It was a nostalgic day on Monday, Aug. 31 as the demolition crews began to tear down the old Flint Energies Headquarters building in Reynolds. Flint was formed in 1937 and the headquarters building was built in Reynolds in 1960.

But pieces of history will continue to serve needs in the Middle Georgia area. Equipment, fixtures, appliances, cabinetry, doors and other building products were successfully recycled and donated to local non-profit organizations.
“This was the first time in recent memory that Flint Energies had demolished an old building,” said Sr. Vice President Jimmy Autry. “Our transition team identified items which might still have useful life which Flint couldn’t use in the new building. We invited local non-profit representatives to survey the items several months ago.”

Those non-profits brought their own volunteers to the old headquarters building in August and salvaged items for reuse, according to Autry. None of them were charged for any item. Many organizations were invited to “bid” and the seven which received items were:

Montessori Joy Learning Center, Reynolds, GA
Kay Community Service Center, Ft. Valley, GA
Southeastern Holiness Camp, Lizella, GA
Rainbow House Children’s Resource Center, Warner Robins, GA
Marion County Recreation Department, Buena Vista, GA
Taylor County Board of Education, Butler, GA
The Church, Butler, GA
 
Phase one of the new Flint Energies building was built immediately behind the Co-op’s old headquarters. Members are using temporary parking and entrances to the new building, until Phase two can be completed next spring, said Autry.

“Flint is also building an operations center on a campus that includes the old Trae Chevrolet building on the west side of Reynolds,” said Autry. “The operations center site will be used for linemen, warehousing, truck sheds and an automotive shop.” It should be complete this November.

“Consideration was given to renovate the old Reynolds office,” said Autry. But the costs of a new facility barely exceeded the cost of renovation of the old building.” In addition, there was a great need for new mechanical systems such as heating and air conditioning and fire suppression and a new roof.  “The best investment for our members was to build, not renovate,” said Autry.

Phase two of the new headquarters will feature a community meeting room that will seat 300.  When complete, this room will be the largest meeting facility in Taylor County.

In 2011, Flint’s Board of Directors began setting aside money each month to pay for the new construction.  “We expect to pay the final payments when the building is complete, so members will not be paying any mortgage or interest on the building,” said Autry. “But we all fully understand that all funds come from the members and that we are called to be good stewards of those funds.”

Rate increases for Flint members are likely in the future, according to Autry.  However, those increases will be driven by increasing power costs and fuel costs, not the cost of a new headquarters facility.

“Both the new headquarters building and operations center will allow us to better serve our members in our rural areas, replacing the old headquarters building which has exceeded its useful life,” said Autry.  “Flint is committed to supporting our rural areas, especially Taylor County where Flint began and actively demonstrate our Commitment to Community as part of the Touchstone Energy brand.”