TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 16, 2025
COMMITTEE ON MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS
Mr. John P. Murray, Acting Executive Director
Title
Final Report for Emergency Contract 25-800-01, Emergency Work to Rehabilitate the Calumet WRP Digester Facility Main Switchgear, Account 201-50000-645750, Purchase Order 3134962
Body
Dear Sir:
On April 16, 2025, a fire in the Calumet Digester Switchgear damaged a motor control center circuit breaker, taking multiple breakers out of service. The motor control centers have two feeds, and power was able to be restored using the alternate line until the failed circuit breaker could be replaced. Then, on April 26, 2025, a different circuit breaker on the same switchgear caught fire, resulting in all digesters being taken out of service. The Maintenance and Operations Department developed a plan to install temporary wiring to power equipment and get the digesters running again to maintain plant operations, though not at a normal configuration. The investigation concluded that the fires were most likely caused by a defective circuit breaker that had been misaligned during installation.
On May 15, 2025, the Board of Commissioners formally declared an emergency affecting public health and safety and ratification of Emergency Contract 25-800-01, Emergency Work to Rehabilitate the Calumet WRP Digester Facility Main Switchgear to Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $500,000.00. The emergency work restored the Digester Switchgear to its standard operating condition and included testing the electrical systems, along with reconditioning and replacing necessary equipment. The restoration work was completed on August 29, 2025, resulting in a fully functional Digester Switchgear. The final cost of all emergency work on Contract 25-800-01 was $336,983.88.
Requested, Pinakin V. Desai, Acting Director of Maintenance and Operations, JS:NJD:JEM
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for October 16, 2025