Minutes of a Special March 9, 2006 Motley City Council meeting
SPECIAL MEETING – MOTLEY CITY COUNCIL
MOTLEY MNMARCH 9, 2006
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor O’Regan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with the following council members present: Betty Starke, Nancy Nieken, Bruce Mills and Larry Holub. The meeting took place in the Centennial Room at city hall.
Also present: Dawn Timbs; Bob Theide, Morey’s Seafood International; Merle Clayton, ConAgra Foods and Lee Bundy.
Bob Theide stated that he felt the tone of the article in the Staples World was confrontational. He asked for clarification in the newspaper stating that he at no time had the intent of “taking on the city”. He also felt that had the newspaper been given a copy of the letter he had sent out to the Motley City Council, things would have been more clear.
O’Regan stated that there are two (2) water meters in Morey’s building and they were read by Morey’s employees and called in to city hall. The larger meter (4 inch) was read in thousand’s (1000’s) and the smaller one was also read in thousand’s (1000’s). The discharge meter (not read by Morey’s employees) was reading more than was being discharged.
Theide responded that new meters for water had been installed so that situation has been corrected. The reading for the effluent is not currently being read. He stated that he felt if we wanted to solve the effluent meter issue the lines coming out need to be fixed or the effluent can continue to be billed off of the influent.
Bundy stated that for right now he would recommend the following for the industries:
Morey’s – Bill the effluent at 96 % of the influent. We could have a licensed plumbing inspector, of the city’s choice, check the lines at Morey’s for any cross connections between the lines for the private well and city lines.
ConAgra – They have an effluent lift station that a Mag Meter can be installed for reading the effluent. Billing straight from the effluent for ConAgra wouldn’t be accurate because of loss of water from steam and product.
Holub moved, with a second by Starke, to accept the recommendation from Bundy as stated above with clarification that the cost of the first plumbing inspection would be shared 50/50 between Morey’s and the City of Motley. Thereafter, the cost for inspections would be to the City. Mills, Starke, O'Regan, Holub and Nieken voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.
Theide explained that due to the misread water meters there had been an overpayment by Morey’s Seafood International. He gave three (3) solutions for the repayment:
- Refund $186,000.00 plus interest.
- Refund $186,000.00.
- Issue a credit of $186,000.00 against future billings and adjust future rates.
When asked if Morey’s would consider taking a partial credit each month Theide replied that he feels that Morey’s has pre-paid and they shouldn’t have to pay until the pre-payment has been used up.
Bundy stated that we should change the billing system to a structured billing system for the industrial clients. He feels that very soon the state will be asking us to have a pre-treatment agreement.
Holub moved, with a second by Mills, to agree that there has been an overpayment of $186,000.00 and the council will continue to have discussions to find the best solution for repayment. Mills, Starke, O'Regan, Holub and Nieken voted aye, none nay. The mayor declared the motion carried.
Holub moved, with a second by Starke, to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was duly adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Terri Smith
Clerk Treasurer