The Miami County commissioners last week approved a new position of maintenance manager and heard about a solar feasibility study at two county buildings.

The maintenance manager will report to Chris Johnson, the county director of operations and facilities. The commission voted Dec. 17 to create the position and hire James W. Wilson for the job.

Wilson, who will be paid $1,923 bi-weekly, started work Monday, Dec. 21. Johnson said he brings to the job 20 years of construction project management and more than five years as a maintenance supervisor.

“I am proud of the team that is there and think Jim will be a good addition,” Johnson said.

The commissioners heard an update from Johnson Dec. 16 on a statewide solar initiative. The commissioners earlier this year discussed the project with Bill Bradish from Palmer Energy.

The West Central Juvenile Center and the county Incarceration Facility, both located between Troy and Piqua off County Road 25A, will be part of a solar feasibility study that will be done at no cost to the county.

Johnson said as part of that study he has been gathering data including 12 months of electric bills for the facilities.

Although the study is free, Johnson said he wanted to include the caveat that for larger counties such as Cuyahoga (Cleveland) or Montgomery a solar project might make sense because they use “such massive volumes of electricity.”

Participation for others in a solar project could be a concern because of the long-term power contracts and “risky regulation changes” governments face, he said.

In other business last week the commission:

- Agreed to seek bids on a new inmate phone service for the county jail and Incarceration Facility. Bids will be opened Jan. 14.

- Finalized the agreement to purchase mobile and portable radios for police, fire and emergency medical services agencies across the county from Motorola Solutions for $1,648,488.

The radios will be distributed under a formula designed to meet the operating needs of each agency. The agencies pay for radio installation, accessories and any additional radios they may want for their operations.