The Board of Public Works of Trenton Municipal Utilities held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening at Trenton City Hall, hearing updates and approving several bids.
The board discussed the finances of the electric department, electric rates and the cost of purchased power. Net income for the year shows a loss of $35,938 compared to a loss of $930,153 for the same period last year. The fiscal year ends on April 30. The board scheduled a workshop for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11 to work on the 2015-16 budget as well as to continue discussion on electric rates. TMU Utility Director Chad Davis said it would be good to begin discussing the rates while obtaining more information about the effect of the recently implemented winter rate schedule.
A city council finance committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 5 and Councilman Travis Elbert told board members they are welcome to attend. He said it is an effort to work together and avoid any surprises between the two groups. Some members of the finance committee and the utility board were scheduled to tour TMU facilities at noon today.
During department head reports, Water Treatment Plant Supervisor Steve Reid said the testing for trihalomethanes in the drinking water resulted in 20 parts per billion in December and an annual average that was near 50pbb. The limit set for the utility by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is 80pbb and a recent, extensive upgrade to the treatment plant and a change in the disinfection process has resulted in the new, lower readings.
The board approved an annual net metering policy. The policy allows for customers who install electric generation equipment, such as solar panels, to sell any excess electricity back to TMU. The utility has two customers that are installing the equipment that will become operational this year.
Also approved was an agreement with Grundy Electric Cooperative for pole attachments. The electric line TMU is running to the north industrial park for MC Power and Rapid Removal needs to run where there is an existing GEC line because of easement issues. TMU will provide new, taller poles and install the new TMU line while the agreement will allow GEC to attach their lines to the new poles as well.
Board members approved a contract with Burns & McDonnell for engineering services in conjunction with developing an industrial pretreatment program. Davis said a DNR inspection approximately eight months ago resulted in some things DNR would like to see changed in the Significant Industrial User Permit the utility issues to ConAgra. Davis said the work by the engineering firm will help provide information for discussion with ConAgra officials. The cost of the work is not to exceed $26,800.
Also discussed were proposals from two companies to provide services to line sanitary sewers in the areas of 13th Court and Harris Avenue and 20th and Merrill streets. The 13th Court and Harris Avenue site is near the ConAgra plant, where a sewer manhole collapsed last summer and has since been replaced. More information will be sought from the two companies and bids will be considered at the budget meeting the board holds on Feb. 11.
In other action, the board approved the purchase of a recloser for the electric department project to extend electrical service to the north industrial park. It will be purchased from Fletcher-Reinhardt Co. for $17,433.
A new front mount zero turn mower for the sanitation department will be purchased from Woody’s Outdoor Power Equipment in Chillicothe at a cost of $14,995. It was the lowest of three bids received. An existing mower owned by the utility will be purchased by the city instead of being traded in. The purchase price will be $5,500, which was the highest amount allowed for trade-in.
Four bids were received for the purchase of scrap metal from the disassembly of a diesel engine at the power plant. It is estimated there is 10 to 15 tons of metal available and the board accepted the highest bid received for $142 per ton from Max Fordyce of Ridgeway.
The contract with Burns & McDonnell will go to the city council for its approval and the approved purchases will go to the purchasing committee for its approval.
All votes taken at the meeting were 4-0 with all members in attendance.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the board is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24.
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