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 – November 08, 2011
A regular meeting of the Board of Light and Power was called and held on November 29, 2011.
The meeting was called to order followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present: Edward M. Angeli
John H. Prince
Jerry Garceau
Karen Kimar Johnson
John L. Sonderegger
Absent: None
City Clerk David Bleau conducted the ballot election for the Board Chair and Board Vice Chair/Secretary. E. Angeli was unanimously re-elected Chair on the first ballot. John Prince was elected as Vice Chair/Secretary on the first ballot. E. Angeli and J. Prince recited the oath of office.
On a motion by, K. Kimar Johnson, seconded by J. Garceau and unanimously carried, the Board approved the November 8, 2011 regular meeting minutes as presented.
Following a discussion, it was moved by K. Kimar Johnson, seconded by J. Garceau and unanimously carried to approve the Accounts Payable totaling $1,047,658.46. K. Kimar Johnson questioned a pole refund to the Noquemanon Network and a payment to the Superior Watershed Partnership. Executive Director K. Juntila responded lighting installed at the Noquemanon trailhead has been removed and the poles were purchased back at a depreciated cost. In the future, the poles may be used for a lighting expansion project at the Blueberry Ridge Cross Country Ski Trail if grant funding is available. He said the payment to the Superior Watershed Partnership is for their stewardship of a conservation easement at Tourist Park as part of the required wetland mitigation at the site J. Prince questioned if a payment to AECOM was for its QSIP work at Tourist Park? K. Juntila responded in the affirmative and added the invoice also included design modifications to the Tourist Park Dam. J. Prince asked if there will be any more work done before spring? K. Juntila responded in the negative. The project will resume in the spring. He questioned a payment to AEGIS Insurance. K Juntila responded AEGIS provides the utility’s property damage coverage.
1. Additions or Corrections to the Agenda.
Executive Director K. Juntila requested the addition of Agenda Item 4-A – Recommendation for Payment of Storm Mutual Aid Assistance. It was moved by K. Kimar Johnson, seconded by J. Sonderegger, and unanimously carried to accept the agenda as amended.
2. Time for Citizen Comment.
No comments were received from citizens.
3. Review of
2011 Financial Audit.
Auditor Paul Nardi of Makela, Hill, Toutant and Nardi reviewed the 2011 Financial Audit and answered questions of the Board. He thanked Controller/Accountant Lon Laken and Manager of Accounting and Audit Services Helen LaFayette for their assistance. Following a discussion, E. Angeli questioned if there is anything different the utility needs to be doing? P. Nardi responded in the negative. He said the utility has an experienced staff and is a well-run organization that is financially very solid and stable. J. Prince questioned if improvements made at the Plant to handle biomass are an asset or expenditure? P. Nardi said the improvements would be considered an asset. K Juntila added the improvements made to handle biomass can also be used to handle coal. J. Sonderegger questioned the term of the audit contract? P. Nardi responded the 2011 audit was the first year of his firm’s three year contract. It was moved by K. Kimar Johnson, seconded by J. Prince and unanimously carried to accept the audit as presented.
4. Recommendation for Payment of Atomizer Wheel Repair.
It was moved by K. Kimar Johnson, seconded by J. Garceau and unanimously carried to authorize payment totaling $7,010 from AllTech Tool for the repair of an atomizer wheel used in the flue gas desulphurization system.
a. Recommendation for Payment of Storm Mutual Aid Assistance.
