THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORK

October 21, 2019

The regular meeting of the Board of Public Works was held on October 21, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.  Those in attendance were President Tim Watts, Board Member J.D. King, Board Member Kevin Butner, General Manager Stephanie Wilson, Operations Consultant Scott Lucas, City Administrator Avis Marshall and Mayor James Talt Holman.  Guests from the Macon City Council were Tony Petre and Jerold Carr.  ConAgra Plant Manager Brian Gray was also in attendance.  Vice President John Neer was absent.   

President Tim Watts called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Board Member J.D. King made a motion, seconded by Board Member Kevin Butner, to approve the minutes from the September 16, 2019 meeting.  The motion carried with three votes for and none against.

First item on the agenda was Approval to Extend and Modify Wastewater Industrial User Permit for ConAgra Frozen Food, Inc.  A wastewater pretreatment permit between Macon Municipal Utilities (MMU) and ConAgra Frozen Foods, Inc. is renewed every five years.  The current permit expires October 31, 2019. Due to sampling of influent and effluent at ConAgra and MMU’s wastewater treatment plant, staff is recommending extending the current permit to December 31, 2019 with new parameters beginning January 1, 2020.  Staff are also recommending increasing the flow of water from 400,000 gallons a day to 475,000 gallons per day.  Plant Manager Brian Gray was present at the meeting and updated the Board on production information and growth of the plant in Macon.  Board Member J.D. King made the motion, seconded by President Tim Watts, to extend the permit and allow the extra needed water per day.  The motion carried with three votes for and none against. 

Next item on the agenda was Review of Monthly Financials for September 2019.  All funds trended as expected.  Winter electric retail rates to customers will begin with the November 2019 customer statements.  Next item was Approval of a Wastewater Main Extension to serve Macon County Ministries (MCM) at 305 Sunset Hills, Macon, Missouri.   President Tim Watts made the motion, seconded by Board Member J.D. King, to accept the bid from Willis Brothers, Inc extend the wastewater main on Sunset Hills for $15,080.00.  The motion carried with three votes for and none against. 

Next item is Recommendation to the City Council of Macon, Missouri to Appoint Director and Alternate Directors to the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission (MJMEUC) and the Missouri Association of Municipal Utilities (MAMU).  Due to Scott Lucas’s retirement, General Manager Stephanie Wilson suggested that she be selected as the primary voter and Assistant to the General Manager Benjamin Stueve be selected as the alternate for MJMEUC items while Assistant to the General Manager Bryce Butner be selected as the alternate for MAMU items at the Missouri Public Utilities Alliance (MPUA).  President Tim Watts made the motion, seconded by Board Member Kevin Bunter, to present the resolutions as recommended to the City Council of Macon, Missouri.  The motion carried with three votes for and none against. 

Ms. Wilson also noted that managers are working on the 2020 Budget, that the Industrial Development Association awarded MMU a grant for up to $4,500 to purchase twelve 50” wreaths with lights to place on the decorative poles on Rubey, Vine and Rollins Streets. MMU will install, remove, and store the decorations.  It was also noted that as approved at the last Board of Public Works meeting fifteen Christmas themed banners will be ordered for the Highway 63 corridor through town.  Stars and Angels contributed by the Macon Chapter of the Missouri Business Women in 1999 will still be used with research to update them in 2020.

Operations Consultant Scott Lucas provided update on the Macon Energy Center, Audrain Energy Center and peaking natural gas turbine units at Fredericktown, Missouri.  Electric Distribution crew have spent several days building primary and secondary on Cottonwood Lane for a new construction site, have completed the overhead to underground project on West Bourke street with wrecking out the overhead remaining.  Underground Facilities have been changing out inside water meters to facilitate AMI metering and continuing with the water main replacement on N. Rollins.  Main is complete and crew is 50% done with service tie-overs. Other routine work consisted of overseeing fiber installations in the Excello area along MMU’s natural gas high pressure mains, began the annual gas valve operations, and assisted with the delivery of gas odorant at Moberly for MMU’s natural gas system and Laddonia injection points. 

Updates, provided by Supervisor Ed Samel, for the Water Treatment plant were the bulk tank was delivered and it is plumbed and ready for the first load of chemical.  This tank will be used for polymer.  The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will be on site October 24, 2019 to conduct the three-year Sanitary Survey of our water system. 

Updates, provided by Supervisor Ronny Smith, for the Wastewater Treatment plant included sampling to analyze influent and effluent at the plant plus a meeting with Burns & McDonnell regarding design of the headworks.  Site visits to look at screening equipment and pumps will occur the first part of November.  Staff has also pumped down the North Primary to do preventive maintenance and a scraper was added to keep the snails broken up and operator license hours were updated on the MDNR’s certification page.   

After approval of accounts payable and setting the next regular meeting for Monday, November 18, 2019 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), Leasing, Purchase, or Sale of Real Estate (Rs. MO.610.021(2), and Personnel (Rs. MO.610.021(3). The votes were as follows: Tim Watts; yea, J.D. King; yea, and Kevin Butner; yea. 

When the meeting reopened at 6:00 pm it was immediately adjourned by President Tim Watts.