05-29-2024 HUCMMINUTES
Regular Meeting — Hutchinson Utilities Commission
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Call to order — 3:00 p.m.
President Don Martinez called the meeting to order. Members present: President Don
Martinez; Vice President Matt Cheney; Secretary Kathy Silvernale; Commissioner
Anthony Hanson; Commissioner Troy Pullis; GM Jeremy Carter; Attorney Marc Sebora;
1. Conflict of Interest
2. Approve Consent Agenda
a. Approve Minutes
b. Ratify Payment of Bills
Motion by Commissioner Cheney, second by Commissioner Pullis to Approve the
Consent Agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Approve Financial Statements
Mr. Martig presented the Financial Statements. Cash increased between the 2
divisions by $879K, which included reimbursement from HCP. Both Electric Division
and Natural Gas Division operating expenses were up due to the City invoicing meter
reading equipment change out at both water towers. Natural Gas Division operating
expenses also included $44K for DOT Pipeline Safety User Fee Assessment that is
due every year. Revenues and usage were down due to a 22% decrease in heating
days.
GM Carter spoke of the consumption within the different classes. Overall YTD,
consistent but throughout the classes not a lot of margin. Trending relative to the
weather.
Motion by Commissioner Silvernale, second by Commissioner Hanson to Approve
the Financial Statements. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Open Forum
5. Communication
a. City Administrator — Matthew Jaunich —
i. Start of construction season
ii. Pool opens June 5
iii. City Council run deadline is next Tuesday
b. Divisions
i. Dan Lang, Engineering Services Manager —
1. Provided update on outage last night
ii. Dave Hunstad, Electric Transmission/Distribution. Manager —
1. Nothing to report
iii. Mike Gabrielson, Production Manager
1. Nothing to report
iv. Jared Martig, Financial Manager-
1. Account Coordinator position update
c. Human Resources — Angie Radke -
i. Working on Welder Service Person and Account Coordinator positions, now
working on hiring 2 seasonal temps
d. Legal — Marc Sebora —
i. Nothing to report
e. General Manager — Jeremy Carter
i. Working on Regulator Compliance manuals
ii. Working with Northern Border and BP on Imbalance on the pipeline
iii. Prepaid deal update
iv. MMUA regional meeting on June 6 at Arts Place
v. Working through MNOPS audit
6. Policies
a. Review Policies
i. Section 5 of Exempt Handbook
ii. Section 5 of Non -Exempt Handbook
No changes recommended at this time.
7. Unfinished Business
8. New Business
a. Approve Hutchinson Substation Circuit Breaker Contract
Mr. Lang presented Approval of Hutchinson Substation Circuit Breaker Contract.
The Boarder States proposal was the lowest evaluated price of the three bids that
were received.
Discussion was held on the price and timing of the project.
Motion by Commissioner Hanson, second by Commissioner Cheney to Approve
Hutchinson Substation Circuit Breaker Contract. Motion carried unanimously..
b. Approve Req#009912 — Fiberglass Service Body
Mr. Hunstad presented the Approval of Requisition #009912 — Fiberglass Service
Body. As part of the Fleet Management Program the 2012 Dodge Ram is due for
replacement. Recommendation is for a Crysteel Equipment Service body from the
Minnesota State Cooperative Purchasing Contract.
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Motion by Commissioner Silvernale, second by Commissioner Pullis to Approve
Req#009912- Fiberglass Service Body. Motion carried unanimously.
c. Approval of Buyers Authorizing Resolution 24-01 for the Short -Term Natural
Gas Prepay Deal
GM Carter presented Approval of Buyers Authorizing Resolution 24-01 for the
Short -Term Natural Gas Prepay Deal. Back in 2018 Commissioners agreed to a
short-term pre -pay gas supply contract with PEAK (Public Energy Authority of
Kentucky) /BP through November 2024. At the time the Commissioners felt more
comfortable going with a short-term contract rather than a long-term contract.
The short-term contract provided a .06 cent discount whereas the long-term
contract provided a .29/.30 cent discount. As part of the repricing PEAK and BP
are looking to re -price the existing bonds. As part of repricing PEAK/BP are
interested in retaining HUC volumes in another short-term deal as part of the
overall repricing transaction. PEAK/BP are looking at a .10 cent discount on a
short-term deal. PEAK/BP anticipate a remarking period on the new bonds to be
an 8-year timeframe. The intention is to wrap up all documentation and approvals
from all counter parties that will be in the prepay deal by end of June and then go
out to the market and issue bonds in first part of July. HUC is a qualified
participant being a municipal government which is needed to for a certain amount
of load to be in prepay deals to issue tax-exempt financing.
MCE is also offering a prepay deal with larger discounts. Conversations have
been held with this prepay deal as well. Looking at possibly having loads in both
of the deals in the future.
Discussion was held on the amount of load that will going into the prepay deal.
Approving the resolution authorizes HUC to execute the Short -Term Gas Supply
Contract pursuant to HUC agreeing to purchase specified quantities of natural
gas from PEAK at a discount. Approving resolution also authorizes the GM to
execute any additional closing documents or certificates required in connection
with the execution and delivery of the contract or in carrying out the intentions and
purpose of the resolution. In addition, a certificate document and attorney's
opinion letter will be completed and signed as part of the closing procedures
related to the repricing/remarking transaction.
Motion by Commissioner Hanson, second by Commissioner Silvernale to
Approve Buyers Authorizing Resolution 24-01 for the Short -Term Natural Gas
Prepay Deal. Motion carried unanimously.
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d. LM6000 Discussion
GM Carter provided an LM6000 Update. GM Carter recapped the options that
were available along with the insurability of the engines and financial impact
GM Carter provided an update from Hartford. Hartford is unable to make a
decision on insurability with either option. Duty to Warn is concerning to Hartford
and will not make a decision until HUC knows what engine Staff is going to go
with. Hartford may insure the 2"d option which is the engine exchange however
Hartford will still want to see all information and detail on the exchanged engine.
GE states that the exchanged engine is a serviceable engine and will have a 2-
year warranty.
Discussion was held on self -insuring and different coverages HUC has along with
the 2-year warranty that GE will have on the engine. Conversations were also
held on the life of the exchanged engine.
Options available are 1) get original engine back, which HUC will not get back
until Sept/Oct, however the longer the engine is kept out of service the more likely
the engine will be de -rated. Staff cannot figure how much the unit will be de -rated
due to multiple factors. Cost will be about $2M and less likely to be insured. 2)
Engine Exchange. Cost is $4.4M, have a 2-year warranty and possibly be
insured. 3) not replace the engine.
Conversations were held on capacity impact.
GM Carter's recommendation is engine exchange, more expensive but most
economical.
Discussion was held on risk side. GE is willing to go on joint purchasing site,
Sourcewell to make engine exchange happen.
Motion by Commissioner Hanson, second by Commissioner Pullis to proceed with
Engine Exchange, to include getting a guarantee by end of August and
management will do the best attempt to have the engine insured knowing it may
not happen. Motion carried unanimously.
Conversation was held on the future and to have an Intermediate plan in place
along with the Cap X.
9. Adjourn
There being no further business, a motion by Commissioner Pullis, second by
Commissioner Cheney to adjourn the meeting at 4:02p.m. Motion carried
unanimously.
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athy tilvernale, Secretary
, /_
ATTEST:', -
n Martinez, President