5.6. ERMUSR 10-11-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Elk River Municipal Utilities 13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430 Elk Rivec, MN 55330-0430 UTILITIES COMIVQSSION MEETING PBNEAEe er I`~lA~'UR~ P O W p p E p T O S E R V E Phone: 763.441.2020 Fax: 763.441.8099 TO: FROM: Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Troy Adams, P.E. -Utilities Director John Dietz -Chair Daryl Thompson -Vice Chair Al Nadeau -Trustee MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: October 11, 2011 5.6 SUBJECT: Pro osed Street Li ht Policy Revisions BACKGROUND: In 2007 Elk River Municipal Utilities and the City of Elk River established an agreement regarding costs associated with new and replacement street lights related to street rehabilitation and improvement projects. DISCUSSION: Although there are currently a few street lights within the City of Elk River that aze not within Elk River Municipal Utilities' electric service territory, generally speaking the residents and businesses that pay through taxes for the replacement of street lights within the City of Elk River are also paying for electricity to Elk River Municipal Utilities. With this observation in mind, to provide the most efficient services to the residents, businesses, and electric customers this goes beyond the philosophical question of whether a service should be funded through taxes or rates. In the recent years it has been noted that there are many light fixtures within the City of Elk River that are in serious disrepair and require painting or replacement. Unfortunately, these fixtures often go unaddressed until the fixtures are beyond repair. It is more expensive to replace fixtures than to repaint or repair fixtures. Therefore, it would be in the residents', businesses', and customer's best interests for these street lights to be maintained in a timely manner in an effort to be efficient and cost effective with the limited resources available. City staff is more than capable to forecast the costs and implement amaintenance/replacement plan for street lights. However, there is some efficiency to be gained by having the entity currently responsible for general maintenance and also be responsible for installation of new and long-term replacement planning of existing street lights. Elk River Municipal Utilities is equipped with the bucket and digger/derrick trucks required to do maintenance on street lights. Elk River Municipal Utilities also is licensed as an electrical contractor and would be able to legally perform electrical maintenance to street lights under the National Electric Safety Code