05-28-2014 HUCMMINUTES
Regular Meeting — Hutchinson Utilities Commission
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Call to order — 3:00 p.m.
President Hanson called the meeting to order. Members present: President Anthony
Hanson; Secretary Mark Girard; Commissioner Donna Luhring; Attorney Marc Sebora;
General Manager Jeremy Carter.
Members Absent: Vice President Monty Morrow and Commissioner Dwight Bordson.
The Board thanked John Webster for being Interim General Manager for HUC.
The Board extended a welcome to Jeremy Carter as new General Manager.
Approve Minutes of:
a. April 30, 2014 Regular Meeting
b. May 7, 2014 Special Meeting
c. May 19, 2014 Special Meeting
The minutes of the April 30, 2014 regular meeting, May 7 and May 19, 2014
special meetings were reviewed. The Board suggested changing the verbiage in
the May 7, 2014 minutes under item 2, Items from the Floor, to reflect four of the
five commissioners were available to review the applications as Secretary Girard
was unavailable due to travel. A motion was made by Commissioner Luhring,
seconded by Secretary Girard to approve the minutes with the proposed changes.
Motion was unanimously carried.
2. Ratify Payment of Bills for April 2014
The April 2014 payables were discussed. After discussion, a motion was made by
Secretary Girard, seconded by Commissioner Luhring to ratify the payment of bills
in the amount of $2,519,779.41 (detailed listing in payables book). Motion was
unanimously carried.
3. Approve Financial Statements/Budget Year to Date
Jared Martig presented the April 2014 financial statements/budget year-to-date.
After discussion, a motion was made by Secretary Girard, seconded by
Commissioner Luhring to approve the financial statements/budget year-to-date.
Motion was unanimously carried.
4. Discuss Industrial Rate Change — Electric
President Hanson reported after speaking with Mayor Cook and GM Carter his
recommendation is to slow down conversations on the potential electric industrial
rate change to allow GM Carter time to brainstorm alternative options with HUC
staff. This also allows time for HUC to answer any further questions City Council
may have. Secretary Girard and Commissioner Luhring both agreed with slowing
down the conversations.
5. Review Policies and Requirements Booklet
John Webster presented the policies and requirements booklet, sections:
• Natural Gas Meter Requirements and Placement
• Meter Testing
• Natural Gas Service Work
There were no recommended changes to the policies and requirements booklet.
6. Review Exempt and Non -Exempt Handbooks
Jan Sifferath presented the exempt and non-exempt handbooks, sections:
• Unpaid Extended Leave of Absence
• Family Death
• Emergency Leave
• Military Leave
There were no recommended changes to the exempt and non-exempt handbooks.
7. Updates:
a. Compensation Subcommittee (Commissioner Luhring & Secretary Girard)
Luhring received requests for proposals from the City for a compensation study
and will pass this information on to GM Carter to review and make any
recommendations to the Board.
b. Joint Meeting Date with City (Commissioner Bordson)
As Commissioner Bordson was absent, no update was available.
8. Division Reports
Business — Jan Sifferath
• Due to cold winter, accounts receivable higher than usual. Looking to reduce
these numbers after reviewing customer budget accounts.
• Last month, the Commission requested information on a retirement recognition
policy. After GM Carter has reviewed the policy, it will be presented to the
Board for approval.
Electric — Dave Hunstad
• Starting some work orders.
• Will be starting work on the re -conductor project in the next two weeks on the
northwest part of town.
Electric — Dan Lang
• Running unit 8 starting in June.
Finance — Jared Martig
• Waste Management contract done this week; West Central new vendor.
2
Natural Gas — John Webster
Nothing to report
9. Legal Update
Nothing to report
10. Interim City Administrator Update —Marc Sebora
• The Council authorized a new refrigeration system to be placed in the ice
arena. Project will start next week.
• Regarding City Council candidates — Mary Christensen refiled, Steve Cook
refiled for Mayor, John Lofdahl is filing to take Bill Arndt's seat as Bill is not
renewing.
• City Council met regarding the City Administrator hiring process due to Jeremy
Carter's departure. Request for proposals from hiring search firm will be
solicited for the City Administrator position.
Unfinished Business
• Discuss Separate Business Unit for Wholesale Business
o Jared Martig will review with GM Carter before presenting to the Board at
the next regular commission meeting.
New Business
• Sheehan Gas Interconnect — John Webster explained Sheehan Gas has
expressed interest in building an interconnect station jointly with HUC on
Highway 212. Therefore, John presented to the Board for their review the
Interconnect, Transportation and Commodity Agreements with Sheehan Gas.
There being no further business, a motion was made by Commissioner Luhring,
seconded by Secretary Girard to adjourn the meeting at 3:32 p.m. Motion was
unanimously carried.
