Meeting Minutes
Official minutes of the most recent meeting (regular and special) are on file at the Marquette Board of Light and Power office at 2200 Wright Street and are available for inspection. Minutes are also available for inspection at the City Clerk’s office, City Hall and the Peter White Public Library.
Official minutes of past meetings are available for download in a PDF format (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access these minutes.).
Minutes – July, 13 2010
MINUTES A regular meeting of the Board of Light and Power was called and held on July 13, 2010. Following the Pledge of Allegiance the meeting was called to order. Present: Kenneth C. Wanberg Edward M. Angeli John L. Sonderegger John H. Prince Karen Kimar Johnson Absent: None On a motion by K. Wanberg, seconded by J. Prince, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the June 29, 2010 regular meeting minutes as presented. Following a discussion it was moved by J. Prince, seconded by K. Kimar Johnson and unanimously carried to approve the Accounts Payable totaling $535,913.97. J. Prince questioned door repairs and drywall work at Wright Street and Utility Review Committee funds. Superintendent of Distribution David Lynch said Closner Construction repaired the handicapped access doors. Director of Human Resources and Administration Paul Kitti said the drywall work is for the expansion of the computer server room. Executive Director Kirby Juntila said the Utility Review Committee Funds are distributed to the townships. K. Kimar Johnson questioned charges for Jay Dishnow Consulting? P. Kitti responded all new hires receive basic employee training sessions. K. Wanberg questioned Unit No. 3 vibration project invoices? J. Reynolds said the vibration project was done during the annual spring maintenance shutdown and the final invoice has been received. E. Angeli questioned charges for a triplex reel and coal sampling. D. Lynch responded the adjustable reel is attached to the bucket truck. K. Juntila said coal samples are taken when the shipment arrives and weekly thereafter to determine if the coal delivered meets utility specifications. 1. Additions or Corrections to the Agenda. There were no corrections or additions to the agenda. It was moved by K. Kimar Johnson and seconded by K. Wanberg to accept the agenda as presented. 2. Time for Citizen Comment. Cooper Office Equipment Sales Manager Steve Eagle asked to address the Board regarding Agenda Item 4-A - Purchase of Color Copier. 3. Recommendations for Payment of: A. Relocation of High Pressure Steam Pipes. B. Upgrade of Relay Communication Processor. C. Dust Collector Electrical Controls. It was moved by K. Kimar-Johnson, seconded by K. Wanberg and unanimously carried to award the payment totaling $8,826.96 to D.K. Services Inc. for labor, materials, and expenses to relocate six (6) Unit No. 2 high pressure steam pipes due to the new Renewafuel conveyor installation. On a motion by J. Prince, seconded by K. Kimar-Johnson and unanimously carried, the Board approved the purchase totaling $1,100 for the upgrade of one (1) Schweitzer Relay Communication Processor for No. 2 Plant Substation. E. Angeli asked if the upgrade will replace the current model? J. Reynolds responded in the affirmative and added it provides enhanced operations. It was moved by K. Kimar Johnson, seconded by K. Wanberg, and unanimously carried to authorize payment totaling $3,450 to TeamPro Engineering & Equipment, Inc. for its revision to the electrical controls for the dust collectors for Unit No. 2’s Renewafuel project. Funds will be drawn from the Improvement and Extension Fund. K. Wanberg questioned if the control boxes will be sealed? J. Reynolds responded in the affirmative. J. Prince questioned if the controls are compatible with a coal dust environment? J. Reynolds responded the controls will be used for the Renewafuel Biomass Project which will burn wood cubes not coal. 4. Recommendations to Award: A. Purchase of Color Copier. B. Purchase of Surge bin. C. Purchase of Single Phase/Network Meters for Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project. D. Purchase of Utility Line Truck. E. Steam Plant Gas Cylinder Lease It was moved by K. Wanberg, seconded by J. Prince, and unanimously carried to award the purchase of a Canon color copier for the Shiras Steam Plant per their low proposal meeting specifications totaling $6,709 from the Office Planning Group. Cooper Sales Manager S. Eagle and Sales Representative Matt Dale said the recommended copier doesn’t meet specifications and reviewed the various features of the machine they quoted which met specifications. J. Reynolds commented they have been very pleased with the Canon copier currently in service at the Plant and made his recommendation on the low price and features of the machine to meet the needs of Plant staff. J. Sonderegger said he supports staff evaluation and recommendation for the purchase. E. Angeli thanked Cooper personnel for their comments. On a motion by J. Prince, seconded by K. Wanberg, and unanimously carried, the Board awarded the purchase of a surge bin for Unit No. 2’s Renewafuel Project to Northern Machining & Repair, Inc. totaling $3,686 per their low proposal meeting specifications. K. Wanberg questioned how the bin will work? J. Reynolds said it will have continuous feed and will level out the volume on the control belt. It was moved by K. Wanberg, seconded by K. Kimar-Johnson, and unanimously