6.1d ERMUSR 10-09-2018 Elk River .
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
ERMU Commission Mike Tietz—Technical Services Superintendent
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
October 9, 2018 6.1 d
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
• In September, the locating department had a total of 464 locate tickets consisting of six
emergency tickets, 8 cancellations, 11 meetings, 360 normal tickets and 75 updated
tickets. This is a 20%decrease in volume of tickets from the previous month.
• Electric Technicians continue with updating the power bill, substation checks,
disconnects, reconnects, dealing with meter and off-peak issues, as well as installing new
meters for commercial customers. Staff completed the meter switch outs and installation
of communications equipment at each of the substations in preparation of the transition to
Minnesota Municipal Power Agency. On September 27 staff ran Engines 1, 2 & 3.
• On September 18, staff began changing out meters within Areas 5 & 6. The change out
went smoothly and took two full days to change out 383 meters. Office staff assisted the
metering department by accurately documenting the field data needed for the CIS
database. Staff also disconnected all the load management radios in these areas.
• On September 20, the power plant received a power surge from a nearby lightning strike
that resulted in the failure of numerous pieces of electronic equipment. We have been
working on getting systems back up and online. A claim has been filed with our
insurance carrier for the damaged equipment but there has not been a total dollar value
determined yet.
• Mapping department continues to enter GPS points and attribute points for all of our
systems assets within the ESRI ArcView GIS system. Staff has been updating maps in
preparation for the Connexus transfer as well as updating the CAD maps used by field
staff. Gopher State One Call has also been updated with service territory changes.
GIS/Mapping Technician, Angela Hauge presented on GIS Mapping of Water Systems at
the Minnesota American Water Works Association annual conference on September 20.
• The new System Engineer will be starting on October 22. Interviews for the Operational
Technology Superintendent position will be concluded on October 19. We anticipate
having someone in this position by about mid-November.
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