Jasper Utility Service Board: Steps taken to reduce power plant cost to city
The Utility Service Board in Jasper is taking additional steps to dismantle the Jasper Power Plant.
In Monday night’s meeting, Electric Committee Chair Wayne Schuetter made several proposals and asked the board to approve each one individually.
The electric committee met earlier this month and examined the options for the power plant after receiving several bids to salvage it. The bids came in much higher than the board expected. (Story here.)
Chairman Rick Stradtner repeated the proposals being voted on after Schuetter’s recommendation:
“First, reject all bids opened at the February 22nd Utility Service Board Meeting.”
“Second, make a final decision to no longer fire up the power plant using coal.” Third, eliminate the only remaining power plant employee position.”
“Third, eliminate the only remaining power plant employee position.”
“Next, reduce the insurance cost. Next, apply for grants to help with the environmental clean-up cost. Another is to investigate salvage options for individual pieces of equipment and components of the power plant. Finally, investigate re-purposing options for the power plant associated structures.”
“Next, apply for grants to help with the environmental clean-up cost. Another is to investigate salvage options for individual pieces of equipment and components of the power plant.”
“Finally, investigate re-purposing options for the power plant associated structures.”
The board voted to approve each proposal unanimously.
“There have been some posts on social media referring to firing the plant up again, Stradtner said about using the power plant to generate power for Jasper. “We have a long-term arrangement with IMPA (Indiana Municipal Power Agency). This board made that particular arrangement many years ago primarily because it was no longer cost effective for us to generate our own power and it was more responsible for our ratepayers to strike that agreement.”
Also in the meeting last night, outgoing Gas & Water Manager Ernie Hinkle announced that the water level at Beaver Lake is very near the top of the new spillway and should begin to flow over it very soon. “It’s beyond the point we had it at before,” he said. “We added 11 inches and it has six or seven inches to go before we get over that mark.”
Hinkle says that could be anytime now.
He explained the new spillway and dam should do a better job of maintaining the water level on the lake.
“I don’t think they will see as much fluctuation in the levels of the water. Once it starts going over the spillway, it should maintain that within an inch or two,” he said.
The board opened two quotes for Granular Activated Carbon filters for the Water Department. The budgeted amount was $115,300.00, but the two quotes were over. First was from Lane Water Resources of Louisville for $142,482. The second was from All Service Contracting of Decatur, Ill. for $133,868. Water Department manager Hinkle took them under advisement, since they were so far over the budgeted amount. He will report on his investigation of the quotes in next month’s meeting.
Two personnel issues came up in last night’s meeting. Electric Distribution manager Jerry Schitter asked for permission to seek candidates for two workers in the Electric Department who have submitted their retirement announcements. He was given permission to accept applications from both internal and external candidates.
Also, Hauersperger says they will begin the process of interviewing for a new Gas & Water Manager since Ernie Hinkle submitted his retirement request a few weeks ago. Hauersperger said that interview of internal only candidates will begin Tuesday, March 29th.
