Posted: 10/31/06
City approves plan for electrical upgrade
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
PowerPlus Engineering presented the city council with a construction plan for electric work at the councilís meeting of October 23.
The plan outlines work that the company believes the city should do to meet the needs of its customers, the residents of the city. If the city makes all the improvements as recommended, it will cost about $918,000 over the next four years.
Distribution projects make up $671,000 of the total cost. The highest priorities are to increase capacity to serve the area west of Highway 44/76 and to install an underground feeder tie along South Street between Winnebago and Decorah Streets.
Tom Nigon and Chuck Gustafson of PowerPlus Engineering told council members that a new peak in electrical demand was reached in July of this year. That experience revealed weak spots in the distribution system, especially in the older parts of town.
ìAnything we do will be building for the future,î Gustafson told the council.
The engineers suggested ìa change of philosophyî for the city regarding placement of cable and transformers in new subdivisions. Currently, those utilities are located in the back lot lines. Over the years, it becomes increasingly difficult for city workers to reach those utilities due to plantings, fences, play equipment and other obstacles. They suggested that the transformers be placed in the front along the curb. No decision was made on this aspect of the plan.
The council agreed to accept the plan as presented and directed PowerPlus to begin drawing up plans and specifications for the top two projects.
City commits funds to celebration
In other news, the city agreed to pay up to $2,000 for Christmas decorations to be places on thre street light poles from West Main Street to the business district. The request was made by Noel Brenza on behalf of the Founders Day committee. The money will come from the liquor store account. Brenza also asked to have the library open on December 2 for a Scrabble tournament. The council agreed to ask the city librarian if this was possible.
In other business, the council agreed to allow Mike Rogich to place a garage he will be moving from 323 South Marshall Street to his property at 1004 East South Street. The placement will be temporary; Rogich has agreed to return with a request for permanent placement before April of 2007.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com