The Board of Public Works of Trenton Municipal Utilities held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening at Trenton City Hall, discussing several items as well as approving two bids.
The board again held a lengthy discussion on purchased power costs as the electric department continues to lose money. Director Chad Davis continues to express optimism about the stability of electric costs from the Missouri Public Energy Pool. He noted the electric rate increase of an average of 11.5 percent went into effect on June 1 and will be reflected in bills mailed out in July. It is estimated to generate an increase of $60,000 per month in revenue. Board member John Kennebeck said the board was going to have to look at electric rates again within two months and have to make some difficult decisions. Board Chairman Robert Day added that something will have to change within the next 90 days to address the department’s finances.
The electric department showed a loss of approximately $1.2 million at the end of the fiscal year on April 30 and a loss of $161,303 for the month of May.
In department head reports, Wastewater Plant Supervisor Bob Hutchinson said the plant was inspected in April by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and received a notice of violation for its pretreatment process. He said there are four or five things that will need to be addressed and he will be working with Davis to develop a plan. Davis and Hutchinson both indicated an outside consultant may also be needed, but both felt the cost would be minimal. The concerns noted in the violation involve required documentation.
Water treatment plant supervisor Steve Reid said work is nearly complete on improvements at the plant, with training scheduled for July 11 for the new treatment process. Both he and Davis said there will be plenty of notice provided in the media when the new disinfection process begins so customers will be able to adapt to the process change. The new treatment process is designed to reduce the amount of disinfection byproducts in the treated water, which is something the utility has received notices of violation from DNR in the past.
Electric Plant Supervisor Steve Sims said the RICE emission upgrades have been completed on the diesel-powered units at the north and south substations with the south units back in service and the north units to go back in service on July 1. He said work continues on developing a plan to test the utility’s ability to generate electricity from a dead start so energy could power the community in the event of an emergency interruption from the utility’s electricity supplier.
The board took action on two items, approving a bid for diesel fuel for the electric generators. Two bids were received, $3.16 per gallon from MFA Oil in Trenton and for $3.1267 per gallon from Brownfield Oil Company from Moberly. The board approved the MFA bid with Kennebeck noting the difference between the two bids would amount to approximately $249.
Also approved was a bid of $6,050 for scrap metal from Clint Cranmore of Marquette, NE. A second bid from John Pettit of Gallatin was for $5,644.
Mayor Dr. Nick McHargue told the board he has received several requests from members of the public asking for driving access to the north reservoir in order to fish. Currently the road is open during the working hours of the utility, then locked by a cable at the entrance on Crowder Road. When the road is locked, persons must walk approximately one quarter of a mile to get to the reservoir. Davis said the closure of the road was prompted several years ago because of theft, vandalism and garbage in the area when there was unlimited access. The board tabled action on the issue as board members said they would like to see the area themselves before making a decision.
The board held an executive session for legal reasons following the meeting with no announcement being made.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the board is Tuesday, July 29.
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