2.2 ERMUSR 10-13-2020ELK RIVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE UTILITIES COMMISSION
HELD AT THE ELK RIVER FIRE STATION EOC CONFERENCE ROOM
September 8, 2020
Members Present: Chair John Dietz, Vice Chair Al Nadeau, Commissioners Paul Bell,
Mary Stewart, and Matt Westgaard
ERMU Staff Present: Theresa Slominski, Interim General Manager
Melissa Karpinski, Finance Manager
Jennie Nelson, Customer Service Manager
Tom Sagstetter, Conservation & Key Accounts Manager
Michelle Canterbury, Executive Administrative Manager
Mark Fuchs, Operations Director
Mike Tietz, Technical Services Superintendent
Dave Ninow, Water Superintendent
Chris Kerzman, Engineering Manager
Tony Mauren, Communications & Administrative Coordinator
Others Present: Cal Portner, City Administrator; and Peter Beck, Attorney
1.0 GOVERNANCE
1.1 Call Meeting to Order
The regular meeting of the Utilities Commission was called to order at 3:30 p.m. by Chair Dietz.
1.2 Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
1.3 Consider the Agenda
There were no additions or corrections to the agenda.
Moved by Commissioner Westgaard and seconded by Commissioner Stewart to approve the
September 8, 2020, agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
1.4 Resolution Recognizing 2020 Public Power Week
Mr. Fuchs presented a resolution recognizing 2020Public Power Week, October 4-10.
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2020
Page 1
27
Moved by Commissioner Nadeau and seconded by Commissioner Bell to adopt Resolution
20-5 Recognizing 2020 Public Power Week. Motion carried 5-0.
1.5 Resolution Recognizing 2020 Customer Service Week
Ms. Slominski presented a resolution recognizing 2020 Customer Service Week, occurring
the same week as Public Power Week. Ms. Slominski noted this event is an opportunity to
recognize and thank customer service staff for the hard work they do and an opportunity
to reach out to customers.
Moved by Commissioner Stewart and seconded by Commissioner Nadeau to adopt
Resolution 20-6 Recognizing 2020 Customer Service Week. Motion carried 5-0.
2.0 CONSENT AGENDA (Approved By One Motion)
Moved by CommissionerBell and seconded by Commissioner Westgaard to approve the
Consent Agenda as follows:
2.1 August 2020 Check Register
2.2 August 11, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes
Motion carried 5-0.
3.0 OPEN FORUM
No one appeared for open forum.
4.0 POLICY & COMPLIANCE
Nothingwas presented for policy & compliance.
5.0 BUSINESS ACTION
5.1 Financial Report – July2020
Ms. Karpinski presented the July 2020 financial reportas outlined in her memo.
Commissioner Westgaard asked if there was any financial impact from the water main
break. Staff responded that some of those expenses may appear in July, and any
additional ones will be reflected in the August financials. Chair Dietz requested that Water
Superintendent Ninow put together the details to show the total expenses associated
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2020
Page 2
28
with the water main break and include that on the next month’s staff report.
Moved by Commissioner Nadeau and seconded by Commissioner Stewart to receive the
July 2020 Financial Report. Motion carried 5-0.
5.2 2020 Annual Business Plan: 20 Year Capital Projections, Capital Projects and Equipment
Purchases,and Conservation Improvement Program
The preliminary 2021 Capital Projections, Capital Projects and Equipment Purchases, and
Conservation Improvement Program were presented. Ms. Karpinski noted some of the major
upcoming projects for the electric, water, and technical services departments.
Ms. Karpinski alsopointed out an update tothe presentation this year, as she had moved
non-capital projects towards the bottom,so the information was available but not included in
the budget numbers.
Chair Dietz asked if most of the projects would be funded through revenues. Ms. Karpinski
responded that one million dollars of the funding for preparation of the field services building
addition would be coming from reserves.
Chair Dietz had questions on how staff would be timing its bonding for the field services
building addition. Ms. Slominski responded that staff was hoping to go out for bids on the
project by the end of 2020 and start bonding the beginning of 2021. Chair Dietz inquired as to
the type of bond staff could be pursuing. Staff responded that there was discussion about
doing a 30-year bond for the project.
