6.1. ERMUSR 03-20-2012F1k River
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330-0430
Phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.441.8099
www.elkriverutilities. com
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
•
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Troy Adams, P.E. -Utilities Director
John Dietz -Chair
Daryl Thompson -Vice Chair
Al Nadeau -Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
March 20, 2012 6.1
SUBJECT:
Staff U dates -Utilities Director
DISCUSSION:
There are a number of State legislative issues that I've been watching. Last month I attended a
hearing in the House Environmental, Energy, and Natural Resources Committee regarding
HF1923/SF1560 that would repeal the requirements for a water utility to adopt conservation
rates. The Department of Natural Resources, the League of Minnesota Cities, and a number of
cities have been working together to find an acceptable compromise. Also of interest is
HF1989/SF1815 pertaining to the right of first refusal to build transmission lines in Minnesota
for incumbent utilities. Another potential issue that has developed relates to our Landfill Gas-to-
Electric Power Plant. There is some push by a local refuse processing facility for the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency to start enforcing a 27 year old statute that hasn't been enforced which
would potentially place refuse incinerators before landfill gas-to-electric power plants for the
flow of municipal solid waste, or fuel. I will give an update at the Commission meeting on the
status of these issues.
In early March, David Berg and I attended the Minnesota Rural Water Association's 28th Annual
Water & Wastewater Technical Conference in St. Cloud, MN.
On June 16-20, American Public Power Association will hold their 2012 APPA National
Conference in Seattle, WA. ERMU is budgeted to send three representatives to this conference.
The conference brochure is attached for your review.
Over the pasted month, staff has been working with a customer in Otsego to resolve an easement
issue. The underground feeders that were installed in the transmission easement are in question
due to their location outside of road right of way. After consulting with ERMU legal counsel,
Great River Energy, and Wright County, ERMU staff has been working with the customer to
resolve the issue. Staff has hired Meeks Appraisal & Consulting, Inc. to prepare a report on the
value of an easement on that property analyzing the market trends and site specifics. The report
has been completed and staff is moving forward in discussion with the owner.
PowEn~o tr
A~`UR~
P OwER F.D T O S ERV F
In 2009 the Utilities underwent an organization restructuring. The Utilities also hired a
consultant to perform a position description analysis. The Utilities Commission then utilized
• staff and City staff to perform a pay structure study. One of the more significant changes
resulting from this work was the elimination of responsibilities from the General Manager
position and a corresponding reduction in pay grade. This position was retitled Director of
Operations. This pay structure study was adopted by the Utilities Commission on August 11,
2009. At that meeting the Commission voted 3-0 to reevaluate the Director of Operation
position's responsibilities and pay grade on April 1, 2012. This timing corresponds with the
.third anniversary of the creation of the new position and would allow for reevaluation of how the
position really functions. In April it will also be time for the annual employee evaluation of the
now titled Utilities Director by the Utilities Commission. This requires an advanced notice of a
closed meeting under Minnesota Stature 13D.05, Subd. 3(a). I propose that the Commission
address both the reevaluation of the position responsibilities /pay grade and the employee annual
evaluation at the same meeting.
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i
I
'owerfi~
Personalize your conference experience at
breakout sessions, a powerful opportunity
to learn about specific operational, technical
and policy issues facing your utility and com-
munity, directly from your peers.
Monday, June t ~
t i a.rre.-Moon
Environmental Risks:
itVhat Boards Need fio Know
The number of rules and regulations applied by EPA and other
agencies to the electric utility industry requires difficult deci-
sions by utility boards and staff on the tradeoffs that they pres-
ent. Speakers will examine, in laymen's terms, the multitude of
environmental rules affecting our industry in the next 10 years,
costs of compliance and other factors.
System Reliability:
Best Practic€~s to Assure
Customer Sal~i~faction
All utilities struggle with getting the most out of their utility
resources: overhead or underground; contractor or in-house;
fuse save or fuse blow; how many lineworkers per meter; and
all the other intangibles related to providing reliable, cost-effi-
cient service. Learn strategies that smart utilities use to get the
most of their resources while keeping costs low and reliability
high.
Utility ~`hreats from Physical
and Cyber Attacks
Most utility managers feel they are not viable targets for a
planned physical or cyber attacks, yet they must prepare for
them. Hear a discussion of the potential risks of physical and
cyber attacks to utilities. Speakers will address both external
and internal threats utilities face and options for managing
those risks.
