>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, THE STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

>> THANK YOU FOR TUNING INTO ANOTHER EPISODE OF "RECOVERY IN FOCUS."

I´M ADRIENNE WILLIAMS-OCTALIEN.

THE THREE BECAUSE WORDS OF RECOVERY ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR GETTING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OFF THE GROUND.

BETTER YET IN THE GROUND.

WE HAVE THE MOST BEST SUITED TO GET THIS PROGRESS.

>> FROM THE WTJX STUDIO ON ST. CROIX, CONSTRUCTION IS WRAPPING UP IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE MELVIN EVANS HIGHWAY.

NEW POLES AND STREETLIGHTS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.

THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS EXPECTS THAT THE REMAINING DRAINAGE, SHOULDER, AND PAVING FROM THE GOOD HOPE INTERSECTION WILL BE COMPLETED BY OCTOBER 2023.

TENANTS ARE ALREADY CALLING THE NEWLY REVITAL WISED HOUSING COMMUNITY HOME.

THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY GIVES US AN UPDATE.

>> THE FIRST SEVEN BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LEASING THE AS YOU LOOK AT THE BUILDINGS, YOU SEE THE TRANSFORMATION FROM WALTER I.M.HODGE TO WHAT IT USED TO BE AND IT´S MORE RESILIENT AND WE HAVE THE AMENITIES, THE LANDSCAPING, SIDEWALKS, CURVES.

THE ROADWAYS ARE CONCRETE NOW, NO MORE ASPHALT, AND AGAIN, WE WILL BE ADDING PLAYGROUNDS, GAZEBOS, BENCHES, ET CETERA, ADDED TO THE SITE.

>> RESIDENTS ARE CURRENTLY OCCUPYING FIVE OF THE BUILDINGS.

WE SAT DOWN WITH A RESIDENT FOR HER THOUGHTS ON THE TRANSITION ON THE RENOVATION.

>> THEY GUIDED US FOR OUR PACKAGING TO HELP US TO GET CHEAPER TO MOVE, TO MOVE US OVER INTO THE NEW BUILDING.

WE HAVE CEILING FANS TO TRY AND KEEP THE PLACE COOL.

I SEE A BIT MORE RELIEF TO STAY HERE DURING THE HURRICANE.

AND WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE THEY PUT PLANTS OUTSIDE AND THE NICE BUILDINGS.

>> IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND NATURAL RESOURCES CELEBRATED THE COMPLETION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ON ST. JOHN ON JUNE 14th, 2023.

GOVERNOR BRYAN AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STALL FAMILY AND COMMUNITY WERE ALL IN ATTENDANCE, FUNDED BY APPROXIMATELY $308,000 FROM FEMA AND $150,000 FROM LOCAL FUNDS, THE PRESIDENT NOTED THE NEED FOR THE TERRITORY TO >> WE DIDN´T WANT TO TURN OVER SOMETHING HALF DONE.

WE HAD TO FIND LOCAL MONEY TO COMPLETE IT, AND YOU HAVE THE TURN OVER, AND YOU HAVE A NEW LIBRARY BUT IT´S NOT PAINTED OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

A LOT OF THINGS FEMA DIDN´T COVER, AND IT´S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING BUT IT WILL BE WORTH EVERY SECOND.

>> THIS RIBBON CUTTING REPRESENTS THE COMPLETION OF DPNR´S FIRST FEMA-FUNDED PROJECT.

TODAY, WE ARE HAPPY TO RETURN THAT HOPE AND THAT ENERGY AND TO MAKE GOOD ON THE BRIAN ROACHE ADMINISTRATION´S PROMISE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL VIRGIN ISLANDERS.

>> THE VIRGIN ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STARTED THE SECOND PHASE AT THE MEDICAL COMPLEX WITH THE COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE TEAM AND CONTRACTOR WERE ON SITE TO WITNESS THIS PIVOTAL PROJECT MILESTONE.

ONCE RECONSTRUCTED, THE MODERN MEDICAL FACILITY WILL HOUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WHO WAS ON SITE TO WITNESS THE DEMOLITION.

>> TODAY´S INITIAL START AND TO WATCH CHARLES HARWOOD BLOSSOM INTO A NEW HEALTH FACILITY TO BRING HEALTH AND WELLNESS TO THIS COMMUNITY.

>> WORK IS ONGOING AND SOMEBODY COMPLETE IN THE SPRING OF 2024. BUSINESS OWNERS, CONTRACTORS, AND CONSULTANTS INTERESTED IN DOING BUSINESS WITH THE RECOVERY SHOULD VISIT THE ODR WEBSITE FOR AN UPDATED LIST OF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND DETAILED INFORMATION.

THIS WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY ARE LOOKING FOR LICENSED CONTRACTORS FOR THREE CONVENIENCE CENTERS ON ST. CROIX, AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY IS REQUESTING PROPOSALS FROM LICENSED CONTRACTORS TO DEMOLISH STRUCTURES ON ST. THOMAS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND OTHER BID ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UP TO DATE NEWS ON ALL DISASTER RECOVERY PROJECTS IN THE TERRITORY, LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE.

>>> WE CAN´T MOVE THE RECOVERY FORWARD WITHOUT CONTRACTORS.

MAKE SURE YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND GET YOUR BID IN.

I´M EAGER TO GET THE CONVERSATION GOING AND TO DISCUSS ALL THE PROJECTS THAT RESIDENTS CAN SEE BECAUSE OF THE GROUP EFFORTS BEHIND THE SCENES, WELCOME TO THE SHOW, NONE OTHER THAN COMMISSIONER DEREK GABRIEL, PUBLIC WORKS, AND THEY ARE ON THE MOVE, AND YOU WORK WITH UTILITIES, AND WE GET MORE.

HE WILL BE MY WINGMAN FOR THE SHOW.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND THIS WOULD NOT BE A DISCUSSION WITHOUT THE WATER AND POWER AUTHORITY, AND PLEASE JOIN WATER SYSTEMS MANAGER OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION KIMBERLY SLODDEN AND POWER SYSTEMS DIRECTOR OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHAVANTE MARSH SO ON THE POWER SIDE, AND YOU ARE OUTNUMBERED.

[ LAUGHTER ] WE HAVE A LOT OF MAJOR COMPLEX PROJECTS CROSS THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND WE HAVE TALK FOR YEARS ABOUT ROAD QUESTIONS, AND THEY DIDN´T FINISH PAVING ALL THE ROADS, AND WHEN THE AGENCY RESURFACED, YOU KNOW, UTILITY COORDINATION IS CRITICAL.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THE FACT THAT IT TAKES ALL THESE UTILITY AGENCIES TOGETHER MAKING IT HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH FRUSTRATION DOES THIS CAUSE YOU?

