The Clarksdale Public Utilities Board reviewed an important contract to provide power restoration services during disasters and emergencies and handled employee status changes in its meeting of Feb. 22.
After the call to order and silent meditation, the board adopted the agenda for the day’s meeting. Among other items, that agenda included the matters raised in the general manager’s report by Curtis D. Boschert, general manager of the CPU.
Boschert submitted a proposed contract between the CPU and Southern Electric Corporation (SEC) for emergency power restoration services as-needed. The agreement was titled as the 2022 Storm Restoration Rates Contract Agreement of the Distribution and Transmission Power System.
The 2022 contract renewal was timely, given the typical ice storms in late winter and the severe and tornadic weather in the springtime.
“In the event of a catastrophic event like an ice storm, we need to have these agreements in place,” Boschert explained to the board.
The Clarksdale Public Utilities Board typically keeps ongoing contracts with companies for services that require readiness for potential emergencies or disasters.
Along with the proposed one-page agreement, the board reviewed a number of appendices to the contract. Those included a specifications sheet requiring SEC to provide a roster of all employees and each piece of equipment used during any power restoration work.
The documents also included the proposed hourly rates for mechanics, groundsmen, equipment operators, linemen, foremen and safety personnel, among others.
The information reviewed by the board included an exhaustive list of the rates for 50 different pieces of equipment, including but not limited to eleven different types of trucks and various types of diggers, trailers, buckets to lift personnel to different working heights, backhoes and other items.
Following their review and consideration, the board approved the proposed contract for emergency and disaster power restoration services with SEC.
The board also reviewed four employee status changes. Boschert requested permission from the board to offer employment to two individuals, subject to their completing final qualifications.
The board also heard a request for the utility to acknowledge the resignation of an employee.
The third matter was a request for the board to authorize the posting and advertisement of a public notice inviting applications for a vacant position.
The board reviewed, discussed and approved each of the employee status changes.
Afterward, the board heard a motion to adjourn into a closed executive session for the purpose of discussing issues arising from both personnel and litigation matters.
Afterward, the board adjourned until its next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 8. All CPU meetings are open to the public
