A project Marshall Municipal Utilities has been working on for more than a year got a boost from a decision made by the Marshall City Council during its meeting on Monday, October 15.
Electric Distribution Director Jeff Bergstrom asked the council to approve an agreement to execute a contract with PAR Electrical Contractors, of Kansas City, for the construction of a second 161kV tie. He said the high bid was more than $1.7 million. During a recent meeting, the Board of Public Works approved a bid of $1,527,459 from PAR. He said PAR, in its bid, would like a notice to proceed by October 22.
Bergstrom noted this is the final stage of the project, which he said will make electricity generation more reliable.

Bergstrom said the switch, which was installed in 1984, has had many problems.

Bergstrom says the project also includes the installation of 4,100 feet of new line and the removal of 21,000 feet of old line that won’t be needed any longer. He says that’s going to reduce MMU’s operating costs substantially down the road. Bergstrom said the estimated completion date is March 2019.
The council approved two readings of the proposed ordinance so the project can begin soon.