T O ~ t C :S~
Preparing for a Future without Coal
Coal-the mainstay of generation fuels throughout the his-
tory of the electric utility industry -faces new regulations on
carbon, mercury and other pollutants that could mean as
much as one third of U.S. coal plants are at risk of being shut
down. California has an integrated set of laws that combine
increased renewable energy and required timelines for phase-
out of coal-fired generation. This session will address the
steps one utility is taking to prepare for a future without coal
as it transitions to a resource mix of natural gas, renewable
energy and significantly expanded energy efficiency programs.
Are Small, Modular Nuclear Reactors
in Our Future?
Many view small, modular nuclear reactors as they key to
the future of U.S. nuclear power generation, due largely to
their economy of mass production and reduced siting costs.
Speakers will discuss the future of small, modular nuclear re-
actors, including whether the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
is likely to approve them within the next 10 years, if they can
help replace older coal-fired power plants, and if they can help
alleviate the price volatility of natural gas.
15 Ideas for Successful Energy Efficiency
and Demand Response Programs
Hear short summaries of energy efficiency and demand
response programs offered today by public power utilities,
including why they were chosen, how they were implemented,
results to-date and lessons learned. Learn about their experi-
ences and bring your best stories to share.
Rating Agencies on Public Power
Representatives from the three largest credit rating companies
will discuss current issues that may affect the bond ratings of
public power entities. Bring your questions for the rating com-
panies and hear about trends in credit ratings, public power's
strengths and weaknesses, and steps boards and managers
should take to assure the financial strength of your organiza-
tion.
Controlling Rising Benefits Costs
While many proposals to expand employer-based health
coverage are discussed at the state level, businesses are
concerned that the rising cost of providing such coverage is
challenging their ability to compete in domestic and global
economies. This session will address strategies for reducing
health insurance and other benefit costs for local government
enterprise activities.
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Monday, June 18
1:3i}-2;30 p.m.
What to Do When You Are Approached
With a BUyOUt Offer
Some investor-owned utilities and rural cooperatives are
looking for expansion opportunities. This session will address
lessons learned from utilities that have been approached with
a buyout /sellout offer, including what to expect from the utility
making the offer, how to respond, how to evaluate an offer
to ensure you are maximizing the value of the utility to the
community and how your community might avoid being ap-
proached in the first place.
Grid Evolution Meets Your
Aging Infrastructure
Aging infrastructure does not have to stop you from creating
the advanced grid of the future. Learn about strategies utilities
have adopted to update and integrate new technologies into
their older electric systems.
•~;&i~~t,~~j ~~"r~=~a~~i~~~ ~"iz3i~ri ~~r~c~ C;r~~t
Allacation: Implementing Order Na. 1
Transmission providers regulated by the Federal Energy Regu-
latory Commission must file by October 2012 to implement
new or revamped regional transmission planning processes
and cost allocation methods. This panel will report on activities
in different regions of the country to meet these new FERC
requirements and discuss how public power utilities and joint
action agencies might be affected by them.
Converting from Coal #o Natural Gas:
Real World Experiences
While a number of power plants have a history of fueling base-
load generation with natural gas, the potential impact of new
environmental regulations on coal may result in even more gas
generation. American Municipal Power has recent experience
with retiring an older coal-fired power plant, and replacing it
with acombined-cycle natural gas facility. Speakers will ad-
dress the issues many public power utilities are weighing as
they consider whether to retrofit coal-fired power plants with
mercury controls or to switch to combined cycle gas units.
Plugging in the Customer:
The Evc'slving Utility!C~tstamer Relationship
The evolution and growing sophistication of applications of the
electric grid, from the substation to the meter, and the meter
to end-uses, may not be welcomed by all customers, yet they
are necessary to improve reliability and efficiency to assure
our electric system operates at maximum efficiency. Hear from
retail providers, a large customer, and an equipment manu-
facturer about steps each is taking to encourage customer
acceptance and use of these new technologies.
Energy Efficient streetlighting:
eking the Most of the Savings
More efficient streetlighting can mean significant savings to
your utility and your community. This session will highlight how
utilities are using energy efficient streetlighting to reduce costs,
and how they are investing the savings into energy-efficiency
programs for customers.
Federal Legislative Update
APPA legislative staff will provide an update on the priority
issues facing public power in the second session of the 112th
Congress.
Wellness Programs that Work
The health and well-being of your employees have a direct
impact on their job performance, job satisfaction and benefits
costs. Panelists will discuss steps for creating effective organi-
zational wellness programs, whether you have a large budget
or no budget at all.
