Cinergy unit wins energy-saving bid

Vestar Inc., a unit of Cinergy Corp., has won contracts valued at $10.5 million to install energy-saving improvements in public housing projects in Dayton, Middletown and Hamilton.

Vestar, which recently completed similar work for the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, said the projects would save more than $1.1 million annually in energy costs.

A $8.5 million project with the Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority will cover 41 sites.

A $2 million project with the Butler Metropolitan Housing Authority will include boiler control improvements, weather-stripping, lighting retrofits and water conservation solutions to 971 housing units in Middletown and Hamilton.

Repair workers on strike at Alltel

A labor union representing repair workers declared a strike after negotiations with telephone provider Alltel broke down.

Alltel and union members remained "miles apart" on points such as medical benefits, the use of contractors and a proposal requiring workers to sell services to customers while making repairs, union negotiator Mike Garkovitch said.

Spokeswoman Kath Goss said Alltel will bring in workers to fill in for the nearly 500 striking workers in Lexington and eastern Kentucky.

Alltel announced Monday afternoon it is offering a $10,000 reward for information related to what it called several acts of vandalism to Alltel property that have occurred since the strike was declared.

- Staff/wire reports