5.3. ERMUSR 06-10-2008~/
Elk River
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330-0430
June 3, 2008
To: Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission
Jerry Takle
John Dietz
Jerry Gumphrey
From: Bryan Adams
Subject: Purchasing and Payment Limits
Phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.441.8099
At a previous Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission meeting, John Dietz asked that this
commission review policies that relate to purchasing and payment of items before the
commission approves the check register. Enclosed is the following information for your review.
a) Purchase order policy dated October 23, 1996
b) Payment policy dated January 14, 2003
c) Note that the competitive bid threshold increased effective August 1, 2008 from $50,000
to $100,000.
ELK RIVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES
322 King Avenue
Elk River, Minnesota 55330
Phone (612) 441-2020
Fax (612)441-8099
October 23, 1996
To: Patricia Hemza
Glenn Sundeen
Robert McCartney
Judy McSpadden
From: Bryan Adams ~ C~
Subject: Purchase Orders
In an effort to enhance our documentation of purchasing materials
and/or services, I would like to implement the following procedures:
a) Any purchased items or services over $100.00 must have a
pre-approved purchase order number. The supervisor of the
department will initiate the purchasing process by getting
quotations or asking Judy to secure quotations before the
actual item is purchased. The General Manager or his
designee will sign all purchase orders. A minimum of two
quotations are required.
b) Items or services under $100.00 may be purchased upon
authorization of supervisor. A signed purchase order by the
general manager or his designee must follow.
c) Routine items such as office supplies, hardware and small
automatic parts where accounts are already established at the
place of business will not require a purchase order.
Supervisor must authorize its purchase and supervisor or
employee must sign the receipt at the business and turn in to
Judy.
If there are any suggested changes, please feel free to let me
know.
RESOLUTION NO.
ELK RIVER UTILITIES COMMISSION
WHEREAS, Elk River Municipal Utilities provides electric and water utility
services to its customers;
WHEREAS, in the ordinary course of business, claims for payment are made
against Elk River Municipal Utilities for goods and services provided to the utility;
WHEREAS, it is extremely important that Elk River Municipal Utilities pay its bills
in a timely fashion;
WHEREAS, the Elk River Utilities Commission is an independant commission of
the City of Elk River with the authority to discharge funds under its jurisdiction;
WHEREAS, the Utilities Commission has determined that it is in the best
interests of the utility to delegate authority to pay certain claims to the General
Manager.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
1 . The General Manager is authorized to pay claims made against Elk River
Municipal Utilities to purchase equipment, materials, and services necessary to ensure
efficient operations.
2. The authority to pay claims does not extend to the following:
a. Purchases that require a formal bid process pursuant to Minnesota
Statutes.
b. Any non-budget items with a cost in excess of S 10,000.00.
c. New vehicle purchases.
3. The General Manager shall adhere to the established internal accounting
and administrative control procedures to assure the proper disbursement of funds.
4. The General Manager shall submit a list of all claims paid to the Utilities
Commission for informational purposes at the Utilities Commission's next regularly
scheduled meeting after payment of the claim.
1
RESOLUTION NO.
ELK RIVER UTILITIES COMMISSION
WHEREAS, Elk River Municipal Utilities provides electric and water utility
services to its customers;
WHEREAS, in the ordinary course of business, claims for payment are made
against Elk River Municipal Utilities for goods and services provided to the utility;
WHEREAS, it is extremely important that Elk River Municipal Utilities pay its bills
in a timely fashion;
WHEREAS, the Elk River Utilities Commission is an independant commission of
the City of Elk River with the authority to discharge funds under its jurisdiction;
WHEREAS, the Utilities Commission has determined that it is in the best
interests of the utility to delegate authority to pay certain claims to the General
Manager.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
1. The General Manager is authorized to pay claims made against Elk River
Municipal Utilities to purchase equipment, materials, and services necessary to ensure
efficient operations.
2. The authority to pay claims does not extend to the following:
a. Purchases that require a formal bid process pursuant to Minnesota
Statutes.
b. Any non-budget items with a cost in excess of S 10,000.00.
c. New vehicle purchases.
3. The General Manager shall adhere to the established internal accounting
and administrative control procedures to assure the proper disbursement of funds.
4. The General Manager shall submit a list of all claims paid to the Utilities
Commission for informational purposes at the Utilities Commission's next regularly
scheduled meeting after payment of the claim.
1
Adams, Bryan
rom: Johnson, Lori
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 10:43 AM
To: Allard, Tina; Maurer, Terry; Barnhart, Jeremy; Beahen, Jeff; West, Bruce; Adams, Bryan; Vita,
Bryan
Cc: Simon, Tim
Subject: FW: Bidding Law
Here is a copy of the bidding law change we discussed this morning. If you have any questions about whether
something needs to be bid, please check with Tim before you proceed.
Lori
From: Johnson, Lori
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 8:46 AM
To: Simon, Tim
Subject: Bidding Law
Tim -FYI - in case you haven't seen this yet.
Competitive bid threshold increase bill signed into law
On Thursday, Governor Tim Pawlenty signed into law Chapter 207, the legislation authored by Sen. Rick
Olseen (DFL-Harris) and Rep. Paul Marq_uart (DFL-Dilworth) SF 3622/HF 3646 increases the competitive bid
.~reshold in Minn. Stat. § 471.345, to $100,000 from the current $50,000 level. The new law continues to allow
cities to award contracts to contractors offering the "best value" under a request for proposals as described in
Minn. Stat. § 16C.28. The law will be effective on August 1, 2008.
The legislation was initiated by the Minnesota Association of Townships and is supported by the League of
Minnesota Cities and the Minnesota Inter-County Association.
Under the competitive bidding statute, a contract is defined as an agreement entered into by a municipality for
the sale, purchase or rental of supplies, materials or equipment or for the construction, alteration, repair or
maintenance of real or personal property.
The new law also increases the contract threshold amount that triggers the competitive bidding requirement
from $50,000 to $100,000. The threshold was increased to $50,000 in 2000 for cities over 2,500 population and
then increased for cities under 2,500 population in 2004.
If the contract is estimated to exceed $25,000, but not to exceed $100,000, the new law specifies that
competitive bidding is allowed but not required. These limits are currently set at $10,000 and $50,000. For
contracts in this range, the contract may be made either upon sealed bids or by direct negotiation, by obtaining two or
more quotations for the purchase or sale when possible. However, if the city chooses to use the competitive-bidding
process, it must follow through with the procedure even though it was not originally required.
Tf a contract is estimated to be $25,000 or less, the city has the choice of making the contract upon quotation or
i the open market. If the city makes the contract upon quotation, the city must obtain at least two quotations
and keep them on file for at least one year after their receipt.