THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
January 21, 2025
The regular meeting of the Board of Public Works was held on January 21, 2025, at 5:00 pm in the City Council Chambers. Those in attendance were Vice President Jeff Roberts, Board Member David Wilt, Board Member Chris Nelson, General Manager Dana Ulmer, Assistant General Manager Ben Stueve, Controller Jennifer McLeland, Councilwoman Cheryl Blaise, and Mayor Tony Petre. President David Ausmus was absent.
Vice President Jeff Roberts called the meeting to order at 5:58 pm.
- The minutes from the last regular meeting of the Board of Public Works were reviewed. Board Member Chris Nelson made a motion, seconded by Board Member David Wilt, to approve the minutes of November 4, 2024. The motion carried with three votes for and none against.
Under old business
- There was no old business to discuss.
Under new business:
3. Approval of Truck & Labor Rates for 2025 – Controller Jennifer McLeland shared that while truck rates were not changing, regular and overtime labor rates are adjusted annually as an average hour cost per department to ensure the utility recuperates expenses for all billable work performed. Board Member David Wilt made a motion, seconded by Vice President Jeff Roberts to approve the recommended Truck and Labor Rates for 2025. The motion carried with three votes for and none against.
4. Approval of New Construction Fee Sheet for 2025 – Mrs. McLeland shared that a list of all inventory items necessary for each access and installation fee is updated annually by the Purchasing Agent. The inventory item amounts are then calculated into a total rounded charge. Board Member Chris Nelson made a motion, seconded by Board Member David Wilt to approve the recommended New Construction Fees for 2025. The motion carried with three votes for and none against.
5. Approval of Laddonia Memorandum of Understanding for 2025 – Mrs. McLeland shared that like the aforementioned annual adjustments, rates associated with travel and labor for work performed in Laddonia on the Grotzinger Energy Center are adjusted to fully recuperate expenses each year. Board Member David Wilt made a motion, seconded by Board Member Chris Nelson to approve the Laddonia Memorandum of Understanding for 2025. The motion carried with three votes for and none against.
6. Approval of ARPA Construction Contract – General Manager Dana Ulmer shared that a request for bids was sent out in October 2024, due in early November 2024 regarding the construction of phase 1 on the ARPA sewer separation project. To continue the Missouri Department of Natural Resources deadlines are met a contractor bid must be awarded, as substantial completion of construction must be completed by December 31, 2025. Board Member Chris Nelson made a motion, seconded by Vice President Jeff Roberts to approve the award of the construction contract of the ARPA sewer separation project to MegaKC Corporation for $5,162,234. The motion carried with three votes for and none against.
7. Approval of the Purchase of Macon Water Plant Analytical Instruments – Mr. Ulmer shared in recent years the need to staff the plant 24 hours a day to maintain sufficient water supply to the current demand has become a challenge. The requested equipment once installed would allow a period daily that the plant would not be required to be staffed. This would assist with staffing and overtime management. Board Member David Wilt made a motion, seconded by Board Member Chris Nelson to approve the purchase of the analytical instruments from USA Bluebook to allow for unmanned hours at the Raw Water Treatment Plant in the amount of $47,926.02. The motion carried with three votes for and none against.
8. Approval of Purchase of a Replacement Ultraviolet Disinfection System – Mr. Ulmer shared that wear and tear on the hardware of the current ultraviolet disinfection system installed in 2012 now requires replacement. Following a discussion regarding the similar bids from Xylem Water Solutions (Wedeco) and Glasco UV Board Member David Wilt made a motion, seconded by Vice President Jeff Roberts to approve General Manager Dana Ulmer to select either the Xylem Water Solutions (Wedeco) system for $308,560 or Glasco UV for $298,000 following vendor responses to questions regarding power consumption and bulb cost. The motion carried with three votes for and none against.
9. Employee Retention & Recruitment – Allison Hedworth joined the Raw Water Treatment Plant in late November to allow training time before the two anticipated retirements during 2025.
10. Board of Public Works Member Reports – Board Member Chris Nelson requested Mr. Ulmer provide an update on the progress from Veenstra & Kimm regarding the improvements at the water and wastewater plants. Ulmer shared that he already requested a calendar of tasks for 2025. He also noted that to date their primary focus has been regional water supplying, SRF bonds and timeline for the Raw Water Treatment Plant and drafting a letter to Missouri Department of Natural Resources regarding a permit extension for the Wastewater Treatment Plant
11. Approval of Accounts Payable – Board members signed accounts payable without revision.
A motion was made by Board Member Chris Nelson, seconded by Board Member David Wilt, to hold a closed session regarding Leasing, Purchase, or Sale of Real Estate (RsMO 610.021 (2)) and Personnel (RsMO 610.021 (3)). The roll call vote was as follows: Vice President Jeff Roberts, yea; Board Member David Wilt, yea; and Board Member Chris Nelson, yea.
Following the closed session, a motion was made by Board Member David Wilt, seconded by Vice President Jeff Roberts to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 pm, with the next regular board meeting set for Monday, February 17, 2025, at 5:00 pm in the City Council Chambers. Motion carried with three votes for and none against.