In its regular meeting Dec. 20, the Russellville Electric Board, on the recommendation of REB general manager Charles Canida, approved holding a Customer Appreciation Day.

Customer Appreciation Day will be Jan. 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting. The free event is an annual effort by the REB.

“This has been a customer appreciation event and yearly tradition at the REB Warehouse for many, many years dating back to at least the 1990s,” said Canida. “Our employees cook chili, beef stew, Brunswick stew and chicken stew in cast iron pots.”

Bowls are first-come, first-served with eat-in sitting, and carry out will be available late in the day if there is stew left after all are served; people should bring their own carry-out bowls.

NEW RADIOS

The board also voted in favor of purchasing new radios, of the same type the Russellville City Council recently approved for the fire, police and street departments.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has already switched to this new radio system – digital portable radios with 911 iNet.

Canida said REB’s current system is through SouthernLink, with a yearly cost of $8,479.80. He reported the yearly cost with the new company and system will be $5,280.

He said the new system offers advantages like the ability to switch frequencies to communicate with other city departments on the system.

Canida said the initial cost, $12,430, includes the price of the radios plus the $20 per month service and warranty fee for each unit.

“The company, located in Phenix City, told us if a unit falls off a truck, gets run over, lost or damaged in any way, they will replace it within 24 hours,” added Canida. He noted the company also said in a “serious event,” the company will send someone with a replacement unit, estimating three to three and half hours in travel time.

COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM

In other business, Canida reported TVA is beginning another round of the community care program, through which TVA provides matching funds to benefit community programs up to a certain amount – this year $8,250.

Canida said this past year, through the program, the board donated to the STEM program at Russellville Middle School. This year’s beneficiary will be selected at a later date. Canida said the board will have “until September 2023 to finish.”

NEW BUILDING

In its Sept. 20 meeting, the board approved a metal storage building to be constructed on the south end of the of the electric board’s warehouse facility property. Canida reported Hovater Metalworks has begun the groundwork preparations for the building, which is now expected to be delivered and installed in April.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Russellville Electric Board is scheduled for Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. in the conference room of the Russellville Electric Board Warehouse, 1012 Jackson Ave. S.