Hooking up the future 1.4 million square-foot Whirlpool manufacturing plant and distribution center to Cleveland Utilities power and water is charging ahead with a series of approved contracts taking the spotlight Thursday.
In a formal session of the Cleveland Utilities Board at the Mountain View Inn, members gave CU leaders the go-ahead for two electrical contracts and another for site preparation and excavation, all of which were budgeted by the public utility.
Another CU project, a waterline extension to the construction site, was completed earlier and its $360,000 costs are expected to be reimbursed through grants from the Southeast Tennessee Development District, according to Craig Mullinax, manager of the CU Water Division.
“Apparently a reimbursement has been approved on that project,” Mullinax told the board. “It would be nice to get our money back.”
Contracts approved by the CU board include:
- Purchase of 6,000 feet of copper underground primary conductor (wiring) through Stuart Irby in the amount of $85,500 that will connect the new Whirlpool plant and warehouse to the new Chatata Creek Substation also being developed.
- Purchase of 2,000 feet of copper underground primary conductor through Stuart Irby in the amount of $54,000. According to information included on the board’s agenda, and in a project description by CU General Manager Tom Wheeler, “This is for the source feed to the new Chatata Creek Substation. This will be the first time Cleveland Utilities has used underground 69 KV conductor to serve one of our substations. It is necessary because Cleveland Utilities will have to cross underneath TVA’s existing 69 KV overhead line at Old Powerline Road.”
- Purchase of site preparation and excavation services from Hampton’s Backhoe Service in the amount of $131,000 for the new substation site.
These are only a few of the ongoing projects involving CU crews, engineers and contractors. The list is so long that it prompted Wheeler to point out, “It’s obvious we have a lot of projects going on.”
The projects include both the utility’s electric and water divisions.
In other contract approvals granted Thursday the CU board:
- Approved a $571,862 contract with Osmose Utility Services Inc. for the in-service inspection and remedial treatment of distribution and transmission wood poles used within CU’s electric system.
- Approved the purchase in the amount of $56,690 for two traffic light control cabinets to be installed at the two intersections of Interstate 75 and 25th Street, at both the northbound and southbound exits. These are Peek traffic light control cabinets that are distributed through Quality Traffic.
- Approved a $47,000 contract with Cannon & Cannon Inc. for traffic signal system evaluation and timing on Paul Huff Parkway and Keith Street.
- Approved the purchase of chlorine from DPC Enterprises in the amount of $68,942. The chlorine will be used as a disinfectant at the Cleveland Filter Plant, Waterville Springs, Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Hiwassee Utilities Commission plant.
- Approved the purchase of sulfur dioxide from Brenntag Mid-South in the amount of $43,575 which is used to neutralize chlorine at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- Approved the purchase of liquid aluminum sulfate from GEO Specialty Chemicals in the amount of $65,471. Aluminum sulfate is used to help solids settle out of the raw water and is used at the Cleveland Filter Plant and the Hiwassee Utilities Commission plant.
- Approved the purchase of a 2011 International dump truck from Lee Smith Inc. in the amount of $80,069. The truck will replace a 15-year-old unit in CU’s Water Division.
- Acknowledged the recent recognition of Cleveland Utilities again earning the title of being a Tree Line USA utility.
- The CU board will meet next on Thursday, April 28, at 3 p.m.
