FARMINGTON — By mid-March, a much expanded Tri-County Weatherization program should be cutting the ribbon on a new facility.

The 22,000 square-foot space at Clearfield’s Freeport Center will provide much-expanded quarters, County Health Director Lewis Garrett said.

Not only will the facility be used to service needs of in-need residents in Davis, Morgan and Weber Counties, but it will serve as a training center for Northern Utah as well as the Western U.S., he told county commissioners last week.

There are currently about 250 homeowners on the waiting list. During 2009, 56 households from Davis County were served, 59 from Weber and none in Morgan County.

The program employs 13 now but is planning expansion to 18 by April.

Some $5.8 million has been received by the county, much of it from federal stimulus funds, for the project, Garrett said.

“We’ve got additional crews, are modifying the Clearfield facility,” he said, with painting due to start shortly.

A miniature house will be available for training, providing a chance for crews to learn how to provide such services as electrical upgrades to weatherizing windows, doors, etc. Services are available for free, and also include installing insulation, reducing air infiltration, performing tune-ups and repairs to heating systems, replacing appliances to improve efficiency and safety, and replacing incandescent lighting with compact fluorescent bulbs.

Carbon monoxide and combustion safety measures are also provided, says the agency’s Web page, which is part of the Davis County website, www.daviscountyutah.gov/weatherization.

“If someone has no heat, they pop up to the top of that day’s work list,” Garrett said, responding to a query from County Commissioner Louenda Downs. “I don’t think such jobs comprise much of the workload,” he said, adding that most of those come from referrals by state agencies.

The program is intended to assist low and moderate-income households who meet federal income guidelines in reducing energy costs by improving the efficiency of their homes. Davis County provides the service for Davis, Morgan and Weber Counties.

For more information, call 801-451-3256.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com