>> I WOULDN´T SAY FRUSTRATION.

WE CALL IT OPPORTUNITIES.

RIGHT?

YOU TALKED ABOUT WAITING FOR THE WASTE MANAGEMENT CATCH UP.

WE DIDN´T WANT TO HAVE TO PAVE THE ROADS AND COME BACK AND DIG THEM UP AND PUT IN THE WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEN REDO THE PAVING AND WE WANTED TO PRIORITIZE THOSE TO GIVE THE WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY A CHANCE TO CATCH UP AND DO THE UNDERGROUND, AND ONCE THAT IS DONE, COME IN AND DO PAVING, AND THE RESIDENTS CAN HAVE WONDERFUL ROADS TO DRIVE ON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OKAY.

WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS BUT OVERALL, UTILITY COORDINATION, YOU ARE AT THE ANCHOR.

DPW IS AT THE ANCHOR OF UTILITY COORDINATION.

THAT´S A GREAT QUESTION.

IT REQUIRES A LOT OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE UTILITIES, PARTICULARLY THE WATER AND POWER AUTHORITY AND WE ARE SPEAKING TO OUR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS AS WELL ON THE TELECOMMUNICATION SITE AND WE ARE WORKING WITH LIBERTY AND BUYOUTS.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COORDINATION MEETINGS, BI- MONTHLY MEETINGS AND DAILY MEETINGS, AND IT´S EVERYONE CHECKING THEIR RESPECTIVE EGOES AT THE DOOR AND DOING WHAT IS BEST ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE IN THE TERRITORIES AND WORK WITH THE COORDINATION BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE TRENCHES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IN THE TRENCHES.

[ LAUGHTER ] YOU KNOW, THIS --THE SENATE HAS MANDATED ONE DIG.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> DIGGING ONCE.

TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING IN THE SPIRIT OF ONE DIG.

ONCE THE ROADS ARE OPEN, GO IN AND DO THEIR UNDERGROUNDING AND GET THE WATER TO DO THEIR UNDERGROUNDING.

WE ARE TRYING TO START WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT.

THEY ARE THE FIRST ONES TO GO IN AND GET THEM TO CATCH UP.

BUT THE SPIRIT OF ONE DIG ESSENTIALLY MEANS EVERYONE DOING THEIR UNDER GROUNDING ONCE THEIR ROADS ARE OPEN.

>> IT´S ACTUALLY EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

>> WAY EASIER.

>> THE FUNDING COMES FROM MANY SOURCES AND THEY DON´T ALL COME AT THE SAME TIME.

AND BEFORE YOU CAN ACTUALLY COMPLETE A PROJECT, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS READY TO GO, AND YOU NEED TO PUT IT OUT TO BID.

YOU MAY HAVE MULTIPLE CONTRACTORS.

CONTRACTORS DON´T LIKE TO DO WORK BEHIND EACH OTHER.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES.

AND FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, AND WE TALK ABOUT HAVING A REGULAR MEETING TO COORDINATE, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ACTUALLY GET THIS DONE CORRECTLY?

WHAT KIND OF COULD HAVE SAVINGS, AND WHAT IS THE VIABILITY OF DIGGING ONCE?

>> I THINK A LOT OF THE SUCCESS IN CONSTRUCTION STARTS WITH DESIGN.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY SIGNED AN MOU MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH, AND ONCE WE HAVE ONE DESIGN FIRM ON A PROJECT WE CAN MAKE SURE THEY ARE DOING A DESIGN FOR EVERYBODY.

SO ON THE WATER SIDE, THE BASE WATER SIDE, AND THE ELECTRICAL SIDE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BUT WE ARE TRYING TO DO COORDINATION IN THE DESIGN PHASE AND THAT MEANS SUCCESS AND CONSTRUCTION, AND IF EVERYONE DESIGNS AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN DO CONSTRUCTION AT THE SAME TIME AND WE CAN DO PROCUREMENT AT THE SAME TIME.

IT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IF YOU HAVE DRIVEN THROUGH IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, I´M SURE YOU HAVE SEEN THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION.

BUT WE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A FIRSTHAND UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT FROM RONALD PHILLIPS, THE PROJECT ENGINEER FROM THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY.

LET´S TAKE A LOOK.

>> THE PROJECT STARTED MAY 15th, 2023.

THE CONTRACTOR´S MARCO ST. CROIX AND CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE AREA OF QUEENS WHICH IS THE LOCATION, THE STREET GOING DOWN TO THE CASINO AND THE BOARDWALK AND REPLACING SEWER LINES AS WE SPEAK, AND WE HAVE TOOK OUT 6-INCH PIPES AND REPLACING THEM WITH 8-INCH PVC PIPES.

AS OF A FEW DAYS AGO, THE CONTRACTOR HAS REPLACED 10,000 FEET OF PIPE, AND THE PROJECT IS TO REPLACE ALL THE SHORELINE AND THAT´S 30,000 FEET.

AND THE PROJECT IS A THIRD OF THE WAY COMPLETE.

WE HAVE 20,000 MORE FEET OF PIPE TO PUT IN.

ARE THE STREET THAT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS WILL COME THROUGH, AND WE GOT TO FINISH THOSE STREETS BY OCTOBER.

ONCE THIS PROJECT COMES THROUGH, THE BENEFIT IS THE EXISTING LINES WON´T BE CONCRETE AND COPPER AND CLAY -- NOT CONCRETE BUT THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 30 YEARS, AND ONCE THE WASTEWATER GOES INTO THE GROUND IT CREATES CONTAMINATION.

WHAT THIS WILL DO IS WE CALL IT MANHOLE OVERFLOWING BECAUSE THE LINE IS CLOGGED.

SOMETHING, WHEN THE LINE CLOGS UP, AND THAT HAPPENS, DEBRIS GETS INTO IT AND THE WATER CAN´T FLOW.

ONCE THE WATER CAN´T FLOW, WHAT HAPPENS IS THE MANHOLE STARTS OVER FLOWING BUT THE IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IS YOU CAN´T FLUSH.

YOU CAN´T USED TAKE A SHOWER OR THE KITCHEN SINK AND IT EVENTUALLY BACKS UP INTO THE HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

SO THIS PROJECT WILL ELIMINATE ALL THAT FROM HAPPENING.

