We're live. >> Yep. >> This is the beginning of the public agility commission meeting. Um March 4th, 2026 at 3 p.m. Um I'll call the meeting to order. Roll
call. We have uh myself, Craig, Shane, Charles is here, Scott, and Matt. Matt Matt from the electric department. Um, basically, we have two agenda items. We
have an update on the power plant unit number one, and an update on the wastewater plant, Mercury. So, do I have uh between Charles and I, do you approve the agenda, Charles? >> It looks like a great agenda. >> Okay, agenda is approved. Moving on to
the first item, uh power plant unit one update. Um back in January, we had a stator exciter melt on engine one, and that's the main part of the engine
that produces our voltage. And right now we're in the process of getting bids to get that replaced. It's going to be a while because parts come from like Belgium >> and another part's going to be from the
United States, but then it'll be fixed right there on site. >> Okay. So, you're just waiting to get bids on the Yep. on the equipment you need. >> Yep. On the parts and then what it'll cost to >> install it.
>> Get all that installed. >> Okay. >> Maybe next month I can bring that to you. >> Okay. >> That's one of three units. Right. >> Correct. Yeah. >> The biggest our biggest one. >> Motor. >> And is it uh is it being out the fact
that it's out of operation? Is that >> problematic? Um not right now. It would be if they were calling on us for power or >> correct. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> We can still export >> what we can export
>> what we have and then >> but um for town it'd be close >> if the whole town >> what the load is. Yeah. And what we can produce. >> Yeah. >> With just the two running two and three. >> Yeah. And what what do you imagine the
schedule would be for getting it back online? >> I'm not sure. Two months. >> Okay. >> That's that's a guess. >> Yeah. But we'll say it's not next week and it's not July either.
>> No, I don't think so. Okay. >> Yeah. Parts are available. They are. Just got to get them. Okay. And what's the expense do you imagine? >> We don't know for sure that I'll be able to bring to you next
month what the estimate's going to be. >> Mhm. >> He was going to try to get it to me today, but he he didn't. >> But again, is this a $5,000 deal? $50,000 deal. >> It'll be over 50. Probably >> more than 50. Yeah.
>> Yeah. We did get one bid from Cumins. That was $138,000. >> Wow. >> Installed. >> To take that end out of the motor, out of the building, bring it to the cities, have it rewound,
>> put it all back in, bring it back up, and install it. >> Okay. >> But that the new plan is not >> refurbish it rather just replace it. >> Right. We want the genuine parts that are for that end >> in back in there.
>> And they do make them still. So, and we can get them. >> Okay. >> And we have our main mechanic who was there on day one who built the power plant. >> Oh, okay. >> Kim Panka was there from day one. So,
he said, "Let's not touch that one. Let's go with a different route." which he found all the parts and a new company to that works on just those generator ends. >> So, >> okay. >> And where is the company? Where are they located?
>> They're in Louisiana. >> Oh my. >> So, they're going to come all the way up here to do the work. Well, >> that's their main job is to do just those. Interesting. >> But we expect to have a bid or know more
about it within how much time? >> Couple weeks. >> Yeah. Okay. There was some paperwork we had to get into that company and then once that's done then they'll be able to hopefully get it
a bid completely made up for us. >> Yeah. And it sounds like you're expecting somewhere between 50 and 100,000. Yeah. >> Yeah. Tim pretty much said he figured it'd be half of what this comments was. >> Okay. That's all.
>> Okay. Then once you get the bid and the parts aligned, then you just got to schedule >> Yep. >> maintenance, >> right? >> Okay. Okay. You got any other questions, Charles? >> This is This was related to the power surges, was it? Or was it? >> No.
>> Or the one line being out? >> No. >> No. Just this is just its own thing. Just decided to do this. It's over 20 years old. >> Yeah. >> The plant up there. >> Yeah. >> It just turned 1,000 hours
>> on each motor. >> Okay. It doesn't seem like a lot, does it? Or is it? >> It's not. >> Yeah. >> Not a lot at all. >> Go during the cold snap. It went out when it was 40 below. >> Oh, really?
>> Our last couple days of 40 below in January. >> Was it running? >> We were running 24 hours a day. And around Simpa, there were a few other instances where generating units like this went down >> and the explanation was just when it's
really cold and they're running full blast. That's when you find out, you know, weaknesses because they're running 24/7 full blast and and they were run 24/7 to assist with the load just in town or was this being exported?
>> It was the export. Oh, okay. I was told it was a lot because Iowa was really cold. That's why we were helping. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, man.
