Ongoing construction at Beltjen Place – the current site of the V.I. Water and Power Authority’s customer service and collections office on St. Thomas – is affecting the authority’s operations, so WAPA board members approved Thursday a contract to build new offices at Four Winds Plaza.
One of the older buildings on the back of the Beltjen Place property has been bought by International Capital Management Co. and ongoing construction has not only limited parking in front of the WAPA customer service office, but also is putting customers at risk as heavy equipment and other machinery continues to move through the site, WAPA board members said at their monthly meeting on St. Thomas.
The authority has been in talks with Four Winds Plaza Corp. on a three-year lease for a 7,900 square foot site. WAPA officials said it would take approximately six months to build the new offices, and board members approved Thursday a $574,757 contract to cover the cost of construction. The lease was also approved.
WAPA’s board also approved $120,000 for Public Services Commission assessments and a $72,845 increase to a contract with Public Resources Management Group, WAPA’s advisors on Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause rates, among other things. The increase will cover additional professional and financial management services.
Another $213,992 was approved for spare parts for the heat recovery steam generator at St. Croix’s Richmond Power Plant. The unit was installed in 2008 and board members said the spare parts will remain onsite and will keep WAPA from having to order them as the unit ages and needs repairs.
