Sparta Upgrading Electric Poles, Removing Wire

Sparta preparing two separate projects to improve the infrastructure of the city’s electric utilities.

Electric Utility Manager Belva Bess said they are switching seven of their most critical utility poles throughout the city from wooden to metal poles for improved durability. Bess said there will be short local outages around the poles while they are being replaced.

“The poles that actually carry the heavier loads,” Bess said. “Like I said, two circuits may be crossing over one to the other and that’s the ones that we’re going to try to get to steel. They’re anchor poles, corner poles, and it’ll, it’s just what a lot of weight’s on there and we’re just trying to get everything replaced out.”

Bess said they will also be removing about 3,000 feet of old copper wire on Moore Street, but that work should not cause any outages. Bess said these projects are happening because city allots a certain amount of funding for electrical upgrades and maintenance projects each year.

“So that’s what we’re working on now just to keep the system as up-to-date and reliable as possible,” Bess said. “Everything ages, so we’re trying to maintain it as we can.”

Bess said they are unsure how long the work will take, but it is set to begin within the next ten weeks.

“We don’t know how many crews they’ll be sending in, but as weather permits, they’ll get it done,” Bess said. “They’re usually really reliable and will get the job done as fast as possible.”

Both projects are being handled by the company Service Electric for a total of some $234,000.