Okay. Um, next item is an update on the wastewater plant concerning mercury. And I'll have Scott talk about that. >> My first question is is where should I
start? >> Well, I've heard a little bits and pieces of what's been going on, but um >> Okay. All right. That that's where I'll start then. >> Yeah. Just bring it up bring us up to date. So, uh, back in December, we got a letter
from, uh, concerned citizens group that, uh, was stating that they want us to stop taking the leech from the cliffs pond and, uh, Minnesota Power and Light Pond down by Takenite Harbor. And so the
the reason was was high mercury or they they felt that we had there were high mercury and that mercury was they felt that mercury was a pass through um to the wastewater plant. Um I can tell you that it is not and we remove
approximately 97 to 98% of the mercury that comes in. Now keep in mind we're dealing with parts per trillion which is a very very small number and we also in this whole process we have
changed chemicals that we use to settle the solids that uh at the wastewater plant. Mercury is likes to stick to the outside of the bacteria. That's called ad absorption.
Uh we're all all familiar with absorption. You know, like a sponge absorbs water. Absorption means it sticks to the outside. And so the the bugs grab onto the mercury or whatever is there and that goes that stays with the the mercury stays with the bacteria
and then um that bacteria goes through our sludge processing and then ends up in duth where they further treat it and then land apply it for with the rest of their sludge. And so, uh,
so we've had a little bit of preliminary conversations with, uh, Minnesota Power and Light and with, uh, Cliffs. Uh, nothing has been decided. I know that, uh, Mike had sent a letter to the Concerned Citizens Group. Um, I don't
know the status of that. Uh, there was some talk about a meeting, but I I don't know what that status is. And then uh uh uh hopefully Mike and I will be able to have a meeting with uh Minnesota Pollution Control Agency tomorrow afternoon
uh to discuss some of these issues. Uh one thing that I do want to pass along is that uh middle of February we took samples for mercury. Now this would be just the city of Grand Marray. uh we on the
influence side of things. So the sewage coming into the plant there was a 38 parts per trillion mercury. Now I'm going to take a little bit of a sidlight here. Our new permit, new wastewater permit allows us 6.1
parts per trillion uh in an average >> on the export side >> on on what leaves the plant. >> Yeah. So 6.1 is is the phase one number which is where we're at right now in the permit phase
>> sorry what leaves the plant in terms of discharge to the lake or >> discharge to the lake yes or sludge >> discharge to the lake so our effluent water the the treated water that goes to the uh that goes to Lake Superior. Um so
normally uh we're allowed by permit 6.1 then uh in phase two we will be allowed 1.8 parts per trillion. The results that we just got back were 0.8
parts per trillion significantly below the uh the permit requirement for phase two. And so I I speculate that this will have an effect on us being able to uh accept uh Minnesota Power Light and
Cliff's uh leech at least from a treatment standpoint because uh uh Cliffs is giving us uh two and a fraction parts per trillion um in of mercury in their LEA and Minnesota Power and Light is giving us just over
six parts per trillion. >> Yet we are at 38. >> 38 is what was coming into the wastewater plant with just the city. >> Yeah. I I feel like I ask this question all the time, but I can never figure it out.
Where is that 38? If if we're getting out of the lee, you know, sub 10 numbers, how come we're getting 38 in our uh inflow to the plant? Mercury is one of those weird creatures that comes in in a different a number of different
ways. It can come in from the rainwater. It can come in from the ground water as it flows past granite and other rocks in the ground because mercury is in those rocks and it comes out. And then we also
get it from uh very old um dental activities. Um, if you got silver fillings in your mouth, you've got mercury in your mouth. Um, your body does flush some of that away. And,
um, some of it, uh, it could be from, uh, old laboratory activities. It could be it could be found in, uh, old, uh, chemicals that were dumped in the ground and they've worked their way to the wastewater plant. These are just
textbook answers, not not guaranteeing that they actually do happen here. >> Yeah. Just guessing where it might be from. Right. >> Correct. >> And and when you say it's it's in the ground or, you know, had been dumped, >> um that that suggests that we're getting
groundwater infiltration into our >> Absolutely. >> So that's just that's just infiltration into old pipes. >> Yes. Yeah. When you've got a a clay tile line that's got a joint every four to six, maybe 10 feet, uh you're going to
get a lot of water that flows in because there's no gasket in those joints. >> Yeah. >> And so water flows in, water flows out. It's just a matter of where does the where can the water go the easiest. Um, also a a fact of mercury is that
it's heavier and so a lot of times it'll sit in those joints and when we get a higher flow or the right ground conditions, some of that mercury gets flushed out. In other communities, I know when when the jetting activities happen because
