Washington’s City Council, according to the agenda for its meeting Monday, will consider several budget changes.

One of the amendments to the budget would appropriate an additional $16,798 for Washington Electric Utilities’ peak-shaving generation units. The project calls for adding seven such units. The units are used to help lower the city’s demand for electricity during peak usage times, thereby helping reduce the city’s wholesale power costs.

“The estimated cost during the budget preparation last spring for the remaining seven (7) generating units was $162,307. These seven units were included in the FY 2012-13 budget at $175,000 in account 35-90-8370-7401. The current proposal to complete all seven units is $190,805. This budget ordinance is for $15,805 to allow for the project completion and $993 for debt service principal and interest for the remainder of the fiscal year,” reads a memorandum from WEU Director Keith Hardt to Mayor Archie Jennings and the council.

The generators would be installed at Piggly Wiggly in the city, Carver Machine Works, PAS, the regional water-treatment plant, Impressions, Camfill-Farr and the city’s wastewater-treatment plant.

The council also is expected to consider approving a budget ordinance amendment that’s just under $1 million to cover purchase orders outstanding from fiscal year 2011-2012, which ended June 30, and are being brought forward to fiscal year 2012-2013 for payment. The purchase orders were issued for contracts or merchandise.

The council also will consider cancelling an order to repair the house located at 507 W. Second St. That order was issued by the Historic Preservation Commission in 2010.

In July, the City Council approved a $14,700 contract to demolish the house at 507 W. Second St. That decision came after the city tried not once, but twice, to sell the house to an entity that would restore it.
In early 2011, in an effort to save the house, the City Council voted to sell that house to Reilly Software for $3,500. Reilly Software intended to restore and renovate the house. Then, the dismal economy caught up with the company. Because Reilly Software could not afford to buy the house, the city was forced to once again seek a buyer for the house by way of the upset bid process. That did not work out, either.
Several years ago, the city adopted an ordinance designed to prevent property owners, particularly owners of significant historic properties, from allowing their properties to essentially be demolished by neglect.