Marshall Municipal Utilities

Board Meeting Minutes

October 29, 2008

The Board of Public Works convened the regular session at 2:25 p.m. at the Marshall Municipal Utilities Business Office. Present were Spencer Fricke, President; Mike Mills, Secretary; and Jim Heinzler, member. Charles Hird, Vice President, was absent.

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

Underground Facilities Director Monty Chase reported truck #502 (1995 ½-ton pickup) needs to be replaced. It is the truck that carries the 100-gallon fuel tank. Truck #503 (Underground Facilities Director’s pickup) would be shifted to take the place of truck #502 and the new pickup would become the truck used by the Underground Facilities Director. The old truck (#502) would be sold. On a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Mills, the Board approved requesting bids for a new pickup.

Director Chase reported Underground Facilities personnel have started a new program of keeping records of the condition of sewer mains as these mains are being cleaned and inspected.

Director Chase explained there are two sections of sewer main that need to be rehabbed. One section is in a 10-foot easement south of College, east of Lafayette, and the other section is along a drainage ditch in the Englewood/Yerby area. Director Chase asked for the Board’s input on whether these two sewer main rehab projects could be done by an outside contractor. Using a contractor to make CIPP (cured-in-pipe) rehabs would cost less than using MMU personnel to make the rehabs with conventional methods. On a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Mills, the Board approved requesting proposals for these two sewer main rehab projects.

Employee Relations Manager Megan Baldridge reported a draft policy for an MMU safety committee has been developed. The committee would be made up of both nonsupervisory and supervisory employees and would be voluntary. On a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Mills, the Board approved the safety committee policy effective immediately. Mr. Mills suggested that a Board member be a part of the quarterly meetings of the safety committee.

On a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Mills, the Board approved continuing the leave of absence for Doug Newell until December 9, 2008, if needed, with continuation of health insurance.

Electric Production Director Jim Johnson reported a representative from Otis Elevator Company inspected the freight elevator at the Power Plant and found several problems with the control relays, contacts, and control circuits. Otis Elevator Company will perform the necessary major maintenance on this elevator to correct these problems and to improve performance and reliability of the elevator.

Director Johnson reported paper pellets are being made from the mixed paper collected at the recycling center since currently there is no market for the bailed mixed paper.

Electric Distribution Director Jeff Bergstrom reported the transmission line repair/maintenance project has been postponed due to wet weather and crops still in the fields. The South Lake Drive underground wire project has been completed. Director Bergstrom reported there were no bids received for the tree trimming project. Several companies responded indicating they could not take on any more work at this time. The tree trimming project may need to be rebid as MMU crews are unable to keep up with the need for tree trimming.

Environmental Services Director Ginny Ismay reported the disinfection facility construction project at the Water Treatment Plant is progressing well. A Change Order to the SMI-CO contract is being completed for a steel post that was left out in the original design.

Administrative Services Director Ken Gieringer indicated that rate increases have been limited in the last few years and these increases have not been sufficient to keep from using reserves. In order to keep from using up reserves and also in order to fund major projects that are needed, including a project to address inflow and infiltration, rates in all departments will have to be raised substantially. Director Gieringer will bring a rate increase proposal to the Board at a future meeting.

General Manager Kyle Gibbs reported Time Warner Cable is selling their Marshall system to Windjammer Communications. MMU and the City of Marshall have a pole attachment agreement with Time Warner Cable that will need to be transferred to Windjammer Communications. On a motion by Mr. Mills, seconded by Mr. Heinzler, the Board approved to consent to the assignment of the pole attachment agreement to Windjammer Communications upon the closing date of the Asset Purchase Agreement between Time Warner Cable and Windjammer Communications.

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

	WATER OPERATING FUND			$	 74,976.53
	ELECTRIC OPERATING FUND			$	261,351.02
	SEWER REVENUE FUND			$	 95,085.29
	INTERNET OPERATING FUND			$	 19,705.75
	NATURAL GAS OPERATING FUND		$	  2,568.05
	ELECTRIC CONSUMERS DEPOSIT FUND		$	  1,975.00
	WATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENT RES.	$	199,083.20

On a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Mills, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the regular meeting at 3:11 p.m.