the mercury levels go up because those pipes got cleaned >> as they get cleaned. >> As they get cleaned. Yes. Because that water into the system. Yeah. >> Yep. >> Yeah. So, is it And is there any uh
how often do we do mercury sampling? We sample normally for mercury as part of our permit twice in May and we sample both influent and affluent and then uh twice in September we sample both influent and affluent
>> and then the material that goes to duth we sample that twice a year for mercury and I don't know what that um number that is that goes to duth as part of the
solids It's part of the sludge. Um, it's it's in the milligrams per kilogram range, which is is a dry weight dry product ratio. And we are well below the
limits of what the MPCA allows us to to land apply if we were going to land apply. and and um WLSSD they have to follow that same rule of you know that same level of mercury once they start getting
up to half of the maximum number they've got to do extra sampling and there's some other requirements um so they do their best to monitor us so that way they don't have uh WLSSD doesn't have a mercury problem
>> when they land a play >> well you would think from all just that uh there isn't really there isn't really there shouldn't be a big issue. I mean we we're removing so
much of it as it is. We're our effluent is below discharge rates. The stuff we're shipping off to Duth is also um well within limits. Um so where's the problem or is there a problem? The concerned citizens group was uh raising
the issue because they want as little of mercury going into the lake as possible. >> Sure. >> Right. But but yet it seems like we should be quite easily able to tell them, yeah,
we're trying to remove as much burger as as possible. Also, we were happy to do that and we are actually uh doing such a good job that we're well below the limits already and will be even below the limits once those new limits come in place which are even more stringent.
>> Keep in mind that we've only done one sampling event with this new chemical and so it's entirely possible that uh we might not we might have anothers that are lower, we might have some that are higher. So I I'll throw that caveat out there. We're We've only been using this
new chemical for a couple of months. >> The new chemical is designed to remove mercury. >> It is It's designed to rem It's designed to help the solids settle out better. >> Yeah. >> Or it's it's a what what what that chemical does
is it's it's essentially a magnet for whatever will stick to it. and the chemical supplier chooses the right chemical for us based off of jar testing. And so the chemical that they chose for us and that we've tried uh on
a trial basis and for real, which we're doing now, uh proves that their their numbers were were very good and uh they their choice was a very good choice. Uh, >> so where's the mercury here going? If we get 37 in and
you know a few parts per million per trillion out both in the sludge or the effluent, where is the mercury? >> The the mercury goes out into the sludge. The the uh we measure mercury in
the sludge as a parts per million basis where where we deal with the effluent, it's a parts per trillion. Oh, >> so it's a significant difference. There's there's a lot more mercury going goes to the sludge than what we ever
want to see going out into the lake. >> I see. So then it becomes but so just on a sort of a like a mass balance uh way of thinking of it. So comes in at 37 we'll say. >> Yep.
>> And we discharge at a few parts per trillion. One, two, six maybe. So there's >> another 30 or so that goes somewhere and you're saying but it goes is into the sludge and then
that goes down to the duth and becomes wsd's problem. >> That's correct. Yeah. That that roughly 30 that you had alluded to that is what goes to duth. That is it's exactly that a mass balance. Yes. >> Yeah. Yeah.
Okay. But the the concerned citizens, they're not so much worried about what's happening at WSST. They're concerned about what we're discharging to the lake. >> I think ultimately they're concerned about what anybody's putting into the lake. >> Yeah. >> Uh so it's we'll have to see what
happens. >> Mhm. >> One comment that I was made aware of is that uh rainwater is approximately 10 parts per trillion >> just coming out of the sky. >> Just coming out of the sky. Yes. Mhm. >> But as that water that water scrubs the
air >> Yeah. >> and it it just pulls down particulates, pulls down anything that it can. >> Mhm. >> And that that goes into the lake whether it goes through the wastewater plant or not. >> Right. >> So the concern then you have a meeting
with MPCA. >> Yes. Tomorrow afternoon. >> Okay. And then I know I don't know if Mike reached well I know he reached out. I think maybe he's waiting for the NPCA meeting. We're going to have a meeting with the other
party. But I think their concern is the cliffs and Minnesota Power Ponds. That's their concern. So I guess we need to We're not processing that stuff right now, are we? >> At the moment. We are not accepting
their >> okay >> their water >> until we can figure out >> Yeah. >> what the solution to it is. >> Yep. >> Through dealing with our permit and the MPCA. Yep.
>> Okay. But I I thought you just said that the the water coming from those ponds has a quite a bit lower mercury concentration than the water we get naturally through our sewer system. >> That is a true statement.