>> WELL, I MEAN, I STARTED TO THINK.

CAN´T FLUSH.

CAN´T BATHE.

THIS IS REALLY A CRITICAL PROJECT FOR THE TOWN.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DOING THESE IMMENSE INFRASTRUCTURES, THERE IS A LOT OF INCONVENIENCE.

BUT IT´S FOR THE GREATER GOOD.

PEOPLE REALLY THE COMPLETITY OF THE PROJECT AND WHAT IT TAKES TO GET DONE.

DO THEY APPRECIATE IT AT THE END?

>> I WOULD THINK SO, YOU KNOW.

WE ARE OUT THERE, DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS ARE OUT THERE.

AND I´VE HEARD RESIDENTS PROVIDING FRUIT AND, YOU KNOW, IT´S DIFFERENT SITUATIONS IF YOU ARE IN THE VERY DRY SEASON BUT I THINK KNOWING THE IMPACT OF REPAIRING THESE LINES, CREATING THE NEW PUMP STATIONS, UNDERGROUND LINES BEING MORE RESILIENT TO STORMS, I THINK PEOPLE GET THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BUT YOU SAW THE CONDITION OF SOME OF THE PIPES.

THEY WERE CLAY AND THEY ARE BECOMING MORE RESILIENT AND THAT IS THE PROJECT.

>> AND YEAH.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE CAN LAST FOR DECADES TO COME AND REALLY ENHANCES OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE GROUND UP.

WE ARE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR GROWTH.

>> AND WHILE IN THE AREA WE SPOKE TO A FEW PEOPLE TO GET THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE PROJECT, KIMBERLY.

LET´S TAKE A LISTEN.

>> AS A WORKER, I THINK THE SEWAGE LINE IMPROVEMENT IS GREAT.

IT SLOWS DOWN THE BUSINESS.

WE DON´T GET A LOT OF FOOT TRAFFIC AND BEING THAT WE ARE IN HURRICANE SEASON, I FEEL THIS IS A PREPARATION THAT WE NEEDED.

>> SO I THINK IMPROVEMENTS ESPECIALLY WITH THE ROADS OR WHATEVER THIS IS, ELECTRICAL OR WHATEVER S ALWAYS A WONDERFUL THING.

SO I AM HAPPY ABOUT THAT BUT MY FIRST THOUGHT IF IT´S ALREADY DIFFICULT NOW WITH PARKING, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE SEASON WHEN IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, PARKING HAS BEEN DIFFICULT.

THAT´S MY ONLY CONCERN, TRAFFIC AND PARKING.

>> I SEE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT WITH THE SEWAGE HAS BEEN NEEDED AND BEFORE THIS STARTED THE SEWERS WERE REALLY BAD.

YOU WALK ON THE BOARDWALK AND THE SMELL HITS YOU AND YOU PARK YOUR CAR AND TAKE THE WALK AND THAT SMELL HITS YOU, AND I THINK THE HOMES AND BUSINESSES, NOT HAVING THE SMELL, IT WILL GO AWAY, AND IT´S BAD FOR A MOMENT, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT WILL BENEFIT.

>> I THINK THE LAST ONE WAS SPOT ON.

>> WITH PROGRESS COMES PAIN.

>> A LITTLE PAIN BUT THE WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY DID THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.

BUSINESS WILL GO ON AND YOU CAN PARK ON THE STREETS ON THE ROAD SIDE.

BUT YOU NEED TO GO INTO THE GOVERNMENT PARKING LOT.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A TWO-YEAR PROJECT, AND IT REALLY REQUIRES SOME PATIENCE, AND IT REALLY REQUIRES UNDERSTANDING, BUT I THINK THE RESIDENTS OF CHRISTIANSTED APPRECIATE THAT AND GETTING YOUR PAVING PROJECT MOVING.

>> I AM GLAD TO HEAR RON SAYING WE ARE PRIORITIZING WITH THE PAVEMENT PROJECT AND WE ARE WAITING AND RIPPING AND ROARING AND READY TO GO, AND I THANK YOU FOR THE PLUG.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PARK IN OUR PARKING LOTS WHILE THEY ARE DOING THE CONSTRUCTION.

>> RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT AND DPW IS NOT THE ONLY AUTHORITY STAKEHOLDER THAT HAS WORK GOING ON IN CHRISTIANSTED.

BUT THERE IS AN UNDERGROUNDING PROJECT FOR WATER AND POWER.

>> YES, WITH DPW AND WASTE MANAGEMENT WE HAVE PROJECTS, AND WE TO HAVE TO COORDINATE.

WITH THE, OWNERS AND RESIDENTS AS WELL.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTRACTS, AND IT´S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE ARE BEATIFICATION FOR THE CHRISTIANSTED AREA.

>> AND THAT REQUIRES COORDINATION, AND NOW YOU ARE LOOKING AT SETTLING, MAKING RESIDENTS OF CHRISTIANSTED INVOLVED OF WHAT THE PLANS ARE.

>> COMMUNICATION IS KEY.

>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS.

AND THE LONG-AWAITED CHRISTIANSTED HILLS PROJECT IS ANOTHER LONG-AWAITED PROJECT, AND WE SPOKE WITH THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE DETAILS.

>> THIS PROJECT BEGAN IN THE SUMMER OF 2020 AND SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR, AND SO FAR THEY COMPLETED THE BASE ASPHALT MIX AND COMPLETED THE FENCE AND 50% OF THE SIDEWALK WORK AND THE DRAINAGE STRUCTURES.

WE HAVE PLANS AFTER THIS IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS TO CONTINUE THE SIDEWALK AND PUT IN A PAVED WATERWAY.

ALSO, WE WILL HAVE TO DO FINALLY SURFACING AND THE SIGNALIZATION SURFACING TO INSTALL IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS, AND WE HAVE THE POLES HERE ON SITE.

THEY WILL BEGIN THAT IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.

WE ASK THE MOTORISTS TO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE FLAGGERS, SLOW DOWN, PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE SPEED LIMIT.

GOING OVER 20 MILES PER HOUR ENDANGERS OURSELVES AND THE STAFF ON SITE.

PLEASE SLOW DOWN.

>> BRAD MARSHALL IS PART OF YOUR TEAM.

CORRECT?

>> SURE IS.

>> I TOOK TO HEART THE CAUTION TO THE MOTORISTS.

USUALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE NOT THERE YET BUT AS WE MOVE ALONG, YOU KNOW, KEEPING UPDATED WITH THE PROJECT, I SAY DO YOU SEE ANY WORK GOING ON, AND WE ARE SEEING OCTOBER, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT?

>> I WANT TO CAUTION PEOPLE.

WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR A CHANGE ORDER FOR MORE STREETLIGHTS ON THE HIGHWAYS.

A GOOD CAUSE.

>> NOT TO PUT YOU ON BLAST.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

I AM GLAD THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON A PORTION OF THE LIGHTS THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED.

>> WE DID.

I DO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE TO MY LEFT, AND THANK YOU ALWAYS FOR COMING IN.

WE ARE TRYING TO RUB PENNIES TOGETHER TO MAKE QUARTERS, AND WE COME TO YOU AND YOU ARE CREATIVE.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

>> NOT ALWAYS.

YOU ARE ALWAYS ON THE MOVE.

WE DON´T MIND HELPING FOLKS ON THE MOVE, AND SPEAKING OF ON THE MOVE, THE WATERLINE PROJECT CREATED GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND RELIEF FOR THE RESIDENTS.

>> WE ARE FINISHING UP THIS WEEK WHILE WE WERE RECORDING SO THE END OF OF THE MONTH OF AUGUST, WE´LL BE DONE.

AND RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN SEEING AND WE ARE INSTALLING PIPES SINCE LAST SUMMER.

WE DID HAVE COORDINATION WITH DPW BECAUSE THAT ROUTE 75 WAS REELECTED TO THE EAST.

THERE WAS A LOT OF GRADING ACTION.

SO OUR WATERLINE DESIGN NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE AND FOLLOW THAT GRADING OF THE ROAD, SO LIKE THE MAJOR PIPES TO BE BURIED IN THAT LOCATION.

SO IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

WE HAD MEETING IN THE FIELD AND WE HAD MEETINGS IN THE OFFICE AND THE COORDINATION MEETINGS.

THANK YOU ALL WHO MADE THAT HAPPEN.

I THINK IT´S COMING TOGETHER BEAUTIFULLY LIKE THE STORM DRAINAGE AND THAT LIGHT AND HOPEFULLY, THAT INTERSECTION IS SAFER WITH THE CUT BACK.

SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, AND WE HAD ELECTRIC UNDERGROUNDING.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS KNOW WHEN YOU PAST CENTRAL HIGH AND COMING OVER AND ALL THE DUST AND DIRT, THERE IS A LOT OF INCONVENIENCE, BUT THAT´S ENSURING THAT THE UTILITIES ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MINIMIZE THE INCONVENIENCE THEY CAULK.

AND I AM LOOK FORWARD TO NOT HAVING THE TRAFFIC DELAYS.

THIS PROJECT WAS IN THE MAKING FOR HOW MANY YEARS?

>> BEEN A WHILE.

I THINK WE STARTED THE DESIGN IN EARLY 2000 AND WE ARE HERE IN 2023, AND THEN WE HAD TO SLOW DOWN ON THE WATER SIDE AND ELECTRICAL SIDE, AND THAT´S THE TRUE SPIRIT OF UTILITY COORDINATION.

RIGHT?

SOMETIMES, KEEPING SOME PROJECTS BACK AND PRIORITIZING OTHERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR UTILITY PARTNER.

>> AND WAPA ALSO CREATED SOME UNDERGROUND WORK AND MAKING THAT RELIABLE IS SO CRITICAL.

AND THEY CREATED A LOT OF WORK THERE ON CONTAINER PORT ROAD.

SO, CHAVANTE, GIVE US BACKGROUND.

>> WE COORDINATED WITH P IO, PRESS RELEASE FOR OUTAGES.

WE HAVE WORK ONGOING.

AND WE HAVE THE WORK THAT WAPA WILL FINISH IN THE SECONDARY BUT WE COMPLETED 100% IN THE MIDLAND PROJECT, AND WE DID 100% OF THE UNDERGROUND THAT WE COMPLETED.

>> AND THE SECONDARY, THAT´S AFTER THE FIRST-ARY?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WE HAVE TO PROVIDE POWER, SO BASICALLY FROM THE TRANSFORMERS.

>> SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR AFTER A STORM NOW THAT WE HAVE UNDERGROUND IN THE AREA?

WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN FOR RESIDENTS?

>> WE WILL HAVE HIGH WINDS, AND THE CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE A LEVEL OF RELIEF WITH A CATEGORY 3 OR 4 HURRICANE COME, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A TREE THAT WILL KNOCK DOWN THEIR LINE IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME.

SO IT WILL BE MORE RELIABLE AND IT WILL BRING UP POWER A LOT QUICKER AFTER THE ACTUAL STORM.

>> I AM GOING TO TEST OUT YOUR SKILL.

YOU MET WITH ONE OF WAPA´S ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, AND YOU >> THE FIRST IS THE MIDLAND PROJECT, AND CURRENTLY I AM HERE ON THE GOLDEN GROVE UNDERGROUND PROJECT SITE WITH THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT HERE FROM OVERHEAD TO UNDERGROUND.

AND WE HAVE A TRANSFORMER AND A JUNCTION BOX AS WE TRANSITION TO THE SECONDARY DEVICES.

ALTHOUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF ALL THREE OF THE PROJECTS ARE 100% COMPLETED THERE IS SECONDARY WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE INTERNALLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE LEARN WHAT DOES SECONDARY MEANS BUT WE ARE NOT HAVING ANY HURRICANES FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

I WANT TO CHECK THAT.

BUT IN THE EVENT OF A STORM, WHAT DOES THE UNDERGROUND?

MIDLAND, IS IT A CONTINUATION OF THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

HOW DOES THE CLIFTON HILL AND MIDLAND PROJECT WORK FOR THE ENTIRE POWER SYSTEM?

>> SO ON THE PRIMARY SIDE IT HELPS BECAUSE WE CREATED LIABILITY ON THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURES LIKE THE SHIPPING AREAS.

MIDLAND HAS CRITICAL FACILITIES LIKE MEDICAL COMPLEXES, RESIDENTS, AND THEN HE MENTIONED GOLDEN GROVE FACILITIES.

AND FOR THE ENTIRE IT TOY TO IT TIES INTO THE SUBSTATION, AND WE WILL CONTINUE THE ADDITIONAL PROJECTS INTO FREDERICKSBURG, AND THE QUEENS PROJECT.

SHE JUST LOOKS LIKE --YOU CAN SEE THE POWER THAT SHE PACKS.

