By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—At a busy session of the Board of Public Utilities Tuesday morning, board members heard exemplary audit reports, voted to recommend the city of Paris approve two more years of rate increases, accepted a bid of $793,000 for Phase I of the wastewater treatment plant project, and approved an architectural agreement with TLM Associates for the BPU office renovation project.
Winston Truett and Brandon Crosby of Alexander Thompson Arnold gave high marks to the BPU management and accounting office for the fiscal year 2017 audit reports for the BPU and its Roundup program.
Neither had findings and no issues reported. Crosby said, “Your management did a very great job. They’ve taken care of everything in a timely manner. Everything looks great.”
Board President David Flowers said, “It doesn’t get any better than that.”
BPU General Manager Terry Wimberley reported only one contractor offered a bid for the Phase I of the Wastewater Treatment Plant project, although eight contractors had requested specs for it.
The bid, for $793,000, was from Haren Construction Co., Etowah, Tenn., and is lower than $900,000 budgeted for it. The project will be funded with State Revolving Fund loans previously approved by the board.
This phase includes improvements, including a state of the art UV disinfection system that will replace chlorine gas and has a low operating cost.
The board recommended approval by the city of Paris of wastewater rate increases for fiscal year 2020 and 2021. Wimberley said those rate increases will completed the negotiated consent order agreement with TDEC entered into in April of 2016. The consent order requires BPU to eliminate permit violations at the wastewater treatment plant over a three-year period and in the wastewater collection system over a five year period.
Wimberley said the increases will amount to a $4.75 increase over two years for the average user.
In other business, the board approved the architectural agreement with TLM Associates for the upcoming office renovation project. That project will include improved security, office space, customer service and internal efficiency for the BPU offices on Washington St. in Paris.
Photo: Auditors present reports to BPU. (McFarlin photo).
Neither had findings and no issues reported. Crosby said, “Your management did a very great job. They’ve taken care of everything in a timely manner. Everything looks great.”
Board President David Flowers said, “It doesn’t get any better than that.”
BPU General Manager Terry Wimberley reported only one contractor offered a bid for the Phase I of the Wastewater Treatment Plant project, although eight contractors had requested specs for it.
The bid, for $793,000, was from Haren Construction Co., Etowah, Tenn., and is lower than $900,000 budgeted for it. The project will be funded with State Revolving Fund loans previously approved by the board.
This phase includes improvements, including a state of the art UV disinfection system that will replace chlorine gas and has a low operating cost.
The board recommended approval by the city of Paris of wastewater rate increases for fiscal year 2020 and 2021. Wimberley said those rate increases will completed the negotiated consent order agreement with TDEC entered into in April of 2016. The consent order requires BPU to eliminate permit violations at the wastewater treatment plant over a three-year period and in the wastewater collection system over a five year period.
Wimberley said the increases will amount to a $4.75 increase over two years for the average user.
In other business, the board approved the architectural agreement with TLM Associates for the upcoming office renovation project. That project will include improved security, office space, customer service and internal efficiency for the BPU offices on Washington St. in Paris.
Photo: Auditors present reports to BPU. (McFarlin photo).