Need a cell phone or PDA?

by David Cole<br>Herald Staff Writer
| January 5, 2007 8:00 PM

PUD is selling surplus equipment

EPHRATA — The Grant County Public Utility District commission OK'd a resolution making surplus a number of mobile phones and handheld computers, or PDAs.

The commission, in routine business Tuesday, declared 52 cell phones and 16 PDAs, known as personal digital assistants, surplus to the district's needs.

The basic features of any PDA — meant to keep the owner organized — are a memo pad, date book, address book and task list.

The resolution said the phones and handheld computers are unserviceable, obsolete or worn out. Sales of the devices go to the highest bidder, PUD spokesman Gary Garnant said.

In other business Tuesday:

? The commission adopted a resolution accepting performance on a contract for removal of hydro acoustic equipment at Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams. Extensive acoustic arrays were installed at the dams in 2004, Garnant said, to evaluate fish movement characteristics near the structures to assist with effective fish bypass.

Removal of acoustic equipment that failed in service or was in the way of maintenance activities, the spokesperson said. The removal work was accomplished by Harbor Offshore, Inc., of Ventura, Calif., for $31,300.

? The commission agreed to a two-year contract for distribution power line construction work for the PUD.

Six bids were received, ranging from $5.3 million to $14.2 million, the lowest being rejected as not technically compliant. The contract went to the second-lowest bidder, Wilson Construction Co. of Canby, Ore., in the amount of $9,714,200.

Starting this year, Wilson assists with major distribution power system improvements, transmission line re-conductoring, fiber optic work and substation improvements.

? The commission awarded a contract for purchase of 60 replacement modular rectifier systems for use in Zipp fiber optic system hubs. They replace power rectifiers for hub switching equipment proven unreliable during the previous three years. The lowest responsible bidder was Purcell Systems, Inc., of Spokane at $138,360.