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Marshall Municipal Utilities

"Providing Hometown Reliability"

Board Meeting Minutes

September 29, 2009

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

The agenda was approved as presented. It was noted that Mr. McGinness could not be present at the meet-ing as indicated on the agenda. On a motion by Mr. Mills, seconded by Mr. Fricke, the minutes of the pre-vious meeting were approved as printed.

Employee Relations Manager Megan Baldridge explained that the draft policies addressing the use of com-puters, Internet, phones and related electronic communications have been revised to reflect the change sug-gested by Mr. Mills at the last Board meeting. On a motion by Mr. Mills, seconded by Mr. Fricke, the Board approved the addition of three new sections to MMU’s Personnel Policy, Part 2: Employment; and 2) approved eliminating the existing Electronic Communications Policy and Part 6, Section 6 of MMU’s Per-sonnel Policy (Use of Cellular Phones); each to become effective on October 15, 2009.

Administrative Services Director Ken Gieringer reported the proposed 2009/10 budget does not include any rate increases. On a motion by Mr. Mills, seconded by Mr. Fricke, the Board approved the budget for the 2009/10 fiscal year with the understanding that each individual major project will be brought to the Board for approval before proceeding.

Mr. Mills indicated he would like to see a specific plan developed for taking care of inflow and infiltration problems to be ready when enough money is available from the fund that was started with the $5 monthly inflow and infiltration sewer charge on utility bills.

Director Gieringer recommended a loan from the Electric Department to the Water Department be ap-proved. This loan would provide needed funding for the projects included in the 2009/10 budget and pro-jected projects for a couple of years. The Board postponed a decision on this matter until a specific project is in need of funding.

The following bids were opened September 24, 2009, for an electric meter and meter circuit tester.

		Bid for Elec. Meter Only	Make and Model	Deliver Time from Award
Industrial Electronics Knoxville, TN	$25,680.00	$15,095.00	Bird Dog 6000
McLaren Inc. Kirkland, WA	$25,880.00	$15,095.00	Bird Dog 6000	3-4 weeks
Spinlab Utility Instrumentation Knoxville, TN	$24,595.00	$14,610.00	Bird Dog 6000	2-3 weeks

Electric Distribution Director Jeff Bergstrom indicated all bids included training. On a motion by Mr. Fricke, seconded by Mr. Mills, the Board accepted the bid from Spinlab for $14,610 for the electric meter tester and training.

A discussion was held on the policy and procedures for mutual aid.

Director Bergstrom reported the city of Slater has agreed to pay the high bid price (received September 8, 2009, for the used and junk transformers) for the 21 transformers they wanted. The remaining transformers will be rebid.

Director Bergstrom and Master Electrician Patrick Ward inspected the new switchgear for the North Street Substation at the manufacturer in Ralston, Nebraska. The quality of the work look very good and the switchgear should be delivered sometime the week of October 5.

Electric Production Director Jim Johnson reported Unit #5 is being taken apart in preparation for the over-haul.

General Manager Kyle Gibbs reported the Park Department has been having problems with small plastics getting in the effluent irrigation system for the golf course. MMU could put in a strainer on the effluent line to the golf course that would alleviate the problem. On a motion by Mr. Mills, seconded by Mr. Fricke, the Board approved MMU’s purchase and installation of a strainer on the effluent line supplying water to the golf course and charging the park $10,000, which they will be allowed to pay for over a 50-month period. All other costs for installation, labor and fittings will be covered under their current monthly charge. This would be contingent on the Park Board’s approval.

The Employee Appreciation Luncheon will be held October 20, 2009, at the Service Center.

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

	WATER OPERATING FUND		$	105,098.71
	ELECTRIC OPERATING FUND		$	290,066.08
	SEWER REVENUE FUND		$	 61,026.26
	INTERNET OPERATING FUND		$	  9,330.29
	NATURAL GAS OPERATING FUND	$	  2,333.78
	ELECTRIC CONSUMER DEPOSIT FUND	$	  5,050.00

The regular meeting adjourned at 9:34 a.m. to go into to an executive session to discuss matters related to legal action (Mo. Rev. Stat. 610.021 [1], if authorized). Roll call vote:
Charles Hird yes
Mike Mills yes
Spencer Fricke yes