Lamar Utilities board meeting of February 24, 2026

The Lamar Utilities Board met on February 24, 2026 for a regular meeting.  Purchase orders totaling $87,928.26 were approved.  Of this amount, $74,437.38 needed board approval.  Large purchase orders needing approval included $21,680.25 to Stuart C. Irby Corporation for PUPI crossarms, $19,543.42 to Western United Electric Supply for line materials, and $7,950.97 to American Public Power Association for yearly dues.  Bills totaling $721,256.37 were approved.  Large bills during this period included $593,191.53 for power purchase from ARPA.  Once again, the ongoing Tyler System Conversion has resulted in the delay of financial reports.  Reports have not been available since June of 2025.

Superintendent Hourieh’s System Operating Report stated: “We have completed the installation of 3 new pole mount services for a total of 90 kva, 3 phase 277/480v secondary service for the Town of Wiley Sanitation.  These services required the construction of 580 feet of 3 phase, 25 kv line extension.  The line crew completed the replacement of 100 kva, 400 A, 4 kv voltage regulator that failed at the well field circuit.  The crew replaced two 35-foot and two 40-foot class II wooden poles that failed pole testing, and a 10-foot fiberglass crossarm.  The crew also replaced a 40-foot wooden pole, 10-foot crossarm and line insulators that were damaged by high winds.  Linear Labs shipped a blade pitch motor for repairs and have been conducting various control system testing, diagnostics, and programming on the new Pitch Pro-2000 for the T-2 wind turbine.

By: Barbara Crimond