Utility Accounting Rules 101
The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) sets
accounting rules and provides guidance that all public power
utilities must follow. This high-level session for utility execu-
tives and policymakers will provide an introduction to how the
GASB's rule-making process works, and will offer a glimpse
into some of the challenges your utility may encounter-and
the potential impact these changes may have on the rate-
setting process-as GASB begins to roll out new pension
guidance and other proposed rules.
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~~wPrfi~ a
Tuesday, June i 9
11 a.m.-Noon
The Importance of Providing Resources
for NERC Compliance
Many senior managers and policymakers are trying to under-
stand why so much of their operating resources are allocated
to regulatory compliance these days. In this session, tailored
for governing boards and executives, learn why developing an
organizational culture of compliance is so important and why
the risks to entities that fail to comply are so dangerous.
Haw to Achieve Peak Utility Performance
High performance utilities periodically review their reliability and
safety statistics in addition to system betterment, work force
development, and all other operational aspects of providing
excellent customer service. Learn about utility best practices
and benchmarking measures your utility can employ to ensure
that it is operating at an optimum level.
What's Your Utility's Role in the Emerging
Transportation Infrastructure?
As the electric vehicle industry continues to grow, utilities and
cities need to understand their role in the process. Explore
how utilities are working with cities, charging station manu-
facturers, car manufacturers and others to welcome electric
vehicles into their communities.
Building Renewable Energy into Your Future
Resource Portf®lio
Public power communities face a variety of complex technical,
economic and regulatory issues as they make decisions to
add renewable energy to their generation resource portfolios.
Hear about the diverse experiences of APPA members as they
tackle decisions such as buy versus build, whether to consider
new or only proven technologies and business partners, cus-
tomer rate impacts, state and community expectations, siting
and local environmental impacts, proper valuation of envi-
ronmental benefits and the operational limitations of variable
energy sources. Speakers will discuss a variety of renewable
sources including wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels, as well as
customer distributed resources.
Topics
The Future of Coal
Just as some are predicting that up to one-third of the U.S.
coal fleet will be shut down in the next 10 years due to more
stringent environmental regulations-significantly reducing the
demand for coal-international markets are heating up, in-
creasing demand and putting upward pressure on coal prices.
This session will examine the likely demand and price for coal
in future domestic markets, the impact that international mar-
kets will have, and the likely role of coal in our resource mix for
the next 10 to 20 years.
Energy Storage Technologies:
What Can We Count On?
The goal of energy storage technologies is to help balance
the supply and demand of electricity, store intermittent wind
and solar energy, and employ ice storage for air conditioning
demand. Utilities have used pump storage and batteries for
decades; newer technologies include use of fuel cells such as
"Bloom Box" devices, new types of batteries and compressed
air storage in vast geologic vaults. Speakers will examine
these solutions and their application to public power utilities.
Improving Energy Efficiency with
Building Codes and Standards
New building construction provides one of the best opportuni-
ties to achieve long-term energy efficiency since it costs much
less than retrofits. Hear how and why utilities are supporting
energy efficient building codes and how they are using them to
increase the efficiency of private and public facilities to support
energy efficiency in their communities.
Recruitment and Retention in
Tough Economic Times
Public power utilities face many challenges in maintaining their
work forces, including upcoming baby boomer retirements,
skilled-worker shortages, and struggles in offering competitive
compensation levels. Learn strategies to help your utility re-
cruit and retain its intellectual and human capital, including the
concepts behind managing succession planning and retention
programs, and how utilities can use the Internet to source and
recruit for positions.
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Tuesday, June i 9
1:30-2:3Q p.m.
Avoiding the Sale of Your Utility:
Maintaining and Demonstrating the Value
of aCommunity-(awned Electric Utility
Once a sellout attempt gains traction, it is often more difficult
to change the direction of the movement than it is to pre-
vent the effort in the first place. Identify signals to monitor to
reduce the likelihood of a takeover attempt. Financial policies
(rates, payments in lieu of taxes, reserves), operational issues
(reliability, making sufficient investments in the infrastructure),
and having an effective communications campaign will be
discussed.
Educating Customers About the Benefits
of Advanced Grid Technology
As members of the communities they serve, municipal utilities
understand the importance of engaging customers when
deploying advanced technologies, such as smart meters,
in-house devices, energy management portals, mobile ap-
• plications, and more. Hear about best practices for educating
customers to help you avoid the misinformation and backlash
that can plague utility efforts to introduce new technologies.
