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Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Meeting Minutes <br />January 12, 2021 <br />Page 4 <br /> <br />extension allows employees to access any unused emergency leave from 2020. Chair Dietz <br />had questions about the timeline for the program. Staff responded. <br /> <br />Commissioner Westgaard expressed his opinion it would be good to extend the policy. <br />Commissioner Stewart added it was a good show of support for employees. <br /> <br />Chair Dietz asked if municipal employees were in an early priority group to receive the <br />COVID-19 vaccine. Ms. Slominski responded that there have been some changes to the <br />order of groups getting the vaccine, but the hope is that staff will have the option to <br />receive it sooner versus later. <br /> <br />Moved by Commissioner Bell and seconded by Commissioner Stewart to approve the <br />extension of emergency leaves of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act through <br />March 31, 2021. Motion carried 5-0. <br /> <br />6.0 BUSINESS DISCUSSION <br /> <br /> <br />6.1 Staff Updates <br /> <br />Commissioner Stewart congratulated Ms. Nelson on her completion of the customer <br />information system task outlined in her memo. Ms. Nelson commended the finance and <br />customer service departments on their efforts. <br /> <br />Commissioner Stewart also had a suggestion for the check endorsement machine item from <br />Ms. Nelson’s memo, recommending working with the bank on a solution. Ms. Nelson <br />responded that the bank did have an option that was viable but that she will need to look at all <br />pros and cons. <br /> <br /> Ms. Canterbury highlighted the American Public Power Association and Minnesota Municipal <br />Utilities Association virtual conferences from her update, encouraging commissioners to take <br />advantage of these events as they are occurring remotely and have had their fees waived. <br /> <br />Mr. Geiser notified the Commission, having recently learned the timeline for the Highway 169 <br />Redefine project, that he is planning to purchase the wire for that project immediately to <br />ensure the timely delivery of the appropriate type and quantity. Mr. Geiser added that ERMU <br />would purchase the remainder of its wire for the year in around six months’ time. Attorney <br />Beck commented that ideally the utilities would purchase all its wire for the year at once but <br />the short notice for the Highway 169 project created extenuating circumstances, requiring a <br />separate purchase which falls under the threshold for public bidding. <br /> <br />Mr. Sumstad shared that staff would be conducting interviews this week for the open <br />lineworker position. <br />31