A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF VIRGINIA, MINNESOTA, WAS HELD AT THE OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES ON TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2007, AT 4:30 P.M.

 

Commission President Sipola called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m.

 

Present:                        Commissioners Petroskey, Sipola, Park.

Absent:             Commissioner Raukar.

 

Also Present:    Bill Hafdahl – Director-Finance & Administration; Sue Lalli - Public Relations / Customer Service Supervisor; Doug Ganoe – Director–Operations Production; Jesse White – Mesabi Daily News; City Councilor – Dennis Lindberg; Customers John Ferkul, Jay Carlsgaard, Joe Timmers; Louise Grams; and Joe Hejny.

 

Commission President Sipola asked if any of the audience wished to address the Commission on any other concerns aside from the Resolution on the formation of the Minnesota Municipal Gas Agency.  Audience members indicated no items aside from the items on the agenda.

 

Moved by Park and supported by Petroskey that financial Resolution #5105 authorizing the payroll dated June 7, 2007 in the amount of $102,879.25, checks #44882 through #44912, and direct deposits #10703 through #10756; and bills dated May 30, 2007 through June 11, 2007 in the amount of $831,542.20, checks #76277 through #76384, and wire and electronic transfers in the amount of $73,490.49 and the minutes of the regular meeting held on May 29, 2007 be approved as presented.  Motion carried. 

 

Bill Hafdahl, Director of Finance / Administration presented an overview of a resolution requesting the Commission’s authorization for the Department to be involved in establishing a Minnesota Municipal Gas Agency.  This Agency will increase the ability of the Department to participate in multiple strategies and will provide greater access to resources and expertise pertaining to the purchase of natural gas.  Different services will be provided to different Utilities depending on need.  Members of the Community addressed the Commission regarding the affect of the Agency on the cost of natural gas to the Utility’s customers.  After discussion, moved by Park and supported by Petroskey that Resolution #5106 authorizing the Virginia Department of Public Utilities to participate in the formation of a Minnesota Municipal Gas Agency and the execution of a Minnesota Municipal Gas Agency Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the City of Virginia, Minnesota is duly authorized to engage in the local distribution and sale of gas; and

 

WHEREAS, the City desires to join with other cities for the purpose of establishing a municipal gas agency to secure reliable sources of gas as provided for in Minnesota Statutes, Sections 453A.01 through 453A.12 (the “Act”); and

 

WHEREAS, there has been presented to the City a form of agreement which, if entered into between the City and other cities named therein, would establish the Minnesota Municipal Gas Agency (the “Agency”), a municipal gas agency pursuant to the Act; and

 

WHEREAS, public notice of this meeting has been given as required by the Act.

 

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.                   The City approves entering into an agreement entitled “Agency Agreement,” with such other cities as are named therein, such agreement to be effective as of the date when executed by all of the cities named therein, substantially in the form submitted to this meeting for the purposes of establishing and becoming a member of such Agency; and

 

2.                   The City appoints Mr. William H. Hafdahl to act as its Initial Representative in the exercise of its powers in respect of the Agency; and,

 

 

carried forward

 

City of Virginia, Minnesota                                                                                                         page 2

Department of Public Utilities

Commission Meeting Minutes

June 11, 2007

 

brought forward

 

 

3.                   The aforementioned agreement shall be executed by Dr. Don Sipola or Ms. Jackie Park for and on behalf of the City after the names of the Initial Representatives of the City and other cities entering into the agreement have all been inserted in the agreement.

 

Upon vote being taken on the motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution, the following voted in favor thereof:

 

            Park, Petroskey, and Sipola.                                                                   Motion carried.

 

Moved by Park and supported by Petroskey to authorize the attendance of Utility Staff and Commissioners at the MMUA Summer Meeting to be held at the Breezy Point Resort on August 20-22, 2007.  Motion carried. 

 

Moved by Petroskey and supported by Park to authorize the hiring of Cassandra Belak as a Billing and Customer Service Specialist effective June 18, 2007 subject to the terms and conditions of the AFSCME bargaining agreement.  Motion carried.

 

Moved by Petroskey and supported by Park to accept the 2006 Audit Report as presented by Walker, Girouix, and Hahne.  Motion carried.

 

Moved by Petroskey and supported by Park to table the Performance Review set on the agenda until the June 25, 2007 Regular Commission Meeting when Commissioner Raukar is able to attend.  Motion carried.

 

Doug Ganoe, Director of Operations Production gave an update on the #11 biomass boiler production.  Fine tuning is now underway and the boiler is running in compliance.

 

There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commission President Sipola declared the meeting adjourned at 5:43 p.m. 

 

ATTEST:                                                                      APPROVED:

 

 

 

 

_______________________                                      ___________________________

Jackie Park, Vice President                                           Dr. Don Sipola, President