Integrating Renewable Generation:
What Will Be Required and Who Will Pay?
In the last year, the strain on transmission operators of
integrating renewable resources has begun to show in both
transmission operations and economics. Speakers will discuss
the proper balance of supporting the growth and integra-
tion of renewables-especially utility-scale variable resources
like wind and solar-and operating the system in a way that
neither unduly discriminates against one resource, nor requires
subsidization across customer classes and resource types.
The Future of Hydro Power
While most agree that new, large hydro power projects are
unlikely, there is a high degree of interest and activity around
opportunities to develop new hydro power capacity at existing
dams and hydro facilities, and on canals and conduits. Learn
about some of these approaches and the legislative and regu-
latory efforts under way to facilitate them.
Mysteries of the EPA Mercury Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a rule direct-
ing as many as 1,000 U.S. coal- and oil-fired power plants to
retrofit with scrubbers, activated carbon, and baghouses to re-
duce emission of mercury, acid gases and particulate matter.
Many public power utilities will need longer than the Clean Air
Act's standard three years to add pollution control equipment
or switch to natural gas. This means utilities must copy with
the rule by spring 2015. Speakers will discuss the EPA regula-
tion and the process for obtaining case-by-case determina-
tions for a fourth and fifth year for compliance.
The Business Case for Implementing
Energy Efficiency Now
Although it may be tempting to wait until the economy recov-
ers before focusing on energy efficiency, this time of flat load
growth actually presents a strategic opportunity to invest in
energy efficiency programs, enabling utilities to defer costly
future investments in energy resources, while generating
goodwill from customers already facing their own financial
challenges. Learn about the business case for making energy
efficiency and conservation programs a priority now.
anaging Dodd-Frank Requirements;
The Future of Hedging, Swaps and
Derivatives for the Electric Industry
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protec-
tion Act expanded the Commodity Futures Trading Commis-
sion'sjurisdiction over derivative transactions based on energy
commodities. The CFTC has extended the statutory one-year
deadline to implement the law and continues to issue both
final and proposed rules. This session will focus on the status
and interpretation of CFTC rules and procedures and how they
may affect public power utilities.
Is Your Utility's Website the Best It Can Be?
Websites are increasingly becoming the primary way that
customers interact with electric utilities. Whether it's to pay a
bill, get information on utility programs, or check on an outage
from a mobile device, customers expect utility websites to be
informative, intuitive, and convenient. This session will show-
case some of the industry's top websites and the people that
developed them. Participants will learn tactics to help make
their websites effective tools.
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Powerf~a
Participate in a special community service proj-
ect on Friday, June 15, at the fifth annual Pub-
lic Power Day of Giving. Volunteers will have an
opportunity to meet and make lasting con-
nections working side-by-side while making a
powerful deffelrence at these charities.
Child~aven
Childhaven provides therapeutic child care and early child-
hood education to children through age five who have suffered
from or are at risk of abuse and neglect. A recognized leader
in therapeutic child care, tending each year to more than 400
abused and neglected children ages one month through five
years. Volunteers will work on a variety of projects as needed
at each of Childhaven's three locations.
Ju~b6lee W~arx~en's Center
Jubilee Women's Center provides job training, education,
affordable housing and support services to homeless and
low-income women so they can achieve and maintain inde-
pendence. Each year, Jubilee provides supportive housing to
approximately 50 homeless women and helps an additional
650. Volunteers may work in the center's community garden
or clothing boutique; help teach computer skills; or prepare
meals to help feed the community for weeks to come.
G I' V
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People for Puget Sound
People for Puget Sound is a citizen's group actively working
to protect and restore the health of the land and waters of
the Puget Sound basin, which is key to the region's economy
and quality of life. Volunteers will work at a habitat restoration
project to maintain and restore parks and natural areas along
the waterfront.
YWCA of Seattle
YWCA of Seattle provides tools and support services to
meet critical community needs in the areas of homeless-
ness, domestic violence and education, while promoting the
dignity and self-sufficiency for women of all ages, races and
faiths, and their families as they work to regain their indepen-
dence. Volunteer opportunities may include building repair;
working with homeless children; preparing meals; or helping
women with their resumes and interviewing skills.
Learn more and volunteer at www.publicpower.org/
NationalConference
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N E T W O R K I N G
Public Power Expo
~°
~~
R
The Public Power Expo (June 18-19) gives conference-goers
an opportunity to meet and network with 100+ electric indus-
try suppliers, vendors and consultants under one roof as they
showcase their products and services, and demonstrate how
they can help your utility succeed.
