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ELK RIVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES <br />REGULAR MEETING OF THE <br />UTILITIES COMMISSION <br />HELD AT UTILITIES CONFERENCE ROOM <br />August 12, 2008 <br />Members Present: Jerry Takle, President; John Dietz, Vice Chair; Jerry Gumphrey, Trustee <br />Staff Present: Bryan Adams, General Manager; Glenn Sundeen, Line Superintendent; <br />David Berg, Water Superintendent; <br />Theresa Slominski, Finance Director/Office Manager; <br />Troy Adams, Engineering Manager; Judy McSpadden, Recording Clerk <br />Others present: Lori Johnson, City Administrator; Roger Stradal, DNR; <br />Laural Reeves, DNR St. Paul Water Appropriations Manager; <br />Dennis Aleckson, Concerned Citizen; Bruce LeGare, Concerned Citizen <br />1. Call meeting to order August 12 2008 <br />President Jerry Takle called the August 12, 2008, meeting to order. <br />Jerry Takle requested 5.3 be moved up. <br />5.3 Review Water Rates <br />At the July 2008 Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission meeting, John Dietz <br />indicated he received a call from a concerned citizen regarding what he felt were too high <br />water rates. At the August 4, 2008, Elk River City Council meeting, this citizen along with <br />another citizen again expressed that they felt our rates were too high especially for those who <br />sprinkle their yards. <br />Dennis Aleckson, a resident in Mississippi Oaks, expressed his concern for the water rate <br />structure. Upon surveying surrounding communities he discovered some other communities <br />are not as aggressive on the rate for the higher users. Bryan Adams discussed the need for the <br />rate structure as incentive for conservation thus curtailing the depletion of the Mt. Simon <br />aquifer. Dennis Aleckson said other communities are on this aquifer, not using this <br />conservation and is the aggressive higher tier water rate necessary? He has also talked with <br />residents that have stopped watering their lawns. The answers he received were that it was too <br />expensive to continue to water. <br />Bryan Adams said if Elk River used a single tier rate the rate would be approximately <br />$2.25 per 1000 gallons, howevei it would be unfair to charge the lower users this rate. The <br />average consumer uses 5000 to 6000 gallons of water a month in the winter months. The step <br />program allowed for 9000 gallons for the 1" tier rate. The remaining tiers are for higher users. <br />Laural Reeves, Water Appropriations Manager from St. Paul DNR, expressed <br />conservation of the Mt. Simon aquifer is of great importance. Some communities get their <br />water from the river which in tum would deplete surface waters such as streams, lakes, and <br />ponds. <br />