Switching from an underground to an in-the-air transformer for Leitchfield’s new raw water intake project will cost more now, but potentially head off some headaches in the future.

At their Thursday, July 5, meeting, the city’s utility commission approved a $3,561 change order with Cleary Construction of Tompkinsville for the transformer switch. The main cost is for the extra wiring — roughly 45 feet — needed for placing the transformer on a pole.

Kevin Pharis, the utilities superintendent, told the commission the switch centers on timing: the 12-plus weeks needed to get the underground transformer, and the 12-plus weeks it could take to obtain parts if something broke down on it.

Leitchfield will see about $1,000 in savings since installing a pole-based transformer is cheaper. When all the change orders are processed, the switch will cost about $2,500.

The city draws water from Rough River Lake for residential and commercial use. The new $1.076 million intake, in a spot closer to the dam, will replace the current one that goes from Peter Cave to Clifty Creek. The new spot will give the city a larger area to draw water from during winter pool, allowing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to drop the lake level. It also could allow the city to draw more water overall if needed for future growth.

A roughly nine-mile , $3.7 million pipeline will be built to bring water from the new intake to the city’s treatment plant.

In other action, the commission approved advertising for bids for a new gas truck, likely a crew cab one-ton tool truck. It will replace a roughly 12-year-old Ford F-250 Tool Topper Truck.

Commissioners also approved paying $104,000 in construction invoices for the raw water project.