THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
March 20, 2023
The regular meeting of the Board of Public Works was held on March 20, 2023 at 5:00 pm in the City Council Chambers. Those in attendance were President Brian Terry, Vice President David Ausmus, Board Member David Wilt, Board Member Scott Lucas, General Manager Stephanie Wilson, Assistant General Manager and Manager of Energy Resources Ben Stueve, Mayor Anthony Petre, City Administrator Avis Marshall, and Councilman Caleb Dwiggins. Cody Lewis was an attending guest for one agenda item.
President Brian Terry called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm.
1. Approval of Minutes from prior Board Meeting – Vice President David Ausmus made a motion, seconded by Board Member David Wilt, to approve the minutes from the February 20, 2023 meeting. The motion carried with four votes for and none against.
Under old business:
2. Discussion of Natural Gas Retail Rate and Natural Gas Adder – General Manager Stephanie Wilson shared summary information for the Natural Gas Adder as the utility is at the 2-year mark of the original 3-year anticipated natural gas commodity payback from February 2021’s Winter Storm Uri. After a detailed discussion, Board Member Scott Lucas made a motion, seconded by President Brian Terry, to cease assessing the natural gas adder and for any address/customer that paid over 50% of actual charges to reimburse the paying party. The motion carried with four votes for and none against. Regarding setting the natural gas retail rate for April statements, Ms. Wilson explained that meter usage reads were collected from February 16 – March 20, 2023 and to keep the retail rate consistent rate stabilization funds may need to be utilized using the approval granted at the prior meeting.
3. Discussion on Strategic Planning and Cash Reserve Statement – Ms. Wilson briefly went over a current draft of the cash reserves statement and explained that it is a goal this year to update the strategic plan and cash reserves statement. Additional meetings may be to be scheduled to allow sufficient time to develop the documents.
Under new business:
4. Discussion of Wastewater Collection Main at 818 Walnut Street – Lewis Body Shop – Cody Lewis was in attendance to discuss his desire to expand his business at 818 Walnut Street, Macon, Missouri. There is currently a wastewater collection main in the area of the expansion site. Following a brief discussion President Brian Terry made a motion, seconded by Board Member Scott Lucas, to advertise for bids to relocate the wastewater main and decide on participation of its relocation upon evaluation of the bids. The motion carried with four votes for and none against.
5. Review of Financials – February 2023 – Ms. Wilson shared noteworthy activity from the February financials. Electric revenues recognized winter temperatures, an environmental remediation project at 708 S. Missouri Street, Macon, Missouri, plus one-time miscellaneous revenue items. Water and wastewater had no significant changes this month. Natural Gas reflected the decrease in the retail rate to allow for $75,437 use of reserves for rate stabilization for customers.
6. Discussion of Federal Grant Opportunities for Water and Wastewater Projects – Ms. Wilson shared that Congressman Sam Graves’ office contacted Macon regarding federal grant opportunities. Conceptual information for separation of stormwater from the Combined Sewer System plus relining of wastewater manholes and collection mains in an area that showed increased stormwater infiltration during the 2018 wastewater flow study were submitted for consideration.
7. Recommendation of Approval of Temporary Extension of the Contract between City of Macon, Missouri by and through its Municipal Utility Board, and POET Bioprocessing – Macon, LLC, successor to Northeast Missouri Grain Pro dated February 26, 2003 –
As the current contract for the Macon Energy Center has expired, Ms. Wilson presented a draft of a letter to extend the contract between the City of Macon, Missouri and Poet Bioprocessing – Macon, LLC to June 30, 2023.
- The extension letter was drafted by Healy Law Offices, LLC, which represents the Missouri Electric Commission (MEC), and POET’s internal legal staff.
- The City of Macon, Missouri is a member of MEC. MEC is a municipal joint action energy agency under the Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA).
- Wilson also shared a letter of support for the extension from MPUA and a copy of the agreement between the City of Macon, Missouri and the former Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission (MJMEUC), now called MEC, as it remits payment for the natural gas input costs for the Macon Energy Center.
- The original contract dated February 26, 2003 was also included as an attachment.
After a lengthy discussion, Board Member David Wilt made a motion, seconded by Board Member Scott Lucas, to recommend to the City Council of Macon, Missouri to approve Mayor Anthony E. Petre’s signature on the presented extension letter for the contract between City of Macon, Missouri and POET Bioprocessing – Macon, LLC, from its expiration date of February 26, 2023 to June 30, 2023. The motion carried with four votes for and none against.
8. Employee Retention & Recruitment – Ms. Wilson reported that vacancies exist for the Customer Service Representative and an Underground Facilities Operations and Maintenance positions.
9. Board of Public Works Member Reports – No additional reports.
10. Approval of Accounts Payable – Board members signed accounts payable.
11. Set Next Regular Meeting – Monday, April 17, 2023 at 5:00 pm.
A motion was made by Board Member David Wilt, seconded by Vice President David Ausmus to go into executive session regarding Legal (RSM0.610.021 (1)), Leasing, Purchase, or Sale of Real Estate (RSMo.610.021(2)), and Sealed Bids & Contract Negotiations (RSMo.610.021(12)). The votes were as follows: President Brian Terry, yea; Vice President David Ausmus, yea; Board Member David Wilt, yea; and Board Member Scott Lucas, yea.
When the open meeting reconvened, at 7:30 pm a motion was made by President Brian Terry, seconded by Vice President David Ausmus, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed with four votes for and none against.