carried to award the purchase of meters for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project to Power Line Supply of Reed City, MI per their low quote meeting specifications totaling $452,444.06 J. Prince commented on notes outlining what each meter can and can’t do. D. Lynch responded Meter Department Supervisor Bob Lewis spent several weeks analyzing each meter bid and based on his expertise, the Landis & Gyr model was chosen because of its functionality features and because the water meter transceivers are built-in. K. Kimar Johnson asked if the utility has checked with other utilities currently using meters for AMI? D. Lynch responded in the affirmative. E. Angeli questioned the installation schedule and payment for meters? D. Lynch said approximately 1,000 of the hard to reach meters will be installed first. The cost of the meters is billed as they are installed in the field with prices guaranteed through 2011. D. Lynch said all single-phase meters will be installed by the end of 2011. He added three-phase meters will be purchased later to allow for a competitive quote. J. Sonderegger questioned the security of the meters? D. Lynch responded experts say the most secure AMI system you can have is one which the signal is transmitted over utility-owned power lines and utility-owned fiber optic and that is the system we will have. K. Juntila thanked D. Lynch for his bid review. D. Lynch responded he relied on B. Lewis’ meter function expertise. On a motion by J. Prince, seconded by K. Kimar Johnson, and unanimously carried, the Board awarded the purchase of a new 4x4 Cab and Chassis, Fiberglass Line Body, Aerial Device, and assembly to Altec Industries, Inc. per their low bid meeting specifications totaling $154,903. E. Angeli questioned if the utility was still looking at purchasing a hybrid vehicle? D. Lynch said the utility had applied for hybrid grant funding but because we didn’t receive a grant a standard vehicle was chosen due to a hybrid costing approximately $70,000 more than a standard vehicle. It was moved by K. Wanberg, seconded by J. Prince, and unanimously carried to award a five-year lease for gas cylinders at the Shiras Steam Plant to Airgas totaling $8,797.47. Airgas is the only known gas supplier in the area. J. Prince questioned the difference between renting and leasing? J. Reynolds said it is cheaper to lease because of the long term purchase guaranty vs. renting month to month. 5. Recommendations to Authorize MERS Delegates. It was moved by K. Kimar Johnson, seconded by K. Wanberg, and unanimously carried to authorize Employee Delegate Rich Johnson and Alternate Employee Delegate Kevin Downs and Officer Delegate Kirby Juntila and Officer Alternate Paul Kitti to represent the utility at the Municipal Employee Retirement System’s Annual Meeting. 6. Recommendation to Adopt Reimbursement Resolution. On a motion by K. Wanberg, seconded by J. Prince, and unanimously carried, the Board adopted the Resolution Delegating Authority to Declare Official Intent to Reimburse Project Expenditures with Bond Proceeds and authorized the Board Vice Chair/Secretary to sign on the Board’s behalf. E. Angli questioned by the resolution is needed? Controller/Accountant Lon Laken responded the resolution is necessary to meet IRS regulations pertaining to municipal bonds and state statutes. K. Juntila responded the resolution provides the Board with flexibility in financing large projects. 7. Any Additional Business the Executive Director Wishes to Present. K. Juntila advised the Board 1). The utility is still reviewing funding options for the AMI Project and The Tourist Park Dam; 2). The utility is now being asked to mitigate wetlands regarding the restoration of the Tourist Park Dam despite 2009 discussions with the state that it would not be necessary. The Corps of Army Engineers and the state will now determine if wetlands mitigation is necessary and staff has talked to Representative Steve Lindberg, Representative Mike Lahti, Tom Baldini of Bart Stupak’s office, and Senator Debbie Stabenow’s office to strategize. He added that when UPPCo. restored Silver Lake after the May 2003 flood that they were not required to mitigate wetlands with approximately 1,200 acres impacted vs. 36 acres at Tourist Park. Staff has talked to a wetlands expert consultant who may be able to provide insight on other projects of this nature. E. Angeli said he is hopeful the agencies will drop the wetlands mitigation. J. Prince questioned if the general contractor who is supposed to reconstruct the dam knows of this hold up? K. Juntila responded in the affirmative. K. Kimar Johnson asked how this delay will impact the project? K. Juntila said it will take the balance of the summer and fall to resolve the mitigation issue so no concrete work will be done this fall. K. Wanberg questioned if K. Juntila will notify the City Manager, Mayor and homeowners of this delay? K. Juntila responded in the affirmative. 8. Time for Citizen Comments. No comments were received by citizens. 9. Any Additional Business the Board Members Wish to Present. K. Wanberg said the utility needs to cut the grass near the former power house at the Tourist Park. E. Angeli said he believes both state and federal representatives are frustrated by the roadblock regarding rebuilding the Tourist Park Dam which may work to the utility’s benefit. He thanked staff for their perseverance. 10. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.