Laserfiche WebLink
UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING <br />TO: FROM: <br />ERMU Commission Michelle Canterbury Executive Administrative Manager <br />MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: <br />January 14, 2020 6.1g <br />SUBJECT: <br />Staff Update <br />ACTION REQUESTED: <br />None <br /> <br />DISCUSSION: <br /> The Current newsletter is the January bill insert. The winter edition focuses on topics <br />such as: zero percent electric rate increase in 2020, updated water rates, recycling <br />calendars and the Recycle Coach app, Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) Scholarship <br />Program, tree trimming, customer service survey results, and the Smart Energy Provider <br />designation. Attached is a copy of the newsletter. <br /> <br /> Typically when we publish our quarterly Current newsletter, we intentionally focus that <br />months social media posts around the topics that were covered in the newsletter. In <br />addition to the newsletter topics, other posts in January will focus on: inspirational <br />reminders of the great people in our community, delivery of energy saver kits, squirrel <br />appreciation day, preventing frozen pipes, common energy-wasting habits, our <br />employee recognition event, and various public service announcements. <br /> <br /> Our Communications Coordinator worked with NISC to come up with a more visually <br />appealing paperless bill message. The fresh look features our new brand, a splash of <br />color, eye catching graphics, and really makes our messaging pop. Attached is a before <br />and after of the paperless bill message, which speaks volumes to the improvement in <br />this communications medium. <br /> <br /> Key staff members met on January 6 for a brainstorming session on the direction of the <br />2019 Annual Report. The communications department has many ideas to work with and <br />will soon begin the writing and design process. Staff anticipates the annual report will be <br />completed in time to go out in March billings. <br /> <br /> Following the approval of the 2020 budget at the December commission meeting, plans <br />moved forward for the website overhaul initiative slated for 2020. Prime Advertising & <br />Design was selected for the project, and a discovery kick-off meeting has been <br />scheduled for January 16. Tony Mauren, our Communications Coordinator, and I, will be <br />working through a list of things to help prepare for the kick-off meeting. <br />______________________________________________________________________________ <br />Page 1 of 2 <br />175 <br />