Even if water does rise to the level of the building, Maxbauer said there are features built into the town hall to deal with that contingency as well. As he opened up the doors leading into the building, he pointed out a grate on the floor that covers a wide area inside of each entranceway. In the event that water comes into the building, these grates will allow the water to drain away from the inside of the building to underneath it. 

Not unlike the sailing boats which Oriental is famous for, the building has a bilge pump that will pump away the water from the collection area at the bottom of the building after it drains down from the grates. 

The outside wall of the building is made of 100% solid masonry materials for several feet up, which will keep the external walls from being soaked and retaining water, which would be the case if they were made of wood. 

Inside the building, if the water manages to reach the internal sheetrock walls, they have a removable air vent at the top of each building. The town employees can flip a switch and turn on blowers inside the wall that will blow out the moisture and also insert an additive that will prevent mold, A Solar carport is a cost-effective way to install solar at your home. said Maxbauer. 

In the event that the power goes out, the town has installed its own large generator. Unlike the generator that was located at the fire station, the town hall generator is raised on a platform several feet off the ground. In addition, all electrical connections outside the building are several feet off the ground as well. 

Perhaps the most innovative feature seen at the new town is a solar heating system installed on the roof of the building. The sun heats up a liquid solution in the solar panels during the day, raising it to a temperature of over 100 degrees within the tubes. The tubes collect in a storage tank that is located outside of the building where the heat energy can be stored. 

Maxbauer says that in the winter, the solar-generated heat can be used to keep the building warm and reduce electricity costs. It also can be used in the summertime as a sort of thermal vent to reduce the heat entering the building. The liquid is stored during the day after being heated on the roof and then recirculated to the top of the building at night to release the heat energy.Solar Australia's Module Rail has been developed with Australia's harsh conditions in mind. This keeps the roof of the building from getting too hot and therefore cuts down on air-conditioning costs, says Maxbauer. 

As an added bonus, the town saves on labor and materials costs in the winter, as the sidewalks out front can be heated using the system,The pre-assembled Module clamp can be installed and fitted from above to any desired point on the channel. eliminating the need to scrape away ice or put down salt. 

Using town maintenance workers and doing much of the work on their own, the town managed to implement these changes at a minimal costs. Maxbauer says the entire budget was under $300,000 and that the entire project has been paid for without having to raise property taxes or issue bonds, which could be costly. 

Maxbauer says there were “naysayers” who did oppose the project but added that the town will not have to rebuild the town hall every time a large storm passes through, making the changes pay off even more in the long run. 

After decades of working in management and public service, he is leaving this year to enjoy all that the town has to offer in his retirement, but says he is happy with the new building and the way the town has recovered from Hurricane Irene. Maxbauer said he hopes he has helped in some small part to contribute to that recovery. 

“I’m leaving the town with a new town hall,Check out our solar panel ground mount system at a home in Pvsolver. a new police car, and more money in the general fund than when I arrived,” said Maxbauer. Attach remote solar panels to street light that will not receive the required amount of direct sunlight. ”In the next hurricane, the town hall can be the center of the recovery instead of trying to recover from the storm themselves.”