The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1954-08-12
Coop Offers High
Dollar For Towns
Electric System
Ohio Power Throws In Free
Street Lights, Contract .
To Rebuild System

Members of the three-man Bluff
ton board of public affairs were
burning the midnight oil early this
week as they weighed two competi-
tive offers for the purhcase of the
municipal electric system made Mon
day by the Ohio Power Company and
the Hancock Wood Electric coopera-
tive. They must decide which is
highest and best"
On the Co-op's side of the scale lay
the apparent high dollar bid. A
whopping s501 900 cash price stood
out $4,000 higher than Ohio Powers
bid. Added to this were additional
rate inducements for industrial con-
sumers and municipal streetlighting,
and share by consumers in the CO.
operatives distribution of capital
credits.
All of this, the Hancock Wood CO.
operatives president, F. Lee Seiple,
claimed added up to a value of
$75s,8OO over the first 10-year period
of operation.
Would Rebuild System
On the other side of the scale,
Ohio Power Company, sticking to its
original estimated value of the Bluff
ton property, offered s466,500 in
cash, stretched a point to offer a
maximum of two years of free street
lighting, and agreed in the contract
to install new street lighting sys-
tenn at an estimated cost of $4,000
within two years, and to rebuild the
entire distribution system within Is
months at an estimated cost of
S164 900.
The cooperative's bid was based on
operating the present system includ-
ing the street lighting system. No
promise of rebuilding the distribution
lines was made.
Details of the cooperative's bid in
cluded furnishing street lighting the
first u months for 81 800, and oper-
ating the system for $4,000 per year
after that. This was compared with
the Standard street lighting price
of $1,000 per year which Ohio Power
has often referred to.
The co-operative's bid also provid-
ed for continuing in effect the exist
ing general power service rate,
claimed to be approximately Is per
cent lower than Ohio Powers. This,
il was estimated, would save indus
trial consumers $4,000 per year. A
ive-year contract was offered at this
rate.
Rates offered for water and sewage
were declared "equal to
hose offered by others" On this
ate 10-year contract was offered.
Capital Credits Explained
AS to consumer earning of capital
.redits, it was explained that all CO..
operative consumers share in income
after the payment of ex-
lenses. This surplus accrues to
MEMBERS accounts and is payable 100
Ter cent in event of death, 40 per
ent upon moving away from area,
md all other payments are made from
ime to time as determined Dy the
'oard of directors.
Members of the Bluffton BPA were
Inable to state when the decision on
he bids would be made. They were
Iolding frequent executive sessions,
ampling public opinion and investi-
.ating legal technicalities.
One thing was certain; the decision
annot be delayed long. Bluffton
must be hooked on to another source
f power supply before the heavier
emands of the winter season create
at the municipal plant. The
ale must also be made soon if pro-
edure of making sewage disposal
liant bond assessments against real
state is to be halted.
Part of the proceeds of the light
liant sale are to be used to cancel the
pecial assessments amounting to APP
s400 on every piece Of
property in the village.