Jasper Utility Service Board approves Mayor’s leadership plan, reports on delays at Beaver Lake and better natural gas prices
Jasper Utility Service Board Meeting Jasper Mayor Terry Seitz got what he wanted from the Utility Service Board at Monday night’s meeting – an approval to move ahead with his strategic planning and leadership training – but not before a long discussion about need, funding and timing and a stipulation.
USB Chairman Wayne Schuetter made an amendment to the motion to approve the Mayor’s request by making it contingent on the City Council’s decision to pass a similar motion to approve the project.
Also in the meeting Monday night, Utility General Manager Bud Hauersperger announced that the Engineering firm of Christopher Burke and Force Construction have asked for additional time to complete the Beaver Lake Dam project due to weather and grant approval delays.
The original project estimate was for 4 months, but with the delays, the project is now pushing six months. Hauersperger stated the spillway walls are almost finished and after back-fill is placed around the outside of the wall, the crews can seal a drain line that was added to keep the lake level down during the work. The lake can then start to fill back up. “We’re anticipating that will happen around the first of May.”
June 1st is now the target date for completion of the dam.
The Board approved a $6,000.00 expenditure for a berm drain and received a credit back from Force in the amount of $23,400 to the city of Jasper. Christopher Burke Engineering asked for and was approved an additional $24,600 for cost overruns due to the bad weather delays of last fall. It too, was approved.
Hauersperger also told the board that the contract for purchase of the Heidorn property has been signed and that he expects to close on the sale next week.
Hauersperger also reported the lower natural gas prices are affecting the price of natural gas for residents in Jasper. Any savings the city utilities receives on natural gas the city passes on to customers. Hauersperger stated the prices that Jasper pays for natural gas are being locked in now which means savings for residential customers.
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