Training squirrels to stay out of substations is out of the question (think of fitting the wiggly little varmints with caps and gowns for graduation) but something has to be done to keep squirrels out of the town’s electrical substations.
Last month the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission (PUC) spent half of their meeting in the dark because a squirrel met its untimely demise while investigating the inner workings of a substation.
PUC Electrical Superintendent Mike Taylor came before the board on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 with a squirrel saving solution. Taylor said that for $3,000 the town could buy “animal protection” for the sub-stations. After he described the way the protective gear would work, PUC Board Member Tim Kennedy said, “That sounds just like the gizmos we use to keep squirrels out of our birdfeeders.”
“Yeah. And we know how well they work against a determined squirrel,” said PUC Chair Karl Hansen, holding his head in hands.
Still, if even one curious squirrel can be held at bay, it will be worth it, said Hansen.
Electric and water crews busy
Taylor said his crew was working on bringing 3-phase power to the former Almost Home building that will house a new microbrewery. His crew has been trenching and running the line from the Grand Marais Art Colony down the alley to the new business.
Sewer and Water Supervisor Tom Nelson said his crew has been working to fix three water leaks. A leak in the line that feeds the post office had drained between 30,000 and 35,000 gallons of water a day. Two other leaks—one on 7th Avenue West (an older 4-inch line) and one near the end of The Point, have been leaking 150,000 to 180,000 gallons of water per day, he said.
“We’ve been scrambling, running and fixing,” ever since the snow left, said Nelson, adding that patching was next on the list.
During the month of April the inflow into the water treatment plant went from an average of 200,000 gallons to 1.5 million gallons of water a day. Nelson said the increase was due to the spring melt and water infiltrating manholes and broken lines.
Nelson said the truck he has ordered from Sonju is not ready yet. The new work truck will include running boards and a rearview camera and cost $30,609. It will replace a truck that is 12 to 13 years old and has more than 90,000 miles on it. The city or golf course crew will use the old truck.
Tri-State Pump and Control will replace the damaged lid for the lift station at a cost of $16,565.36. The lid was damaged last December by snow removal equipment. Nelson said he didn’t feel the safety grate that fits under the lid was necessary. By removing it the city would save $685.33 on the price, he said, and the board approved the purchase minus the cost of the safety grate.
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