FPB Joins Third Annual Imagine a Day Without Water Campaign

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Effort to raise awareness about the value of water and water infrastructure

As the Frankfort Plant Board is in the midst of replacing its 130-year-old water reservoir, it is joining hundreds of organizations across the country to observe Imagine a Day Without Water, a nationwide day of education and advocacy about the value of water. Led by the Value of Water Campaign, the campaign aims to raise awareness about the crucial need for investment in our nation’s water infrastructure to ensure that no American community is left without safe and reliable water.

“Investment in our drinking water system is essential to our national health, safety and economic prosperity, said David Billings, FPB Chief Water Engineer. “Here in Frankfort, it is our priority to make needed investments to maintain a high-quality system that is safe and affordable for our community.”

“We're thrilled that the Frankfort Plant Board is a part of Imagine a Day Without Water. This national day of action educates our neighbors and public officials about the essential role water plays in all of our lives, and the threat that aging and underfunded water infrastructure poses to our communities and economy” said Radhika Fox, CEO of the US Water Alliance and Director of the Value of Water Campaign. “It is easy to take our water infrastructure for granted because it is often underground and out of sight. But, the systems that deliver water to and from our homes and businesses require reinvestment and upkeep just like roads and bridges. It is time to take action.”

The nation’s water infrastructure is aging and in need of investment, having gone underfunded for decades. Drought, flooding, and climate change are stressing our water and wastewater systems. A single nationwide day without water service would put $43.5 billion of economic activity at risk. In just eight days, a national water service stoppage would put nearly 2 million jobs in jeopardy.  

While many of these challenges are regionally-specific and will require locally-driven solutions, reinvestment in our water must be a national priority. Imagine a Day Without Water tells the stories of the challenges we face when our water infrastructure fails, but also of the innovative solutions being implemented in communities nationwide.

“In Frankfort, we joined Imagine a Day Without Water because we recognize the value of water and the upkeep of its infrastructure,” Billings said. “We are in the process of replacing our water reservoir that is more than 130 years old. If the current reservoir ever failed, this community would be in crisis.”

Despite the vast challenges facing American water infrastructure, the good news is that there is great opportunity in investment. A study conducted by the Value of Water Campaign has found that there is over $220 billion in economic activity to be gained nationwide by closing the water infrastructure investment gap. The American public is already widely supportive of implementing these needed investments. Above any other pressing political issue, Americans name rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure as the issue they most want our elected officials to address.

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The Value of Water Campaign educates and inspires the nation about how water is essential, invaluable, and in need of investment. Spearheaded by top leaders in the water industry, the Value of Water Campaign is building public and political will for investment in America's water infrastructure.

National Media Contact

Abigail Gardner |Value of Water Campaign Communications Director| agardner@thevalueofwater.org

o. 412 421 0809 | c. 412 977 3051

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FPB launches the Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

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FPB today launched the Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA on FPB Preferred Cable channel 144. 

 

This channel presents year-round coverage of Olympic sports from around the world, featuring U.S. athletes and teams. Programming includes live events from a broad portfolio of summer and winter Olympic sports, original series documentaries and rich, archival content.  

 

This week, the channel presents "Gymnastics Gold Week" with 30 hours of coverage from eight Olympic Games and 2017 world championship action. This special programming beginning Oct. 2 will feature U.S. Medalists ranging from Shannon Miller, Kerri Strug and "The Magnificent Seven" to Nastia Liukin, Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles.  

 

This addition to FPB's channel lineup is the result of an agreement change with NBC Universal which also removes Chiller (channel 121) from FPB's cable offerings. 

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Boil Water Advisory Cancelled

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The Division of Water of the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection has now canceled the Boil Water Advisory issued yesterday in South Frankfort.

This Advisory was issued 9/26/17 due to the loss of pressure in the water main caused by Plant Board crews repairing a water main break.

The streets affected were:

·       Logan St. from 4th St. to 2nd St.

·       3rd St. from Capital Ave. to Murray St.

If you should have any questions or problems with normal service or water quality please call 352-4372.

Notice of Water Interruption and Boil Water Advisory - Logan and Third Streets

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The Water Department of the Frankfort Plant Board has interrupted water service in the following area due to a water main break:.

·       Logan St from 4th St to 2nd St

·       3rd St from Capital Ave to Murray St

Once repaired, FPB advises customers in those areas to boil the water before drinking or using it for cooking. 

A vigorous boil for at least two minutes is recommended. This Boil Water Advisory is a precautionary measure due to a loss of pressure in the water main caused by Plant Board crews repairing a water main break.

This Advisory will remain in effect until lab analysis of water samples taken confirms that the potable water supply in the effected area is safe to drink. You will receive a notice when this advisory is lifted.

If you have any questions concerning the Boil Water Advisory please call 352-4372.

FPB Board approves cable/telecom upgrades

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Board member Dr. Scott Green serves at his final meeting.

