Jasper utility board weighs rate studies, equipment bids and water projects

Jasper residents could see water and electric bills shift after the utility service board moved ahead with two rate studies and a slate of infrastructure work at its June 17 meeting. The decisions touched the city’s biggest utility priorities, from how rates are set to how quickly crews can replace mains, fix substation equipment and keep sewer systems working.

General Manager Rob Young said Baker Tilly had finished an initial draft of the water rate study and was making requested revisions, with another draft expected by the end of June. The board also approved moving forward with an electric rate study capped at $15,000, with the final consultant to be chosen in the next few weeks. Those studies will help shape how Jasper covers system costs while trying to keep rates manageable for households and businesses.

Equipment purchases came under closer scrutiny. The board opened a quote for a walk-behind saw for the Gas and Water Department, but Hamlin Rental was the only bidder at $15,579. Because that price was above what had been included in the capital plan, the board took the quote under advisement instead of buying immediately. A separate round of quotes for a water filtration truck was rejected as well because the bids came in over budget, putting that purchase back on the city’s list for later.

Several projects already in motion are expected to affect service over the next several months. The Genevieve Avenue water main replacement was expected to start soon, while the Leopold Street main replacement was nearing completion. Young also said the lead service line replacement project and the SRF project priority list were still moving through the process, with final scoring expected in early July and a clearer picture of possible grants or loans after that.

On the electric side, Electric Manager Stan Seifert said the Northwest Substation project hit a breaker issue, but the broken mechanism will be replaced under warranty. The site is expected to be powered by July after CenterPoint finishes its work, a milestone that matters for reliability as summer demand continues.

The wastewater system also saw spending tied to day-to-day service. The board approved a mini chain cutter, steel tracks for a skid steer, a grit classifier not to exceed $200,000 and a CIPP lining bid of $199,290.05. Together, the approvals pointed to a utility system balancing routine maintenance, large capital work and the rate studies that will guide Jasper’s bills and infrastructure decisions into the next year.