Jasper Utility Service Board meeting notes
The Jasper Utility Service Board met for their regular monthly meeting on Monday evening and took the following actions.
Opened quotes for a 4×4 pickup for Electrical Distribution. Luegers Motors – GMC Sierra for $36,399; Ruxer Ford/Lincoln – Ford F-250 for $32,449 with $2000 trade-in allowance; and Uebelhor and Sons – Chevrolet K2500 $36,850 with $2500 trade-in allowance. Distribution Manager Jerry Schitter stated they would take the quotes under advisement.
Opened quotes for a Methane Gas detector for Gas and Water. According to Gas and Water Manager Mike Oeding, two companies had the same model from the same manufacturer, however, the manufacturer stated only one of the companies could bid on the detector since the territory is protected. One other company didn’t meet the specs for the quote and was not considered. Groedner’s bid for $8474 was accepted pending signatures on the affidavits.
Opened a quote for shoring equipment for Gas and Water. Due to the necessity of the equipment to match the Street Department’s equipment only one bid was accepted. The board approved the bid from Trench Shoring Services, Pittsburg, PA, for $14,110 pending the signatures on the affidavits.
Electric Distribution – approved the disposal and sale of certain surplus items.
Electric Generation – No change in Jasper Clean Energy’s status, they are still pursuing power purchase agreements. Attorney Bill Kaiser reported the lease for the Heidorn Property was forwarded to Jasper Clean Energy and expected the lease to be merged with the power plant lease in the future.
Electric Committee report – Utilities Manager Bud Hauersperger informed the board that Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc (MISO) would be changing how they determined the payments to electric providers. Jasper currently receives approximately $18,800 a month for providing 13.6 megawatts capacity to the group.
MISO is requiring providers to submit bids on the cost per megawatt day for future consideration as a provider. According to MISO, they will consider all bids until they reach their expected capacity, starting from the lowest cost bid. Once they reach their capacity, the highest bid required to reach that amount will then be how much they pay for the electricity to all accepted bids. Any bids over that cost will not be considered.
Hauersperger stated the electric committee had considered bidding zero to ensure they were in the running as a provider, however, the board decided since there was a possibility that all the providers would bid zero they may as well bid something on the chance it would be accepted.
According to Chairman Wayne Schuetter, this could affect how the workforce at the power plant is maintained.
Water Department – Water manager Mike Oeding reported Beaver Lake was within 14 to 16 inches of being full and the wind was splashing waves over the dam.
Oeding also reported bid packages on the Third Ave. Project will be available in the next day or two.
He requested certain items in the department be designated as surplus items and either sold or junked.
Wasterwater Manager, Ed Hollinden asked the board to designate certain items in the department as surplus items to be sold.
He also reported the truck from Uebelhor and Son’s met specs and he had ordered it.
Hollinden also recognized Phil Bonifer’s 25 years of service to the department.
Wastewater committee report – The country club sewer failed its inspection and Alpine Investments would like to install a gravity fed line to hook up on Emily Street. Due to existing easements and private property owners, the board decided to hold another wastewater committee meeting to examine the issue.
Business office manager Ashley Kiefer requested and the board approved changing the business office assistant position from temporary/part time to permanent/part time.
Hauersperger requested a payment be made on the Northside Water Tower project. The board approved paying $117, 365. The amount pays for the project accept for $3000 held for cleanup around the site and a second inspection.
The board approved providing lamp posts for the German American Bank Boulevard being developed by Redevelop Old Jasper Action Coalition (ROJAC). Story on the project here.