ATTEST: M&VtAkh T -
A thony Ha son, Prekden�t
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MarV Girard, Secretary
MINUTES
Regular Meeting — Hutchinson Utilities Commission
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Call to order — 3:00 p.m.
President Hanson called the meeting to order. Members present: President Anthony
Hanson; Secretary Mark Girard; Commissioner Donna Luhring; Attorney Marc Sebora;
General Manager Jeremy Carter.
Members Absent: Vice President Monty Morrow and Commissioner Dwight Bordson.
The Board thanked John Webster for being Interim General Manager for HUC.
The Board extended a welcome to Jeremy Carter as new General Manager.
1. Approve Minutes of:
a. April 30, 2014 Regular Meeting
b. May 7, 2014 Special Meeting
c. May 19, 2014 Special Meeting
The minutes of the April 30, 2014 regular meeting, May 7 and May 19, 2014
special meetings were reviewed. The Board suggested changing the verbiage in
the May 7, 2014 minutes under item 2, Items from the Floor, to reflect four of the
five commissioners were available to review the applications as Secretary Girard
was unavailable due to travel. A motion was made by Commissioner Luhring,
seconded by Secretary Girard to approve the minutes with the proposed changes.
Motion was unanimously carried.
2. Ratify Payment of Bills for April 2014
The April 2014 payables were discussed. After discussion, a motion was made by
Secretary Girard, seconded by Commissioner Luhring to ratify the payment of bills
in the amount of $2,519,779.41 (detailed listing in payables book). Motion was
unanimously carried.
3. Approve Financial Statements/Budget Year to Date
Jared Martig presented the April 2014 financial statements/budget year-to-date.
After discussion, a motion was made by Secretary Girard, seconded by
Commissioner Luhring to approve the financial statements/budget year-to-date.
Motion was unanimously carried.
4. Discuss Industrial Rate Change — Electric
President Hanson reported after speaking with Mayor Cook and GM Carter his
recommendation is to slow down conversations on the potential electric industrial
rate change to allow GM Carter time to brainstorm alternative options with HUC
staff. This also allows time for HUC to answer any further questions City Council
may have. Secretary Girard and Commissioner Luhring both agreed with slowing
down the conversations.
1
5. Review Policies and Requirements Booklet
John Webster presented the policies and requirements booklet, sections:
• Natural Gas Meter Requirements and Placement
• Meter Testing
• Natural Gas Service Work
There were no recommended changes to the policies and requirements booklet.
6. Review Exempt and Non -Exempt Handbooks
Jan Sifferath presented the exempt and non-exempt handbooks, sections:
• Unpaid Extended Leave of Absence
• Family Death
• Emergency Leave
• Military Leave
There were no recommended changes to the exempt and non-exempt handbooks.
7. Updates:
a. Compensation Subcommittee (Commissioner Luhring & Secretary Girard)
Luhring received requests for proposals from the City for a compensation study
and will pass this information on to GM Carter to review and make any
recommendations to the Board.
b. Joint Meeting Date with City (Commissioner Bordson)
As Commissioner Bordson was absent, no update was available.
8. Division Reports
Business — Jan Sifferath
• Due to cold winter, accounts receivable higher than usual. Looking to reduce
these numbers after reviewing customer budget accounts.
• Last month, the Commission requested information on a retirement recognition
policy. After GM Carter has reviewed the policy, it will be presented to the
Board for approval.
Electric — Dave Hunstad
• Starting some work orders.
• Will be starting work on the re -conductor project in the next two weeks on the
northwest part of town.
Electric — Dan Lang
• Running unit 8 starting in June.
Finance — Jared Martig
• Waste Management contract done this week; West Central new vendor.
E
Natural Gas — John Webster
Nothing to report
9. Legal Update
Nothing to report
10. Interim City Administrator Update —Marc Sebora
• The Council authorized a new refrigeration system to be placed in the ice
arena. Project will start next week.
• Regarding City Council candidates — Mary Christensen refiled, Steve Cook
refiled for Mayor, John Lofdahl is filing to take Bill Arndt's seat as Bill is not
renewing.
• City Council met regarding the City Administrator hiring process due to Jeremy
Carter's departure. Request for proposals from hiring search firm will be
solicited for the City Administrator position.
Unfinished Business
• Discuss Separate Business Unit for Wholesale Business
o Jared Martig will review with GM Carter before presenting to the Board at
the next regular commission meeting.
New Business
• Sheehan Gas Interconnect — John Webster explained Sheehan Gas has
expressed interest in building an interconnect station jointly with HUC on
Highway 212. Therefore, John presented to the Board for their review the
Interconnect, Transportation and Commodity Agreements with Sheehan Gas.
There being no further
seconded by Secretary
unanimously carried.
ATTEST:
business, a motion was made by Commissioner Luhring,
Girard to adjourn the meeting at 3:32 p.m. Motion was
Anthony Hanson, President
3
Mark Girard, Secretary