Laserfiche WebLink
F1k River <br />Municipal Utilities <br />13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430 <br />Elk River, MN 55330-0430 <br />Phone: 763.441.2020 <br />Fax: 763.441.8099 <br />www.elkriverutilities. com <br />UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING <br /> <br />• <br />TO: FROM: <br />Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Troy Adams, P.E. -Utilities Director <br />John Dietz -Chair <br />Daryl Thompson -Vice Chair <br />Al Nadeau -Trustee <br />MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: <br />March 20, 2012 6.1 <br />SUBJECT: <br />Staff U dates -Utilities Director <br />DISCUSSION: <br />There are a number of State legislative issues that I've been watching. Last month I attended a <br />hearing in the House Environmental, Energy, and Natural Resources Committee regarding <br />HF1923/SF1560 that would repeal the requirements for a water utility to adopt conservation <br />rates. The Department of Natural Resources, the League of Minnesota Cities, and a number of <br />cities have been working together to find an acceptable compromise. Also of interest is <br />HF1989/SF1815 pertaining to the right of first refusal to build transmission lines in Minnesota <br />for incumbent utilities. Another potential issue that has developed relates to our Landfill Gas-to- <br />Electric Power Plant. There is some push by a local refuse processing facility for the Minnesota <br />Pollution Control Agency to start enforcing a 27 year old statute that hasn't been enforced which <br />would potentially place refuse incinerators before landfill gas-to-electric power plants for the <br />flow of municipal solid waste, or fuel. I will give an update at the Commission meeting on the <br />status of these issues. <br />In early March, David Berg and I attended the Minnesota Rural Water Association's 28th Annual <br />Water & Wastewater Technical Conference in St. Cloud, MN. <br />On June 16-20, American Public Power Association will hold their 2012 APPA National <br />Conference in Seattle, WA. ERMU is budgeted to send three representatives to this conference. <br />The conference brochure is attached for your review. <br />Over the pasted month, staff has been working with a customer in Otsego to resolve an easement <br />issue. The underground feeders that were installed in the transmission easement are in question <br />due to their location outside of road right of way. After consulting with ERMU legal counsel, <br />Great River Energy, and Wright County, ERMU staff has been working with the customer to <br />resolve the issue. Staff has hired Meeks Appraisal & Consulting, Inc. to prepare a report on the <br />value of an easement on that property analyzing the market trends and site specifics. The report <br />has been completed and staff is moving forward in discussion with the owner. <br />PowEn~o tr <br />A~`UR~ <br />P OwER F.D T O S ERV F <br />