BaldwinCity.com

For what looks to be the last time, Baldwin City will be selling electrical capacity to Gardner and this year the price tag is higher. It’s also probably the last year it will happen.

Because of rapid growth in Gardner, the city was unable to keep up with having enough capacity, as required. For three years, Baldwin City has been “selling” capacity to Gardner so it can reach that requirement.

“This is the fourth year of this agreement,” City Administrator Jeff Dingman said at Monday’s Baldwin City Council meeting. “It will probably be the last. This summer they still need to buy capacity from us.”

It’s not actual power that is sold, but capacity. A city is required to have 20 percent above its peak in capacity. Baldwin City’s capacity is 17 megawatts and its peak is 10 mg. That allows capacity to be sold.

This year, the city will provide Gardner with 3.326 mg at $3.50 per kilowatt for four months which cost a total of $46,564, an increase from the past three years.

“It’s about $11,000 more than last year,” said Dingman. “We give them what they need and they give us what we need.”

Money does not actually change hands. Instead, Baldwin City is credited the amount in its bill from the Kansas Electrical Municipality Association.

The council approved the agreement 5-0. Also gaining unanimous approval was the request by Callahan Liquor for a city liquor license and the appointment of Patty Irick as a city representative to the Baldwin City Recreation Commission.

The council also heard a report from Steve Friend, director of the BCRC.

“The pool is open and running,” said Friend. “We don’t have season passes this year. We’ve got punch cards. The pool is being used.”