Committee endorses Schneider Electric audit contract for county facilities; members press for guarantees and clarity

The Vernon County Finance Committee voted to recommend to the county board that the county enter an investment‑grade audit contract with Schneider Electric, a fixed‑fee engagement Schneider representatives said will cost $30,635 and evaluate energy and capital improvements at multiple county facilities.

Connor, the Schneider representative, told the committee the audit will evaluate the courthouse annex, an abandoned building, the Arlington building and the sheriff's department. He said some scopes (for example, solar at the sheriff's department) were unlikely to be financially feasible and that the audit process will identify guaranteed savings later in the performance contracting process. "The fee was $30,635," Connor said during the presentation.

Committee members repeatedly asked whether a statutory guarantee for energy savings (cited by attendees as Wis. Stat. § 66.0133) requires a minimum savings level before a performance contract is executed; Schneider said the minimum guarantee is specified later in the performance‑contract step after the audit produces a report. Members pressed on the possibility that the county would owe the audit fee if it chose not to proceed with the full project; Schneider confirmed there is a walk‑away fee if the county does not move forward.

After questioning, a committee member moved that the audit contract be recommended to the full board for approval; the motion passed by voice vote. Members asked Schneider to clarify the minimum obligations and any downstream guarantees in its board presentation next week.