Receptions & Special Events
The National Conference kicks off with a welcoming reception,
and ends with a special breakfast, to help you reconnect with
old friends, meet new people and network with the nation's
.public power leaders. There are also numerous informal net-
working opportunities throughout the conference program, so
you can make powerful connections to help you long after the
conference is over.
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~I+es an~~ rn.~^ ient~~i~Lc~7 reC~lJ1c`3tit~rt,
~licly owned electric: systems
~t stand tocretf~~er c~nct li=~~rn from
Robert Stevenson, General Manager,
Hannibal Board of Public Works, Missouri
It's aworld-class
metropolis set within wild, beautiful natural sur-
roundings, offering the best of urban lifestyle
while embracing the rugged outdoors. With so
much to see and do, Seattle is one powerful
destination.
Watch out for flying fish at the Pike Place Markee, This
century-old marketplace, housing more than 300 farmers and
craftspeople in a five-story building overlooking the Puget
Sound, is one of the country's oldest continually operating
public farmers' markets.
Seattle is a haven for glass artists, from the world-renowned
Dave Chihuly to... you? Create your own masterpiece at the
ea##le Classtalowviaic,~ Studio, or just visit the city's many
glass galleries.
Discover the beauty of the San Juan Ilaarcis, just a short
ferry, drive, or seaplane ride away from downtown Seattle.
Kayak through the islands and watch the orcas swim around
you, or browse the many shops as you stop by each island.
Wine lovers won't want to miss this opportunity to visit Wash-
ington's many award-winning wineries, including Washington's
oldest and most famous Chateau ate . ichelNe ~ruinery, A
tour and tasting is sure to lift your spirits.
(More interested in beer than wine? Seattle boasts one of
the country's largest concentrations of breweries, many of
which-including the eclbook Ale Brewery and Pike
Brewing Ccs, -offer tours).
Discover the essence of rock 'n' roll-including its roots in
jazz, soul, gospel, country and the blues-at the experience
~41,a~;rr; ~+ ~ a Frank Gehry-designed architectural icon
that allows you to explore the innovation of popular music.
•
Explore legendary Seattle-based stores like Nordstrom and
REI; then check out the city's diverse neighborhoods that of-
fer every kind of shappa~wr~ imaginable to suit your interests.
From flagship stores to independent boutiques to a trio of out-
let malls, you'll find everything you're looking for-and more.
Go hiking, horseback riding, biking, or take a driving tour of
nlMt. !Ranier, Seattle's "floating mountain" that boasts high
mountain lakes, cascading waterfalls, meandering streams,
and flower-covered meadows. The truly adventurous may
even climb a glacier to the summit of the 14,411-foot moun-
tain.
.Take a break from cruising around Seattle and aa~e a r:r~~ise
Spend a simple afternoon on a lake cruise, or make it an
extended trip on one of the nine major cruise lines that depart
from Seattle to Alaska.
Kids and parents will love Seattle's wide array of fanniii~t
friendly ac#iiviities Check out the Chittenden "Ballard"
Locks and watch the boats pass from the Puget Sound to
Seattle's freshwater lakes, or climb underground for a tour
of the original city, long-buried beneath Seattle's current-day
Pioneer Square district.
There's also the Pacific Science Center, Seattle Children's
Museum, Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo, Klondike
Goldrush National Historic Park and the Museum of Flight.
Just like you wouldn't go to Paris without stopping by the Eiffel
Tower, no visit to Seattle is complete without checking out the
view from the world-famous ,pace Needy?.
Powerf~a
U P P Q R T
As of February 9, 2012
We are grateful to the many companies sup-
porting APPA and public power. Conference
sponsors provide financial support to help us
bring the best possible experience to our at-
tendees while keeping costs low for all partici-
pants.
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• Elk River
Municipal Utilities
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
C7
PllYIE~EO BY
~~~
P OW EKED T O S ~^ `.
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Theresa Slominski -Finance and Office
John Dietz -Chair Manager
Daryl Thompson -Vice Chair
Al Nadeau -Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
March 20, 2012 6.1
SUBJECT:
Staff U dates -Finance and Office Mana er
DISCUSSION:
We had 1163 credit card payment transactions in February, compared to 1092 in January. The
fee for February will be $2,616.75.
