Mt. Pleasant Utilities continuing work on capital projects

MT. PLEASANT - Though the coronavirus pandemic has put most things on hold, it hasn't stopped Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities' work on several soon-to-be completed projects, funded by a $5 million capital budget.

General manager Jack Hedgecock said the company has been working on several projects that were part of a five-year plan.

'With construction and roads blocked off, we know it can be a little bit of a nuisance, but we want the public to know these things are being built to support things in the community,” Hedgecock explained.

The general manager pointed to a brand-new substation, transmission lines, water tower and ground storage reservoir as just several projects the company plans to shore up this summer.

Those living on the east side of the city may have noticed some major construction going on in the last several months. The utilities company has been working to build a brand-new substation, located by the RV Park on North Iris St., which will supply energy to that segment of town.

In addition to the substation, the company will complete work in early May on transmission lines that will deliver power to the station.

'It's a brand-new 69,000 bolt transmission line,” Hedgecock explained.

Greg Town, electric supervisor for the municipal utility, explained the town is seeing an influx of business and homes on the east-end, including an additional Casey's store, expected to open in the coming year.

'This end of town is expanding and we got to make sure we have enough power available for everybody,” Town said. Though plans for the station were in the works as far back as five years ago, construction began just the previous fall. The supervisor added the substation is expected to be completed by July 1. The addition is the third substation for Mt. Pleasant.

Hedgecock explained the company decided to spread the projects out in a five-year timeline to 'spread that capital expense and fund over time,” which meant buying parts and pieces over time before beginning construction.

In addition to the substation and transmission lines, the company will be putting a brand-new water storage facility located across the utilities' office.

'It started over a year ago. We needed more water storage capability. There's a cement tank but it is old and deteriorating and doesn't hold near enough water to what we need,” Town explained.

The supervisor added the new storage facility is expected to hold 750,000 gallons of treated water. This is in addition to two other water towers run by the company. The storage unity is expected to be up and running within the month.

'We try to think 20 years down the road and have proper planning,” Hedgecock added of why the company is making investments in these new projects.

'These are important expansions to infrastructure,” he added.