THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
December 20, 2021
The regular meeting of the Board of Public Works was held on December 20, 2021 at 5:00 pm in the City Council Chambers. Those in attendance were Vice President Brian Terry, Board Member David Ausmus, Board Member David Wilt, General Manager Stephanie Wilson, Assistants to the General Manager Benjamin Stueve and Bryce Butner and City Administrator Avis Marshall. Also attending were City Councilmen Caleb Dwiggins, Ernie Lea, Tony Petre, Jerold Carr, Chris Walk, Jerry Thompson, Greg Wiggans, and Attorney Nathan Nickolaus from Lauber Municipal Law, LLC. President John Neer was absent.
Vice President Brian Terry called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. Board Member David Ausmus made a motion, seconded by Board Member David Wilt, to approve the minutes from the November 29, 2021 special meeting. The motion carried with three votes for and none against.
First item on the agenda was a Review of Monthly Financials – November 2021. General Manager Stephanie Wilson shared highlights of monthly and year-to-date activity. Information was also shared regarding actual purchases and sales relating to the hedging natural gas for the winter season.
The next item was the Recommendation of a Resolution to the City Council of Macon, Missouri Assenting to the Transfer of Electric Funds and Natural Gas Funds to the Wastewater Fund. An interfund transfer was previously approved in December 2020 to finance the Headworks Project and other wastewater needs. Board Member David Ausmus made a motion, seconded by Board Member David Wilt, to recommend approval of the resolution to the City Council of Macon, Missouri as pursuant to Section 28-70 of the City Code it requires the transfer of funds from any designated account to be returned to such borrowed account funds in the subsequent fiscal year. The motion carried with three votes for and none against. The Board also discussed researching recommendations for updating the City Code to account for future events.
The next item on the agenda was Discussion of Operations and Maintenance Memorandum for the Laddonia Turbine. MMU has been assisting with the operation of the natural gas turbine since 2006. Various parameters of the agreement and items under review to be updated were discussed. The agreement will be presented to the Board for approval in January 2022.
Next on the agenda was Approval of Contract between MMU and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for Coronavirus Sewershed Surveillance Project. Since 2020 DHSS has provided supplies to sample wastewater at the treatment plant. Due to a request to continue sampling they are willing to reimburse $100.00 per sample, up to $6,000 per year. The project is federally funded. Board Member David Ausmus made a motion, seconded by Board Member David Wilt, to approve the request. The motion failed to pass with two votes for and one against.
Last item on the agenda was to set the next regular meeting. After discussion it was rescheduled from Monday, January 17, 2022 to Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 5:00 pm due to observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
Ms. Wilson provided updates for non-agenda items which noted that a semi-annual safety lunch was held on December 14, 2021. MMU employees were recognized for not having any lost time accidents or property damage. Employees also participated in a Missouri Local Government Employee Retirement System (LAGERS) Lunch and Learn plus received information on their 457(b) plan. She also noted that applications for operator positions at the water and wastewater treatment plant are being accepted until Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
Under updates provided by Assistants to the General Manager Ben Stueve and Bryce Butner, at the Macon Energy Center the turbine parts shed has been cleaned and staff packaged diverter actuators for the Macon and Laddonia to be shipped for rebuild. For the Audrain Energy Center, the generator replacement is currently scheduled for the end of December 2021 or first of January 2022.
Electric Distribution performed various service address activities and provided mutual aid to Rockport, Missouri on December 16-17, 2021 due to high wind damage that occurred on December 15, 2021.
Underground Facilities have performed dead end main flushes on water mains, cleaned out basins at the grit chamber, have started quarterly cathodic reading check for natural gas for the month, and completed various service activities for individual addresses.
Under updated provided by Supervisor Ed Samel at the Water Treatment Plant and Supervisor Ronny Smith at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, staff are performing operation and maintenance activities and filling in for operator vacancies. At the Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ross Construction and subcontractors have been onsite working on the punch list of items to complete the headworks project. Also, the application for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System operating permit was sent to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) for review on December 17, 2021. The current 5-year cycle permit to operate the treatment plant expires on June 30, 2022. Monthly discharge monitoring reports have been turned in to the MDNR and staff are maintaining a spreadsheet since microbes were implemented for wastewater treatment on November 8, 2021. Results thus far have been sent to the vendor for review.
After approval of accounts payable and noting the next regular meeting was set for Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 5:00 pm, a motion was made by Board Member David Wilt, seconded by Vice President Brian Terry, to go into executive session regarding Legal (Rs. MO.610.021(1) and Leasing, Purchase, or Sale of Real Estate (Rs. MO.610.021(2)). The motions were as follows: Brian Terry, yea; David Ausmus, yea; and David Wilt, yea.
When the open meeting reconvened, Vice President Brian Terry adjourned at 6:45 pm.