6.2.C. SR 03-02-2009~/
City of
Elk --.-~
River
REQUEST FOR ACTION
To Item Number
Ci Council 6.2.C.
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Administration March 2, 2009 Lori ohnson, Ci Admuustrator
Item Description Reviewed by
Request for Water Superintendent to Report to Public Works
Director Reviewed by
Action Requested
Consider a request from the Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) Commission to have the ERMU
Water Superintendent report to the City's Public Works Director.
Background/Discussion
At the February 24 ERMU Commission meeting, the Commission approved a new organizational
structure for ERMU affective April 1. A copy of the organizational chart is attached. This change also
affects the City in that ERMU is requesting that the water superintendent report to the City's public
works director. Similar to the human resources agreement on this agenda, the City must agree to taking
on this function. If the Council agrees to provide the requested services, a formal agreement will be
brought back to the Council and ERMU Commission for approval.
ERMU's request is a logical one as water and sewer services go hand in hand; they are typically installed
together and development of the two systems must be coordinated. It is very unusual to have water and
sewer systems operated by two separate entities; in most cities water and sewer departments operate
together under the public works department of the city. The arrangement requested by ERMU has been
working informally for water improvement projects for some time already, and I expect that it would
work well for both the City and ERMU in the future, thus I support accepting the request to provide
public works department services to ERMU.
Currently, the water superintendent works with the public works director on water improvement projects,
but the water superintendent reports to the ERMU interim general manager. If the change is approved,
the water superintendent would continue to work with the public works director on improvement
projects plus all water system operation and maintenance issues and the public works director would
supervise and provide work direction to the water superintendent. The water superintendent and all
water department employees would remain employees of ERMU and the ERMU Commission would
continue to set rates, develop and approve the water fund budget, and set policies for the water
department.
Finally, as you know, Councilmember Gumphrey serves on the ERMU Commission. He and ERMU
Commissioner Dietz, who will also be at the Council meeting, will be able to answer any questions the
Council may have about the Commission's request. Because more than one Commission member will be
present at the Council meeting, a special meeting of the ERMU Commission was called fox Monday so
S:\Council\Lori\2009\Water Department Reporting.doc
that ERMU Commissioners could respond to your questions about this issue and other ERMU issues on
the agenda.
Financial Impact
At this time it is too early to know what the financial impact to the City would be. If the Council agrees
to provide services, staff will estimate the time needed to supervise the water department and negotiate a
payment amount for those services. The Commission and Council will review and approve the terms of
the agreement including compensation before this change takes affect.
Attachments
• ERMU Organizational Chart approved February 24, 2009
Action Motion by Second by Vote
Follow Up
S:\Council\Lori\2009\Water Department Reporting.doc
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