Marshall Municipal Utilities

Board Meeting Minutes

January 13, 2009

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

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

Environmental Services Director Ginny Ismay reported this is year two of a three-year project to replace sump pumps in the basement at the Water Treatment Plant. Two more sump pumps need to be replaced this year. It was the consensus of the Board to request quotes for the two sump pumps.

Director Ismay reported the two lime silos at the Wastewater Treatment Plant need to be painted. On a motion by Mr. Mills, seconded by Mr. Fricke, the Board approved requesting bids for this project.

Director Ismay reported that there will need to be minor modifications made to the south drive and gate at the Water Treatment Plant. This is due, in part, to MoDOT requirements. A change order for approximately $17,000 on the SMI-CO contract will be necessary to cover these changes. Mr. Mills asked that management check into possibly eliminating the proposed changes to the culvert pipe since the gate would only be an exit gate.

Director Ismay indicated the bids for the CO2 tank covered a wide price range and are still being reviewed.

Electric Production Director Jim Johnson reported the Unit #5 superheat relief valve, which is approximately 15 years old, is inoperable. Parts to rebuild the valve cost as much as a new valve. A new valve is being ordered at a cost of approximately $9,000 with delivery in about 14 weeks.

Director Johnson reported retail on-highway diesel fuel prices have dropped from $4.26/gallon to $2.89/gallon. Since MMU’s coal transportation costs are based on a formula which adjusts the price based on the average diesel fuel price, the coal prices should drop this month. The off-road diesel fuel has also dropped and the contract price for deliveries in February is $1.951. The Board had no objection to purchasing 50,000 gallons of off-road diesel for the tanks at the Power Plant.

Director Johnson informed the Board that the coal conveyor belt has developed some cracking. The vendor has inspected the belt and believes the cracking to be related to cold weather or a defect in the rubber. The vendor will contact the manufacturer to see what can be done.

Electric Distribution Director Jeff Bergstrom reported there was an error on a primary meter installation. The polarity on one of the metering transformers was connected backwards. Procedures are being eval-uated for installing and testing instrument transformer rated metering.

Director Bergstrom is working with the manufacturer to find a solution to the problem with the #1 switch from the North Substation. Nelson Tree Service has started the tree trimming work in the walkway easements and is doing a good job so far.

Administrative Services Director Ken Gieringer reported there have been approximately 3,600 of the automatic electric meters installed. Antenna cables are needed to continue installing gateways.

General Manager Kyle Gibbs reported the plastic grates over the floor drains in front of the overhead roll-up doors in the building on Benton Street need to be replaced with steel grates due to heavy equipment being driven over them. The cost will be approximately $3,000.

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

	WATER OPERATING FUND		$	130,450.52
	ELECTRIC OPERATING FUND		$	923,253.91
	SEWER REVENUE FUND		$	 86,731.57
	INTERNET OPERATING FUND		$	  3,272.57
	NATURAL GAS OPERATING FUND	$	  2,684.59
	ELECTRIC CONSUMERS DEPOSIT FUND	$	  3,050.00

On a motion by Mr. Mills, seconded by Mr. Fricke, the Board voted to adjourn the regular meeting at 9:07 a.m.