The new interface that will allow customers to obtain their account balance information, view
bills, and make and schedule payments online, is finally up and running! We went live with the
interface the last week of February and already have 200 customers signed up for bill
suppression (where we will not send them a paper bill and they will instead go online to retrieve
it) and 30 customers have scheduled future payments. There have been numerous phone calls of
customers calling to ask questions or request help with the new system and the feedback has
been very positive.
The auditors, Abdo Eick and Meyers (AEM), were here March l5t and 2°d and it went very well
with no adjusting entries proposed. We have begun work on the report and have an April 1S`
deadline to provide it to AEM for review to be able to present it to the commission in May.
Office staff completed a series of Customer Service workshops that concluded this month.
These workshops provided education on customer service tools, expectations, internal and
external communications, and lots of teamwork. One piece that was discussed at great length at
the conclusion was obtaining feedback from the customers on how we are doing with our goal of
providing excellent customer service. We are exploring our options on obtaining this
information. There are some options that are easily implemented with little cost, and others that
are more complex and expensive. It is my hope that this is an important goal of the commission
and we can explore these options and include something in our budget for next year. By having
this as a budget item, it would hopefully send a message that our customers' feedback and
satisfaction is important to us.
•
Elk Rive
Municip
al Ut" 'ties
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
POWERED D ~
~~~~~
POWERED T O S E R V E
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission David Berg
John Dietz, Chair Water Superintendent
Daryl Thompson, Vice Chair
Al Nadeau, Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
March 20, 2012 6.1
SUBJECT:
Staff U dates
Discussion:
• On Apri125, 2012 there will be a MRWA Water Operation & Maintenance
Training Session held at the Elk River Fire Station. This is the first time that Elk
River has hosted a water school/class and we are excited to continue this in the
future. The agenda is attached.
• There was a request to write up a procedure for water leaks. I have attached this
procedure along with a list of available contractors.
• We have picked the winner of the photo contest for this year's Water Quality
Report. We have also chosen arunner-up since the entries were so great this year.
Their pictures are attached.
•
MRWA Water Operation & Maintenance Training Session .,~ .~h
H[ttU. \\'1T6R
__.,>
7:30am Registration and Introductions April 25, 2012
Chemical Feed Equipment Cl of Elk River
Learn what type of chemical feed pump you need and what
to do when your chemical feed pump doesn't work. This Elk River Fire Station #2
session will teach you to understand the proper installation, (Located across parking lot
operation, and maintenance of chemical feed equipment. from Elk River City Hall)
Bacldlow /Cross Connection: Developing a Plan 13073 Orono Parkway
This session will cover backflow prevention and cross
Elk River
MN
connections. See how to develop a plan. Learn how safe ,
your drinking water is and if you are protected from cross
Course Objective: This session
connections and backflow
is designed to give the attendee
Clay Valves information about maintaining
This session will cover open pipe and closed pipe flow chemical feed equipment,
measurements. Attendees will learn how to monitor flows understanding Cross Connection
and calibrate flows in the field.
and backflow prevention, and the
High Hazard Cross Connection in Minnesota importance of having good
Learn about a functional cross connection control program records of your well's history.
which may incorporate regular backflow protection. See the Attendees will have the
Minnesota Department of Health's requirements and also opportunity to learn about water
the recommendations will be presented.
meter updates, measuring and
12:OOpm Lunch - (On Your Own) calibrating flow meters in the
1:OOpm Minnesota Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Licensing field, and learning Minnesota's
Updates rules for cell phone usage while
Understand usage of cell phones and other electronic devices operating a municipal vehicle.
while operating municipal and commercial vehicles. A Course Instructors' This
discussion of Minnesota State statutes, rules, and regulation wining session will be taught
updates for commercial vehicles will be held.
with the assistance of Alden Pool
Wells: The Heart of Your System and Municipal Supply; Clay
. Your well is the heart of your system. Learn the importance Valves; DSC Metering
of taking care of your well and the record keeping that Technolo E.H. Renner & Sons,
gy'
should accompany it. See how important your old well inc.; Minnesota Department of
records are, where they should be kept, and what they mean. Health; Minnesota State Patrol;
Attendees will learn when to be performing maintenance,
inspections, drawdowns, and voltage checks. and Minnesota Rural Water
Association.
What's New and Exciting With Water Meters
Learn the plain and simple truth about the city of Elk River's Six Certification Hours
water meter upgrades and updates. This session will cover for Full ttendance
what you need to know about upgrading your system's water
meters. There is NO charge fo
4:OOpm Questions & Answers, End of Day this SeSSlon.
