RPU BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Members Present: Mr. Toulouse, Mr. Bourgeois, Mr. Landwehr, * Mr. Carlson, Mr. Hunziker
Absent: None
Also Present: Mr. Adkins, City Attorney
Board President Toulouse called the meeting to order at
1. Mr. Landwehr moved to approve the minutes of the
2. Mr. Carlson moved to approve the accounts payable report, seconded by Mr. Bourgeois. All voting "AYE"
3a. Mr. Hunziker moved to approve a purchase order agreement with McFarland Cascade for cedar poles, seconded by Mr. Carlson. All voting "AYE"
BE IT RESOLVED by the Public Utility Board of the City of Rochester, Minnesota, that the Common Council of the said City is requested to approve a purchase order agreement with McFarland Cascade for Western Red Cedar Poles
The amount of the purchase order agreement to be EIGHTY-FOUR THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($84,664.00) and McFarland Cascade being lowest responsible bidder.
3b. Introduced at the meeting were a revised For Board Action and resolution for caisson foundations for the Q1/Q2 transmission line upgrade project. Mr. Bourgeois moved to approve a purchase order with Tri-State Drilling for the installation of four concrete foundations, seconded by Mr. Hunziker. All voting "AYE"
BE IT RESOLVED by the Public Utility Board of the City of Rochester, Minnesota, that the Common Council of the said City is requested to approve a purchase order agreement with Tri-State Drilling, Inc. for Installation of Four Concrete Foundations For Q1/Q2 Transmission Line Project
The amount of the purchase order agreement to be SEVENTY-EIGHT THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($78,454.00) and Tri-State Drilling, Inc. being lowest responsible bidder.
4. Mr. Landwehr moved to approve five resolutions with five separate telecommunications providers allowing them to attach their facilities to RPU's distribution poles, seconded by Mr. Bourgeois. All voting "AYE"
BE IT RESOLVED by the Public Utility Board of the City of Rochester, Minnesota, that the Common Council of the said City is requested to approve a contract agreement with McLeod USA Telecommunications Services, Inc. and that the Common Council authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute the agreement for Attachment of Telecommunications Facilities to Poles The amount of the contract agreement to be based on unit pricing as established by the agreement.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Public Utility Board of the City of Rochester, Minnesota, that the Common Council of the said City is requested to approve a contract agreement with Norlight Telecommunications and that the Common Council authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute the agreement for Attachment of Telecommunications Facilities to Poles The amount of the contract agreement to be based on unit pricing as established by the agreement.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Public Utility Board of the City of Rochester, Minnesota, that the Common Council of the said City is requested to approve a contract agreement with Charter Communications and that the Common Council authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute the agreement for Attachment of Telecommunications Facilities to Poles The amount of the contract agreement to be based on unit pricing as established by the agreement.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Public Utility Board of the City of Rochester, Minnesota, that the Common Council of the said City is requested to approve a contract agreement with Minnesota Power Telecom and that the Common Council authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute the agreement for Attachment of Telecommunications Facilities to Poles The amount of the contract agreement to be based on unit pricing as established by the agreement.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Public Utility Board of the City of Rochester, Minnesota, that the Common Council of the said City is requested to approve a contract agreement with Qwest Communications and that the Common Council authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute the agreement for Attachment of Telecommunications Facilities to Poles The amount of the contract agreement to be based on unit pricing as established by the agreement.
5. Introduced during the meeting were a revised For Board Action form, repair recommendations report, and resolution for combustor basket repairs required for the Cascade Creek Unit 1 combustion turbine. Mr. Hunziker moved to approve a purchase order agreement with Siemens Westinghouse to perform repairs to the combustor baskets, seconded by Mr. Carlson. All voting "AYE"
BE IT RESOLVED by the Public Utility Board of the City of Rochester, Minnesota, that the Common Council of the said City is requested to approve a purchase order agreement with Siemens Westinghouse for Combustor Basket Repairs – Cascade Creek Westinghouse 251B2 Combustion Turbine
The amount of the purchase order agreement to be THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($35,451.00).
6. Ms. Yrjo, RPU Residential/Commercial Account Representative, discussed the Partners Program (Load Management Credits) with the Board for the purpose of reducing and possibly eliminating the credits in the future. During a recent telephone survey, the majority of Partners customers contacted stated that they would remain in the program even if the credits were reduced or eliminated. Staff stated that they would like to bring a revised rate tariff back to the Board for consideration at a future meeting.
7. Mr. Morgan, Morgan Marketing Partners, appeared before the Board to present the results of RPU's comprehensive survey of its customers. The criteria used included customer satisfaction, value of municipal utility, competitive position, deregulation and new products and services. Overall, RPU staff has made improvements in most of the criteria measured since the last survey, which was conducted in 1998. RPU's top-rated attributes are its polite/courteous employees, reliability of electricity and water supply, accessibility during business hours and honest communications.
8. The preliminary budgets for 2002 were discussed with the Board. No rate increases are recommended. The budgets reflect continued strong growth in the community, as indicated by aggressive capital investment in infrastructure and customer growth, both in numbers of customers and electric and water commodity sales. No action was taken by the Board. This item will come to the Board for approval at the
9. Due to the holidays, the next regular Board meeting will be held on
* Mr. Carlson left the meeting at this time.
10. Mr. Koshire provided the following report to the Board:
a. The new automated controls are completed for the Silver Lake Plant's unit #4, and unit #3 will be ready shortly.
11. The management/financial reports were discussed.
12. Mr. Landwehr moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Hunziker. All voting "AYE"
The meeting was adjourned at
Approved by the Board: