The Board of Public Utilities heard a water distribution update and a financial report at its Wednesday, June 5, meeting.
Steve Green, BPU director of water distribution, outlined progress on several current water distribution projects.
He reported there would be some old mains that would need work in the second phase of the Leavenworth Road construction project, 63rd to 78th. That project is projected to start soon. The BPU’s work could cost about $2 million, and they still need funding on the project, he said.
For the Holliday Drive project, a water main that collapsed has been completed, he said.
Replacement of the 18th Street Bridge is scheduled for construction in 2021, he said. The BPU is not yet sure whether funding will come from the Kansas Department of Transportation to pay for BPU costs associated with it, that might cost $1.5 to $2 million, he said.
A water main project on 42nd Street from Shawnee to Gibbs, has been completed, he said.
One main project from around 89th to I-435 is currently working on easements and needs funding, he added.
Another project is for a water main at a new subdivision at 65th and Riverview, and the design has been completed, he said.
The BPU had funding of $10 million from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to work with areas east of I-635, he said. Eighteen areas were identified for water main replacements and other work, and a lot of work was done, but funds ran out. Approximately 18 miles of pipe was replaced, he said. About $4.5 million worth of work remains on 2-inch lines, and $10 million on 4-inch lines. In some parts of the city, the lines are 60 to 80 years old, according to officials.
The BPU has been approved for another KDHE loan, he said, and could be replacing 2-inch and 4-inch lines in need of replacement. He told the board this future work would all be dependent on a rate increase. It’s been 2013 since there was an increase, he added.
BPU General Manager Bill Johnson said they won’t always have funds, and they would continue working with what they have until they get to where they want to be.
Green also discussed facility improvements, including new security gates, Argentine pump station improvements, a Muncie roof project to begin in August, and district metering in Argentine, where there were 11 out of 18 complete. Also, an elevated tank at 21st and Ridge was removed.
Green reported that 730 work orders have been completed so far this year by the BPU water distribution, and those included new service, main repairs and replacement and hydrants, among other tasks.
Financial report showed operating revenues up slightly in April
There were 74 days of cash on hand at the end of April, according to Lori Austin, BPU chief financial officer. The cost of fuel in April was under what was budgeted, she added.
Under operating revenues, electric sales were down among the residential and commercial customers, while they were up among industrial customers during April.
Current operating expenses were down about 6 percent for April compared to the previous year, and were 89 percent of the amount budgeted for April 2019. Current operating revenues were up by 1 percent for this April as compared to April 2018, she said. The operating revenues came in around $888,000 more than what was budgeted in April.
Leadership 2020 gives report
Several high school students from Wyandotte County attended the meeting as part of a Leadership 2020 report. The students described projects they initiated to help their schools and the community. The organization receives a grant from the BPU.
Marnie Morgan, executive director of Leadership 2020, said Leadership 2020 serves abut 600 students in Wyandotte County. Those who are in the program for two years in the junior and senior program have a 100 percent high school graduation rate, she said. Eighty-three percent go on after high school to prepare for jobs or further their education.
Morgan said these students have generated about $400,000 in projects and funds raised to give back to the community since 2012.
“Working with Leadership 2020 has helped us learn that anything is possible,” a student from Harmon High School told the board.
Students helped renovate a rocky sports field at the school, with help from the Kansas City Royals.
Other students in the Leadership 2020 program also discussed their projects.
The students drew praise from the board members. Mary Gonzales said the students were all poised and had good communications skills. Jeff Bryant remarked that the organization does a good job of lighting a spark toward improving the community. Norm Scott, board chairman, said, “I love the can-do attitude.”
Resident asks about cold weather cutoff rule
Tscher “CeCe” Manck, who has filed for election to Wyandotte County register of deeds, asked about the electric cold weather cutoff rule during the visitors’ time at the BPU meeting June 5.
She explained that her electricity had been shut off in February, and she wanted to know what allowed them to cut off the lights when it was below freezing.
BPU General Manager Bill Johnson said the board had recently reviewed the old policy and updated the current policy. The new policy passed May 1, according to the minutes. It is about the same policy as before, but a little different, he said.
According to Manck, the old rule said the BPU couldn’t shut off the electricity in the winter if it was below freezing for more than 48 hours. Manck said the new policy says if the forecast says it will be above freezing, it’s OK to cut it off.
The new policy says if the forecast is above freezing, then the BPU can cut off power, Johnson said.
Manck said on the day the power was cut off, it was 19 degrees at the time it was cut off. The temperature went up to 32 degrees only for a few minutes that day and then dropped below freezing again, she said.
According to the BPU meeting minutes, Manck also discussed the cold weather cutoff rule at the May 15 BPU meeting. At that meeting, she said there were others whose electricity was disconnected around February, including people with small children in their families.
BPU spokesman David Mehlhaff said the BPU’s cold weather rule has not changed much, and has been around a long time. He said BPU’s cold weather rule is similar to that of other utilities in the area.
According to the language of the resolution that passed May 1, one phrase that changed from the old rule was “in the winter months” was changed to “During the months November through March.”
Also changed was the word “predicts” to “forecasts” when referring to the National Weather Service temperatures.
Also, the word “residential” was added to electric customers who the cold weather rule applies to.
The new language of the cold weather rule in the resolution: “During the months November through March, KCBPU will not disconnect Residential electric customers for non-payment of bills when the National Weather Service forecasts the temperature will remain at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for 48 hours.
“Water service can be disconnected at any time,” the new wording ends.
The old language was, “In the winter months KCBPU will not disconnect electricity when the temperature falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or freezing for more than 48 hours. We will, however, disconnect water all year long.”
There is also a provision, which didn’t change, that if the forecast is for a temperature above 95 degrees, or a heat index over 105, the BPU will not disconnect electric service for nonpayment of bills.
