About MMU:

Marshall Municipal Utilities

"Providing Hometown Reliability"

Board Meeting Minutes

July 15, 2010

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 Jim Heinzler, Vice President; Spencer Fricke, Secretary; and Charles Hird, member. President Mike Mills was absent. Also present were Mayor Pro Tem Ron Duvall and Mr. Dan Igo.

The agenda was approved as presented.

Mr. Dan Igo indicated he had found a 2¢ error on his bill and felt MMU should not be making such errors. Mr. Igo explained that he had been told he had tampered with his “lines” but that he had not done so. Mr. Igo said he was trying to make the Board aware of how he is treated (by MMU personnel) and would like to see some evidence of the tampering charge and have a chance to refute it. Mr. Igo stated that an MMU employee came and turned his service on and then came and turned it off later.

Administrative Services Director Ken Gieringer explained that Mr. Igo’s service was turned on by mistake because MMU personnel were led to believe that there had been a recent leak that was fixed and the service needed to be turned back on. Director Gieringer indicated the service was turned off in February 2010 because of a leak. MMU’s billing records indicated that the water service was to be off.

Mr. Igo said that he did not have the service turned off, that someone else had done that for him. Mr. Igo stated he thought the letter he received concerning tampering had overtones of slander.

Mr. Heinzler indicated the Board would discuss the issues presented by Mr. Igo. Mr. Igo left the meeting.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as printed on a motion by Mr. Fricke, seconded by Mr. Hird.

Electric Production Director Jim Johnson reported Unit #5 was put on line July 12, 2010, and Units #10 and #11 were run July 14, 2010.

Director Johnson reported he has been researching the possibility of retrofitting the pellet boiler with a natural gas burner for dual fuel capability. The retrofit would cost approximately $50,000. This would give more flexibility and reliability during the winter months. The pellet boiler is needed for heating of several areas. Running the pellet boiler on natural gas would be a cheaper solution than starting Unit #4 to provide heat when there are no pellets to burn. Director Johnson indicated an application would have to be submitted to DNR for approval of burning natural gas in this boiler. It was the consensus of the Board to put this project in the budget for 2010/11 and that Director Johnson begin communications with DNR concerning this project.

Electric Distribution Director Jeff Bergstrom reported the conversion of overhead single-phase wires to underground in walkway easements is progressing well. All the main conduits are in.

Director Gieringer reported there has been some difficulty working with some of the guidelines set by some of the agencies providing financial help to MMU customers.

Director Gieringer indicated the 2¢ “error” that Mr. Igo was referring to was most probably a credit left from a previous bill. The Board asked that Director Gieringer explain the circumstances of Mr. Igo’s complaint. Director Gieringer stated that Mr. Igo’s water service was turned off in February 2010 because of a leak. The water service was turned back on after Business Office hours, which lead the Customer Service personnel to believe the water meter had been tampered with. A tampering fee letter was sent to Mr. Igo. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that MMU personnel had turned the service back on when they were led to believe that a recent leak had been fixed. Director Gieringer indicated he had told Mr. Igo during a recent phone conversation that the fee would not be charged. The Board asked that a letter be sent to Mr. Igo explaining the circumstances and indicating that no tampering fee would be charged.

General Manager Kyle Gibbs reported on the National APPA convention he recently attended.

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

	WATER OPERATING FUND		$	  105,427.08
	ELECTRIC OPERATING FUND		$	1,085,050.41
	SEWER REVENUE FUND		$	  112,038.60
	INTERNET OPERATING FUND		$	   14,963.12
	NATURAL GAS OPERATING FUND	$	    1,264.34
	ELECTRIC CONSUMER DEPOSIT FUND	$	    4,675.00

On a motion by Mr. Fricke, seconded by Mr. Hird, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the regular meeting at 9:27 a.m.