Chair Dietz asked Mr. Fuchs for his opinion on how likely it would be that staff could complete
all the projects listed in the business plan for 2021. Mr. Fuchs responded that he hopes that
the weather cooperates, giving them more time to complete some of the projects this year,
because it is too much work to be completed next year.
Commissioner Stewart asked for clarification on the Projects line item allocating $50,000for
County Road 33. Mr. Fuchs responded that the County is looking at rerouting the road at
some point to straighten it. Mr. Fuchs added that the details of the plan, and therefore the
work required by ERMU, are not yet known.
Chair Dietz asked if the current budgeted amount for the Highway 169 project was going to
cover ERMU’s costs. Mr. Fuchs estimated that there would need to be some funds for other
projects redirected to that one. Chair Dietz had questions about the amount of infrastructure
that would need to be moved for the project. Staff responded.
5.3 Leadership Transition – Search Committee Update
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2020
Page 3
29
Chair Dietz gave commissioners the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about
the General Manager Employment Agreement. There were no questions.
Moved by Commissioner Bell and seconded by Commissioner Westgaard to approve the
General Manager Employment Agreement, effective August 11, 2020.Motion carried 5-0.
6.0 BUSINESS DISCUSSION
6.1 Staff Updates
Ms. Slominski noted that she had just received the workers compensation insurance renewal,
which had a $2000 increase over the previous year.
Chair Dietz highlighted Ms. Nelson’s final update item regarding employees working remotely
due to hybrid school schedules. He noted that he was not in favor of a situation where some
staff members would be receiving benefits that others are not sincemany people in the
company cannot do their job from home. Chair Dietz stated that he also wanted to be sure
there would be enough staff in the office to handle customer needs. Commissioner Westgaard
stated that many organizations were facing this issue and it is a very fluid situation.
Commissioner Westgaard suggested being as flexible as possible as long as the needs of
customers are being met. Ms. Nelson added that staff understands that they are best able to
serve customers and that is what ERMU is trying to accomplish with this rotation approach.
Chair Dietz asked for details on contingency plans should circumstances with school schedules
change. Staff responded.
Mr. Sagstetter updated the commission that the wind turbine that had been constructed at
the Youth Athletic Complex was scheduled to be painted at the end of September, beginning
of October. Chair Dietz asked for details about concerns he had heard that the turbine would
be a danger to wildlife. Mr. Sagstetter responded that a photographer had expressed concerns
about the potential dangers, but that he explained the turbine had been situated out of the
migratory path and at a lower height than those birds typically travel. He said the individual will
reach out if they notice any issues.
Commissioner Bell had questions about the recent conservation initiative to give customers
four free LED bulbs when they signed up to receive The Connector newsletter. Staff shared
that there had been 472 signups to date.
Mr. Ninow shared that earlier in the day the water department had opened one of the gates at
the dam two feet to start the drawdown for the lake restoration project. Chair Dietz had
questions about future gate openings. Staff responded.
6.2 Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association Summer Conference Update
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2020
Page 4
30
This year the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) summer conference was held
virtually August 25-26. This year’s conference offered a variety of sessions for education, with
one networking session. Ms. Slominski and Mr. Tietz, who attended the conference, provided
an update, and shared highlights of the conference. Ms. Slominski noted that the annual
President’s Award was presented to all municipal utility employees across the state.
6.3 Future Planning
Chair Dietz announced the following:
a. Regular Commission Meeting – October 13, 2020 @ EOC Fire Station Conference Room
b. 2020Governance Agenda
7.0 ADJOURN REGULAR MEETING
Moved by CommissionerWestgaard and seconded by Commissioner Nadeau to adjourn the
regular meeting of the Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission at 4:01 p.m. Motion carried
5-0.
Minutes prepared by Tony Mauren.
___________________________________
John J. Dietz, ERMU Commission Chair
___________________________________
Tina Allard, City Clerk
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2020
Page 5
31