Paris, Tenn. – As the Paris Board of Public Utilities nears the completion of the transition to Paris Utility Authority, the BPU board held its final meeting Tuesday morning, followed directly by the Paris Utility Authority meeting.
“Although this is the last Paris Board of Public Utilities meeting of the Board, I look forward to continuing to lead this organization along side this outstanding Board of Directors as Paris Utility Authority,” Paris BPU General Manager/PUA President and CEO Terry Wimberley said. “We will continue to do business as we have for the last 80 plus years, providing our customers with safe, reliable, and affordable utility services as the Paris Board of Public Utilities.”
At the May meeting of the Board, the budgets for all departments were discussed in detail with minor changes to the budget being suggested. The Board was presented those changes and voted to approve the fiscal year 2021 budgets for electric, water and wastewater.
The final item of business was the approval of a motion to assign the Wholesale Power Contract with TVA to Paris Utility Authority. This is the agreement that allows BPU to purchase wholesale power from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
After the BPU meeting adjourned, the Utility Authority meeting was called to order.
The Board voted to approve a fiber “make ready” construction bid from Service Electric Co. Bids were received and opened on June 10 for fiber “make ready” construction on the BPU electric system for Comcast to install fiber across the BPU system. Two potential contractors were identified: Mastec Service Group and Service Electric Co.
Mastec did not submit a bid and Service Electric Co. submitted a bid of $247,200. By contract, Comcast will reimburse BPU for the total amount of the “make ready” cost.
Wimberley said, “Comcast came to us with a need to connect two of their service territories and will only be passing through Henry County.”
The final item of business was the approval of the adoption of the rules and regulations formerly found in the City of Paris Municipal Code. The following Appendices of the City of Paris Municipal Code are being repealed and will no longer be part of the City Code.
- Electric Service & Meter Installations
- Rules and Regulations Governing the Use of Sanitary Sewers and Connection Thereto
- Rules and Regulations Governing the Use of the Water System and Connections Thereto
- Sewer Use Rules and Regulations
- Rules and Regulations for Fats, Oils, and Grease Management
The next meeting of the Paris Utility Authority Board of Directors will take place on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.