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In response to Commissioner Stewart's inquiry about the Maintenance Expense line which <br />shows a $32,000 variance over the previous year, Ms. Karpinski explained that this was <br />due to increased labor for electric mapping work as the mild winter permitted mapping to <br />occur over a longer period. Ms. Karpinski also explained that the increase is somewhat <br />offset by a reduction in typical seasonal expenses such as snowplowing and repairing <br />infrastructure struck by vehicles due to icy roads. <br />During discussion about higher Water Access Chargers in the month of January, Mr. <br />Ninow explained that there are multiple industrial customers building new facilities. There <br />was discussion. <br />Moved by Commissioner Westgaard and seconded by Commissioner Bell to receive the <br />January 2024 Financial Report. Motion carried 5-0. <br />6.0 BUSINESS DISCUSSION <br />6.1 Staff Updates <br />There were no staff updates. <br />6.2 City Council Update <br />Commissioner Westgaard provided an update from the City Council meetings which dealt with <br />topics including preliminary plat for an education institution, interim use permits, and an <br />easement vacation. <br />6.3 American Public Power Association Legislative Rally Update <br />Mr. Hanson led the verbal update on the American Public Power Association (APPA) Legislative <br />Rally in Washington D.C., which he attended along with Chair Dietz and Commissioner Zerwas. <br />He explained the message to legislators and/or their staff encouraged continued support to <br />allow public power utilities to achieve affordability, reliability, and sustainability. Mr. Hanson <br />continued that important topics included significant supply chain issues, increased costs for <br />transformers, financing tools to allow municipal utilities to refund loans within ten years, and <br />to allow local banks to increase their loan threshold from $10 million to $30 million. There was <br />discussion. <br />Chair Dietz shared his impression from staffers that there is genuine concern for small utilities' <br />issues. <br />Chair Dietz asked Mr. Hanson to look into whether it would be appropriate for ERMU to join <br />the APPA subcommittees that meet at the legislative rally. There was discussion. <br />Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Meeting Minutes <br />March 12, 2024 <br />Page 4 <br />39 <br />