"Providing Hometown Reliability"
The Board of Public Works convened in regular session at 8:32 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 on a motion by Mr. Hird, seconded by Mr. Bryant. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as printed on a motion by Mr. Mills, seconded by Mr. Bryant.
Electric Distribution Director Jeff Bergstrom presented the Board information on purchasing a small bucket truck. He received a quote in the amount of $109,303 from Altec through the government cooperative purchasing program, National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA). After review and discussion, the Board decided to table this request to make a decision at a future meeting. Director Bergstrom gave an update to the MC Power Solar Farm. MC Power will restart work on Tuesday September 6th.
Underground Facilities Director Grant Piper requested approval of the Board to extend the 12" water main on Atchison Ave. and to install two, 2" water services. On a motion made by Mr. Bryant, seconded by Mr. Hird, the Board approved the extension of 12" water main on Atchison Ave. approximately 700 feet to Highway YY and install two, 2" water services to be paid for by the contractor at a total cost of $32,250 with labor and equipment provided by MMU. Director Piper then updated the Board on the North English Lift Station Improvements. The pre-construction meeting was held August 22nd with the contractor and engineer. The contractor will start on September 6th with a completion date scheduled for March 6th, 2017.
Employee Relations Manager Megan Baldridge requested approval from the Board to send request for proposals (RFP) for a flame resistant clothing provider with an allowance based order management system. There are issues with the current vendor, and having twenty-three (23) employees who are required to wear FR clothing daily it would be beneficial to have a more responsive vendor. On a motion made by Mr. Hird, seconded by Mr. Mills, the Board approved to send request for proposals for a FR clothing provider with an allowance based order management system. Manager Baldridge then informed the Board of a safety achievement by Administrative Services. They have worked five (5) years with no recordable injuries and will be provided an award luncheon. She updated the Board that she has met with the health insurance broker on August 31st, and hopes to have the renewal in the next few weeks for review. Manager Baldridge also stated that after review of the automated external defibrillator (AED) program there were two areas that needed an AED placement. After hearing Manager Baldridge's report, the Board reached a consensus to have her acquire the two additional AED's.
Electric Production Director Jim Johnson reported on the Power Plant clean-up. Insco Environmental expects to finish tomorrow. They will do a final air quality sample and have a third party confirm the air quality. They expect to be back on September 6th to demobilize. At that time, the insurance company will be contacted to have their consultant come in and investigate. Director Johnson informed the Board he was notified by KCP&L that they have not been receiving communication from the generation meters on units #4, #5 and #11. He said it was a communication error, and all are now working, except unit #4, which was left alone.
Administrative Services Director Ken Gieringer provided the Board more information on the Special Event Rates draft he provided at the July 28th meeting that was drafted to ease the burden of high electric charges at the Saline County Fairgrounds during the annual fair. After much discussion and comparison of different rate proposals it was decided that the best benefit to the Saline County Fair would be to move them to a commercial rate. On a motion made by Mr. Mills, seconded by Mr. Bryant, the Board approved moving the Saline County Fairgrounds to commercial rates, retroactive to January 1, 2016. Mr. Gieringer went over the draft of the 2016/17 budget with the Board, but does not require any action from the Board at this time. Mr. Gieringer then informed the Board that the 99% plans/drawings for the warehouse have been reviewed and commented on.
General Manager Kyle Gibbs reported on the Green Energy Rate product provided through the MoPEP Pool. There have been three of four industrial customers that qualify sign up. The MoPEP Pool requests that each city establish the local rate that will be charged for this product. It has been discussed at past meetings to charge only what MMU is charged by the Pool and not mark-up the product. On a motion made by Mr. Hird, seconded by Mr. Mills, the Board agreed to offer the Green Energy product offered by the MoPEP Pool at the normal industrial rate established by this Board each year, plus an additional $0.001 per kWh. General Manager Gibbs then provided an overview of the MPUA and MoPEP meetings recently attended.
On a motion by Mr. Hird, seconded by Mr. Mills, accounts payable were approved and warrants ordered issued from the following funds:
WATER OPERATING FUND $ 129,446.01 ELECTRIC OPERATING FUND $ 261,941.05 SEWER REVENUE FUND $ 64,340.41 INTERNET OPERATING FUND $ 35,321.16 NATURAL GAS OPERATING FUND $ 449.90 ELECTRIC CONSUMER DEPOSIT FUND $ 4,750.00 Total $ 496,248.53
The next Regular Board meeting will be Wednesday, September 14, 2016.
On a motion by Mr. Hird, seconded by Mr. Bryant, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the regular meeting at 9:45 a.m.