Second FCSSC forum generates more 'green' ideas

The Faulkner County Supporters of Sustainable Communities held its second Sustainability Forum Saturday at Simon Intermediate School on Saturday.

As with last year's sustainability forum, green-minded citizens worked together to identify topics of interest before splitting into numerous groups to discuss details of plans to make the community more environmentally sustainable and the means to implement them.

As he did last year, Conway mayor Tab Townsell attended. Of the ideas Townsell heard at the forum, one of his favorites, he said, was the possibility of encouraging local developers to build "greener" homes and businesses by levying the "old" permit fees, which are about a third of new ones approved by the council last year, for structures meeting Energy Star standards.

"Of course, nothing's decided," Townsell said, "but it's not a bad idea in terms of something we could do relatively quickly."

There was also a group formed to discuss the fate of the Faulkner County Courthouse should county government elect to move their offices.

Nancy Allen, a FCSSC member, discussed the possibility of a consortium of local arts and cultural entities maintaining the structure and occupying its rooms as art studios, theaters, galleries, classrooms and workshops.

With Conway's announced intent to become a bicycle-friendly community, she added, the courthouse could also provide space for an enthusiast-operated bicycle repair shop, the creation of which has been suggested by the recently formed Bicycle Friendly Community Task Force.

Allen added that she and others involved in the discussion were "very much aware" of the mechanical, plumbing and electrical problems plaguing the courthouse, saying that in addition to aggressively seek grant money to address them should they occupy the building, the consortium would also provide whatever labor it could.

If county offices move, the structure can either go to county bats and opossums or "be a real jewel in the county crown," she said after the forum concluded.

Faulkner County Judge Preston Scroggin was present at the forum for this discussion, saying later that he though it was "a wonderful idea."

"There's more potential there than for a seat of government," Scroggin said.

There was also discussion of ways to expand the recent Conway Corp. policy of paying customers for electricity put back "into the grid" by homes outfitted with solar panels. Townsell, solar engineer Jim Mosley and architect Michelle Teague, who is working with the team tasked with designing the future Hewlett-Packard facility, spoke after the forum about using SunEdison, a solar energy services company which installs and maintains photo voltaic solar panels on structures and charges their owners only for the energy produced, to outfit a city hall.

Another group discussed providing an outreach program to assist persons with mental illness in the courts system or in county detention facilities, while others discussed local gardens, bicycle friendly policies and the possibility of holding an Eco-Fest event.

There was also a great deal of discussion in a parking lot after the forum concerning Conway resident H. Aaron Barraza's Nissan Altima, which he has equipped with a pair of water-electrolysis hydrogen generators he said have increased the vehicle's efficiency by more than 30 percent.

(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached by e-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)