Since You Asked: Column is back, ready to rumble
Nobody could replace the late Rob Young, who penned Since You Asked for eight years, and I won't try.
However, I intend to answer your questions with the same passion for the truth as my predecessor and I am hoping to build upon the trust that Rob established during his tenure as the SYA columnist.
I've been a newspaper reporter in the North Valley for five years and with the Appeal-Democrat since October.
This column has always been an opportunity for local readers to communicate directly with the newsroom, to let us know what's really on your mind.
So please send me your questions; anything that interests you about our community. Chances are, if you're curious about something, someone else is, too.
From inquires into police, government and traffic issues, to which restaurants may or may not be coming to town, I'm excited for the opportunity to explore local curiosities and, perhaps, solve a minor mystery or two along the way.
Q: Where did the money come from for the solar panels and covered parking lots on the Yuba County Government Building?
A: The panels were paid for by Bank of America, and smokers, but will be paid off by projected savings in energy costs.
Yuba County received a $9.4 million loan from Bank of America and put up $800,000 in tobacco taxes to buy the solar panel system last year from Chevron Energy Solutions Inc.
The county will repay the loan over the next 16 years, but the overall expense for energy is expected to dip dramatically when the panels are expected to be switched on later today at the Yuba County Government Center in Marysville and at the Health and Human Resources Center in Linda.
General Fund expenses will not increase, said Doug McCoy, the county administrator in charge of the installation.
McCoy said the panels are intended to dramatically reduce the county's annual $1 million energy bill.
The panels should cut the county's energy expenses by half this year and by about 90 percent after the loan is paid off in 2027, McCoy said.
The savings will be used to pay off the loan and to finance other infrastructure projects like the covered parking lots at the government center and new heating and air conditioning units at the county courthouse and library.
The first loan payment of $302,338.83 is due in September, according to county Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan Mierzwa.
Yuba County also expects to get $1.9 million in government rebates for the solar system over the next five years.
Since You Asked is published on Mondays. Send questions to reporter Rob Parsons at the Appeal-Democrat, 1530 Ellis Lake Drive, Marysville, CA 95901, email him at rparsons@appealdemocrat or call 749-4785.
