07-30-2025 HUCMMINUTES
Regular Meeting — Hutchinson Utilities Commission
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Call to order — 3:00 p.m.
President Matt Cheney called the meeting to order. Members present: President Matt
Cheney; Secretary Don Martinez; Vice President Troy Pullis; Commissioner Kathy
Silvernale; Commissioner Tom Lambert; 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 Martinez second by Commissioner Lambert to Approve
the Consent Agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Approve Financial Statements
Mr. Martig presented the Financial Statements. Electric Division net profit increased
by $166k over June of last year. Sales for Resale were up $893k due to a large
increase in generation sales into the market. With the amount of generation running,
there was an increase of $258k in generator fuels and chemicals and an increase in
some additional operating expenses. Natural Gas Division was similar to last year.
GM Carter noted operating expense increase also included expenses from the HTI
substation repair along with Rata testing that was completed. GM Carter reviewed
market sales for the month and stated that $328k was added to the rate stabilization
fund. Natural Gas Division trending well. GM Carter reviewed the Investments and
money market.
Motion by Commissioner Silvernale, second by Commissioner Pullis to Approve the
Financial Statements. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Open Forum
5. Communication
a. City Administrator — Matthew Jaunich — Absent
b. Divisions
i. Dan Lang, Engineering Services Manager —
1. Running generation
2. Hutch Subproject
ii. Dave Hunstad, Electric Transmission/Distribution Manager — Nothing to
report
iii. Mike Gabrielson, Production Manager —Absent
iv. Jared Martig, Financial Manager — Nothing to Report
v. Byron Bettenhausen, Natural Gas Manager —
1. New Installs
2. Working on policy change listed below
c. Human Resources — Angie Radke -
i. Reviewing Policies
ii. Catching up on miscellanies tasks
iii. Starting to work on Record Retention
d. Legal — Marc Sebora —
i. Nothing to report
e. General Manager — Jeremy Carter
i. Prepaid Deal review
ii. Received Energy Data Center contract back, need to review
iii. Meeting with New Ulm on August 27
iv. Working on Union Contract regarding PFML
v. Ms. Radke is working on receiving quotes from a 3rd party regarding PFML
6. Policies
a. Review Policies
i. Appendices of Exempt Handbook
ii. Appendices of Non -Exempt Handbook
No changes recommended at this time
b. Approve Changes
i. Natural Gas Service Requirements and Changes
Mr. Bettenhausen spoke of the policy change to Natural Gas Service
Requirements and Changes. Staff has costed through the detail for Residential,
Commercial and Industrial new service installs and compared to other peers.
Staff recommends the proposed fees along with adding verbiage about relocation
of the natural gas service line.
Motion by Commissioner Martinez, second by Commissioner Lambert to Approve
Policy Changes. Motion carried unanimously.
7. Unfinished Business
8. New Business
a. Re -adopt the Data Practice Act & Public Records Request Policy
Mr. Sebora presented Re -adopt the Data Practices Act & Public Records Request
Policy. The State of Minnesota requires that political subdivisions like HUC adopt a
data practices policy, which guides both the HUC and members of the public in
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obtaining information from HUC. State of Minnesota also requires that HUC adopt
the data practices policy annually prior to August 1. There are no changes.
Motion by Commissioner Silvernale, second by Commissioner Pullis to Approve
Data Practice Act. Motion carried unanimously.
b. Approve Hutchinson Substation — Circuit Breaker Change Order #2
Mr. Lang presented Approval of Hutchinson Substation Circuit Breaker Change
Order #2. The change order issued to Border States is to approve -a price change
due to import tariffs on the circuit breakers for the Hutchinson Substation project.
Motion by Commissioner Pullis, second by Commissioner Lambert to Approve
Hutchinson Substation Circuit Breaker Change Order #2. Motion carried unanimously.
c. — Approve Req#010174 — Electric Meter Testing Equipment
Mr. Hunstad presented Approval of Req#010174 Electric Meter Testing Equipment.
The meter testing equipment HUC has today is from 1992 and is no longer supported
or compatible with the current software. Several different manufactures were looked
at and Probewell has the best options for mobile applications.
Motion by Commissioner Silvernale, second by Commissioner Pullis to Approve
Req#010174 Electric Meter Testing Equipment. Motion carried unanimously.
d. — Approve Willmar-HUC Line Multi -Party Joint Coordination Agreement
Mr. Lang presented Approval of Willmar-HUC Line Multi -Party Joint Coordination
Agreement. The Agreement is between Great River Energy, Southern Minnesota
Municipal Power Agency and Hutchinson Utilities Commission that defines the project
scope, including the roles and responsibilities and commitment of each party for the
69kV Willmar Line rebuild throughout design, permitting and construction.
Motion by Commissioner Martinez, second by Commissioner Silvernale to Approve
Willmar-HUC Line Multi -Party Joint Coordination Agreement. Motion carried
unanimously.
e. — Approve Req#010324 - Crow River Crossing Project
Mr. Bettenhausen presented Approval of Req#010324 Crow River Crossing Project.
Two quotes were received to directional bore approximately 1700' of 6" and 8" HDPE
under the South Fork of the Crow River. The work will start at W Hwy 7 Services Road,
extend to the South and end on the South side of the Crow River.
Discussion was held on the path taken and the easements and permits that are
needed.
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Motion by Commissioner Lambert, second by Commissioner Pullis to Approve
Req#010324 Crow River Crossing Project. Motion carried unanimously.
f. —Approve Req#010325 - Removal of District Regulating Station #3
Mr. Bettenhausen presented Approval of Req#010325 Removal of District Regulating
Station #3. DRS#3 has an underground valve that leaks and needs to be removed and
replaced. HUC has had the regulating station closed and out of service for over 9
months and has been monitoring the pressure. There has been less than 1 lb of change
in the header pressure, Staff is recommending to remove the DRS.
Motion by Commissioner Pullis, second by Commissioner Lambert to Approve
Req#010325 Removal of District Regulating Station #3. Motion carried unanimously.
9. Adjourn
There being no further business, a motion by Commissioner Pullis, second by
Commissioner Silvernale to adjourn the meeting at 3:33pm. Motion carried
unanimously.
Don Martinez, Secretary
ATTEST.L_,
Matt Cheney, President
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