>> Okay. Okay. So, and they're two different ponds. >> Yeah. Two companies, two different ponds. >> Two companies, two different ponds. Two different products in the ponds, I guess I could say. >> Yep. >> Yeah.
>> But >> they get tested, >> right? >> And they test >> they do test >> they're responsible for testing those >> they Yes, they test their own liquids once a year, >> right? Okay. Once a year. Okay. >> That that's what their permit requires of them. >> Okay.
>> Okay. Well, I guess we're going to know more after these meetings. >> Yep. Are you concerned? >> The plant has proven that it can treat mercury. >> Uh and to meet based off of this one
sampling point, um we can we've proven that we can we can handle it. Uh we we definitely need to continue sampling and we are going to based off of our permit and if if there's ever an opportunity that it makes sense, we will take other samples.
the the mercury battery um is about $500 for the influent and another 500 for the affluent. So it's it's not a cheap test to run. >> Yeah. >> And so we want to be careful in doing it, but we don't want to uh uh be too
careful the other direction either. >> Right. And do you have any sense of what the MPCA's take on this whole thing is? We're meeting our requirements of our permit. So, I'm not sure at this point
in time. >> Yeah. >> But in theory, they should be content. >> I believe they should be content, but that is just my opinion. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> How do others
rate? I mean, you have Two Harbors, Silver Bay. Is that data available to compare? are >> I it is public data. I simply do not know how to access it. >> Okay.
All right. Well, thank you for the information. I know that there was a meeting coming up with the MPCA to discuss the concerns. um that we were presented with and we've done
something to as far as due diligence not to accept anything right now until we can figure out what what the numbers are and the new chemical that we're using. So, okay,
that meeting is here. I believe it's a teams teams or zoom or something. >> Oh, it's a zoom. Okay. >> All right. Well, I'm sure shortly after that or our next meeting, we'll probably be faced with some more uh information, a lot
more information. So, we'll know more. >> Yep. >> Okay. Got any more questions about that? >> Nope. >> Um I don't have any other items. Do you have any other items? >> Yeah. I have one thing that I'd like to
talk about. So, this is concerning uh a scholarship program that SIMPA is offering. And a couple of years ago, the PUC used to offer a scholarship through MMUA called the Tomb Bob Scholarship. Yeah.
>> And it awarded $1,000 to a a local kid who was graduating uh and and headed off to college in 2024. So that scholarship, MMUA, discontinued it. But in 2024, SIMPA
after some members expressed interest in offering a scholarship um started a scholarship in itstead. And there are there are currently uh seven members that are
using Simpa's scholarship in their communities to offer to uh graduating seniors. Um, and so I guess our question is, do we want to join in and offer a scholarship
similar to the Tomboid scholarship? Um, but just this is money that's coming from SIMPA. And the way it would work it and Simp kind of developed a framework for the scholarship, but essentially kids would apply uh they would fill out
an application um you know name and basic information and then they would write an essay uh 300word essay on the importance of public service or some other prompt. We can we can change these things. Um and
then they would you know list their academic achievements and their other extracurricular activities volunteer and so we would get a like an application from these kids and I think the names would be removed you
would review and you would select >> so we did it last time on the other >> yes >> process of the other one >> and uh and so the question here and we can if you want to we can build out, you know, the the application information
and all the other details and send that up to Simpa and then they can the money comes from SIMPA to the >> kid >> to the kid. So, it never really passes through us, but it would be up to a board you to do the selection process.
