THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS

January 27, 2020

The regular meeting of the Board of Public Works was held on January 27, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.  Those in attendance were President Tim Watts, Vice President John Neer, Board Member J.D. King, Board Member Kevin Butner, General Manager Stephanie Wilson, Operations Consultant Scott Lucas, Assistants to the General Managers Bryce Butner and Ben Stueve, and Mayor James Talt Holman.  Jeff Barnard with Burns & McDonnell was an attending guest. 

President Tim Watts called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.  Vice President John Neer made a motion, seconded by President Tim Watts to approve the minutes from the December 16, 2019 meeting. The motion carried with four votes for and none against.

First item on the agenda is Approval of Engineering Agreement with Burns & McDonnell, Task Order #5.  Burns & McDonnell has been assisting Macon Municipal Utilities (MMU) since 2018 with the various tasks relating to the wastewater collection system and treatment plant.  Discussions are being held with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) regarding an future integrated plan and adopted Long-Term Control Plan to look at affordability of wastewater treatment for Macon, Missouri.  Jeff Barnard with Burns & McDonnell was in attendance to provide additional information concerning Task Order #5 which would evaluate industrial pretreatment parameters, trickling filters, bio-tower, and blending.  Vice President John Neer made the motion, seconded by Board Member J.D. King, to proceed with Task Order No. 5 with Burns & McDonnell for engineering fees not to exceed $92,500.  The motion passed with four votes for and none against. 

Next item on the agenda, Ms. Wilson referenced legislation and conversations with other area providers of utilities relating to territory rights. Various topics were discussed relating to electric and water utility services.

Next item was Discussion and Approval of Wastewater Retail Rate Increase.  Wastewater rates have not been adjusted since March 2015.  President Tim Watts made the motion, seconded by Board Member J.D. King, to proceed with the process to increase the wastewater fees $.50 per 1,000 gallons for customers inside and outside the city limits with no changes to the base fee.  The motion carried with four votes for and none against.  A public hearing will be held on Monday, March 16, 2020 at 5:15 pm at 106 W. Bourke Street, Macon, Missouri regarding the proposed rate adjustment to cover operating expenses and infrastructure improvement planning and to meet water quality standards.

Next item on the agenda was Approval to Purchase a 7.5 MVA Transformer for Substation 1.  The request is to replace a 10 MVA transformer, which is 44 years old, to a 7.5 MVA unit.  Low bid from WEG Transformers USA is recommended for acceptance in the amount of $289,900.00.  Vice President John Neer made the motion, seconded by Board Member J.D. King, to proceed with the purchase of the 7.5 MVA transformer from WEG Transformers USA.  The motion passed with four votes for and none against.

Last item on the agenda was Approval to Purchase Influent Pumps for the Wastewater Treatment Plant.  MMU has held off on purchasing items at the wastewater treatment plant administration building until it was more known how planning for the headworks and items to be placed on the new property were being developed.  After discussion of three bids received, a bid from Hydro-Kinetics (Fairbanks-Morse) in the amount of $69,801 was recommended as the best bid to replace three influent pumps at the wastewater treatment plant.  Vice President John Neer made the motion, seconded by President Tim Watts, to proceed with the purchase from Hydro-Kinetics.  The motion carried with four votes for and none against. 

Under managers reports, General Manager Stephanie Wilson shared with the Board various 2019 year-end activities. She also shared that Pat Mohn is resigning effective January 31, 2020 and Richard Schmidt is retiring effective on April 30, 2020.

Updates provided by Ben Stueve and Bryce Butner, Assistants to the General Manger, were that at the Macon Energy Center staff filled batteries and greased lube oil cooler shafts due to noise. Staff also traveled to the Audrain Energy Center in Laddonia to install two new 10 horsepower air compressors.  The Special Services Group continues to work on the hardened control room, cleared snow and closing out end of year reports.  Electric Distribution continued with tree trimming for line clearance.  Non related to the ice/rain/snow, on January 11, 2020 a failed capacitor and cut-out caused an outage.  Outage time for Circuit 32 was from 7:32 am – 9:08 am while Circuit 31 & 33 outages lasted about 30 minutes after it was verified that the circuits were clear.  Underground Facilities have performed dead end water main flushes, jetting maintenance on wastewater mains, addressed lift station maintenance, operated water valves, and repaired water leaks on Lamb and at the intersection of Vine & Rubey Streets.  Asphalt will be replaced when weather permits at Vine & Rubey.  Operator training qualification on welding plastic natural gas pipe has also been performed. 

Ed Samel and Ronny Smith provided up dates for the Water Treatment Plant and the Wastewater Treatment Plant.  The SCADA system at the Water Treatment Plant is expected to be updated to Windows 10 platform late February 2020. Also, Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) provided a letter of acceptance to the Sanitary Survey response.  The Wastewater Treatment Plant noted that the PLC for line control panel was replaced due to a failed unit and the 2019 Sludge Report has been submitted to MDNR. 

After approval of accounts payable and setting the next regular meeting for Monday, February 17, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. a motion was made by President Tim Watts, seconded Board Member Kevin Butner to hold an executive session regarding Legal (Rs. MO.610.021(1). The votes were as follows: President Tim Watts, yea; Vice President John Neer, yea; Board Member J.D. King, yea; and Board Member Kevin Butner, yea.

When the regular session reconvened, it was immediately adjourned by President Tim Watts.

President Tim Watts adjourned the meeting at 5:20 p.m.