Town of Coupeville received a $10,000 grant to make it safer for staff to turn on generators for the South Main Street lift station.

The town’s insurance provider, Washington Cities Insurance Authority, awarded the grant for an automatic transfer switch.

The switch allows town staff to turn on generators at one of the key transfer points in the town’s sewer system in the event of a power outage.

“That transfer station is very busy and can’t be without power for very long,” said Coupeville Mayor Molly Hughes.

Currently the switch is located down in a manhole and, generally when staff have to turn it on, it’s pitch black and during a storm.

“This was a huge safety feature for us,” Hughes said. “This project was a high priority for the town. We had it on our capital facilities list this year.

“Now we can take that $10,000 and use it elsewhere.”