07-02-2013 ERMU MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Water Department has always maintained and exercised all of the water hydrants within the City of Elk River whether they are private or owned by ERMU. For cost and liability reasons, staff wanted to define the difference between private or public hydrants. Water Department staff generated a Fire Hydrant Use and Maintenance program to outline the responsibilities of ERMU and the owners of the private hydrants. This program would charge the private hydrant owner an annual maintenance fee of$60 per hydrant and ERMU staff would maintain it. Hydrant owners have the option to opt-in or opt-out, but if they decided to opt-out, they would be responsible for finding a contractor to maintenance their hydrant. This program would be implemented on January 1, 2014. Al Nadeau made a motion to approve the Fire Hydrant Use and Maintenance program. John Dietz seconded the motion. Motion carried 2-0. 5.4 Second Quarter Write-Offs Second quarter delinquent items were presented to the Commission for their review. The report showed four columns: Assessments, Collections, Revenue Recapture (RR) and Write Offs. An explanation was given for each of these categories. The amounts displayed for the Commission covered items through March 15, 2013 as those amounts would be greater than ninety days out. If we have notice of bankruptcies or deaths through June 15, those were also included in the amounts. Discussion followed. 5.5 Diesel Power Plant Operator Call-Out Provisions Over the past year, staff has worked with Great River Energy(GRE)on revisions to the Capacity Contract for our Diesel Power Plant. The contract specifies if Midcontinent Independent System Operator(MISO)called upon GRE for our engines to run, ERMU is required to have them on line within four(4)hours. In the past we have not been called on to run our engines often. The last time was in 2006. Although unlikely that we would have to run, ERMU still has to prepare for the possibility. There is potential for our generation to be called upon afterhours,on a weekend, or on a holiday. Because our power plant is not staffed 24/7,we need to address how we'd meet our requirement to run if we are called upon. The small possibility of us running this year does not justify having an on-call rotation for power plant operators. Instead, staff proposes an incentive program in the form of a call out stipend specific for the running of the diesel generation afterhours, on weekends,or on holidays. The stipend would be equal to twelve(12)hours at the worker's base rate of pay. Discussion followed. Al Nadeau made a motion to approve the Diesel Power Plant Operator stipend.John Dietz seconded the motion. Motion carried 2-0. Page 3 Regular meeting of the Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission July 2,2013