RIGHT?

OKAY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT´S CRITICAL TO BECOME MORE RESILIENT, AND THE FEMA DOLLARS ARE COMMITTED, AND WE ARE JUST SO HAPPY TO SEE A WHOLE LOT THAT IN PROGRESS.

WE HAVE SIMILAR EFFORTS GOING ON THE WEST SIDE OF ST. CROIX WITH THE WATER REPLACEMENT, AND A SHOUT-OUT TO ALL OF THE FOLKS OUT THERE, AND WE MET UP WITH THE MECHANICAL ENGINEER FROM WAPA WITH MORE.

>> THIS PROJECT SO FAR IS ABOUT 60% THROUGH THE ORIGINAL SCOPE, AND IT´S BEEN MAKING VERY GOOD PROGRESS SINCE THEY BROKE GROUND IN MARCH 2023.

WE ARE WORKING ON EXPANDING HOW MANY CUSTOMERS WE´LL BE SERVING WITH THIS PROJECT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK ANY MOTORISTS OR PEDESTRIANS TO TAKE CARE WHEN OPERATING A VEHICLE OR WALKING WITH ACTIVE MACHINERY AS THEY CAN BE DANGEROUS AND PREVENT THE ACCIDENTS HAPPENING.

RIGHT NOW, THE CONTRACTOR IS INSTALLING FEMA PVC PIPES, AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE IRON PIPES THAT HAVE BEEN BADLY SERVICING THE VIRGIN ISLANDS FOR THE LAST 60 YEARS.

THESE PIPES WILL KEEP OUR SYSTEM SERVICE A LEVEL OF RELIABILITY.

IT WILL BE MORE RESILIENT TO LEAKS.

AND THAT UPGRADED TO THE METER BOXES, OUR METERS AND OUR WHOLE SYSTEM WILL INCREASE THE LEVEL OF SERVICES AND PROVIDE TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

>> GREAT.

SO YOU KNOW, THAT IRON PIPING EQUALS WHAT?

>> WELL, WITH THIS AGE -- >> BROWN WATER.

RIGHT?

>> YOU CAN GET CORROSION, BROWN WATER, AND YOU CAN ALSO HAVE LEAKS, BRITTLENESS OF THE PIPES IF YOU ARE REPLACING THE DUCT AROUND THE PIPES AND YOU GET NEW PIPE IN AND FURTHER TOWN, THE PIPE BREAKS AGAIN.

YOU SEE THAT A LOT.

AND THE SYSTEM HAS DEFINITELY AGED.

SO WHEN WE REPLACE THESE WITH OUR REHAB PROJECTS --WE CALL IT RETHAT BILL STATION, SO WE ARE SERVICING THE AREAS THAT EXISTING CUSTOMERS ARE ON.

AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE NEW PIPES, POLL VINYL CHLORIDE, PVC, AND YOU CONNECT THEM, AND THEN YOU GET THE SERVICE LINE, AND IT COMES UP TOWARDS YOUR PARCEL BOUNDARIES, AND WE ARE WORKING ON THE RIFT WAY FOR THE FEEDER BOX WHERE IS IT´S EASIER TO SERVICE OR FIND THE LEAK, AND THEY HAVE VALVES TO ISOLATE THE LEAK.

>> AND YOU HAVE SHUT-OFF LOGS FOR AREAS?

>> IT WILL HELP.

YES.

IT WILL HELP.

WHEN WE DO THESE TIE INS, THOUGH, AFTER WE DO THE PRESS NEW SYSTEMS, STILL IN NEED OF REPAIR AND UPDATING IS WHEN WE HAVE TO SHUT DOWN THE LARGER AREAS TO ENERGIZE THE SYSTEM, FILL THEM WITH WATER AND PRESSURIZE THEM, AND YOU HAVE TO DO THAT BEFORE YOU GO TO THE CUSTOMERS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE WATER QUALITY IS RIGHT AND PRESSURE IS RIGHT, AND SO WHEN YOU SEE THE ROADS AND FENCES THAT ARE NOT FINALLY FINISHED, THAT IS LIKE TAKING LONG BUT YOU HAVE TO INSTALL THE PIPE IN MANY PHASES AND UTILITIES WITH LATERAL FOR SEWER.

AND YOU HAVE SECONDARY.

>> THE SECONDARY AGAIN.

>> OURS ARE CALLED SERVICE LINES.

>> OKAY.

>> SO IT´S REALLY HELPED OUR SERVICE RELIABILITY.

BECAUSE THE VALVES WILL WORK.

>> SO THE QUALITY OF THE WATER, THE EPA GRANT FOR CLEAN WATER, AND DRINKING WATER, POTABLE WATER AND MAKING SURE THAT THE LINES ARE MORE RESILIENT, AND MAKE THE FEDERAL DOLLARS WORK.

I KNOW NOT GOING TO LIE, ALL THE DUST AND STRETCHES, IT´S ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

ASK WE CONTINUE TO ASK THE PUBLIC FOR THEIR PATIENCE AS WE WORK TO MAKE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS STRONGER.

I AM GOING TO ASK A TOUGH QUESTION.

ALL RIGHT?

>> SO JUST FOR INFORMATIONAL PUBLICS WE HAVE TWO HIGHWAYS, THE RETHAT BIPTATION PROJECT ON THE HIGHWAY PROPER I LIKE TO CALL IT, AND THEN WE HAVE THE PRESTON HILL PROJECT WHICH WE JUST HEARD FROM, AND THAT´S BRAD, THE PROJECT MANAGER, AND WE ARE EXPANDING TO INCLUDE STREETLIGHTS ON THE REMAINDER OF THE HIGHWAYS.

THAT´S SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC, SO WE KNOW IT´S A SAFETY CONCERN, AND WE HAVE ASKED PRESTON HILL TO LET US KNOW WHAT IT´S LIKE TO ASSESS AND RESTORE THE LIGHTS.

THEY JUST GAVE US THAT PRICING.

WE ARE DOING THE ASSESSMENT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS I DON´T THINK I WILL BE NEEDING TO COME TO YOU TO ASK -- >> THAT´S ALWAYS A GOOD THING.

>> I WANT TO CAUTION THE PUBLIC.

WE HOPE FOR PROGRESS BEFORE THE END OF 2023 WHICH IS WHY WE ARE LIKELY GOING TO SEE THAT COMPLETION DATE FOR PRESTON HILL PUSH FURTHER TO THE RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU ARE KEEPING THE PROJECT OPEN?

