Waunakee Utilities Commission

Waunakee Utilities Commission Meeting September 25, 2023 Members Present: John Roessler Roxanne Johnson Kristin Runge Paul Endres Joe Zitzelsberger Shirley Nelson Others Present: Tim Herlitzka John McLain Jared Heyn Excused: Steve Kraus John Roessler called the regular meeting of the Waunakee Utilities Commission to order. Minutes A motion was made by Kristin Runge and seconded by Shirley Nelson to approve the minutes of the August 28, 2023 Waunakee Utilities Commission meeting. Motion carried. Bills The list of bills was reviewed. A motion was made by Shirley Nelson and seconded by Paul Endres to approve payment of the following bills: Total Vendor Description $ 275.44 Ace Hardware Parts, plants, tools, fasteners 482.58 APG (Adams Publishing Group)* Web and energy assistance ads 437.20 Auto Value Parts 80.32 Bruce & Sharon Gust Refund on account 216.15 Buschke, Bailey Mileage reimbursement 551.28 Cintas Corporation Uniform service 3,194.27 Core & Main Water meters 206.02 Corry & Courtney Hinz Refund on account 502.00 Coverall North America, Inc. * Cleaning service 1,757.91 Delta Dental Dental insurance 1,350.00 Dixon Engineering, Inc. Site inspections for Verizon changes at Ripp Park Water Tower 260.00 Dominic & Stacy Mower Refund on account 2,308.38 Electrical Testing Laboratory Maintenance 33,381.17 EFTPS * Taxes 8,356.10 Empower Retirement * Deferred compensation & Roth 248.74 Erin Swenson Refund on account 18,606.97 ETF * (employee trust funds) Retirement 8,705.80 GLS Utility Locating services 12.66 Greiber Heating & Sheet Metal Lexington Booster repairs 1,980.45 Hills Wiring Lexington Booster repairs 3,821.32 Infosend Bill and print services 5,192.00 Interstate Power Systems Lexington Booster repairs 1,368.00 J & R Underground Boring 33.66 Karls, Dana Mileage reimbursement 7,037.00 Lake Ridge Bank (credit card payment)* Google, Adobe, and Microsoft charges, training, equipment repairs, infrared cameras, Slick Texting, tools, office supplies 317.63 Madison Gas & Electric Utilities 134.33 Main Street Piggly Wiggly Office supplies 730.00 Medivan Audio testing 450.00 Municipal Electric Utilities of WI (MEUW) Safety training 172.09 Napa Auto Parts Parts 918.74 Northern Lake Service Inc. Water testing 2,300.00 North Shore Bank * Deferred compensation 90,033.81 Payroll* September 2,216.63 Pitney Bowes Postage for meter, meter rental 1,261.23 Pomps Tire Service Vehicle maintenance 1  21,853.02 Quartz Health insurance 1,271.73 Resco Inventory, metering 540.01 Securian Financial Group* Life insurance premiums 4,851.04 SEERA Focus on Energy* Focus on energy program fees 121.52 Schaeffer, Christie Mileage reimbursement 11,789.90 SJE Ashlawn Lift Station repairs 48.75 SSM Health Pre-employment screening 140.53 Strand Associates Assistance troubleshooting SCADA system 813.75 Stuart Irby Inventory, minor materials 468.83 T.A.S. Communications* Answering service 1,002.93 TDS Telecom* Monthly phone and modem service 208.29 Trace, Sam Mileage reimbursement 250.00 Trending Now Promotions Clothing 273.00 Tyndale Enterprises, Inc. Clothing 264.39 U.S. Cellular * Monthly cell phone service 18.18 UPS Store Shipping charges 176.95 USA Bluebook Supplies 499,801.36 Village of Waunakee Flex plan, mechanic, refuse billings, electric & water taxes and re-bills, drug testing, resurfacing project, PW improvements 3,368.65 Wex Bank (Exxon Mobil)* Fuel 75,258.41 WI Dept. of Revenue * Withholding tax, sales & use tax 312.70 Wil-Kil Pest Control Exterminator services 615.00 Wisconsin Rural Water Association Membership renewal 28.00 Wisconsin State Lab Lab fees 1,449,752.60 WPPI Energy Meter data collection & mgmt., utility billing & CIS, shared meter technician, low-income admin. service fee, hosted e-mail & financial and accounting software, cyber security, member network assessment & monitoring, member network support, member/WPPI WAN and Verizon charges Bills Received Subsequent To Packet Delivery 18.99 Ace Hardware Fasteners 700.73 Arlington Hardware Co, Inc. Supplies for water fill line 489.00 Herlitzka, Tim Mileage reimbursement 6,164.51 Martelle Water Treatment Chemicals for wells 885.00 MEUW Seminar registration 229.25 Nesheim, Garrett Mileage reimbursement 83,252.50 Stuart Irby Transformers, inventory 4,656.29 Total Energy Systems, LLC Lexington Booster generator repairs 4,916.41 Veridian Homes Refund on Heritage Hills Phase 5 electric costs 26.99 Waunakee Power Equipment Tool repair 1,084.92 Yahara Materials Stone, screenings $ 2,374,554.01 Motion carried. Public Comment There was no public comment. Tour of Division Street Substation The tour was cancelled due to inclement weather but the Commission received a virtual tour from staff. Division Street Substation and Easy Street Substation Projects and Proposal for Engineering Services The Commission was provided an overview of the projects at the Division Street and Easy Street Substations in the coming years. A proposal for engineering services was not presented. 2 October Event to Celebrate MEUW’s 95th Anniversary The Commission was provided information about the Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin event at the Utility on Wednesday, October 18 to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the organization. Resolution Supporting Public Power The Commission was presented a proposed resolution supporting public power. After a discussion, a motion was made by Kristin Runge and seconded by Joe Zitzelsberger to approve Resolution 23-0925, A Resolution Acknowledging Support for Public Power. Motion carried. Recent Electric Service Interruptions and Changes to Capital Budget Staff provided an overview of recent electric service interruptions. In order to pay for some of the recent system repairs, staff provided a recommendation to modify the 2023 capital budget by reallocating the Overhead Wire and Pole Replacements line item of $75,000 to the Underground Wire Replacements budget. After a discussion, a motion was made by John Roessler and seconded by Shirley Nelson to approve the changes to the capital budget. Motion carried. Extending the Electric Department LTE Employment Term The Commission discussed the staff recommendation to extend the length of employment for the limited-term employee (LTE) due to the remaining work that needs to get done by the end of the year. After a discussion, a motion was made by Roxanne Johnson and seconded by Kristin Runge to approve the extension of the LTE employment up until December 31, 2023. Motion carried. Hiring Temporary Employees During Anticipated Staff Leaves of Absence The Customer Service Representative is expected to start a 12-week maternity leave in mid-November. Another member of the office staff may be off intermittently and the Commission discussed the staff recommendation to hire a second Limited-Term Employee (LTE) during the time of the leave for up to 30 hours per week, at $20 per hour, through February 2024. After a discussion a motion was made by Shirley Nelson and seconded by Joe Zitzelsberger to approve the second LTE. Motion carried. Village-Wide Construction Projects A brief update was provided on various projects in the service territory. Operations Report Various operational items were discussed. General Manager’s Report The General Manager discussed a recent upgrade of the sewer utility bond rating by Moody’s from A1 to Aa3, and work performed by the Village Clerk to clarify Commissioner terms. Financial Statements The August financial statements were presented. 3 A motion was made by Roxanne Johnson and seconded by Shirley Nelson to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted: _____________________________ Commission Secretary 4