💧 Water and Power · U.S. Virgin Islands
WAPA board approved audit contract extension at March 21 meeting
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s governing board approved an extension of its contract with auditing firm BDO at its March 21, 2019 monthly meeting and received an operations update on the territory’s electric and water systems.
The board unanimously approved an amendment to fund the cost of the Voluntary Employees Benefits Association Trust audit for fiscal 2017 and cost overruns tied to the electric and water financial audits for that year. WAPA said the additional fiscal 2017 funding could not exceed $100,000, bringing BDO’s total work for that year to $400,000.
The amendment also funded the VEBA trust audit and the electric and water systems audits for fiscal 2018. WAPA said the change added $30,000 for fiscal 2018 work, which was capped at $395,000. The authority said the audits were required to maintain compliance with local and federal regulations.
In his monthly report to the board, Executive Director Lawrence J. Kupfer said potable water service had been normalized to the west end of St. Croix after the installation of new pumps, reactivation of control devices and other work. He said the new pumps increased water flow to the Kingshill tank by about 300 to 400 gallons per minute, and that the water level early on March 21 stood at 7 feet 6 inches.
Kupfer also reported that testing was underway for three new generators at the Harley plant on St. Thomas. He said the engines were scheduled to be started for the first time on March 21 and were expected to be tested with load on March 24. On St. Croix, he said progress was being made toward commissioning new units at the Estate Richmond plant within the following week. WAPA said the new generators on St. Thomas and St. Croix were powered by propane.
Kupfer told the board there were no OSHA-reportable injuries at the authority during February 2019.
Board members present were Chairwoman Elizabeth Armstrong, Vice Chairman Hubert Turnbull, Secretary Juanita Young, Cheryl Boynes Jackson, Noel Loftus and Gerald T. Groner.