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Walla Walla County weighs energy upgrades, building sell-offs as maintenance costs rise
Summary
County facilities director told commissioners that splitting building costs revealed high utility and repair bills — especially at the Old Health/Annex building — and pushed for energy-efficiency investments (LED lighting, Johnson Controls/OpenBlue monitoring) funded partly by Pacific Power & Light grants.
Walla Walla County commissioners heard a detailed review of the county—s facilities maintenance budget on Oct. 15 as staff pressed for capital investments to reduce rising utility and repair costs.
Rob Grandstaff, facilities director, said managers moved from a single umbrella line item to a building-by-building accounting method so the county can see which properties are driving cost increases. The change exposed large utility expenditures at older buildings and a spike in 2024 that staff tied to accessibility upgrades and other one-time projects.
"Last year we changed the number of fixtures in the old health department that reduced our water usage," Grandstaff said, noting past plumbing and appliance upgrades. He said the Old Health/Annex building is the county—s least efficient…
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