NMPP Energy presented three Project of the Year Awards at its 34th Annual Meeting and Conference in North Platte, Neb., March 25.
The awards are presented annually to NMPP Energy communities to recognize projects or programs that create a more cohesive community, whether it was a project created for the entire community or one that makes it easier for city staff and employees to serve their customers. One award is given to one community in each of the three categories, based on population: 1,500-under, 1,501-5,000 and more than 5,000. Communities presented awards were:
The Village of Bartley and the Cities of Indianola and Cambridge, Neb., (1,500-under population) for their B.I.C. (Bartley-Indianola-Cambridge) water project. The three communities worked together by forming the B.I.C. Joint Water Agency to address meeting changing federal water regulations and new drinking water standards. The result was a $6.3 million water project that included a new well site, 23 miles of water main, a ground storage tank and pumping station to supply the three communities. The project was completed in 2008 and is projected to have saved the communities $2.3 million had each of communities decided to upgrade their water systems separately.
City of West Point, Neb. (1,501 to 5,000 population) for its Donald E. Nielsen Community Center. The facility was completed in 2008 and is billed as the finest events center in northeast Nebraska. The 43,000 square-foot facility was built with flexibility in mind as it accommodates groups as large as 1,100. Among its features is a 10,000 square foot covered entrance and foyer area, state of the art sound and video systems and various meeting rooms. Northeast Community College’s Shirley and Jake Weber Education Center occupies 8,000 square feet of the facility for classrooms and learning labs.
Indianola (Iowa) Municipal Utilities (5,001-above population) for its electric service underground conversion project. The $1.5 million project was the first part of a multi-phase plan to convert the entire Indianola electric distribution system to improve service reliability, efficiency and eliminate many of the maintenance issues associated with overhead systems. It is the single largest underground project for IMU and covered four percent of the utility’s distribution system. The project began in May 2007 and was completed in October 2008.
The communities were awarded $200 that will go toward their local utility or a local project. Bartley, Indianola and Cambridge will share their $200 award.