>> Still a thousandk I mean $1,000. >> Yep. $1,000. And um I was just going to see if >> So the other one ended. Is that what you're saying? >> Yeah. MmUA discontinued it. >> Okay. Well, I think
>> why not? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> We need a vote on that or just We both agree that I think we want to continue that scholarship. We've always had a scholarship through the PUC >> that was uh
>> um similar >> similar format similar >> um and this is easy simp has offered you know some a rubric and a scoring sheet and an application and so
>> we can use theirs we can tweak it slightly uh um and then we can put it out to the Yeah. So, we have to notify them that we want to be >> Yep. We'll tell them. >> Okay. >> They're meeting next week. So, yeah. But
I'll just send an email off to Joe. Okay. >> Say that we're interested. >> Yeah. Great. >> Good. >> Cool. And I can get you more information. Um, you know, >> I'm sure that the timing of that is probably >> Yeah. May
>> sometime in May, >> I think >> choices are made prior to graduation, I'm sure. >> Yep. Yep. >> Most Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. But we can get the the information out, put a deadline on there, and then
>> get the ball rolling so we can advertise it when all the other scholarships are advertised locally. >> That's how we always do it. >> Yeah. I think it it's worth pointing out that any kind of essay or anything that you're gonna have is going to be
influenced by, you know, these these language models that can write essays for kids. So, >> um, just take that into account that you you may be reviewing. >> Um, >> and the kids are, you know, the kids are learning how to use these tools in school and so they they're probably
going to use them to >> Well, we're going to have them we're going to invite them in to sit down at a desk with a clean sheet of paper. >> There you go. So, >> they got two hours to write this essay. >> Yeah. >> So, but it's a balance because we want people we want kids to apply. um you
know we don't want just it to be too the bar can't be too low but it can't be too high because if no one applies for the scholarship then we didn't really achieve >> and the kids are applying for all these scholarships and there's many of them other than this one >> you know and we got quite a few good ones last year so it was interesting to
read them >> okay >> okay I'll put that I'll I'll get the ball rolling on that it thanks >> yeah you're long as you're here. Maybe you could give a brief report on what seems to me to be a nice success on
getting that second or the the uh charger >> established. Oh, here. >> Yep. So, the charger's up and running. >> It's got the same power capability as the old one, 50KW. It has two
>> heads, so it can it can actually charge two vehicles at once. >> Uh the old one couldn't. The old one had two plugs, but if one was in use, the other one was not active. This one, you plug in two cars at the same time or or one car is charging, another car pulls
in, and it just diverts the power. Uh, so it can charge two at once. It's been operational for about a week. We've already had a few cars charge on it. >> Nice. >> Somebody dropped a nice, you know, 33 bucks or what did we look at the other day? $33 charge.
>> So, that's much better than the level two. people only seem to spend four $6 on a charge because it's just not enough power. But with the fast charger, they're >> using more power. So, >> they're charging. >> We'll start to see more charging
sessions on that. Um, >> yeah. So, up and running, true to their word. Zeph did not charge us a nickel for it. So, it was just kind of the contract negotiation and some legal legal work with uh with the agreements and uh and that thing showed up and they
installed it. They commissioned it. >> They installed it. So, you didn't you didn't have to do it. >> You weren't you weren't part of it. >> These guys prepared the site and the pad was there and and the conduit for the power, but yeah, the rest of it was done by Hunt Electric and Zeff and uh it's
already Yeah. up in our monitoring software. So yeah, and then the Tridium charger that's over the campground is slated to be repaired still. So it's possible that we get that repaired and
moved over here as well. So we could have a three cars that get charged on fast charger. >> Yeah. So it's a good improvement. >> Yeah. At least people will be
happy to see a fast charger back in operation when the when the tourism season kicks off because >> I know I know the drivers the EV drivers they like fast chargers. The slow chargers are not they're not doing it for them. So >> yeah,
>> good. Good. Well, way to go. That's that's great to get the thing running and >> Yeah. and and I remember there's the maintenance supposedly the maintenance program was supposed to be improved anyway or at least where's optimism that it's going
to work a lot better >> in theory if a p if there's a issue with something that is like a hardware issue that there's like they can pull a chunk like a pull a piece out and then replace that piece >> rather than like
>> the whole thing >> Yeah. So the the Chem Power company has a better reputation for staying like being functional, but then also, oh, this is broken. We'll just swap it out. >> And we have a some sort of maintenance
agreement contract. >> Yeah, maintenance agreement with Zeph. They'll cover our maintenance for a number of years. >> Good. >> Oh, my brother-in-law will be happy. >> Yep. Yeah. So, it's it's out in the and um it
it it showed up and it wasn't operational for about a week or two and I was on I was looking at plug share to see what was like to see if we needed to add this charger once it was operational and the EV drivers had already found it,
photographed it and said coming soon. So, that was just a couple of weeks. You know, it shows up, no one's charging on it. No one's it's it's not on the site, but they added it like crowdsourced added it as like this is coming soon >> and now it's >> up ready to go and
>> photos of it that you know >> Yeah. a very connected user group. Yeah. >> The the EV drivers, they're >> they're all over the place. They're just driving around taking pictures of these things and talking to each other about which ones are good and bad. So, we want to definitely have a better reputation
than we did, which was, hey, this thing's broken. >> Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, >> good. One way to go. It's good. >> Yep. >> All right. >> Everything more. >> Okay. >> Well, then I move to you may to >> I will move to.
>> You move to ajourn. I'll accept that. I'll second that. Me getting a journ. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Thanks, Matt. >> Thanks, Matt. Thank you. Thanks.