MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 3:03 pm

Rutherford County has more stimulus funds flowing into its coffers.

County Finance Director Lisa Nolen said the County has been awarded a grant from the U. S. Department of Energy for an ARRA Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant in the amount of $418,600.

Rutherford County’s Board of Commissioners will vote to accept the grant at its regular monthly meeting Thursday night.

The funds will be used to purchase additional recycling equipment providing more recycling options at all county convenience centers, upgrade and replace fluorescent lamps in four county office buildings, upgrading central heat and air controls in four buildings, and replacing metal halide bulbs in five parking lots.

At the county’s budget committee meeting, Nolen said the total solid waste project was $154,572 with $110,000 being provided from the ARRA Energy Efficiency Grant and $44,572 would be provided from current funds in the Solid Waste budget through the Recycle Rebate Grant.

The other projects will cost the county approximately $308,600.

Earlier this month the city of Murfreesboro also announces its plans to use $961,100 in federal stimulus funds to develop an energy conservation strategy and make city hall more energy efficient.

The city plans to use the funds to upgrade city hall’s18-year-old heating and air conditioning system and install more energy efficient lighting.

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The county commission will also consider accepting a $538,165 grant from the 2009 JAG Recovery Grant (ARRA) to purchase law enforcement equipment.

The grant is a multi-jurisdictional between Murfreesboro, La Vergne, Smyrna, and Rutherford County. The city of Murfreesboro will administer the grant.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.