>> CORRECT.

RIGHT.

>> AND HAVING A BIT OF PATIENCE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE LIGHTS AND MAINTENANCE, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE?

>> WHO RUNS THE WORLD AGAIN?

THESE LADIES.

BUT, NO, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY WELL WITH WAPA TO TRY AND BUILD THE AREAS WHERE WE ARE PUTTING UP NEW STREETLIGHTS AND STANDARDIZE THEM.

I DO UNDERSTAND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE BUT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR ALL OF US.

>> TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK, AND YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME BACK AND LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THE STATUS OF THE STREETLIGHTS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> DPW AWARDED THE FUNDING, YOU KNOW, AND KIMBERLY SLODDEN AND THE REST OF HER WATER --HER POWER --NO, THE WATER TEAM DID SOME WORK DOWN THERE.

BUT SHE STILL HAS FUNDING TO PAVE THE ROAD.

FOR THE REPAVING IN THE AREA, AND THAT WAS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF OUR UTILITY COORDINATION.

WAP A RAN INTO SEVERE CHALLENGES, AND WE HAD TO BE PATIENT, AND OUR PARTNERS UNDERSTOOD THAT, AND WE DID PHASE ONE LAST YEAR AND WE ARE WRAPPING UP PHASE TWO.

>> WAPA DID SOME WORK IN THE AREA THAT WAS STARTED BACK IN -- >> 2016 FOR PHASE ONE.

>> WOW.

>> THAT WAS OUTSOURCED, SO THE WORK IN THE MAJORITY OF THE TOWN AREA WAS 2019 THROUGH 2021.

WE WENT AS FAR OUT AS FISHER STREET WHERE WE DID OUR TIE INS TO REPLACE THE LINE.

THERE WERE SMALLER SECTIONS LEFT OUT BUT THE MAJORITY OF THAT SYSTEM HAS BEEN ACTIVATE AND OPERATING FOR A WHILE NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAD ROVING REPORTERS AND WENT OUT TO SPEAK WITH A COUPLE OF RESIDENTS ABOUT THE WATER SERVICE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

LET´S TAKE A LISTEN.

>> THE CONDITION OF THE WATER IS LIKE COFFEE.

IT´S VERY BROWN.

ANYTHING YOU WASH WITH IT, IT STAINS IT.

IT DOESN´T COME OUT.

WATER IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS TO HAVE VERY CLEAN WATER ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS.

KIDS, WHEN THEY USE THE WATER, YOU EXPECT THE WATER IS GOOD WATER FOR THEM TO USE.

SOME OF THEM WILL DRINK IT.

SO IT HAS TO BE CLEAN.

>> THE WATER IS BROWN.

WE CAN´T USE IT IN NOTHING.

I HAVE ON BUY WATER TO MAKE COFFEE, EVERYTHING.

BECAUSE THE WATER, WE CAN´T USE IT.

THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO WITH THE WATER IS FLUSH THE TOILET.

>> SO I´M SURE THERE EXPLANATION FOR A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE AND WHY THERE IS BROWN WATER COMING THROUGH THE PIPES.

>> SO EVEN THOUGH THE PIPES IN THE AREA WAS REPAIRED, THE WATER IS COMING FROM THE RICHMOND AREA, SO NEAR CHRISTIANSTED.

IT HAS TO BE TRANSPORTED CROSS ISLAND THROUGH PIPES THAT HAVEN´T BEEN UPDATED YET.

SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE FRESH PIPES IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE, THE WATER HAS CORROSION --THE PIPES LEADING UP TO THAT POINT HAVE CORROSION AND PERHAPS HAVE BROWN LOOKS TO THEM AND MIGHT HAVE IRON PARTICLES.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.

THE PLAN IS THE CRITICAL PROJECT.

AND YOU BECAUSE WORD, BUT MANAGEMENT IS FURTHER LONG WITH THE PROJECT IN ST. CROIX BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT SUBMITTING OUR SCOPE WHICH MEANS ALL THE COMPONENTS, ALL THE PIPES THAT WE WANT TO UPDATE AND ALL THE SYSTEM LINES SO THAT OUR SYSTEM CAN BE PUTTING OUT QUALITY WATER.

I WANT TO THANK THE PRODUCTION THAT IS SPREAD WAY OUT AT THE FINGERTIPS SO WE CAN DO FLUSHING OF THE LINES AND JUST PLEASE CALL US.

CALL OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM AND LET US KNOW.

AND WE REALLY HOPE TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> WHAT NUMBER DO THEY CALL?

>> I KNOW THE EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS AT VIWAPA.VI, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE WEBSITE, THE PHONE NUMBER´S RIGHT THERE, TOO.

SO VIWAPA.VI.

>> SO YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT ST. CROIX AND PROBABLY ST. THOMAS HAS THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE FEMA FUNDING TO REPLACE ALL OF THE POTABLE WATERLINES AND WITH THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ELIMINATE ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE NOW BECAUSE OF THE OLD CORRODED PIPES.

AND INTERESTING TO THAT THE WATER COMES FROM RICHMOND TO FREDERICKSBURG.

AND YOU KNOW, YOUR CAR GETS DIRTY.

YOU ARE DOING THE WORK IN THOSE AREAS, TELL US ABOUT THOSE.

>> THOSE ARE RATED ON A PRIORITY LIKE THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS.

WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF PROJECTS BUT THIS IS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.

WE PRIORITIZE BASED ON THE UTILITY COORDINATION AND OUR UPCOMING MASSIVE PROJECTS IS COVERING THE HEART SECTION OF OUR PRODUCTION AND LEADING OUT TO DO THOSE TYPES TO HELP THE QUALITY FURTHER WEST.

>> I AM EXCITED.

IT MEANS THAT THE WATER CLEANS UP.

AND YOU GO DOWN TO FREDERICKSBURG.

I AM GOING OVER A BUNCH OF THINGS.

TRUST ME.

THAT´S GOOD STUFF.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, THE LAST --WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT HAPPENING.

THE LAST PROJECT ON THE WEST SIDE IS MAHOGANY ROAD.

AND DPW HAS BEEN FACED WITH CHALLENGES, AND I KNOW DEREK GABRIEL, YOU ARE ON TOP OF IT, BUT BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE LATEST AND GREATEST FROM THE YOU, WE ARE HEARING FROM SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN THE RAINFOREST AND DRIVES THAT PROJECT ALL THE TIME.

HERE´S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

>> I AM ELATED THAT WE ARE FINALLY GETTING OUR ROAD FIXED.

