4.2. ERMUSR 05-10-2016 44- '
Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Troy Adams, P.E. —General Manager
John Dietz—Chair
Al Nadeau—Vice Chair
Daryl Thompson—Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
May 10, 2016 4.2
SUBJECT:
Expansion of the Board of Commissioners
BACKGROUND:
Shortly after the Village of Elk River purchased Elk River Power&Light,the council by the provision of
Minnesota Statute 412.331 created through resolution the Water,Light,Power and Building Commission.
This commission is now the Elk River Public Utilities Commission with responsibility for the municipal
electric and water departments. The commission's membership is in accordance with Statue 412.341
"consisting of three members appointed by council."
In late 2015 the Commission and City Council both unanimously passed resolutions supporting the
expansion of the Commission from 3 to 5 and directed staff to work with Minnesota Municipal Utilities
Association,Representative Nick Zerwas,and Senator Mary Kiffmeyer to seek legislative action for the
expansion.
DISCUSSION:
On March 16 ERMU Commission expansion legislation passed through committee to the floor in both the
House and the Senate.
On April 26 the House bill passed on the floor with a vote of 124-1;Representative Melissa Hortman of
House District 36B which includes Coon Rapids and Brooklyn Park voted in opposition of the bill on the
reason that the Utilities' commissioners should be elected rather than appointed. The Senate companion
bill passed on the floor on May 4 with a vote of 61-0. The legislation is now on to the Governor.
W E D E D I l
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