MTA Board of Directors Meeting

MTA Board of Directors Meeting

March 30, 2011

Hyatt Regency Hotel, Minneapolis

Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Dave Bickett at 1:58pm. Participants were reminded that the meeting would be conducted in accordance with MTA’s Anti-Trust compliance Policy, a copy of which had been provided previously to all members.

Present: Bill Eckles, Kevin Beyer, Dave Arvig, Steve Katka, Dave Bickett, Cheryl Scapanski, Cathy Clucas, Jean Pauk, Brent Christensen, Paul Hoge, Jacquie Jaskowiak

Consent Agenda

Approval of minutes, January 25, 2011 Meeting

A motion was made to approve the January 25, 2011 Minutes.

The motion passed.

Approval of financial report

The financial statements for the month ending February 28, 2011 were reviewed by the board.

A motion was made and seconded to approve the financial report for the month ending February 28, 2011.

The motion passed.

Executive report

Christensen noted that he met with Amanda Ewald and a representative from Olsen-Thielen to review current MTA bank accounts. Brent discussed changes which will include condensing peer group accounts into the MTA general account, among several other changes. The Board discussed having a separate balance sheet for each peer group to reflect profit/loss.

Christensen went through his analysis of the current safety program and noted that he will be making a job description for a Lead Safety Consultant. Job duties in this role will include (but will not be limited to): scheduling duties, serving as the main point of contact and working as an instructor. The goal of the MTA Safety Program is to be proactive in safety services, continue to develop the catalog listing of safety services, audits and courses. The Safety Program is also set to develop an online curriculum to supplement the existing program.

Peer Group leaders and MTA staff met yesterday to outline a plan for streamlining the process of distributing financial documents for each peer group. This meeting focused on the budgeting process, limitations and different expectations peer group(s) have for MTA. MTA staff will write guideline(s) for peer groups to use as leadership within each respective peer group is rotated. This guideline will help to ease the rotations of leadership change and will help to give perspective on what peer groups will be responsible for, and what MTA staff will be responsible for.

Beyer noted that he was contacted by the Minnesota West Technical School (located in Granite Falls) to help put together an advisory group. This advisory group will help to evaluate curriculum being taught. Ideally, this advisory group will help to get the certification program started at the Minnesota West Technical School. The Board discussed using this certification program for an MTA-U once relationships are developed and how this certification could help to develop online safety content.

Christensen gave a brief Convention Recap:

2011 / 2010
Attendees / 865 / 885
Exhibitors/Sponsors (representatives) / 537 / 566
Total Booths Sold / 208 / 219
Total Sponsoring Companies / 34 / 31

Both the Users-Group and Associate Member meetings went well. Christensen noted the different sequence in Convention dates for 2012. When MTA originally signed contracts with the Hyatt and Millennium for years 2011-2015, it was noted that the Convention would start on Sunday and end on Tuesday. Cygan has been able to change all dates with both venues except for 2012.

Committee reports

Legislative committee

HF 0414 T-Mobile Traffic Pumping Bill is supposed to be narrowed down. It was noted that MTA has not seen revision on this bill yet. Representative Hoppe is moving with this bill; however Senator Rosen is not as firm on this bill.

MTA has found authors for the Education Tax Credit for Internet bill. There is a meeting scheduled for the Telework Tax Credit bill with a sponsor in the senate.

RTS committee

The following activities were noted:

1.  Modifications made to lifeline verification proposal are close to being finalized. MTA is moving forward on the trial run with TDS as the test company.

2.  The FCC has issued an NPRM on Pull Attachments.

Pauk also noted that dates have been published on the NPRM from the FCC. Beattie has been successful on continuing to push the Retransmission Docket forward. This remains on the agenda, however it may not make sense to pursue now.

Bickett noted activities on the legislative conference from Washington D.C. National associations are focused on working on the NBBP. If there is positive feedback from offices feedback, let the NTCA know.

Those that talked at the NTCA Conference will conduct follow-up to see if interest remains.

Christensen had been appointed to the Commerce Commission Broadband Taskforce; however, the current taskforce has been excused. Christensen noted he will reapply to sit on this taskforce.

There is a split between the democrats and republicans as to how much control the FCC should have on commissions.

OLD BUSINESS

Fergus Falls Initiative

It was noted that this event had great coverage and may help to market MTA’s Telework program.

CTA

MTA had a traded booth at CTA’s Conference; in return, CTA had a traded booth at the MTA Convention. The MTA Board agreed that they will discuss before moving forward with any additional CTA events.

NTCA Committee Work by Tom Farm

Christensen reported on Farm’s work on NTCA committees dealing with the NBP. Farm will be completing the first phase. The committee is ready to release comments.

All agreed that it has been very helpful to have Farm’s involvement on these calls for Minnesota support.

MTA Data Request

MTA is putting together a data request. Once the compilation comes back, do we want to split this with MIC? This information will be used for an NPRM and state calling efforts. There is no estimate on total compilation cost. MTA has invested $3,200. The compilation of information may be in the best interest of MTA to finish for committee usage. MTA will review what comes out of the initial comments and will proceed and strategize at that time.

A motion was made to have MTA cover expenses on the initial request and compilation of data.

Motion passed.

SMART Grid

There is a meeting being held in August with all General Managers of the Electrical Coops. Board agreed to try and be present on the agenda with a presentation.

Cook, Lake and Sibley County Initiatives

Brent has been in contact with Freedom Minnesota. The Joint Powers vote to establish the Joint Powers Agreement has not yet occurred. This is being reviewed in April. Brent noted that Sibley County has applied for CLEX status.

Christensen discussed the Telework initiative by Redwood County.

NEW BUSINESS

MTA Vehicle Usage Policy Draft

Christensen presented a draft of a vehicle policy.

Board agreed to put a policy into use where MTA will not pay mileage.

A motion was made and seconded to use this policy (as amended).

A motion passed.

Marketing Committee

It was discussed to have leadership take issues and form a strategy to get information and press releases out to membership. Board agreed that this would be a great value-add to the membership.

Brent will talk to Monty Morrow about this potential subcommittee from the RTS Committee and involve representatives from both the RTS and Legislative committees.

Adjournment

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 3:56pm

The motion passed.