Jasper Utility Service Board meeting Feb. 20

The majority of the meeting was covered in this story.

The Jasper Utility Service Board met Monday night and opened quotes on several items:

For the Electric Distribution Department, Central Tie and Distribution project for the Central Sub Station. Two quotes were opened and taken under advisement by Jerry Schitter.

Also for the Electric Distribution Department, quotes for an Air Lift from four sources were read. Schitter also took them under advisement.

Quotes for a new pickup truck for the Waste Water Department Manager were taken under advisement by Ed Hollinden.

Next was a mobile collector laptop for the Business Office. The single quote was taken under advisement by Office Manager, Ashley Kiefer.

Electric Commissioner Ken Sendelweck asked the board for approval to pursue a contract to purchase 1.3 acres of land next to the Jasper Power Plant in the amount of $315,000. The Heidorn’s own the property and have agreed to sell. Sendelweck reports that three appraisals were obtained on the property and that the selling price is below all three.

Sendelweck also requested permission to fill a new part-time position at the power plant due to the fact that two employees are retiring. The position is ‘turbine operator’ and Sendelweck proposed a pay rate of $25.00 per hour. He says that even though the power plant is idle, they are still under contract with IMPA to provide power if needed within a 12-hour time limit.

Hauersperger reports that the Beaver Lake Dam project is behind about 4 to 6 weeks due to excess rainy weather last fall, but Force Construction will begin working on Saturdays also to help make up for lost time. He also reported to the board that the dam height was set just over an inch short of specifications by the contractor by mistake. Hauersperger doesn’t feel like it is worth the time and effort to fix the mistake for no more than it is short, saying that the lake would just be an inch lower in depth than it was previously, which should not create any problems.

Force Construction submitted an invoice for an additional payment on the project in the amount of $185,895.76, which means the payments so far amount to about 1/3 of the total project cost. The board passed the payment of the invoice.