Sheriff: three inmates helping county projects; facilities staff report major school repairs and energy work

Sheriff's staff told the board on Aug. 21 that three inmates from the Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center have been assisting county maintenance since July 1, performing landscaping, hauling trash, cleaning holding cells and assisting with painting and moving furniture.
The sheriff reported the three inmates have worked a combined total of 150.75 hours to date and said the payroll cost for those inmates was $16 at the time of the presentation. The sheriff said the program had trimmed hedges, cleaned holding cells, pruned trees at Liberty Square to comply with courthouse security guidelines, and removed 12 packs of trash from several county roads.
Facilities staff and supervisors described extensive repair work at county schools. A facilities presenter said a repair to boilers and piping and other mechanical work has cut fuel use and estimated "around $89,000" in savings so far; the presenter said both boilers burn about nine gallons of fuel per hour each and that the repairs had reduced continuous oil use. The same speaker said the county has made rapid progress on ceiling, painting, plumbing and electrical work at schools over the past two months and that LED lighting replacement is under way at the elementary school (100% complete) and for other county facilities (about 75–80% complete).
Facilities staff also flagged a recent one-month power bill of about $29,000 at the high school and said additional lighting and efficiency work is planned. Board members thanked staff for work on renovations and noted the projects are part of a multi‑year effort.
The board did not take formal action on the program updates; they were presented as informational reports.