Hope Water & Light Commission Meets

The Hope Water and Light Commission met in their conference room Wednesday morning (8-28). The minutes from the previous meeting were approved. The financial statement was looked over and discussed. The broadband revenue was discussed and it was noted due to customers not being hooked up until June there was no revenue until then. Water and electric are both doing well with water revenue up $293,675 over last year. Electric revenue is $140,000 more than last year.

Janitorial service bids were put out as the current provider, Adams Janitorial, have increased their prices.   There were three bids with the Harmon Janitorial bid of $2,555 per month accepted. This service has been used before and is a very thorough service.

For project updates, the idea of a bond issue was discussed.  Discussion of a bond issue for the west booster is on hold until it is known how much money will be needed.

There are 370 active prepay customers.  The kiosk is continually used and believed to be better than the drop box since the deposits are recorded promptly.

Hope Water and Light closed on the purchase of a transmission line on the 27th providing 10 more miles of line. This was at a cost of $1.2 million. It was a line considered extra by Entergy and will enable a loop to be provided once a 3-ring bus is installed in Emmet. Entergy had planned to close the line. The purchase will allow for an alternative power supply and will save $14,000 per month that was being paid to Entergy. Minimal maintenance is needed on this line although some bracing needs to be fixed.

There has been a gain of 128 contracts since June. Twenty customers are waiting for broadband services to be installed in their homes. All the outside work has been done with the interior work remaining.

A grant will pay for all classes for the first two groups going through fiber tech training at UAHT. The classes start in September.

The effect of AT&T on credit card service was mentioned.

For the west booster station, it will cost $180,000 to determine a plan for improvements. The bid will be good for up to 90 days. Once the bid is accepted the amount cannot be changed without a change order.  This will only be needed if different parts were required.  The original quote for the project was $7.5 million. A later quote was over $12 million dollars. Commission members hope the lower price is closer to the actual cost.  The water station in Fulton will use this station.

Inflation numbers are 2.9 percent, so a cost-of-living increase of 3 percent was passed.

An expected offer from SWEPCO was mentioned.

An attempted land purchase was discussed.

It was noted the the  aquifer utilized by Hope Water & Light doesn’t have much fluoride so the utility will need to look at adding more.

The meeting then adjourned.