MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 12, 2011 SAUK CENTRE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING CALL TO ORDER: 1. The regular meeting of the Sauk Centre Public Utilities Commission was called to order by President Rykken at 4:00 p.m. on December 12, 2011 at the office of the Sauk Centre Public Utilities Commission. Commissioners present were Dennis Rykken, Roy Walz, Ted Spanier, Rich Bullard and Mike Bick. Also present were Electric Supervisor John Egan, Water/Wastewater Supervisor Glenn Bauer, Superintendent Marty Sunderman and Secretary Mark Rachey. MINUTES: 2. By general consent, the following minutes were approved: a. The minutes of the Regular Monthly Commission Meeting held on November 14, 2011. UTILITY BILLS: 3a. A motion was introduced by Commissioner Spanier, seconded by Commissioner Bullard that the following utility bills be approved: The full listing of the November, 2011 accounts payable in the amount of $594,848.68. Motion carried FINANCIAL REPORTS: 4a&b. By general consent, the Commission approved all of the financial and investment reports as presented by Superintendent Sunderman.
CORRESPONDENCE AND MEETINGS: 5a. The next regular meeting and annual organizational meeting of the Sauk Centre Public Utilities Commission will be held on Monday, January 9, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. 5b. Superintendent Sunderman informed the Commission that Missouri River Energy Services could schedule a Policy Makers Workshop in Sauk Centre or Melrose for the utility commissioners if there is any interest. Superintendent Sunderman talked to John Harren at Melrose about a joint meeting with them. The Commission is not interested in this since they attend most of the MRES meetings throughout the year. 5c. The Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association's Legislative Rally is scheduled for February 8-10, 2012 in Bloomington, Minnesota. Commissioners Rykken, Walz and Superintendent Sunderman will be attending this meeting. Commissioner Bick will let Superintendent Sunderman know if he can attend at a later time. OLD BUSINESS: 6a. Superintendent Sunderman reviewed with the Commission the seventeenth payment request from Staab Construction. A motion was made by Commissioner Spanier, seconded by Commissioner Bick approving pay request #17 from Staab Construction for the amount of $88,485.78. Motion carried NEW BUSINESS: 7a. Superintendent Sunderman reviewed with the Commission change order #7 and #8 for the new Wastewater Treatment Plant. Miscellaneous items including a computer allowance credit for ($7,761.00) and a cost increase of $14,386.00 for disposing of vermiculite in the old plant were on change order #7 for a total increase to the project of $7,857.00.
Change order #8 consisted of a final completion extension to allow clarifier #1 start up to be in the spring of 2012. Therefore, the final completion date would be changed to June 29, 2012. The warranty period will start on January 1, 2012. There is no cost for change order #8. A motion was made by Commissioner Bick, seconded by Commissioner Walz approving change order #7 and #8 for a cost of $7,857.00. Motion carried 7b. The Commission reviewed the S-1 Rate Schedule from Missouri River Energy Services. No action needed. 7c. The Commission reviewed the Missouri River Energy Services Xcel Group Transmission Rate Adjustment. No action needed. 7d. The Commission reviewed the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator Market Implementation Agreement Exhibits A, B and C. This was recently approved by the MRES Board of Directors. No action needed. COMISSIONERS ITEMS: 8a. Superintendent Sunderman held discussion on the rate increases for the Electric, Water and Wastewater Departments. A motion was made by Commissioner Walz, seconded by Commissioner Bick to approve a 1 mill increase for the electric department due to Xcel Energy increase of around $84,000, 3% overall rate increase for the water department and a 3% basic charge and a 6% usage rate increase for the wastewater department effective February, 2012.Motion carried
8b. The Commission reviewed the proposed 2012 Budgets for all departments. After some discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Spanier, seconded by Commissioner Bick to approve the 2012 Budgets. Motion carried 8c. Chairman Rykken updated the Commission on the city storm water project. SUPERINTENDENT S ITEMS: 9a. Superintendent Sunderman informed the Commission the 2012 Minnesota Rural Water Association s Annual Dues are $235.00. A motion was made by Commissioner Bick and seconded by Commissioner Bullard to approve payment of the 2012 MRWA annual dues of $235.00. Motion carried unanimously five to zero. 9b. The Sauk Centre Chamber of Commerce membership dues for the year 2012 are $405.00. A motion was made by Commissioner Bullard and seconded by Commissioner Bick to approve to pay the 2012 chamber membership dues. Motion carried 9c. Superintendent Sunderman and Water/Wastewater Supervisor Glenn Bauer updated the Commission on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. There was discussion on the plant lift station and whether to use ferric instead of aluminum sulfate in the winter months. 9d. Electric Supervisor John Egan gave a report on the MMUA 11 th Annual Technical & Operations Conference he attended on December 6-8, 2011 in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. 9e. The Commission held discussion regarding job duties for Electric Supervisor John Egan if he would be elected Fire Chief.
Commissioner Bick left the meeting at 5:25 p.m. 9f. Superintendent Sunderman informed the Commission that he recommends the hiring Ann Antonsen of Springsted Inc. to do the pay equity compliance report for an estimated cost of $750.00. Commissioner Spanier made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Walz to approve the hiring of Ann Antonsen of Springsted Inc. to do the pay equity compliance report. Motion carried unanimously four to zero. The following informational only items were enclosed for the Commission: 1. MPCA Correspondence / Enc. 2. Memo to Union regarding Weekend Duties at WWTP / Enc. 3. Update on Mike Quistorff 4. Update on Justin Hinnenkamp. Being no further business, a motion was made by Commissioner Spanier, seconded by Commissioner Bullard to adjourn the meeting at 5:55 p.m. Motion carried unanimously four to zero. Mark Rachey, Secretary Sauk Centre Public Utilities Commission mr