It was moved by K. Kimar Johnson, seconded by J. Sonderegger and unanimously carried to authorize payment to Cloverland Electric totaling $8,627.16 for its storm Mutual Aid Assistance during the September storm. E. Angeli questioned if this was the final invoice for Mutual Aid? Superintendent of Distribution David Lynch responded in the affirmative. He said the total cost of the September storm damage including this invoice is $142,000
5. Recommendation to Award Field Services for the Installation/Testing of Transformer #3.
On a motion by J. Sonderegger, seconded by J. Garceau and unanimously carried, the Board awarded field services for the Installation/Testing of Transformer No. 3 to Jordan Transformer totaling $16,644. Funds will be drawn from the Replacement Risk Retention Fund and will be reimbursed if these expenditures are covered by insurance. E. Angeli questioned if this fee is an additional fee and if it covers cover the warranty and testing? Superintendent of Projection John Reynolds responded in the affirmative. J. Prince questioned why this fee wasn’t included in the other transformer restoration work? J. Reynolds responded the field work is a separate charge as it would allow the utility to use someone else to do the installation. J. Prince commented that the utility needs the transformer to be whole and intact to work and that all the additional charges add up. K. Juntila added that some of the vendors who bid on the original transformer restoration work do not do the field service.
6. Recommendation to Adopt 2012 Meeting Schedule.
It was moved by K. Kimar Johnson, was seconded by J. Prince and unanimously carried to adopt the 2012 regular meeting schedule on the second and last Tuesday of each month except for the December 26 meeting which will be held on Wednesday due to the Christmas holiday. E. Angeli questioned moving the meeting to Dec. 18? Controller/Accountant Lon Laken responded the accelerated meeting date would not allow for the normal processing of accounts payable.
7. Any Additional Business the Executive Director Wishes to Present.
K. Juntila advised the Board:
a. The work for the construction season stopped Nov. 16 at the Tourist Park due to cold weather conditions that would no longer allow proper concrete curing of the dam structure. Weather permitting the project will resume on or about April 1. Work remaining to be completed at the site includes the training walls, handicapped fishing pier, wetlands planting, beach area, and bringing the parking lot up to grade. J. Reynolds commented bids are being prepared for the electrical systems and generator restoration in the dam power house. A bid award recommendation for the work is anticipated for the January 10 meeting;
b. D. Lynch informed the Board the installation of the new AMI digital residential meters is being completed by utility personnel. By mid-December utility personnel will begin installing the new digital AMI meters to industrial customers. He added IT Supervisor Igor Kruhak has joined a reporting group and will have access to Great Lakes Energy’s AMI programs which will further advance the utility’s AMI system by being able to utilize already existing programs instead of having to create them. H. LaAFayette said billing from the AMI meters is going well and that there have been few questions from customers. K. Juntila added the new AMI meters have been well received;
c. D. Lynch said the underground reconstruction project to eliminate overhead lines from Hawley Street to the Ore Dock is nearing completion and will improve system reliability. He said the last customer has now been connected to the new underground service at Island Beach Road, and;
d. K. Juntila said Cleveland Cliffs is going to be providing tours of the Renewafuel facility to perspective buyers next week and that staff is continuing discussions with a firm in Niagara as to the cost of providing industrial grade bio mass cubes to the utility.
8. Time for Citizen Comments.
No comments were received from the public.
9. Any Additional Business the Board Members Wish to Present.
K. Kimar Johnson commended staff on the audit and its confirmation that the utility is a well-run organization.
J. Prince questioned the status of the transformer repair? J. Reynolds responded the utility has been provided with an early February, 2012 delivery date which may be accelerated depending on the rebuild progress. J. Prince commented positively that his observations of crews working on Island Beach Road underground project confirm that the utility is second to none in the professional way the crews conduct themselves in the field and the way they operate and relate to customers.
E. Angeli thanked his fellow Board members for their continued support of him as Chair. He questioned if the large Christmas tree light display is lit at the Plant? J. Reynolds responded in the affirmative. E. Angeli thanked staff for its work on the audit and the good job they do every year. He commented on a piece of equipment parked at Wright Street. D. Lynch responded the equipment is owned by underground contractors and will be off site soon.
10. Adjournment.
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
_____________________________ John L. Sonderegger, Vice Chair/Secretary
Minutes of Regular Board Meetings are available at City Hall, the Peter White Public Library, or the MBLP Main office at 2200 Wright St., Marquette, MI 49855. The minutes can also be viewed at www.mblp.org.
