Dayton City Council approves electric department plan

DAYTON, Tenn. -- Dayton City Council members took steps this week toward meeting utility customers' growing demands, voting to approve a five-year electric department development plan and to begin the process of upgrading the water and sewer systems.

The most immediate move Monday was to approve the $5 million electric department plan, which had been reviewed in depth at a recent workshop.

Council members instructed City Manager Frank Welch to recommend funding sources for the plan, which will be implemented by city crews and contractors. Welch said he would look at funding through state and federal grant and loan programs, as well as from commercial lenders.

At the same time, the council approved a request from Life Care Centers of America for utility hook-ups at its proposed new site on U.S. Highway 27 north of Dayton.

Council members also told Welch to develop a cost estimate and funding sources to replace the pumping facility, a project he said could be completed this year.

In a related matter, council also instructed the city manager to begin exploring options to fund an upgrade at the city's water treatment plant, which regularly is nearing 80 percent of capacity, the point at which state regulations require an upgrade.

Meeting earlier as the Dayton City School Board, board members approved a plan to make up days missed because of snow. School will be held on Presidents Day, on Good Friday, on three days of the planned spring vacation week and two days will be added at the end of the school year. If more days are missed they will be made up at the end of the year, officials said.

Tom Davis is based in Dayton. E-mail him at tsdavis@volstate.net.