LAHARPE — After nearly four months after being informed LaHarpe was going to receive grant funding for improvements to its electric distribution system, the city has been notified that it can proceed with the work.
Mayor Mae Crowell announced at Wednesday’s City Council meeting that the recent federal budget deal freed up a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant that had been announced for LaHarpe’s electric system.
The grant will fund roughly half of the improvements, with the city responsible for the other half with financing that will be paid off through higher electric meter fees.
After learning in January LaHarpe would be awarded the grant, the city was cautioned not to begin the electric improvement project too quickly, because of concerns within the federal budget. (The grant is funded with federal dollars administered through the state.)
Otherwise, the project would have started sometime in March, noted Bruce Boettcher of BG Consultants, Emporia.
“We’re a little bit behind where we thought we’d be,” Boettcher said.
The goal is to have the engineering and designs configured within the year so that construction can begin sometime in mid 2018.
The grant requires the project to be complete by May 2019.
Engineers in 2015 estimated a full upgrade to a “wye three-phase” electric system — done so by adding a neutral line to existing power poles, replacing all of the city’s aging transformers and replacing scores of aging poles and thousands of feet of other electric lines — would cost the city about $790,000. Those estimates have been upped to about $850,000, although Boettcher said exact numbers won’t be available until engineering is complete and project bids awarded.
Having the added neutral line enables the city to more quickly and safely isolate portions of the system for repairs, and should eradicate LaHarpe’s notorious “brownouts,” in which customers receive only a trickle of electricity.
Brownouts are particularly hard on electric motors for televisions, climate-control systems and appliances.
PROPERTY owners at 1404 S. Washington St. and 1413 S. Broadway St. were given 90-day extensions to clean up their properties, or face condemnation as part of a condemnation hearing prior to Wednesday’s regular meeting. Additionally, the Council tabled a vote to condemn a house at 1102 S. Washington until determining if there are avenues the Council can pursue to recoup back taxes on the property.
COUNCIL members voted, 4-0, (Diana Mullins absent), for an ordinance that once again allows open burning in LaHarpe after sundown, provided the fire is under control and has somebody on site at all times.
The city’s old ordinance allowed only contained burning after dark.
A PARCEL OF land in the 500 block of West Sixth Street will go on the auction block.
Council members agreed to sell the city-owned property, 3-0, with Councilwoman Sharlyn Thompson abstaining, because she and her husband, Floyd, are interested in purchasing the property.
