6.1b ERMUSR 02-12-2019 Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
ERMU Commission Theresa Slominski—Finance & Office Manager
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
February 12, 2019 6.1b
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
• Bond payments were remitted February 1, 2019 for the 2016A, 2016B, and 2018A
Electric Bonds, and the 2008A Water Bond, totaling$1,179,804.51.
• With the start of another year, comes the reporting of the prior one. There are U.S.
Energy Information Administration reports, AWWA reporting,the annual audit, etc. that
we have been working on.
• Our auditors, Abdo, Eick, and Meyers (AEM), were here for preliminary fieldwork on
January 17 and all went well. They will be onsite at the end of the month for primary
fieldwork February 28 and March 1. The final audit report will be presented at the April
commission meeting.
• The new rates for 2019 will be on the bills starting with the billing cycle in the week of
February 1, 2019. Electricity had a rate decrease, however all other services had
increases, so it may not be as noticeable. Also, the coldest weather days at the end of
January will be on three of the billing cycles this month, but not the first one billed
February 1.
• We have started the process of revamping the bills to incorporate our new branding and
better representation of city versus utility services. It has been a rather time intensive
project and will take several months to complete.
• Our Medical Insurance, BCBS, introduced a new platform, "sharecare", which has
individuals track health information on a daily basis and is designed to respond to their
individual needs as they participate, ultimately with the goal to help live healthier lives.
There have been some challenges with the initial launch and, since it is an "opt-in"
program, participation dwindles as a result. It's still new and so as the bugs get worked
out we will see if it is embraced more or not. The wellness team is very dedicated and is
working on ways to encourage healthy lifestyles for all employees, with the sharecare
platform and other means.
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