💧 Water and Power · U.S. Virgin Islands
WAPA board approved undergrounding, composite pole and other contracts
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority board approved several contracts and other actions at its regular monthly meeting on October 29, 2020, including projects tied to electrical undergrounding on St. Croix and St. John.
The board approved a $1.1 million contract with PECO International Electric for materials for three federally funded underground electrical projects on St. Croix, at the Wilfred "Bomba" Allick Port and Transshipment Center, Golden Grove and along Midland Road. A similar project was also approved for Cruz Bay, St. John.
Board members also authorized WAPA's executive director to begin negotiations and enter into a $3.1 million contract with Barkley Technologies for project management and design services related to composite pole installation. WAPA said the poles would be used where underground electrical service was not feasible. The authority said about 2,800 composite poles had been installed territorywide.
Other actions included approval of a $29.9 million consignment contract with American Wire Group for electrical system materials; a no-cost, one-year extension of an existing contract with Haugland Energy for electrical waste removal through March 7, 2022; and authorization to enter an agreement with Virgin Islands Oil and Transport Company for the sale of two unused oil storage tanks for $2.4 million.
Under the tank agreement, the company was also to enter a 40-year ground lease for the property adjacent to the Randolph Harley Power Plant where the tanks are located.
The board also approved three-month extensions of existing contracts with two security guard companies serving WAPA facilities on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John; additional funding to complete fiscal 2018 financial and single audits; a six-year collective bargaining agreement with the Professional & Technical Employees Union through June 30, 2024, at a cost of $925,924.07 through fiscal 2024; and an extension of the maturity date of WAPA's lines of credit with Banco Popular from October 31, 2020, to January 31, 2021.
Board members present were Vice Chairman Jed JohnHope, Secretary Juanita Young, directors Joel Lee and Kyle Fleming, Hubert Turnbull, Cheryl Boynes Jackson and Noel Loftus. Chairman Anthony D. Thomas and Elizabeth Armstrong were excused.