By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—The Paris Board of Public Utilities (BPU) customer service staff will be temporarily locating in a building across the street while remodeling takes place in the main BPU headquarters on E. Washington Street in downtown Paris.
BPU General Manager Terry Wimberley confirmed to WENK/WTPR after Thursday’s regular meeting that the BPU has taken out a lease for space in the building at the corner of Washington and Poplar Street. The building most recently housed the Renaissance boutique.
The lease is for one year, but Wimberley said the remodeling will not take that long.
The BPU previously approved remodeling of its offices at 117 E. Washington St. to improve security measures and efficiency.
Wimberley said he expects that the customer service staff will be working in the building across the street for possibly five months. “We’ll be fixing up a space in that building—as cheaply as we can—for customer service to work in while we’re doing the remodel here.”
BPU didn’t want customers inconvenienced while the work was being done, he said. “While the main office is closed, people can just walk across the street to pay their bills or ask questions. It really is going to work out great.”
Wimberley said the transition likely will occur in May. “We’ll be bringing plans to the board for the remodeling in March and then the work will begin in May.”
More details will be announced as they are firmed up, he said.
At a very short meeting, the board approved a wire transfer agreement with Commercial Bank and Trust Co. to define the process of wiring bond principal and interest payments. The board also approved a bid from Commercial Bank for the BPU general banking account services at .93 percent with a $900 monthly service fee. The only other bid came from First Bank at .5 percent with a $900 a month service fee. The current checking account with Commercial Bank is at 0.630 percent.
Photo: BPU General Manager Terry Wimberley presents reports to the board. (McFarlin photo).
The lease is for one year, but Wimberley said the remodeling will not take that long.
The BPU previously approved remodeling of its offices at 117 E. Washington St. to improve security measures and efficiency.
Wimberley said he expects that the customer service staff will be working in the building across the street for possibly five months. “We’ll be fixing up a space in that building—as cheaply as we can—for customer service to work in while we’re doing the remodel here.”
BPU didn’t want customers inconvenienced while the work was being done, he said. “While the main office is closed, people can just walk across the street to pay their bills or ask questions. It really is going to work out great.”
Wimberley said the transition likely will occur in May. “We’ll be bringing plans to the board for the remodeling in March and then the work will begin in May.”
More details will be announced as they are firmed up, he said.
At a very short meeting, the board approved a wire transfer agreement with Commercial Bank and Trust Co. to define the process of wiring bond principal and interest payments. The board also approved a bid from Commercial Bank for the BPU general banking account services at .93 percent with a $900 monthly service fee. The only other bid came from First Bank at .5 percent with a $900 a month service fee. The current checking account with Commercial Bank is at 0.630 percent.
Photo: BPU General Manager Terry Wimberley presents reports to the board. (McFarlin photo).