ssmpucThe PUC is looking to spend some big money for to pay for work planned for this year.  Council gave authorization to the PUC Monday night to attempt to borrow 8 million dollars for capital work projects for this year, the Water Quality Improvement Project and as much as another 10 million to change hundreds of street lights.  A lot of questions were asked about the street light expenditure, from who gets the new LED lights first to how exactly that project would proceed.  Council was notified that the PUC would have its funding if the lights were changed in two years.  The changeover would start this fall after the project is put to tender.  Council eventually approved the authorization in this case, with staff to authorize a Service Agreement for now.  If there is a further request for a Loan Guarantee, the matter would go back to Council to approval. 

During the PUC shareholders meeting at City Council, an update was given on the Unidirectional Flushing Program.  PUC President Dominic Parella announced that the program would resume this week for the city’s east end and in Manitou Park.  It would then move westerly.  The program would also start in Zone 2 — the area above the hill — at about the same time.  When asked about the number of brown water calls, Parella mentioned that the calls have been significantly less during the winter with the water being colder.  But he added that there is a chance that number could rise with the water becoming warmer and an increase in activity.   Another question that was asked was about any plans for emergencies regarding the city’s drinking water.  Parella answered that there is a ‘fair amount of flexibility’ — that there would still be drinking water in the event of any emergency thanks to redundancies in the water system.