Waunakee Utilities Commission

Waunakee Utilities Commission Meeting June 23, 2025 Members Present: John Roessler Steve Kraus Kristin Runge Paul Endres Joe Zitzelsberger Roxanne Johnson Nathan Zellner Others Present: Tim Herlitzka Randy Dorn Jamie Frederick Jake Oelke Dave DesRochers Jean DesRochers Bill Frederick Ryan Endres John Roessler called the regular meeting of the Waunakee Utilities Commission to order. Public Comment There was no public comment. Minutes A motion was made by Kristin Runge and seconded by Paul Endres to approve the minutes of the May 27, 2025 Utilities Commission meeting. Motion carried. Bills The list of bills was reviewed. A motion was made by John Roessler and seconded by Joe Zitzelsberger to approve payment of the following bills: Total Vendor Description $ 35.17 Ace Hardware Parts, supplies 113.13 Aflac* Monthly premium 1,515.09 APG* Web and energy assistance ads 3,510.14 A. C. Engineering Company Substation maintenance 450.00 American Water Works Association Membership renewal 69.56 Bergstrom Chevrolet Truck maintenance 236,846.32 Border States Circuit breakers, inventory 80.31 Chandler and Susan Zillman Refund on utility account 502.00 Coverall North America, Inc. * Cleaning service 1,465.00 Crescent Electric Materials 2,025.00 Danny's Painting Service, Inc. Building maintenance 2,340.30 Delta Dental* Dental insurance claims 41,170.15 EFTPS * Taxes 32,249.50 Employee Trust Funds* Retirement 12,041.42 Empower Retirement * Deferred compensation and Roth 2,465.00 Forester Electrical Engineering, Inc. Engineering for substation projects 394.80 GFC Leasing Copier lease, copies 14,313.95 GLS Utility Locating services 2,546.64 Highway Light and Landscape, Inc. Relocate light pole 3,779.43 Infosend Bill print services 111,491.00 John Fabick Tractor Company Mini loader 38.28 Kim Sankbeil Expense reimbursement 84.62 Kurt and Susan Patz Refund on utility account 4,880.16 Lake Ridge Bank (credit card payment)* Microsoft Office Online services, Adobe Pro, Google, office supplies, training, shop supplies 193.08 Lars Johan & Mary Hedberg Refund on utility account 423.44 Madison Gas & Electric Natural gas 77.91 Main Street Market Piggly Wiggly Office supplies 610.19 Mary and James Thony Refund on utility account 48.17 Matthew Deprey Refund on utility account 1  14.20 Napa Auto Parts Truck maintenance 250.00 Neeraj Singh EV charger rebate 580.00 North American Mechanical, Inc. Building maintenance 1,300.00 North Shore Bank * Deferred compensation 48,041.64 Payroll* June 10,950.00 Primus Marketing Group Inc. Water meters 22,846.44 Quartz* Health insurance 825.74 Securian Financial Group* Life insurance premiums 4,999.07 SEERA, Focus on Energy* Program fees 72.00 Stafford Rosenbaum, LLP Legal services 512.93 Stephen Raemisch Refund on utility account 76,098.94 Stuart Irby Inventory, parts 138.23 Tamer Kawas Refund on utility account 278.20 T.A.S. Communications* Answering service 1,205.39 TDS Telecom* Monthly phone and internet services 67.38 Terminix Wil Kil* Pest control exterminator services 53.32 Trianon Properties, LLC Refund on utility account 3,760.42 TSTM, Inc. * Metering equipment 38.70 UPS Store Shipping module 224.24 U.S. Cellular * Monthly cell phone service 280,254.95 Village of Waunakee Refuse billings ($81,559), flex and dependent care, tax payment ($75,500), Fish Street project ($112,102) new software ($7,520), mechanics, Chalk Walk donation 264,900.00 Virginia Transformer Corp. Substation transformer - 30% down payment 75,100.35 Visu-Sewer Sewer lining project 2,635.48 Wex Bank (Exxon Mobil)* Fuel 54,481.03 WI Dept. of Revenue * Withholding tax, sales and use tax 701.00 WI Dept. of Workforce Development * Unemployment payment 926.00 Wisconsin State Journal Newspaper subscription 31.00 Wisconsin State Lab Lab fees 953,280.56 WPPI Energy Meter data collection and mgmt., utility billing and CIS, shared meter technician, low-income admin service fee, hosted e-mail and software support fees, cyber security, member network assessment and monitoring, member network support, member WAN and Verizon charges 996.98 Yahara Materials, Inc. Materials