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Marshall Municipal Utilities

"Providing Hometown Reliability"

Board Meeting Minutes

December 1, 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; Jim Heinzler, Secretary; and Spencer Fricke, member. Also present was Sam Moten, City Councilman, and Floyd Gilzow, MPUA Director of Member Relations and Public Affairs.

The agenda was approved as amended moving the report of Employee Relations Manager Megan Baldridge before business from the audience.

Employee Relations Manager Megan Baldridge reported on 2010 employee health benefits. After review-ing several ancillary proposals, it was determined to be in the best interest of employees to remain with our current carrier of dental, vision, life and AD&D, disability and flex plan coverage. Guardian has proposed an 8.7% increase in rates for 2010. These lines of coverage can be reviewed again at a later date. The pos-sibility of adding other voluntary benefits, including voluntary life and a couple of Aflac policies was also discussed. After completing individual health questionnaires for medical coverage, three of five carriers have declined to quote. The option of a partially self-funded plan is also being explored. Our current car-rier, Mercy Health Plans, has proposed an 8.67% increase in rates for 2010. On a motion by Mr. Mills, sec-onded by Mr. Heinzler, the Board approved renewing with Guardian and Mercy pending the possibility of receiving better rates by the end of the week from the other two carriers of medical coverage.

Floyd Gilzow, Director of Member Relations and Public Affairs for MPUA, gave a presentation on Climate Change Legislation and the impact on MMU and other utilities.

On a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Fricke, the minutes of the previous meeting were approved as printed.

Electric Production Director Jim Johnson reported on the need to replace the PVC fill packs in the Unit #5 cooling tower. On a motion by Mr. Mills, seconded by Mr. Fricke, the Board approved the recommenda-tion to proceed with this budgeted project.

Electric Distribution Director Jeff Bergstrom indicated the need for additional storage boxes for two trucks to house safety gear. On a motion by Mr. Fricke, seconded by Mr. Heinzler, the Board approved the pur-chase of storage boxes for trucks #306 and #330 using quotes.

Director Bergstrom also reported on the North Street Substation project. There is still some testing to be done before the new substation can be put into service.

Environmental Services Director Ginny Ismay reported the grit augur on the west unit at the Wastewater Treatment Plant has deteriorated to the point that it needs replacing. On a motion by Mr. Mills, seconded by Mr. Fricke, the Board approved proceeding with this budgeted project using quotes.

Director Ismay also discussed a problem with the CO2 tank at the Water Treatment Plant and the addition of sampling taps to monitor chlorine residuals.

Underground Facilities Director Monty Chase reported that eight companies responded to the request for qualifications for the Water and Wastewater Main Replacement Project in the Hamner/Lafayette area. On a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Fricke, the Board approved negotiating with Shafer, Kline & Warren, Inc. for this project.

Director Chase also asked the Board for direction on initiating an Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) Program and a Foundation Drain Disconnection Program (FDDP) on the private sector. A city ordinance would be needed to inspect private service lines. Approximately $100,000 in equipment costs and two more employ-ees would be needed for initiating this project. It was the consensus of the Board to proceed with the devel-opment of an I&I reduction program to be presented at a later Board meeting.

On a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Mills, the Board approved the appointment of Kyle Gibbs as MMU’s representative on the MSDC Board for 2010.

General Manager Gibbs reported on a meeting he and Administrative Services Director Ken Gieringer at-tended sponsored by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office on the Sunshine Law.

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		$	142,452.22
	ELECTRIC OPERATING FUND		$	366,741.92
	SEWER REVENUE FUND		$	133,089.82
	INTERNET OPERATING FUND		$	 18,569.41
	NATURAL GAS OPERATING FUND	$	  2,588.49
	ELECTRIC CONSUMER DEPOSIT FUND	$	  4,225.00
On a motion by Mr. Heinzler, seconded by Mr. Fricke, the regular meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m.