"Providing Hometown Reliability"
The Board of Public Works convened the regular session at 8:30 a.m. at the Marshall Municipal Utilities Business Office. Board members present were Ken Bryant, President; Jim Heinzler, Vice President; and Spencer Fricke, Secretary. Board member Chuck Hird was absent.
The agenda was approved as printed on a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Fricke. General Manager Kyle Gibbs reviewed the safety briefing. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as printed on a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Fricke.
Electric Distribution Director Jeff Bergstrom reported the replacement recloser for Unit #9 was installed but the voltage readings were off by 20%. The manufacturer sent an engineer to make corrections to the recloser. The voltage readings are now correct. The voltage readings will need to be checked during a rain event.
Director Bergstrom indicated Electric Distribution personnel are in the process of switching customers over from overhead to underground electric services in the area of Colby and Benton Streets. This will complete the project for this area.
Underground Facilities Chief Engineering Technician Joe Trapp reported crews finished the tie-in on the water main replacement project on N. Miami at High Street. Preliminary work is being done for the cleaning and inspection of reservoir #1 scheduled to start September 8. Have had several water main breaks, including one this morning.
Electric Production Director Jim Johnson reported the roofing contractor has replaced the roof above the #4 and #5 boiler except for installation of the flashing. The roof above the #3 boiler should be finished today, and the contractor will start on the roof above the turbine deck next week.
Director Johnson and General Manager Kyle Gibbs met with DNR concerning the Part 70 Operating Permit for the Power Plant. DNR personnel seemed to be in agreement with changing the steam boilers’ status from a major source of HAPS (hazardous air pollutants) to an area source under the Boiler MACT Regulation. However, EPA has the authority over area source issues.
Director Johnson indicated the electric peak so far this year of 37,800 KWHs was reached on August 25.
Administrative Services Director Ken Gieringer mentioned that the draft list of capital projects for the 2014/15 budget is included in the Board packet for the Board’s review.
Employee Relations Manager Megan Baldridge congratulated the Administrative Services Department for having worked three years with no recordable injuries as of August 18, 2014.
General Manager Kyle Gibbs recently attended the annual MPUA meeting where the budget was discussed. The proposed budget for 2015 is approximately $450,000,000 for all organizations within MPUA.
General Manager Gibbs met with representatives of MC Power to discuss MMU’s responsibilities concerning hosting a solar panel project in Marshall.
The Community Planning Committee organized by MSDC, of which General Manager Gibbs, Director Gieringer and Board member Spencer Fricke are members, is looking for more members.
On a motion by Mr. Fricke, seconded by Mr. Heinzler, accounts payable were approved and warrants ordered issued from the following funds:
WATER OPERATING FUND $ 115,178.30 ELECTRIC OPERATING FUND $ 252,784.49 SEWER REVENUE FUND $ 46,008.58 INTERNET OPERATING FUND $ 34,363.01 NATURAL GAS OPERATING FUND $ 2,547.91 ELECTRIC CONSUMERS DEPOSIT FUND $ 7,550.00
The next Board meeting will be held Thursday, September 11, 2014.
On a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Fricke, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the regular meeting at 8:57 a.m.