By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—The Paris Board of Public Utilities began reviewing a proposed renovation of its downtown office building to provide better security, internal proficiency and improved customer service, according to General Manager Terry Wimberley.
Estimated cost is $580,000, which Wimberley said is a “high end estimate”, noting that several items included in the itemization may end up being deleted from the plan.
Renovation of the main floor of the BPU building on W. Washington Street has been reviewed internally for at least a year, Wimberley said. “We’re not asking for approval now. We just want you to look the plans over and we’ll have it on the agenda for approval in October.”
One of the key areas prompting the proposed renovation is the need for more security and Wimberley noted that several other utility companies are making the same changes to their layouts. “We think a different layout can meet the needs of our customers better, as well as providing more security,” Wimberley said.
“Better use of office space, security, customer service and internal proficiency are the solid pegs on which I believe we can hang this project on,” he said.
BPU has been considering several options for renovation or expansion, he said, “and this proposal I believe can sustain our presence in this building for another generation.”
The project would be paid from already existing bonds. “That way we don’t increase our debt and we don’t trigger rate action and those are two positive things for us,” according to Wimberley.
BPU staff has “done a lot of homework on this. This is more cost-efficient than building new,” he said. With board approval, work could begin in spring. “I see this as a year-long project”, Wimberley said.
In other business during Tuesday’s BPU meeting:
–The board approved a proclamation recognizing Oct. 1-7 as Public Power Week. The BPU will be promoting the week heavily, with radio ads, a video spotlighting the work done by BPU, social media posts, a community cook-out and more.
–The board approved an engineering agreement with Jacobs Engineering in Nashville to perform services contained in the Consent Order discussed at previous meetings. Engineering services are not to exceed $557,000.
–The board gave approval to file suit—if necessary—to condemn any necessary easements for electric, water, or wastewater line relocations associated with the TDOT expansion project of Hwy. 641N.
Photo: BPU General Manager Terry Wimberley shows the proposed renovation plan to board members Dr. John Van Dyck and Ralph Anderson. (Shannon McFarlin photo).
Renovation of the main floor of the BPU building on W. Washington Street has been reviewed internally for at least a year, Wimberley said. “We’re not asking for approval now. We just want you to look the plans over and we’ll have it on the agenda for approval in October.”
One of the key areas prompting the proposed renovation is the need for more security and Wimberley noted that several other utility companies are making the same changes to their layouts. “We think a different layout can meet the needs of our customers better, as well as providing more security,” Wimberley said.
“Better use of office space, security, customer service and internal proficiency are the solid pegs on which I believe we can hang this project on,” he said.
BPU has been considering several options for renovation or expansion, he said, “and this proposal I believe can sustain our presence in this building for another generation.”
The project would be paid from already existing bonds. “That way we don’t increase our debt and we don’t trigger rate action and those are two positive things for us,” according to Wimberley.
BPU staff has “done a lot of homework on this. This is more cost-efficient than building new,” he said. With board approval, work could begin in spring. “I see this as a year-long project”, Wimberley said.
In other business during Tuesday’s BPU meeting:
–The board approved a proclamation recognizing Oct. 1-7 as Public Power Week. The BPU will be promoting the week heavily, with radio ads, a video spotlighting the work done by BPU, social media posts, a community cook-out and more.
–The board approved an engineering agreement with Jacobs Engineering in Nashville to perform services contained in the Consent Order discussed at previous meetings. Engineering services are not to exceed $557,000.
–The board gave approval to file suit—if necessary—to condemn any necessary easements for electric, water, or wastewater line relocations associated with the TDOT expansion project of Hwy. 641N.
Photo: BPU General Manager Terry Wimberley shows the proposed renovation plan to board members Dr. John Van Dyck and Ralph Anderson. (Shannon McFarlin photo).