1.4 G.1A ERMUSR 01-10-20239 „
Elk M
paMunicil Utilities
COMMISSION POLICY
Section:
Governance
Category:
Authorities and Purpose Policies
Policy Reference:
Policy Title:
G.1 a
Bylaws
ARTICLE I — AUTHORITY
Section 1. The Village of Elk River Water, Light, Power and Building Commission was
created on July 11, 1947, by resolution adopted by the Village of Elk River Trustees.
Section 2. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 412.331, adopted in 1949, any water,
light, power and building commission then in existence was required to thereafter operate as a
public utilities commission under Minnesota Statutes, Sections 412.321 to 412.391. The Village
of Elk River Water, Light, Power and Building Commission became Elk River Municipal
Utilities.
Section 3. Elk River Municipal Utilities is a public utilities commission operating
pursuant to and subject to Minnesota Statutes, Sections 412.321 to 412.391 and Elk River City
Code Sections 2-271 to 2-276.
ARTICLE II — JURISDICTION
Section 1. Elk River Municipal Utilities has jurisdiction over:
A. The City of Elk River Municipal electric utility; and
B. The City of Elk River water utility.
ARTICLE III— COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Pursuant to Laws of Minnesota 2016, Chapter 97 — House File No. 2718, and
Elk River City Code Section 2-271, the Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission shall consist
of five members. No more than two members may also serve as City Council members.
Section 2. Commissioners shall be appointed by the City Council to staggered terms.
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Section 3. Each Commissioner shall serve for a term of three years and until a successor
is appointed and qualified.
Section 4. Commissioners shall comply with the City's conflict of interest ordinance, Elk
River City Code Sections 2-131 to 2-135.
Section 5. No member of the Commission shall receive a salary except as fixed by the
City Council.
ARTICLE IV — OFFICERS
Section 1. The Commission shall annually choose a president from among its members.
The president shall be designated the Chair of the Commission and shall perform such duties as
shall be delegated to the Chair in the Commission's adopted policies
Section 2. The Commission may also annually appoint a Vice -Chair of the Commission
who shall perform such duties as shall be delegated to the Vice -Chair in the Commission's
adopted policies. The Vice -Chair shall preside at meetings of the Commission if the Chair is
absent.
Section 3. The Commission shall also appoint a Secretary for an indefinite term. The
Secretary need not be a member of the Commission and shall perform such duties as shall be
delegated to the Secretary in the Commission's adopted policies.
Section 4. The Commission shall have the power to revoke a Commission member's
appointment as Chair or Vice -Chair, and appoint a replacement Chair or Vice Chair, if the
Commission determines, by a vote of a majority of its members, to do so. The Commission shall
also have the power to replace the Secretary at any time by a vote of the majority of its members.
ARTICLE V — MEETINGS
Section 1. The Commission shall hold at least one regular meeting each month, on the
day and at the time designated by the Commission from time to time. Regular meetings shall be
noticed as required by Minnesota Statutes.
Section 2. The Commission may hold special meetings from time to time at the request
of the Chair or the request of two other Commissioners. Special meetings shall be noticed as
required by Minnesota Statutes.
Section 3. A majority of the Commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business, and the votes of a majority of the Commissioners present shall be sufficient to adopt
any motion or resolution. The votes of members on any action shall be taken by ayes and nays
recorded in the minutes.
Section 4. Commission meetings are open to the public unless closed as authorized by
Minnesota Statutes, and shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order, latest revised edition, for
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all situations to which they apply and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws, the
Commission's adopted Policies, and any special rules of order that the Commission may adopt..
ARTICLE VI — POWERS
Section 1. The Commission shall have all of the powers enumerated in Minnesota
Statutes, Section 412.361 and, except as provided in the Bylaws and the Commission's adopted
Policies, shall exercise those powers on its own behalf.
ARTICLE VII — GENERAL MANAGER
Section 1. The Commission shall have the power to appoint a General Manager, whose
responsibilities, duties, limits of authority and accountability to the Commission shall be set forth
in these Bylaws and as designated by the Commission from time to time in its adopted Policies.
Section 2. The General Manager shall have the authority to implement the Commission's
powers under Minnesota Statutes, Section 412.361, Subds. 1 and 2 to enter into contracts for the
operation of the utility and to employ all necessary help for the management and operation of the
public utility, by entering into contracts and employing personnel consistent with the
Commission's adopted budget and pay plan. However, all contracts requiring public bidding, all
contracts falling under Minnesota Statutes, Section 412.361, Subds. 3, 4 and 5, and all contracts
required by the Commission's adopted Policies to be approved by the Commission, shall be
approved by the Commission.
Section 3. If the position of the General Manager is vacant, the Commission may
designate another to perform all or some of the General Manager's duties.
ARTICLE VIII — FINANCES, FUNDS AND REPORTS
Section 1. The Commission shall maintain the funds, conduct the audits and make the
reports required by Minnesota Statutes, Sections 412.371 and 412.381.
ARTICLE IX — APPLICATION AND AMENDMENT
Section 1. In the event that any provision of these Bylaws is or may be in conflict with
the laws of any governmental body or power having jurisdiction over the Elk River Municipal
Utilities Commission, or over the subject matter to which such provision of these Bylaws applies
or may apply, such provision of these Bylaws shall be inoperative to the extent only that the
operation thereof unavoidably conflicts with such law and shall in all other respects be in full
force and effect.
Section 2. These Bylaws may be amended by the Commission at any regular meeting by
a majority vote of the entire Commission, provided the proposed amendment is on the agenda
and made public no later than three days before the meeting.
Section 3. In addition to these Bylaws, the Commission may adopt, from time to time,
Governance Policies (adopted Policies) that are not inconsistent with these Bylaws.
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BYLAW HISTORY:
Adopted June 13, 2017
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