"Providing Hometown Reliability"
The Board of Public Works convened in regular session at 8:30 a.m. at the Marshall Municipal Utilities Business Office. Board members present were Spencer Fricke, President; Chuck Hird, Vice President; Ken Bryant, Secretary; Steve Mills, Member.
The Agenda was approved as presented. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as printed on a motion by Mr. Fricke, seconded by Mr. Mills. Mr. Mills inquired of incentives for new businesses. General Manager replied that currently there are none because the Pool makes it difficult. Staff will do some research on them.
General Manager Kyle Gibbs updated the Board on the MoPEP green wholesale energy rate for interested industrial customers. It is being voted on this week. General Manager Gibbs is working with Director Gieringer reviewing the commercial and small general rate classes to determine if they can be changed to better match how MMU pays for wholesale power.
Underground Facilities Director Grant Piper presented the Board the bids from the bid opening on May 12th for the North English Lift Station Improvements. Director Piper recommends using Lehman Construction Company, LLC for a total lump sum of $597,609.00. They have successfully completed similar projects in the area and for MMU, and have a good reputation in the industry. On a motion made by Mr. Hird, seconded by Mr. Bryant, the Board approved to request an ordinance from the City Council to authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement with Lehman Construction Co., LLC in the amount of $597,609.00 which includes a $20,000 cash allowance to cover any changes in construction.
Director Piper then updated the Board on the CIPP Project. SprayCom will be here next week to install liners on three taps damaged and complete the manhole rehab at Stone Hedge Golf Course, dependent upon weather.
General Manager Gibbs left the meeting at 9:00 am to attend MPUA quarterly meeting.
Administrative Services Director Ken Gieringer presented the Board revisions to MMU's Load Shedding Program. Previously the program referred to actual rates that were in effect at the time it was created. The changes remove the dollar amount of the rate, and now refers to just the electric rate schedule. On a motion made by Mr. Hird, seconded by Mr. Bryant, the Board approved the changes removing the actual dollar amount of the rate and just refers to the rate at the time of the program.
Director Gieringer presented the Board changes to the Internet Policy of servicing locations outside of city limit in MMU's General Rules and Regulations. On a motion made by Mr. Bryant, seconded by Mr. Hird, the Board approved adding the proposed wording that: MMU will evaluate requests from customers located in other areas. At the Board's discretion, individual areas may be served if additional conditions are met. All necessary easements are to be provided by landowners in the area under consideration. Customers in the designated area will be charged a premium rate per month for a set period of time to help finance the extra cost of extending MMU's fiber system.
Director Gieringer presented the Board additional wording that needs to be added to the "Internet Rate Schedule": At its discretion, internet service may be extended into areas MMU does not provide other services to. Customers in a defined area would be required to meet a set of criteria (such as easements, a specific number of interested customers, etc.) that MMU staff would evaluate. A premium (such as an additional $30 per month for a three year period) would be charged for service to the specific area. On a motion made by Mr. Bryant, seconded by Mr. Mills, the Board approved adding the above wording to MMU's current "Internet Rate Schedule".
Director Gieringer then informed the Board of property damage as a result of last week's hail storm. Trucks had dents and broken windshields. Dents won't be fixed but windshields are being replaced. And, building roofs are being evaluated for damage.
Electric Distribution Director Jeff Bergstrom informed the Board of storm damage. There were limited outages, approximately 100 customers were affected. The sub-station roofs are showing damage, lots of photocells on street lights were broken in the north section of town.
Electric Production Director Jim Johnson reported on hydro testing for boilers of Unit #4 & #5. Unit #4 had no issues, but #5 had two boiler tube leaks. North Point Boiler came and made repairs to the tubes and there were no other issues once repaired. Director Johnson also reported on storm damage. The Power Plant experienced golf ball size hail. Watkins inspected the roof of the Power Plant and Unit #10 & #11 building. They will be providing an estimate to repair.
Employee Relations Manager Megan Baldridge made acknowledgement to the Board of the Water Treatment Plant's Safety Achievement. They've worked six years with no recordable injuries. Manager Baldridge then updated the Board on vacancies. Safety Specialist Chase Brackman started May 23rd, GIS/Records Associate Cody Boston started May 31st, a conditional offer has been made for Underground Facilities Fleet Mechanic, and we will be advertising for the Administrative Services Meter Reader as Aaron Boston has taken the Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator position.
On a motion by Mr. Hird, seconded by Mr. Bryant, accounts payable were approved and warrants ordered issued from the following funds:
WATER OPERATING FUND $ 264,142.67 ELECTRIC OPERATING FUND $ 542,070.83 SEWER REVENUE FUND $ 149,269.73 INTERNET OPERATING FUND $ 35,658.43 NATURAL GAS OPERATING FUND $ 1,725.42 ELECTRIC CONSUMER DEPOSIT FUND $ 5,250.00 SEWER EQUIPMENT FUND $ 205,840.00 Total $ 1,203,957.08
The next Board meeting will be Thursday, June 16, 2016.
On a motion by Mr. Bryant, seconded by Mr. Mills, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the regular meeting at 9:24 a.m.