PUD considers transformer moves

Wahkiakum PUD Manager Dave Tramblie told the board of directors this week that it doesn’t appear the $200,000 cap for the Bonneville Power Administration portion of the new Cathlamet substation will be needed for that project at this time.

What he said he would like to do is to reallocate a portion of that amount for the purchase of the Grays River spare transformer. While he isn’t in a position to make the purchase, Tramblie said he wanted to make the board aware of his plans. He said it would be several weeks before a final decision will need to be made.

Tn KM Mountain, there is a repeater site that is used for radio communications. Over the course of time, trees have grown in the area. Tramblie said he fears it to be a hazard to the communications incase of a power outage or storm.

Tramblie told the board he contacted a local timber company and asked them to remove trees within 100 feet of the site. They said they would be willing to do so, but won’t be until the price of timber goes up.

In 2013, all radio communication will be required by law to be narrowband. Before that switch, a new repeater will need to be purchased for the KM site, which should be of minimal cost. After that switch, Tramblie said, the PUD wouldn’t necessarily need additional sites for their radio communications.

Commissioner Esther Gregg asked Tramblie if he believed the trees to be a threat. He said he did because only recently he noticed a large limb had fallen onto the equipment. She then asked what kind of recourse to urge tree removal. Commissioner Bob Jungers said the easement belongs to the county and the recourse would be to encourage the county to exercise their right to maintain.

Auditor Erin Wilson said the paperwork for FEMA has been completed and turned in. They will be paying 75 percent of the bill for the flood and snow events the region experienced last winter. The state will be paying an additional 12.5 percent. Wilson anticipates the utility will receive around $30,000.

Tramblie reminded the board that the deadline for returning applications for summer jobs at the utility is May 12.

The next PUD meeting will be May 19 at 8:30 a.m.