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By Charlotte Underwood
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Several bids were approved at Monday’s LaFollette Utility Board meeting, including truck bids, Sweet Gum Flats Substation site work construction bids and Sweet Gum Flats Substation structures and equipment bids.
The utility board approved two truck bids from Ray Varner Ford, one for a 2026 F450 Crew cab 4×4 with dual rear wheel cab and chassis at $71,249.00 and for a 2026 F150 1/2-ton crew cab four door 4×4 pickup truck at $53,748.00
According to LaFollette Utility General Manager Regina Kennedy, the utility budgeted $100,000 for the replacement of the F450 truck and after all the toolboxes and attachments are made, it will cost right at $100,000.
Kennedy said the utility only received two bids on the trucks and that the other bidder, Legacy Brothers, did not meet bid specifications.
“There is a two to three months “lead time” so the trucks should not take too long to come in,” Kennedy said.
The Sweet Gum Flats Substation site work construction bid was also awarded to MidSouth Power Services as the low bid at $194,625.50.
Osborne Excavating was the other bidder at $270,200.
According to Kennedy, the transformer has been ordered for two years and “should be coming in in next few months.”
“The area also needs site work; it’s an old mining area and requires additional site work for stability of the base. This will get it ready for the next phase of getting the structures and equipment,” Kennedy said.
Also approved was the Sweet Gum Flats Substation structures and equipment bids. The bid was awarded to Substation Enterprises as the low bidder at $414,608.
The other bidder was Peak with a bid of $548,800.
“All of the funding for this is coming from the bond we just approved,” Kennedy said.
LaFollette Utility Board members also discussed a Personnel Policy update regarding the policy on call outs such as in the case of inclement weather.
According to Kennedy, this policy update is just “clearing up some language, making sure it is gender neutral and also defining the policy on call outs.”
In other business, Brenda Andrews was appointed to the Caring Neighbors Board.
Laura Broyles is stepping down and is being replaced by Andrews, a former LUB employee.
Also approved was a resolution authorizing LUB to participate in the Public Entity Partners Cyber Security Matching Grant Program. The utility participates in this grant each year and, if received, is a $2,000 grant.
It was also announced that the utility office will be closed for “up to two hours” on Wednesday, December 17, for the Christmas party, and LaFollette Utility will also be closed on December 24 and 25 for Christmas.
Monday, December 29, is the next LUB meeting and workshop, with the workshop starting at 6 pm and the meeting to follow immediately after. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-11/25/20265-6AM)