To Register For Any Training Session: Call the MRWA Office at 800-367-6792
or online at www.mrwa.com. Use the training calendar link. •
p:. ,
Page q THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TIMES
Elk River
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330-0430
Customer Water Repair -OUTDOOR LEAK
STEP 1
Phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.441.8099
www. elkriverutiliti es. com
When ERMU is called about an outdoor leak, the first step is to find and close the valves to isolate leaks. ERMU may help
customers do this if they are unsure about the location of curb stops. This will enable customers to see if there is a leak
on the house side or street side of the curb stop valve. At this time, water should be shut off for the homeowner's safety
and to also protect the city water system from contamination. ERMU will attempt to find alternate water sources from
neighbors, such as hooking up to an outside spigot.
STEP 2
Once the leak is located on the customer side of the curb stop, the customer should call an excavation water contractor
to repair the line. The customer must have the contractor contact the ERMU water department to ensure materials
meet specifications and that ERMU water staff are available to supervise all repairs. ERMU will make a list of local
ontractors available for a customer if they are unsure how to proceed to find a contractor. The contractor will call in for
ergency locates so they can dig safely. The other utilities will send personnel out to mark the property for potential
azards. Repairs can generally be completed within 6 to 24 hours depending on the severity of the situation or unique
circumstances.
STEP 3
Repairs to the customer's service are crucial, and the costs for repair can be a bit high with an unexpected leak. We
acknowledge that the customer may not have sufficient funds upfront and we want to work with the customer to
arrange another payment method if needed. This will likely be an assessment of the charges onto the property owner's
taxes over a five year period.
STEP 4
If the leak is between the curb stop and main, the customer's contractors are responsible for obtaining a road disruption
permit and all associated City or County traffic control.
STEP 5
If the leak is not fixed within 24-48 hours, ERMU reserves the right to obtain 2 bids to repair the leak. ERMU will select
the lowest bid, complete the repair, and provide an itemized bill to the customer for payment. If the customer doesn't
pay the bill, it will be assessed over 5 years on their property taxes.
~EP 6
If the leak is an ERMU water main or valve, ERMU will coordinate road disruption permit and all associated City or
County traffic control. I' O N E A E D 8 1'
~~~~
P e w E s c e T o 5 E R v E
ElkRiver ---1
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 5 5 3 30-0430
Water Service Repair Contractors
Phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.441.8099
www.elkriverutilities. com
Elk River City Ordinance requires all contractors doing work in Elk River to be licensed and bonded for domestic
water service or inside plumbing repair. Below is a partial list of licensed and bonded contractors that have
done work in Elk River. This list is not all emcompassing and other contractors may be used. Please
verify that the contractor you choose is qulaified to do your required work and is licensed and bonded.
INDOOR Plumbing Contractors with Curb Sto
AquaStar Plumbing Office 763-633-1777
PO Box 460
Princeton, MN 55371
B & B Plumbing Office 763-389-8988
PO Box 544
Rush City, MN 55069
B 8~ D Plumbing Office 763-497-2290
4145 MacKenzie Court NE
St. Michael, MN 55376
Larson Plumbing Office 763-427-7680
3095 162nd Lane NW Pager 952-365-3470
Andover, MN 55304
Water Service Contractors
Northern Plumbing Tech
16385 230th Avenue NW
Elk River, MN 55330
Roy's Plumbing
17420 Iguana Street NW
Ramsey, MN 55303
Terry Nelson Plumbing
17033 Argon St NW
Andover, MN 55304
763-263-8995
612-910-2784
Office 763-441-1994
763-422-1784
612-747-9997
Brenteson Construction
PO Box 335
Big Lake, MN 55309
Dave Perkins
7060 143rd A ve NW
Ramsey, MN 55303
Fyle's Excavating
9697 Harding Avenue NE
Monticello, MN 55362
Office 763-263-3100
After Hours:
Matt Brenteson 612-889-1781
or 763-856-3134
Jim Harren 612-282-2474
Office 763-427-0109
After Hours 612-363-6459
Office 763-295-2511
Brad's Cell 612-328-2616
Glenn Rehbein Company John Carlisle 612-919-2019
8651 Naples Street (Not on weekends)
Blaine, MN 55449
Meiney's Diggers
12231 43rd Street NE
St. Michael, MN 55376
Moores Excavating
460 Washington Avenue
Big Lake, MN 55309
Ron-Son Contracting
15850 Azurite Court NW
Ramsey, MN 55303
K's Mechanical
20880 Nowthen Blvd NW
Elk River, MN 55330
Office 763-497-2236
Office 763-263-2067
Dean Moores 612-219-8161
Ron 612-812-3929
Lan 763-286-6125
Office 763-441-8066
•
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Elk R1V
Municip
al Utilities
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
pDWERED er
,~-U
POWERED T O SERVE
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Mark Fuchs
John Dietz, Chair Line Superintendent
Daryl Thompson, Vice Chair
Al Nadeau, Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
March 20, 2012 6.1
SUBJECT:
Staff U dates
DISCUSSION:
• Continue working on converting Islandview Drive from 2400 volts to 7200 volts.
