City of Calhoun Electrical Department recognized for reliability by APPA
The Calhoun City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday to conduct a couple of public hearings, deliver their respective monthly reports and discuss upcoming items that are slated be on the docket for future meetings.
After approving the minutes of previous meetings, this session opened with each council member taking turns relaying any available updates or statistics from the various departments they are responsible for reporting on.
The group then progressed into the public hearing and comments portion of the agenda, with beer and wine pouring licenses for Fred’s Store # 1213 at 325 Curtis Parkway and Guacamole Bar & Grill LLC at 165 Outlet Center Drive, Suite # 5 both being unanimously approved.
It was also determined that the second reading for a beer and wine package license for Rainbow # 2 at 637 Oothcalooga Street, Suite A will be held on March 26.
Additionally, first readings to amend Appendix A- Zoning to add Article X- B for small wireless facilities and “small cell” structures or equipment and distributed antenna systems for extension of mobile communication or data service, as well as an ordinance to amend certain sections of Part II, Code Ordinances, Chapter: 2 Administration, Article IV are both eligible for public hearings on April 9.
City Administrator Eddie Peterson then noted that a clean water protection bill that was authored by area Georgia House Representative John Meadows is scheduled to be officially signed on Tuesday.
Larry Vickery, director of utilities for the City of Calhoun, closed the meeting on a positive note by sharing that the City of Calhoun Electric Department has recently received national recognition and a Certificate of Excellence in reliability from the American Public Power Association, making it the only department in Georgia to do so out of more than 100 electric departments nation- wide recognized.
According to Director of Electric Utilities Jeff Defoor, the reason reliability is measured by the APPA is to help cities understand and analyze their electrical system. The reporting is customized to the size of the city and the area of the country the city is located in.
“It also helps us identify our worst performing circuits in the City so we can eliminate those problems,” said Defoor.
“Our crews work real hard to minimize electrical outages by doing preventative work,” said Defoor. “We like to say we work behind the scenes and strive to be so reliable that everyone takes us for granted.
Defoor said the recognition is an honor for his department.
“It’s recognition by your peers,” said Defoor. “They know what you’re going through and understand. When you’re recognized by them, it means a lot.”
The Council will meet again on March 26.