CU seeks $33.5M in ice-storm spending bill

In a bill presented to council Monday night, CU seeks an additional $33.5 million to pay for repairs and cleanup after the January ice storm. Virginia Fry, chairwoman of the Board of Public Utilities, said the money would cover most of the $36 million in costs – about $2.5 million is already included in the current budget.

Fry told council that CU management is estimating about $20.3 million in reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency during fiscal 2007, while additional reimbursements from both FEMA and the State Emergency Management Agency in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 are expected to bring in $7.8 million.

The ice-storm funding bill was one of four items Fry presented to the council during the meeting – the utility also presented a plan to raise bus rates from the current 75 cents for adult cash fares to $1.25 by Oct. 1, 2009.

Additionally, CU proposed an updated Emergency Water Conservation Plan. The plan would start conservation measures at 60 percent of water storage capacity, compared to the current 50 percent, and would increase surcharges for excessive water use during conservation stages.

See SBJ’s June 11 issue for more from the June 4 City Council meeting, including passage of the city budget.