FRANKFORT – Frankfort Plant Board customers will soon see improvement in signal quality of cable TV, broadband and telephone. At its September meeting, the board approved upgrades to replace aging equipment in the cable/telecom infrastructure. In addition, the board accepted the final plans for the headend/reservoir property at Tanglewood.

The board approved the purchase of Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC) infrastructure improvements for amplifiers and line extenders. The nearly $1.6 million project was included in the Fiscal Year 2018 budget. Staff has planned and budgeted to replace the equipment since 2015. Consultants agreed and recommended at the August 2017 board meeting that these improvements be made immediately.

Many of the existing components were placed in service between 1999 and 2003 with a design life expectancy of 10 years. The initial manufacturer of equipment has gone out of business and spare parts are non-existent. The old equipment can no longer provide reliable service to FPB’s 17,500 cable TV, broadband and telephone customers.

The replacement amps and line extenders have a higher signal capability making the quality better to the cable TV, broadband and telephone subscriber. The replacement equipment will operate at 1 GHz while the existing equipment operates at 750 MHz.  This additional 250 MHz of spectrum allows FPB to utilize the spectrum to provide more Internet capacity and faster Internet speeds to the customer. This upgrade provides FPB with more time to develop plans for a fiber-to-the-home design.

The board approved the final construction documents and specifications for the fencing, landscaping and parking lot demolition at the headend/reservoir property. The Board approved the schedule for this project in July 2017.  GRW presented the plan at last month’s meeting. Staff then met with members of the Tanglewood Neighborhood Association to incorporate their comments and suggestions into the final design. FPB will now submit the plan for consideration to the Frankfort/Franklin County Planning Commission.

In an effort to reduce the cost of customer billing, the board voted to schedule a public hearing to discuss a one-time promotional credit of $5 to customers converting from paper to paperless electronic billing. Last year, FPB produced and mailed an average of 31,079 paper bills per month. FPB spent approximately $246,000 on paper, envelopes and postage related to paper billing in fiscal year 2016-2017, which equates to approximately $0.66 per paper bill produced and mailed. 

The public hearing will be held on Oct. 17 to coincide with the board’s next monthly meeting.

The board accepted a follow-up report submitted by Energy + Environmental Economics, Inc. (E3), a California consultant hired to analyze the economic and contractual risks and benefits of FPB’s participation in the Kentucky Municipal Energy Agency (KyMEA). The report lays out strategy alternatives for moving forward to procure power.

In 2015, FPB voted that it would no longer purchase power from Kentucky Utilities (KU) once the contract expires in 2019. In an effort to obtain a more economical, flexible and environmentally responsible power supply, the board then approved an agreement to join KyMEA, which includes nine other Kentucky municipal utilities.

After reviewing KyMEA materials, the E3 consultants voiced concern with the contract and offered three options for FPB: remain in KyMEA and pursue changes to the interlocal agreement and the all requirements contract; withdraw from KyMEA and pursue its own power procurement program; or remain in KYMEA and not pursue changes.

The board voted not to obtain legal counsel regarding the KyMEA review until a work plan is in place.

After a review of references and much discussion, the board re-considered a contract with Corix Utility Services for meter reading services. The board voted to reverse last month’s decision to pursue that contract and requested staff to explore the possibility of hiring locally on a temporary basis.

The FPB Water Department had several items on the agenda for board action. The board approved documentation needed to secure a grant for a waterline project in Millville, executed an agreement with the Bluegrass Area Development District to administer that grant, authorized FPB to apply for a Kentucky Infrastructure loan for the reservoir replacement project, and approved amendments to a contract with Strand Associates for additional services necessary for that project.

In other business, the board awarded a number of bids to purchase needed electrical equipment including a transformer, circuit breakers, switches and an online transformer filtration system; appointed student representative Madeline Crescitelli, a junior at Frankfort High School, to the Cable Advisory Committee, and approved a renewal of the PAC12 network. This NCTC agreement has a term through June 30, 2024.  FPB currently carries PAC12 on channel 794 on the optional Sports Plus tier.

Dr. Scott Green ended his seven-year service to FPB as his term on the Board of Directors ends Sept. 23, 2017. Mayor Gippy Graham appointed Green in 2010 for a three-year term to fulfill a vacated seat. Green was then reappointed by Mayor Bill May in 2013. He served as vice-chair, acting chair and secretary/treasurer during his tenure.

Green takes pride in the many projects FPB accomplished to improve service to the community while on the board. These include constructing a chlorine treatment facility and a backup generator at the Water Treatment Plant; constructing a new headend and administration building; and terminating FPB’s contract with Kentucky Utilities to join KyMEA in order to pursue more affordable power procurement for customers.

Mayor Bill May is expected to appoint a new member to the FPB Board of Directors this month.

The FPB Board of Directors’ next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017 at 5 p.m. at the FPB administration building at 151 Flynn Ave in Frankfort.

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