Cadott Village Board; Village moving forward with EV charging station
Board member Russ Falkenberg presented a graph to other members of the Cadott Village Board, during a regular meeting June 21. The top line is based on what the village was set to pay journeymen linemen in 2018, while the bottom line shows 2020 expenses paid to Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative (CVEC), for labor. Falkenberg says the projections on the graph assume a 3 percent increase year-over-year, for the village, and a five percent increase for CVEC. The vertical bars are what the village is saving, year-to-year.
By Julia Wolf
The Cadott Village Board looked to the future, June 21, as they voted in favor of bringing an electric vehicle (EV) charging station to the village, during a regular meeting. Members had discussed the possibility of an EV station at a meeting earlier in the month.
Russ Falkenberg, board member, says there is an electric charging station available through Dairyland Power and Chippewa Valley Electric (CVEC). Falkenberg says CVEC would pick up the brunt of the expenses, over $40,000, for the charger itself.
Falkenberg noted that the next closest charging stations are in Eau Claire and the Greenwood area.
“There are several different levels of chargers,” said Falkenberg. “Level three is the fastest available and that’s what this charger is.”
Falkenberg says the village would need to supply a transformer. CVEC will supply the charger and the labor for installation, while River Country Plaza would provide the location.
Falkenberg says he has talked to Rolly Tichy, public works director, about putting the village’s spare transformer to work.
“If we do need it in a pinch, we’ll pull it off of here and use it,” said Falkenberg.
He says the interest for the village would be some revenue coming back. Falkenberg says the charging station could also draw people into town, who would not normally stop, since there isn’t a charging station now.
The village’s cost for the project will be roughly $8,000.
After hearing the information, members voted to move forward with the EV charging station.
In a related topic, Falkenberg says the village should also consider switching from 2,400 volts to 7,200 volts, to support future growth. He suggested they budget for a dual voltage transformer.
Tichy says it is getting extremely hard to find 2,400 volt system parts.
“There’s so few of us that have the 2,400 volt system,” said Tichy.
The item will go to committee once more information has been gathered.
Members also voted to add language to an ordinance on driveways, specifying that there must be a concrete apron abutting the curb and gutter.
Falkenberg also presented a graph to board members com- paring what the village was set to pay linemen in 2018, compared to what the village paid CVEC for labor in 2020.
“Just to show you what expenses are, if we would have gone the other route,” said Falkenberg.
Falkenberg says the vertical lines show what the village is saving, year-to-year. He says, if they would not have had the tornado in 2020, the numbers would be even better.
In correspondence, Tichy reported that the disconnects that were heating up at the substation have been replaced. He says one more cable on the regulators still needs replacing.
Tichy also reported there had been a squirrel’s nest in one of the storm sirens. He says he sent someone to clean it out, and when they got up there, discovered some damage.
“We’re going to have to take and do something with it,” said Tichy.
Falkenberg asked if they could buy an electronic one for less than the cost of the repairs. Tichy says he has a call in already, inquiring about prices.
As a notice to the public, the next regular board meeting will be moved to Tuesday, July 6, because of the holiday.
