Marshall Municipal Utilities

Board Meeting Minutes

July 29, 2008

The Board of Public Works convened the regular session at 8:30 a.m. at the Marshall Municipal Utilities Business Office. Present were Spencer Fricke, President; Charles Hird, Vice President; Mike Mills, Secretary; and Jim Heinzler, member.

The agenda was approved as presented. On a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Hird, the minutes of the previous meeting were approved as printed.

Mr. Fricke read an email received by Mr. Heinzler from Mike Conyers, Director of Lineworker Safety and Training for MPUA. In the email, Mr. Conyers expressed his opinion that MMU is not responding to calls for help from other cities as pledged in the Mutual Aid Agreement. Mr. Mills indicated MMU had responded to more calls than the number of calls made by MMU requesting help. The Board expressed agreement that MMU must take care of the citizens of Marshall before lending aid to other cities. An issue was discussed concerning what is paid to MMU lineman during the time they are helping another city versus what other cities are paying their lineman. General Manager Kyle Gibbs will discuss this matter with Mr. Conyers, and management will review the pay issue.

Employee and Customer Relations Manager Megan Baldridge reported the Ford Escape on the state contract that was discussed in a previous meeting is now available for $16,082. This vehicle would be assigned to the Safety and Training Officer. Purchasing a vehicle from the state contract would meet the requirements of the bid process. On a motion by Mr. Hird, seconded by Mr. Mills, the Board approved purchasing the 2009 Ford Escape available for $16,082 through the State of Missouri’s fleet vehicle contracts. Discussion on this issue continued. On a motion by Mr. Mills, seconded by Mr. Hird, the Board rescinded the previous motion to approve the purchase. More discussion followed. On a motion by Mr. Mills, seconded by Mr. Hird, the Board approved requesting bids for a vehicle for the Safety and Training Officer.

A discussion was held on Missouri’s new Immigration Law that becomes effective August 28, 2008, and how it would affect MMU.

The following bids were received July 23, 2008, for a vacuum excavator for Underground Facilities:

Company	Bid	Make & Model	Delivery Time From Award
Ditch Witch Sales    Sullivan, MO	$52,900.00	FX60	45 to 60 days
Key Equipment & Supply    Kansas City, KS    ALT.	$45,322.00 $41,508.87	550 Ring O-Matic Ring O-Matic	30 days
Vermeer    Olathe, KS	$46,937.00	PMD 550 SDT	30 days

Director Chase indicated the two lowest bids do not meet specifications. The next lowest bid, from Vermeer, does meet specifications. On a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Mills, the Board approved the purchase of the vacuum excavator from Vermeer for $46,937.00.

Director Chase reported Underground Facilities personnel have started on the water main relocation project for ConAgra.

Electric Distribution Assistant Director Doug Root reported the contract with H. K. Scholz for the North Street Substation switchgear is being prepared. On a motion by Mr. Mills, seconded by Mr. Heinzler, the Board approved a request to the City Council to authorize Mayor Latimer to execute the contract with H. K. Scholz for the North Street Substation switchgear.

Assistant Director Root reported bids were received July 25, 2008, for an infrared camera. Management is reviewing these bids and will make a recommendation at a future meeting.

Environmental Services Director Ginny Ismay reported a change order is needed to the Shafer, Kline and Warren engineering contract for inspections and observations during the construction of the disinfection building at the Water Treatment Plant. A discussion was held concerning whether it is necessary to have Shafer, Kline and Warren do this work or if someone else could do it. On a motion by Mr. Hird, seconded by Mr. Heinzler, the Board approved Change Order #3 to the engineering contract with Shafer, Kline and Warren allowing them to perform construction inspection and observation on the Water Treatment Plant disinfection facility during construction. Management will work with Shafer, Kline and Warren to keep this work at a minimum.

Director Ismay reported an employee at the Wastewater Treatment Plant is retiring at the end of the year and the process for replacing him will begin immediately in order to get the new person on board before the current employee leaves. This will allow for training on the maintenance program at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Underground Facilities personnel poured the concrete pad for the CO2 cans and control pedestal at the Water Treatment Plant.

Administrative Services Director Ken Gieringer gave a brief summary of the financial comparative analysis for the third quarter.

Electric Production Director Jim Johnson reported the new loader has been received. Units #4 and #5 are running and Units #10 and #11 have been run two to three days each week. BHA could not find the cause of the problem with the bags from the Unit #4 baghouse.

General Manager Kyle Gibbs reported DNR has raised an issue with the Units #7, #8, and #9 construction and operating permits. This issue began 20 years ago when the units were installed without a construction permit issued by DNR. MMU had applied for a construction permit but a permit was never received from DNR. An operating permit also has never been received from DNR. We are discussing this with DNR to try to get this issue resolved. Two violation notices are pending against MMU until this issue and other related matters are worked out.

General Manager Gibbs will be attending a MoPEP meeting today to discuss possible new members to MoPEP.

On a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Mills, accounts payable were approved and warrants ordered issued from the following funds:

	WATER OPERATING FUND		$	 94,391.27
	ELECTRIC OPERATING FUND		$	341,970.34
	SEWER REVENUE FUND		$	 98,802.62
	INTERNET OPERATING FUND		$	 20,656.74
	NATURAL GAS OPERATING FUND	$	 11,162.06
	ELECTRIC CONSUMERS DEPOSIT FUND	$	  3,575.00

On a motion by Mr. Hird, seconded by Mr. Mills, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the regular meeting at 9:56 a.m.