Bills Received Subsequent to Packed Delivery 1,900.00 Anixter Inc. Inventory 423.50 BoardmanClark General legal 1,668.90 Border States Parts 182.80 Delta Dental Dental insurance claims 93.08 Michelle Fleisher Reimbursement for damage done to tire 3,958.00 Primus Marketing Metering system equipment 110.97 Resco Parts 34,390.37 Strand Associates, Inc. Engineering for Well 6 and water tower 4,208.22 Stuart Irby Inventory, parts 334.64 Yahara Materials, Inc. Materials $ 2,328,594.43 Motion carried. Proclamation Honoring Dave DesRochers The Commission recognized the retirement of Dave DesRochers after 31 years of employment at the Utility. Presentation from WPPI Energy – Joint Action Update for Member Governing Bodies Jake Oelke from WPPI Energy discussed our membership, power supply matters, advocacy on behalf of members, the services offered by WPPI, and other current topics of interest. 2 Filing Application to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to Adjust Water Rates A detailed review of the adequacy of water rates was completed and the results were discussed. The review indicates that rates will need to be increased by approximately 37% starting in 2026 to maintain a financially strong Utility and the Commission discussed the staff recommendation to submit an application to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) to adjust rates. The increase is needed to pay for the costs of the new well and water tower and to compensate for the loss of revenue from two cellular carriers removing their equipment from our water towers. The increase is also needed due to general inflationary cost increases since rates were last adjusted in 2015. After a discussion, a motion was made by Kristin Runge and seconded by John Roessler to approve filing the application to increase water rates. Motion carried. PSCW staff will review the application and likely make revisions to the overall increase requested. It’s anticipated that new rates will become effective sometime after January 1, 2026. Temporary Construction Easement and Conveyance of Rights in Land with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation The Commission discussed Temporary Construction Easements (TCEs) and the Conveyance of Rights in Land with the DOT. These are requested in advance of the 2026 project to reconstruct Highway 19 from Division Street to River Road. The TCEs allow the Department of Transportation (DOT) to temporarily utilize land controlled by the Utility during the construction process and requires them to restore the property to its original condition. The Conveyance of Rights in Land allows the Utility to continue to keep water and electric infrastructure in a small area of land at the intersection of Division and Main Streets that the Village recently sold to the DOT. No compensation is proposed, and because these items relate to property matters, they must ultimately be approved by the Village Board. After a discussion, a motion was made by Kristin Runge and seconded by Paul Endres to recommend approval of these documents to the Village Board. Motion carried. 2024 Drinking Water Quality Report The 2024 Drinking Water Quality Report was presented. The report will soon be posted on the website. Customers will be made aware of the report through a billing insert. Bond Sale Details The Commission was provided a summary of the bond sale that closed on June 18. Village-Wide Construction Projects No new projects were discussed. Operations Report The Commission was provided information on various operational matters including the sewer lining project and water tower inspections. Update on Well 6 and Water Tower Project The Commission was provided an update on the project. 3 General Manager’s Report The General Manager discussed the status of hiring a water/sewer operator and the project to redesign the office area. Financial Statements The May financial information was presented. A motion was made by John Roessler and seconded by Roxanne Johnson to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted: _____________________________ Commission Secretary 4