08-12-2008 ERMU MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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ELK RIVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES REGULAR MEETING OF THE UTILITIES COMMISSION HELD AT UTILITIES CONFERENCE ROOM August 12,2008 Members Present: Jerry Takle,President;John Dietz,Vice Chair;Jerry Gumphrey,Trustee Staff Present: Bryan Adams,General Manager; Glenn Sundeen,Line Superintendent; David Berg,Water Superintendent; Theresa Slominski,Finance Director/Office Manager; Troy Adams, Engineering Manager; Judy McSpadden,Recording Clerk Others present: Lori Johnson,City Administrator; Roger Stradal,DNR; Laural Reeves,DNR St. Paul Water Appropriations Manager; Dennis Aleckson, Concerned Citizen;Bruce LeGare,Concerned Citizen 1. Call meeting to order August 12,2008 President Jerry Takle called the August 12,2008,meeting to order. Jerry Takle requested 5.3 be moved up. 5.3 Review Water Rates At the July 2008 Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission meeting,John Dietz indicated he received a call from a concerned citizen regarding what he felt were too high water rates. At the August 4,2008,Elk River City Council meeting,this citizen along with another citizen again expressed that they felt our rates were too high especially for those who sprinkle their yards. Dennis Aleckson,a resident in Mississippi Oaks,expressed his concern for the water rate structure. Upon surveying surrounding communities he discovered some other communities are not as aggressive on the rate for the higher users. Bryan Adams discussed the need for the rate structure as incentive for conservation thus curtailing the depletion of the Mt. Simon aquifer. Dennis Aleckson said other communities are on this aquifer,not using this conservation and is the aggressive higher tier water rate necessary? He has also talked with residents that have stopped watering their lawns. The answers he received were that it was too expensive to continue to water. Bryan Adams said if Elk River used a single tier rate the rate would be approximately $2.25 per 1000 gallons,however it would be unfair to charge the lower users this rate. The average consumer uses 5000 to 6000 gallons of water a month in the winter months. The step program allowed for 9000 gallons for the 1 St tier rate. The remaining tiers are for higher users. Laural Reeves,Water Appropriations Manager from St.Paul DNR, expressed conservation of the Mt. Simon aquifer is of great importance. Some communities get their water from the river which in turn would deplete surface waters such as streams,lakes,and ponds.