TOP NEWS
Starke Recognizes FMPA for Financial Assistance
The city of Starke on Thursday recognized FMPA’s Chief Financial Officer Linda Howard and the staff from FMPA for their assistance in helping the city recoup nearly $1.8 million from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). For the past two years, the city has been helping FDOT with two major road projects that required the relocation of distribution lines along State Road 100 and State Road 200. The city used its own funds to pay for supplies and contractors. Linda and the FMPA team were instrumental during the reimbursement process by contacting FDOT, requesting information and helping file the necessary forms. Starke City Manager John Holman expressed appreciation for the support from FMPA, including Linda, Jaye Godin, Jamie Noon and Carl Turner.
Policy Makers Liaisons Committee
FMPA’s Policy Makers Liaisons Committee met last Wednesday and heard four information items. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Mark McCain
Finance Committee
FMPA’s Finance Committee met last Wednesday and approved an action item of External Audit Report & Audited Financial Statements. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Linda Howard
Board of Directors
FMPA’s Board of Directors met last Thursday and approved one action item. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
ARP Executive Committee
The ARP Executive Committee met last Thursday and approved one action item. The full agenda package is available on the Portal. Contact: Jacob Williams
Wauchula Engineering Support
The FMPA team traveled to Wauchula last week for a pre-construction meeting for the expansion/replacement of the city’s substation. FMPA is assisting the city to install a new power transformer at the substation. The FMPA team is available to support members with similar engineering projects. Contact: Carl Turner
Planned Outages
Cane Island Unit 2, which began its planned outage on Jan. 19, returned to service last Thursday. Diesel Engines at Stock Island, which began its planned outage on Jan. 19 for painting of the generator step-up transformer, returned to service last Saturday. Contact: David Schuman
Monthly Technology Call
The Information Technology (IT) and Operations Technology (OT) teams meet Wednesday at 10 a.m. for the monthly member call. Participants will discuss current cybersecurity topics and best practices. Monthly technology calls are scheduled on the last Wednesday of every month. FMPA encourages IT/OT team members at member cities to join these calls. Contact: Luis Cruz.
DEED TripSavers Webinar
Cairo Vanegas presents during American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Deed Webinar Thursday at 2 p.m. on the topic of “Achieving Cost-Effective Reliability Improvements Using Single-Phase Reclosers.” Cairo will share the results of FMPA’s TripSavers project highlighting how single-phase reclosers helped reduce outages at three member cities. The project was part of a technology demonstration coordinated by FMPA, with Havana, Key West and Tallahassee. Registration is free for DEED members and members can register for the webinar on APPA’s website.
TVPPA Lineworker Safety Program Verbal Commitment
FMPA is seeking non-binding commitments no later than Friday from members who wish to participate in TVPPA’s Lineworker Safety program. The existing agreement with FMPA’s training provider Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG) ends in June 2021, and the TVPPA Lineworker Safety Program will start July 1, 2021 provided that FMPA’s Board of Directors has approved the program. The Member Services Advisory Committee meets Feb. 8 to consider the approval of the program and agreements. If approved, the agreement will go to FMPA’s Board of Directors as an information item in March.
APPA Safety Awards of Excellence
Sunday is the last day to apply for the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Safety Awards of Excellence. The awards are conducted annually to emphasize the importance of safe working habits, recognize utilities that achieve safe operations and share aggregate safety-related statistical information. More information is available on APPA’s website.
SPECIAL DATES
Anniversaries
Susan Schumann | Jan. 26 | 23 years
Jim Arntz | Jan. 29 | 14 years
Jason Wolfe | Jan. 31 | 10 years
COMING UP
Member Services Advisory Committee
Feb. 8 | 2 p.m.| Teleconference
Strategic Planning Session
Feb. 17 | FMPA’s Orlando Office
Finance Committee
Feb. 17 | FMPA’s Orlando Office
Governing Board Meetings
Feb. 18 | FMPA’s Orlando Office
TVPPA Foreman Academy
Feb. 22 – 25 | FMPA’s Orlando Office
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