6.1. ERMUSR 10-12-2010ElkRiver ---,
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330-0430
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
Phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.441.8099
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Troy Adams, P.E. -Director of Operations
John Dietz, Chair
Jerry Gumphrey, Vice Chair
Dar 1 Thom son, Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
October 12, 2010 6.1
SUBJECT:
Staff U dates -Director of O erations
DISCUSSION:
On September 20`h and 21s` ERMU management participated in the Visioning of Goals process
with the City. This was a very positive experience. Beyond the development of goals, the
process created an opportunity for problem solving and team building between City and Utilities
departments. The initial results of the Visioning of Goals process will be presented at the Oct 11
City Council meeting.
The hiring of meter readers was completed quickly. They have been out reading meters and we
are in the process of fully integrating the meter reading in-house. We have not been able to get
the meter reading laptop yet, but with the part time meter reader and the seasonal meter reader
we have had sufficient labor to read the meter routes with the equipment we have.
Enclosed for your reading is the current issue of the MMUA Resource.
Elk River
Municipal Utilities
13069 Oroao Parkway • P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330.0430
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
Phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.441.8099
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Theresa Slominski -Finance Director/Office
John Dietz, Chair Manager
Jerry Gumphrey, Vice Chair
Da 1 Thom son, Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
October I2, 2010 61
SUBJECT:
Staff U dates -Finance Director/Office Manaeer
DISCUSSION:
As requested from the last commission meeting, I approached Paymentus about reviewing their
rate for an absorbed fee. Tbey had proposed a rate of $2.40 per transaction and now have offered
a rate of $2.25 per transaction that would have a maximum of $500. The maximum doesn't limit
the amount we will take for a credit card payment, only the point at which we would be charged
additional fees, just like the $300 maximum that is in place now. For example, if a customer
were paying a $600 bill by credit card, in the absorbed model the customer would see no fee and
ERMU would be charged $4.50; $2.25 for the first $500 and another $2.25 for the additional
$100. The maximum credit card transaction Paymentus would process would be $25,000 and so
we would have a maximum fee of X112.50 ($25,000/$500 = 50 x $2.25 = $112.50). If it is the
commission's desire to pursue this, I would need to have a motion, and then we would have an
amendment drawn up from Paymentus to be signed by Troy or myself.
Last month I mentioned that our insurance rates were remaining the same and at the end of the
month we met with our insurance broker to review the information. It was recommended that we
move from processing our Flexible Spending Accounts (FBAs) internally to an outside third
party processor. The recommendation comes as a result of the compliance regulations that are in
place and suggested as a protection measure for ourselves. The FSAs are accounts setup with
pretax deductions that come out of the employees' paychecks each payroll and then expenses are
submitted to be reviewed and reimbursed back to the employee. There is additional testing that
needs to be done now and the qualifying expenses and related reviewing are becoming more
complex, especially with the change to over-the-counter prescription required reimbursements.
To have a third party processor our cost would be $1.83 per participant per month (potentially
$64.05 per month if everyone participated). This would also allow employees to utilize a debit
card for some of these expenses, rather than paying out of pocket and then being reimbursed by
check. It has been discussed before and so I just wanted to make the commission aware of this
change in how we will be processing these, and why there will be additional cost.
Legal expenses for this past month were the $1,000 retainer fee and $70 of travel reimbursement
for Peter Beck. The fee value was $5,293.75 and the items included were commercial service
agreement and deposit review, coalition matters, meter tampering, water restrictions, and well
drilling issues. There were $822.50 in fees for Mark Mathison related to workers compensation,
FLSA and general employment matters.
Elk River;
Municipal U
Memorandum
To: Elk River Utilities Commission
John Dietz
Jary(~pbny
DarylTLompson
From: David Berg
Date: 10/12/2010
Subject: Water main Repair - Zumbro & 188th
The water main repair on Zumbro & 188"' had several valve issues this past August. It
tuned into a bigger project as dewatering was needed to sufficiently access the problem valves.
Two (2) six inch valves had to be replaced, but the primary cost was from dewatering.
Elk River . _
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330-0430
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
Phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.441.8099
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Mark Fuchs
John Dietz, Chair Line Superintendent
Jerry Gumphrey, Vice Chair
Daryl Thom son, Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
October 12, 2010 6.1
SUBJECT:
Staff Updates
Discussion:
• The F550 Ford truck came in and now Specialized Truck Equipment is putting on the box.
• Installed a temporary service for United Health Group. They are adding on to their
existing building.
• Started the 5th Street rebuild.
• Continued working on Ist and 2nd Street rebuilds.
• Continued working on Area 22 rebuild.
• Continue working on Engers Addition rebuild.
• Had three new electric service applications.
• Fixed a switched capacitor bank after a squirrel caused some damage.
• We moved a pole at the northeast comer of Main Street and Hwry 169 so the turn lane
could be extended.
• Astec and Vermeer have brought out bore rigs to try out. They helped install some wire
during each demonstration.
• We sent two linemen to Mazshall for overhead school that MMUA puts on.
Elk River ^-~
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330-0430
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
Phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.441.8099
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Wade Lovelette. -Superintendent of Technical
John Dietz, Chair Services
Jerry Gumphrey, Vice Chair
Daryl Thom son, Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
October 12, 2010 6.1
SUBJECT:
Staff Updates - Su erintendent of Technical Services
DISCUSSION:
The following is a summary of projects and/or updates over [he past several weeks:
This month the Locating Department had a total of two hundred thirty-five locate tickets. Sixteen of
those tickets were "appointments required", eleven were "updated" tickets and one was an "emergency"
locates.
The Metering Department continues with weekly and monthly substation checks, and doing the monthly
power bill. They performed oil testing on the substation transformers this past month. The meter change-
out program is still continuing as time permits.
Some staff are attending the weekly meetings for the Home Energy Audit program.
The Security Systems Department had a total of fifty phone contacts, eight personal visits, eight systems
quoted, eight sales made, eleven installs completed and twenty-nine service calls for the month of
September.
Lori Franz did a fantastic analysis of the Security advertising expenditures.
Power Plant staff had to send away six fuel injectors for repair for engine #2, so that engine is down
temporarily.
The Lake Orono dam has had to be continually monitored and adjusted because of the high water volume
in the lake.
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