I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT IT WAS MY VERY OWN NEIGHBORS THAT WERE HOLDING UP THE PROCESS ON THE LAST LEG, BUT HOPING TO MOVE FORWARD AND HOPING FOR A TIMELY START AND TIMELY FINISH.

I THINK THE OTHER IMPACT, OUR TIRES, OUR WEAR AND TEAR, ONE NEIGHBOR WENT THROUGH SEVEN TIRES JUST DRIVING OUR ROAD.

SO I THINK THAT´S THE OBVIOUS IMPACT THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS TO USE McINTOSH MEMORIAL DRIVE, BETTER KNOWN AS MAHOGANY ROAD DAILY, BUT ONE OF THE ASPECTS THAT PEOPLE DON´T REALIZE THAT WE DON´T GET TO SEE OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AS OFTEN BECAUSE WE CAN´T MAKE IT THROUGH THE ROAD.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IS MY MOM CAN´T DRIVE ON THE ROAD BECAUSE IT LITERALLY MAKES HER SICK.

THAT´S A SHAME BECAUSE THAT´S HER GREAT PASTIME, AND OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE CULTURE THIS AREA HAS THAT STEMS OFF THE ROAD HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SHE IS ELATED DRIVING THE ROADS.

I CAN´T COME TO YOUR HOUSE IF THE ROAD´S BAD.

I CAN´T COME TO YOUR HOUSE IF IT MESSES MY TIRES.

SO WHAT IT IS THE PROGRESS?

>> AS THE RESIDENT ALLUDED TO, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE PROJECT.

AND IT´S APPROXIMATELY SIX MILES AND WE HAD TEMPORARY EASEMENTS.

AND WE ARE JUST THROUGH, I WOULD SAY, 95, 98% OF THE ACQUISITION PROJECT AND WE ARE ABOUT READY TO GO TO BID WHICH IS VERY EXCITING.

IT´S VERY, VERY COMPREHENSIVE.

AND YOU WILL SEE WAY MORE RESILIENT ROADWAYS AND SOME OTHER AREAS, WE ARE DOING REHABILITATION, AND WE ARE DOING DRAINAGE SO THE ROADS WILL LAST LONGER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE GLAD TO HEAR THAT FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE RAIN FOREST AND PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO JUST.

TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN FAREST, AND AMAZING PUBLIC WORKS HERE WITH US, SPOKE TO HER ON SITE LAST WEEK TO GET THE UPDATE ON A PROJECT THAT TOUCHES JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY.

LET´S TAKE A LOOK AT THE SITE TOUR THAT WE TOOK AND THE UPDATE.

>>> OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE COMPLETED CRITICAL MILESTONES INCLUDING THE FIVE MINUTE ENGINE RUN WILL ALL FOUR UNITS AND COMPLETED THE CAPABLE INSTALLATION TO THE SUBSTATION AND WE RECEIVED THE FIRST SHIPMENT OF URIA.

WE INTENT TO COMPLETE COMMISSION ACTIVITY AND COMPLETE THE BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM AND CONTINUE LPG INTERCONNECTION ACTIVITIES.

THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY PLANS TO HAVE RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT GENERATION FOR THE ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN COMMUNITY.

>> HOW DID SHE GET HER SO QUICKLY?

>> I DON´T KNOW.

TELEPORT.

THAT´S THE WORD.

BUT DID YOU HEAR THAT?

WHAT --WHAT DOES ALL THAT MEAN?

HOW ARE WE --TALK ABOUT THE COMMISSIONING.

>> THAT MEANS THIS IS WHEN YOU START UP THE ENGINE AND PUT THEM ONLINE AND USE THOSE WORDS FOR ME.

>> SO FOR COMMISSIONING, I MENTIONED THE DESIGNING PHASE AND INTERCONNECTION PROCESS WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT.

OF THE COMMISSIONING PHASE IS INSTALLING ALL OF THE MACHINERY WE DID FOR THE PROJECT AND YOU HAVE TO DO DIFFERENT TESTS TO ENSURE THAT YOUR 99 IS STARTING.

YOU HAVE TO PUT LOAD ON THE ENGINE WHICH IS BASICALLY PUTTING POWER ON THE ENGINE FROM THE OLDER ENGINE AND DO THE INTERCONNECTION TEST TO ENSURE THAT YOU DON´T BLOW COMING UP, AND WORKING IN A LIVE PLANT, WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE POWER TO CUSTOMERS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING.

>> SO A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

YOU CAN´T JUST DISCONNECT AND TIE IN ANOTHER GRID FROM ANOTHER STATE OR COUNTY?

>> YOU HAVE TO DO ALL OF THIS WORK WHILE PROVIDING POWER INCESSANTLY, AND WE HAVE TO INTERCONNECTIVITY, AND COMPLETE THOSE PORTIONS AND TESTING OF THE BATTERY SYSTEM SO THAT WE CAN COMPLETE THE PROJECT SAFELY TO GIVE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY THE ST. THOMAS DISTRICT, A GREAT PROJECT.

>> SO THE NEXT TIME WE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE POWER PLANNED, THE PLANNED OUTAGES, WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP CHEVANTE ALIVE.

ALL RIGHT.

SHOUT-OUT TO THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE POWER AUTHORITY.

WE UNDERSTAND BUT THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED AREA IN WHICH THEY OPERATE.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR --THERE ARE PEOPLE ON ST. CROIX WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE PROJECT BEING ONLINE AS WELL?

>> OF COURSE.

WE ARE ALL ONE TERRITORY.

SO WHEN YOU SEE A MORE EFFICIENT UNIT, YOU ARE CUTTING DOWN ON COST AND BENEFITING THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE VIRGIN ISLANDS POWER AUTHORITY, NOT ST. THOMAS POWER AUTHORITY.

SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE ON THE ST. CROIX DISTRICT BUT WE ARE WORKING TO TRYING TO GET THE NGUYENRATION OF ST. CROIX AND WORKING WITH A DIFFERENT AGENCY TO GET THAT.

SO THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE THAT OVER ALL FOR ST. THOMAS AND ST. CROIX AND ST. JOHN, WE ARE WORKING TO GET ST. CROIX INCLUDED AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS PERFECT.

AND THANK YOU.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE UNDERGROUNDING FOR ST. THOMAS AS WELL.

>> WE HAVE IT GOING FROM THE RANDOLPH HARLEY SUBSTATION AND GOING TO THE EAST END SUBSTATION AND WE ALSO HAVE THE OTHER PROJECT FROM ST. JOHN GOING UP TO CENTER LINE ROAD.

