6.1f ERMUSR 04-09-2024��i
Elk River ,
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO:
FROM:
ERMU Commission
Chris Sumstad — Electric Superintendent
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
April 9, 2024
6.1f
SUBJECT:
Staff Update
ACTION REQUESTED:
None
DISCUSSION:
• Installed 7 new residential services, which involves the connection of a secondary line
once the customer requests service.
• Crews changed out the two metering cabinets on Business Center Drive on March 18
and 19. One of the cabinets failed in early 2023 and crews found the second cabinet was
close to failure as they installed two new cabinets. A temporary cabinet was used over
the course of the last year while we waited for the two new ones to arrive.
• Lead Lineworker Curt Wark and Apprentice Lineworker Jack Gebhardt attended
Substation School March 19-21 in Shakopee. A field trip to Jordan Transformer where
substation transformers are remanufactured was included in the school.
• 1 completed employee reviews during the past month.
• Crews replaced a three phase pole that was struck by a vehicle on March 13. Crews also
replaced two fiberglass street light poles struck by vehicles in March. Overall, damage to
our equipment this winter was less than typical winters.
• Joe Schmidt, Safety Instructor from Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association, was here
on March 27 and 28 and held safety training for field staff on excavation/trenching and
traffic control.
• For the Highway 169 Redefine project: Main Street closed for construction on April 1.
ERMU crews will be deenergizing the signal lights at Main/Highway 169 on April 8.
Crews will tear down a few spans of overhead near Sonic and Speedway Gas Station
after the shutdown. We also have some reroute work on the east side of Highway 169
later in April to allow for the construction.
• Crews continue to tree trim, map and equipment check, as well as perform maintenance
items on deficiencies found during the checks. With the upcoming weather and
workload forecast, crews will transition to construction season mode very soon.
• Good luck to Matt Schwartz, Tyler Meyers, and Alex Paschall as they compete in the
American Public Power Association's Lineworkers Rodeo on April 6 in Lafayette,
Louisiana.
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