• Continue tree trimming.
• Had one new house service.
• Working on changing out our overhead cutouts and fuses. With this we go through
checking padmount transformers and padmount switch gear making sure nothing is
leaking, the proper tags are in place, the map book matches the tags, and all the warning
stickers are on the outside.
• Working on testing the overhead and underground protective grounds. We are also
testing the fiberglass hot sticks. Both of these are done annually.
• The City shop does D.O.T.'s for our trucks and trailers. We do half in February and half
in March.
Elk Riv
~ Munici
p
al Utilities
p DINEREU 6Y
~~
p pW ERED ~ O $ cn ~~ c
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission FROM:
Wade Lovelette-Superintendent of Technical
John Dietz, Chair Services
Daryl Thompson, Vice Chair
Al Nadeau, Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
March 20, 2012 6.1
SUBJECT:
Staff U dates - Su erintendent of Technical Services
• The Locating department had a total of 521ocate tickets for the month of February, three of
them being emergency tickets and one was re-sent.
•
• In February, the Security Systems Department had a total of 60 phone contacts, 10 new
systems quoted, 10 system sales made, 10 installs completed, 18 service calls made and 10
personal visits.
• The Meter shop continues changing electric and water meters.
• The power plant staff did the monthly run of the generators: Generators ran well. Steve
repaired the oil pre-heater on engine #3 and also had the injectors cleaned and rebuilt. Engine
#3 should not have an excessive smoking issue now on start-up.
• Ayers Associates were here last month to do an underwater inspection of the dam. We are
waiting for the results.
• Steve Ziemer attended a fuel seminar. His education report is attached.
• The new radios have been delivered. The portables and mobile units have been programed
and are now in use. ERMU is now totally on the 800 MGHZ radio system with atwo-way
patch at the county for our pagers. Next month we hope to have our pagers narrow-banded.
•
•
•
Elk Riv
Municip
al Utilitie s
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
POWERED B 1
~-U~!
P p W E R E D T O S E R V E
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Tom Sagstetter -Conservation and Key
John Dietz -Chair Accounts Manager
Daryl Thompson -Vice Chair
Al Nadeau -Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
March 20~', 2012
SUBJECT:
Staff Updates
DISCUSSION:
• Signed Dispersed Generation Agreement with large customer and created notification
procedure for participating customers and ERMU staff.
• Working with ERMU field staff and two commercial customers on upgrades to the
existing facilities to serve expanding needs.
• Working with staff on updating Cycled AC program brochure and application process.
• Creating new flyer for Commercial Irrigation Water Conservation program.
• Preparing for Business Energy Expo March 25~'. ERMU will be providing free energy
efficient CFLs for customers that complete a survey at the Expo.
• Promoting new Connector online newsletter to commercial customers.
• Annual CIP data collection for regulatory reporting in April.
• Project Conserve Energy Audits for customer reports.
•
ELK RgVER P~~TICYPAL UTILY`TIES ED~CAT%01~/ SEMINAR REP®RT
DATE ~! ~ J~
EMPLOYEE
TITLE OF EDUCATION!SEMINAR YVI.~rG~ ~CiV`~C~
ORGANIZP,TION SPONSORING EDUCATION! SEMINAR~Vr/( /~~ '
DATES ATTENDEDI_ , t ~ ,rf/~
LOCATION F~~ . ~ `i ~~ ~d/'~- - ,,~~~.5~~~~-; "` ~~ "
WxY DID EMPLOYEE cxooSE To ATTEND /~/~~l ~k-~.~/ .~"~ .t~J~¢-~joN
WHAT INFORMATION WP,S LEARNED BY ATTENDING rur/~- ~ ~~~~5 1
_ ,,.-
~/~ , 0 l f ~ ~L`R~~ ~~i(~ • /`7~Gc! TO T~'!JGt`//~ .f~aD/
WAS INFORMATION CONVEYED TO SUPERVISOR AND CO-WORKERS AND TO WHO