WE HAVE DEFINITELY A LARGE AMOUNT OF PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE.

WITH OUR ENGINEERS WORKING SO HARD, ONE THING YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IS STANDARDIZATION WITH DPW AND WORKING WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE WORKING HARD TO GET THE PROJECTS DONE.

SO IF YOU SEE ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS COMING ONLINE, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT YOU SEE DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS WORKING WITH OUR ENGINEERS WALKING THE LINES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INTERCONNECTION OF THE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS AND OUR INTERCONNECTION TO OUR ELECTRICAL FACILITIES.

WE ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK ON THE BACK END.

BUT WE HAVE GREAT PROJECTS COMING UP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GOOD TO HEAR.

THE WATERLINE AND EXTENSIVE PROJECTS ON THE WAY FOR ST. ON THE WAY FOR ST. THOMAS, AND THE D UNU, PROJECT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE NORTH SIDE PROJECT.

IT REQUIRES THE SAME LEVEL OF COORDINATION WITH THE ROAD WORK, AND THE WATER AND WASTEWATER, WHAT ELSE?

>> UNDERGROUND.

>> UNDERGROUND.

YES.

JUST CHECKING YOU GUYS.

THOSE ARE ALL FEDERALLY FUNDING AND DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES.

I FEEL LIKE --COMMISSIONER, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IT´S LIKE A MAJOR TEST FOR THE COORDINATION.

>> OH, DEFINITELY.

WE HAVE SEEN YOUR AGENCIES, DPW AND WAPA AND WE HAVE SEEN THE TECHNICAL STAFF DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS ALWAYS COORDINATING ON THE PROJECTS.

AND I HAVE TO GIVE WAPA A HUGE CONTRACTORS DO A DESIGN FOR THE PROJECT WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO FAST FORWARD AND GET THE DOLLARS MOVING FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE TERRITORY.

THAT´S THE IMPORTANT THING.

>> YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE INVESTED FOR RESILIENCE MAKING SURE WE HAVE DRAINAGE.

WE HAVE CULVERTS, EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS FLOODING, MANAGING ALL OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAKING OUR ROADS MORE RESILIENT, YOU KNOW.

EVERY TWO YEARS, YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE HAVING.

SO I AM TRULY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT IS GOING ON, THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROJECT AND THE LEVEL OF COORDINATION, THE ONE THING WITHIN OUR REACH.

MAYBE?

>> I FEEL SO.

IT´S COMING.

>> AND YOU KNOW, WE´VE TALKED ABOUT 5 CORNERS, AND WE TALKED ABOUT COORDINATION AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON AND ALL OF THAT, AND THE UTILITY COORDINATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECTS.

WE HAVE LOCAL AGENCIES AND WE VISITED WITH RICARDO PORTELLA, VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AT LIBERTY.

NOT JUST YOU GUYS BUT OTHERS THAT SHARED THE FIBER TO HOME AND MOBILE CELL PROJECTS.

>> WE ARE BUILDING FIBER TO HOME WITH 85% UNDERGROUND.

FOR A MOMENT, WE ARE BUILDING SEVEN CELL SITES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, ONE MORE FOR CAPACITY, AND WE ARE COMPLETING 31 WITH FIBER.

THESE WILL GREATLY IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY TO ALL RESIDENTS.

WE PLAN TO COMPLETE THIS MOBILE PARK FOR THE END OF 2024 AND CONTINUE PRIOR TO 2026.

IT´S SUPER IMPORTANT THAT WE COORDINATION FOR THE SAFEGUARDING OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALL OF THE UTILITIES TO AVOID DOWNTOWN OF ANY SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE.

THIS WILL BRING FIBER TO THE HOMES AND SINCE IT´S MAINLY UNDERGROUND, THERE WILL BE NO DISRUPTION TO THE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE KNOW NOT OUR UTILITIES BUT THE EFFORTS WITH LIBERTY, AND YOU ARE WORKING WITH LIBERTY AS WELL?

>> WE HAVE A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH LIBERTY.

THEY ARE ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR PARTNERS MEMORIAL DRIVE PROJECT, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS MAHOGANY ROAD THAT IS KICKING OFF IN JANUARY SO RESIDENTS CAN LOOK FOR IT SOON.

>> AND WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS AND I WANT TO REACH OUT TO THE VIEWERS AND ASK THEM TO REACH OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER THE SHOW AND ON FACEBOOK AND WE HAVE QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS IN OUR INFO BOX.

ELIZABETH ASKS GROUNDBREAKING 2021, COMPLETION ESTIMATED MAY 2022.

OFFER A YEAR, AND PAST COMPLETION AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND WHY DOES SO MANY PROJECTS LINGER AND STALL?

THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES INTO THE PROJECT, AND SOMETIMES, WE FIND IT´S A FUNDING ISSUE WITH THE INFORMATION COOL, AND WHAT THAT LIKE A POOL REQUIRED A CHANGE IN DESIGN AND WE GO BACK FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM FEMA.

AND THAT DELAY IS BECAUSE OF NEEDING AT LEAST TWICE THE FUNDING THAT WE HAD, AND WE ARE BACK OUT TO BID, AND WE HAVE GOTTEN IN SOME --WE ARE WORKING --I THINK IT WAS A BID WALKTHROUGH AND HAD SOME BIDS IN TO GET THE PROJECT UP AND RUNNING BUT SO MANY THINGS THAT IMPACT THE PROJECT, YOU KNOW, THE SUPPLY CHAIN, SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES, AND UTILITY COORDINATION OR OTHER FUNDING FOR OTHER PROJECTS, BUT WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD AND ASK THE PUBLIC FOR THEIR PATIENCE, AND DOING PROJECTS FOR FEDERAL DOLLARS, NOT ALWAYS THE EASIEST THING.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT IT´S GOOD IN THE LONG RUN.

WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES A LOT TO GET THE PROJECTS GOING.

BUT WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU FOR TUNING INTO THE SO JOIN US NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER INFORMATIVE DISCUSSION.

I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN, COMMISSIONER GABRIEL.

YOU HELD IT DOWN IT.

WHO RUNS THE WORLD?

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, FIND US ONLINE AND YOU CAN KEEP THE DISCUSSION GOING ON FACEBOOK.COM/WTJX.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE´LL CONTINUE TO BUILD A LEGACY OF RESILIENCE.