February 15, 2012

A regular meeting of the Grand Rapids Public Utilities Commission was held on February 15, 2012 at 4:00 PM in the conference room of the Public Works/Public Utilities Service Center at 500 SE 4th Street.

Members Present: President Welliver, Secretary Hodgson, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Johnson, Commissioner Chandler.

Members Absent: None.

Others Present: General Manager Ward, Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Ackerman, Water/Wastewater Collection/Safety Manager Doyle, Administrative/HR Assistant Flannigan, Attorney Bengtson, Susan Gerchman of JDI Contracts, Inc.

Motion by Chandler to approve the minutes of the January 11, 2012 regular meeting and the January 18, 2012 special meeting. Motion seconded by Johnson and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

General Manager Ward reviewed the January 2012 City Treasurer’s Report and Investment Activity Report with the Commission.

Motion by Hodgson to approve the City Treasurer’s Report and Investment Activity Report for January 2012. Motion seconded by Johnson and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

President Welliver acknowledged public forum. None present.

Commission Member Reports:

General Manager Ward reported on the planning session held on February 3, 2012 with President Welliver and the management staff.

Commissioner Adams reported on the projects and bonding approved at the City Council meeting on February 13, 2012.

Administration:

General Manager Ward reviewed the proposed Water and Wastewater Collection rates.

Base meter charges were reviewed and adjusted, multi-family rate will be postponed and reviewed in a few months when the data is collected, and customers will be allowed to change to a smaller meter, with the GRPUC paying for the meter and the customer paying for the installation costs. A customer letter and press release will be sent to explain the changes.

Motion by Chandler to approve the Water and Wastewater Collection/Treatment Rates as presented. Motion seconded by Adams and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

General Manager Ward reviewed the 2012 Budget summary with the Commission.

Motion by Johnson to approve the 2012 Budget as presented. Motion seconded by Hodgson and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

Motion by Adams to adopt Resolution 02-15-2012-01 approving the issuance and sale of G.O. Utility Revenue Bonds (PUC), by the City of Grand Rapids, Minnesota in the approximate aggregate principal amount of $1,610,000. Motion seconded by Chandler and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

Motion by Johnson to approve granting an additional rebate from the Conservation Improvement Fund for the installation of a 10kW grid connected solar array, and change the policy to include adoption of rules and a maximum rebate amount of $10,000.00 for solar panel installation. Motion seconded by Hodgson and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

Motion by Adams to approve a monthly lump sum payment of an additional $1.50 per hour to Rodney Ruder, First Class Lineman, for interim supervisory services until the hiring of an Electrical Engineer. Motion seconded by Johnson and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

Motion by Chandler to accept the retirement resignation of Mr. Lawrence J. Tanner, Maintenance I, Wastewater Treatment Facility. Motion seconded by Johnson and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

General Manager Ward reviewed the work in progress on the business model for the 2012 Five Year Capital Improvement Plan, which will be put in a PDF format for forwarding to the Commission.

Motion by Hodgson to table reviewing and considering adopting the 2012-2016 Five Year Capital Improvement Plan, at the request of General Manager Ward. Motion seconded by Johnson and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

Accounting and Finance:

General Manager Ward reviewed the January 2012 Operations Report with the Commission.

Electric Department:

Engineering Consultant Gerchman reviewed the January 2012 Operations Report with the Commission.

Motion by Chandler to approve a purchase order with Siemens for electrical maintenance work in the amount of $17,750.00. Motion seconded by Hodgson and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

Motion by Johnson to authorize the renewal of the contract between the GRPUC and Kootasca Community Action to designate up to $62,000.00 of GRPUC Conservation Improvement Program Funds for Low Income Weatherization Projects for the year 2012. Motion seconded by Adams and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations:

Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Ackerman reviewed the January 2012 Operations Report with the Commission.

Water/Wastewater Collection/Safety:

Water/Wastewater Collection/Safety Manager Doyle reviewed the January 2012 Operations Report with the Commission.

Safety Training Procedures and Updates:

Water/Wastewater Collection/Safety Manager Doyle reviewed the safety initiatives for the month. Manager Doyle reviewed the incident review process with the Commission.

GRPUC Discussion/Correspondence:

NTT Workforce Development Institute-“NFPA 70E-How the 2012 Updates Affect You” Webinar, January 17, 2012, Grand Rapids, MN-Dennis Doyle, Susan Gerchman, Rick Fox, Jim Foss, Jason Blanchard, Rodney Ruder, John Hachey, Aaron Gould, Roger McLean Bob Eide.

MMUA First Line Supervision Training, February 1-3, 2012, Brainerd, MN – Karen Olson and Rick Fox.

MMUA 2012 Meter School and Basic Metering Pre-Conference, February 14-17, 2012, Marshall, MN – David Virden.

Change Orders:

Motion by Chandler to approve Change Order #1 from Rice Lake Construction Group for the Filtrate Lift Station in the amount of $4,496.00. Motion seconded by Hodgson and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

Motion by Adams to approve Change Order #1-Deduct from Electrical Installation and Maintenance Co. (EIM) for the Aerator MCC Replacement for deductions related to SCADA in the amount of ($64,900.00). Motion seconded by Johnson and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

Claims for Payment:

Motion by Chandler to approve Pay Request #2 - Final from Rice Lake Construction Group for the Filtrate Lift Station in the amount of $ 11,574.50. Motion seconded by Johnson and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

Motion by Adams to approve a claim for payment in the amount of $2,260.48 from Northern Business Products for various office supplies. Motion seconded by Hodgson and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams and Chandler; Against: None: Abstained: Johnson, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

Motion by Johnson to authorize the verified claims for payment in the amount of $1,802,494.44 ($1,322,789.53 computer checks and $479,704.91 manual checks) per attached lists. Motion seconded by Chandler and upon roll call the following voted in favor thereof: Welliver, Hodgson, Adams, Johnson and Chandler; Against: None, whereby the motion was declared duly passed and adopted.

The next regular Commission meeting is Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 4:00 PM in the conference room of the Public Works/Public Utilities Service Center at 500 SE 4th Street.

Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 5:20 PM.

Attest: Stephen R. Welliver, President

Glen D. Hodgson, Secretary

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