BY JERRIE WHITELEY

HERALD DEMOCRAT

SHERMAN -- Grayson County commissioners agreed Monday to apply for some American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money.

Commissioners agreed to apply for $100,000 in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants.

If the county gets the money, it will be used to replace a boiler system and to update some computer systems used to monitor and regulate energy use in county buildings.

Grayson County Judge Drue Bynum told commissioners that he has already sent in a notice of intent to apply on the county's behalf and he wanted commissioners Monday to pass a proclamation saying the county was interested in the money for the projects named.

Commissioners wanted to know if the county would have to put up any money for the grants.

Bynum told them the county would not be required to make any kind of cash match to participate in the grant if chosen.

The boiler system in question, county leaders said, is the original boiler for the Grayson County Courthouse and will cost around $31,700 to replace. Greg Allen, the county's maintenance director, said it will take approximately three days to update the boiler system if the county gets the grant. He said it would be best to do that over a 3-day weekend. Updating the computer system, Allen said, will take approximately one day and will not require county offices to close.

Commissioners also allowed North Texas Regional Airport Director Mike Shahan to make a line-item budget amendment. Shahan said he needs to purchase a pavement sweeper for the runways. He said the airport currently pays $6,000 a year to have the runways swept once a quarter. However, he said, people are still finding things on the runways which could cause problems for pilots.

Shahan showed commissioners a bag full of bolts and other metal debris that he said would be harmful to airplanes if sucked into the engines.

County commissioners approved the purchase of a used sweeper.

Commissioners also approved a $62,285 bid for repairs to the roof of the sub courthouse in Denison. The work will be done by CBS Roofing Services from Denton.

Commissioners also approved the renewal of a quarterly contract with Ergon Asphalt and the canvass of votes from the recent Constitutional Election.

Commissioners will meet again next Monday. The Court's agenda is released the public after 10 a.m. on the Friday before the meeting. The agenda may be viewed at the Grayson County Courthouse in Sherman or online www.co.grayson.tx.us.