo.

City Manager Bernie McMullen said the city-owned tennis center and amphitheater were included in the project, and the finance committee of the Tourism Association, which operates both venues, has agreed to participate in the project.

Councilwoman Judi-ann Rutherford said she was pleased the new lighting fixtures would come from Cooper Lighting and the tankless water heaters would come from Rinnai because both companies operate in Peachtree City.

“I just wanted to make sure we support the companies in our community,” Rutherford said.

In other business last week, council:

• Approved an agreement to maintain vehicles for the Peachtree City Airport Authority. Corbett said the airport’s fleet, which consists of just nine vehicles, including tractors, dump trucks and the like, could be handled along with the city’s 560-unit fleet;

• Named local attorney Stephen Ott as the city’s full-time municipal court judge; he had previously served as the fill-in judge when needed. The current judge, Eric Maxwell, resigned from the full-time spot due to being elected to the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, but he will stay on board in the part-time role when necessary. City Attorney Ted Meeker said he could not find any indication that Maxwell’s service as a judge would equate to a conflict of interest, though he felt if one developed, Maxwell would choose to step down ... or the city could remove him from the position if necessary.