THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
November 9, 2020
The regular meeting of the Board of Public Works was held on November 9, 2020 at 4:00 pm in the City Council Chambers. Those in attendance were President John Neer, Vice President J.D. King, Board Member Brian Terry, Board Member David Ausmus, General Manager Stephanie Wilson, Assistant to the General Manager Benjamin Stueve, Controller Jennifer McLeland, Mayor James “Talt” Holman, City Administrator Avis Marshall, City Councilman Tony Petre and City Councilman Caleb Dwiggins. Assistant to the General Manager Bryce Butner was also in attendance by phone.
President John Neer called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Board Member David Ausmus made a motion, seconded by Board Member Brian Terry, to approve the minutes from the October 19, 2020 meeting. The motion carried with four votes for and none against.
First item on the agenda was Approval of the 2021 Budget for Macon Municipal Utilities. General Manager Stephanie Wilson shared approaches for forecasting revenue and expense information as well as major projects for 2021 which included the new headworks at the wastewater treatment plant. Regarding commodity expenses, purchase power agreements for electricity through the Missouri Public Energy Pool (MoPEP) are to be less expensive mid-year and natural gas all-in commodity rates while favorable compared to years past encompass increased transportation charges due to a substantial rate increase implemented by Panhandle Eastern Pipeline in March 2020. There is an ongoing rate case at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission of which Macon, Missouri is one of several intervenors opposing Panhandle’s rate increase. After much discussion, Board Member David Ausmus made a motion, seconded by Vice President J.D. King, to recommend to the City Council of Macon, Missouri the 2021 Budget for MMU be adopted as presented which includes an increase to wastewater rates to be formally considered and approved in the spring of 2021. The motion carried with four votes for and none against.
Upon tabling all other agenda items until the December meeting, General Manager Stephanie Wilson touched on operational updates provided by all managers to the Board. The highlights included completion of the electric distribution line project on November 5th which crossed Highway 36 on the west side of town and interrupted traffic for a short period of time. Old poles were removed and replaced with new, strung new wire across the highway and upgraded the neutral wire. Additionally, work activities at the headworks site plus the influent pump project at the wastewater treatment plant were noted.
After approval of accounts payable and setting the next regular meeting for December 21, 2020 at 4:00 p.m., a motion was made by President John Neer, seconded by Board Member Brian Terry, to go into executive session regarding Legal (Rs.MO640.021 (1), Leasing, Purchase, or Sale of Real Estate (Rs.MO.610.021 (2) and Personnel (Rs. MO.610.021(3). The motions were as follows: John Neer, yea; J.D. King, yea; David Ausmus, yea, and Brian Terry, yea.
When the open meeting reconvened, a motion was made by President John Neer, seconded by Vice President J.D. King, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed with four votes and none against.
President John Neer adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m.