Good afternoon. I will call to order the public utilities commission meeting for Tuesday, February 24th, uh, 2026. Uh, the first item on our agenda today is our cons consent agenda. Um, Dan, is there any comments on the utility report
for this month? Um, no, pretty much has been a typical February. Kind of waiting for spring to ramp up and get going again. >> Got it. Okay. >> Wrapping up a few long lingering projects. >> All right. If there's no further comment, I'll take a a motion on the
consent agenda. >> I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I'll second. >> All right. We have a motion and a second. Um, is there any further discussion? If not, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Uh, next up is our uh, employee of the month
recognition. >> Um, yeah, I'll take that. Uh, employee of the month this month is Lynn Averil. Lynn is our one of our meter readers. Lynn arrives to work each day with a cheerful dispers disposition, excuse me. A positive attitude and adaptability
whatever the job asks is unique. She is always eager to assist other departments when needed. Her hard work, cons consistency regardless of the weather and situation make her truly re
deserving of this recognition and I will attest she always does have a very positive attitude even with some difficult stuff. >> Fantastic. >> Make a motion to recognize Lynn Aval as the employee of the month for January 2026.
>> I'll second that. >> All right, we have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? If not, all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you very much, Lynn. Uh on the new business, um item 3.1, cogen and small production
rate schedule. >> Good afternoon, commissioners. Um we are asking for approval for um updated co-generation and small power production rates um for 2026 to be
effective with the April 1, 2026 billing. Um essentially for the city of New Public Utilities that is solar um but it could be any renewable energy. Um and so three categories of that rate
schedule have been updated per calculations that we do um each year at this time. And the net energy billing rates, you can see the changes there on the residential rates, we're going from 14.35 cents per kilowatt hour to 14.6.
Small commercial rates are going from 13.69 per kilowatt hour to 13.81. and large commercial rates are changing from 10.97 cents per kilowatt hour to 11.17.
Also, um simultaneous purchase and sale billings, those rates are actually going to be going down just a bit from 2.304 cents per kilowatt hour to 2.192. And the time of day purchase rates are
also going to be going down just a bit um from 2.304 cents per kilowatt hour to 292. All right. I don't have any any comment. I'll entertain a motion. I'll make a motion
to offer the resolution to approve the new home public utilities co-generation and small power production rate schedule for 2026 to be effective with the April 1st, 2026 billing. >> I'll second. >> All right. Uh we have a motion and a
second. Um is there any further or any discussion further discussion on this? If not, all in favor say I. I. I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Uh now on to carryovers for year end. Um yes, commissioners. Um at the end of
each year, um we ask for budget carryovers from the prior year to the current year. And um there are several line items included within the 2025 budget, but due to various reasons were not expended during 2025. And therefore,
we're requesting um that the commission authorize modifying the 2026 budget to carry over um the following items. And they are all listed there. There's several of them this year um for each department. And these are purchase orders that were existing at the end of
2025. We're carrying those over to the extent that there is still budget available. Um and also um capital projects that were in process at the end of the year. um also carrying over the remainder of those budgets for um to
2026 as well to the extent that they are available. I'll make a motion to approve the year-end budget carryovers for the year ended December 31st, 2025. >> I'll second that. >> All right. Um again, we have a motion and a second. Um, is there any further
discussion? If not, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Now on item 3.3, replacement valves for water treatment plant. Good afternoon, commissioners. U in your packet tonight, uh, we do have our
replacement valves for the 2026 budget for the water treatment plant. This is an additional five valves. um basically for one of the filter cells um that we would be getting these uh now placing
the order it's about a 12 to 18 week lead out. So get them coming and then once we get them here then we'll we'll start talking about labor to to replace them. Is that a second quote for labor to
install them or do we >> Yeah, that'll be a separate That'll be a separate. I'll bring that back once we have them in in stock. >> And this was part of the plan for 26. >> 26. Yes. Okay. >> Yep. Okay.
I'll make the motion to authorize the city manager to accept the quote from Besco Incorporated in the amount of $70,125 for the purchase of five replacement valves in the water treatment plant.
>> We have a motion and a second. Um, is there any further discussion? If not, all in favor say I. I. >> Opposed? Uh, motion carries. Um, next up for the water plant, um, is some valve replacement project. >> So, this is for the labor to replace the
valves that were purchased in the 2025 budget. Um, we we're still waiting for a couple of those valves to come in. Um, but once we have them in, then this this will be the labor to do that work for it's actually six valves because there's
a 36-in valve uh that will take care of the filter effluent from all five filters that will need to be replaced as it is not holding either. So, >> so it says it takes approximately 5 to seven years. Is that >> So, the we have five filter cells that
we're going to be going through. So we're we're doing them as a one filter at a time so that we're not impacting the entire >> system >> system, you know, kind of just doing it incrementally here as we go along. Okay. >> This is something we started like two
years ago, ordering these valves and stuff >> to get ready for the plant media replacement and some of these other projects so we don't have a huge change order or something's not working. when we finally get to the really big project. >> Yeah. Increment it. >> So everything's functioning in good
working order when they come to do the big project. >> Gotcha. Okay. I'll make a motion to authorize the city manager to accept the quotes from Minnesota Mechanical Solutions Incorporated and the combined amount of
$29,550 for the labor and materials to remove and replace six valves in the water treatment plant. >> I'll second. All right, we have an a motion and a second. Um, is there any further discussion? If not, all in favor
say I. I. Opposed. Um, next I is north side booster pump replacement number two. >> Yes, commissioners. This, uh, project was, I believe, started in 2024. Um, we have the pump, we have all the parts
now. We have the quotes to do the labor. And that's what this is is the labor for um that finishing that project. So um again, project started before I I was here. If if Dan could maybe give a little bit more history on it, but I I
think it's pretty straightforward as far as what we're doing. We got all the pieces and parts together and now it just needs to be uh taken care of. So >> I believe it's replacing an old Ellis Charmer's pump that no longer supported. They don't even make pumps anymore. Yeah,
>> I believe the pump was I haven't looked at it recently, but original to when it was built early 80s, I think. So, it's served its useful life. Putting a new VFD on with it. All controls. >> It's time. >> Yeah. Sounds like we're getting some
things replaced or in implemented now with the the labor portion with all the parts showing up. >> Yeah. So, these lead times have been >> real long. >> Would have just made it lag forever. >> Yep. All right. Very good. I'll take a motion on that. I'll make the motion to
authorize the city manager to accept the quote from MMS. Um, so or Minnesota Mechanical Solutions Incorporated in the amount of $23,860 for the replacement of pump number two at North Booster Station.
>> I'll second that. >> We have a motion and a second. Um, is there any further discussion? >> Not. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Um, next up is Courtland lift station equipment replacement.
>> Um, we talked about the bulk of this equipment last month, commissioners. >> This was kind of a last quote we were looking for and assessing the need for, but again, with these lead times, we're just ordering the actual hardware now. We will get the quotes and get it
installed when the hardware finally does show up. Um, they didn't have it on this one, but I know last month some of the stuff had at least a six-month lead time. and the pessimism in me, I'll believe it when it's in our possession. >> Yeah. >> Are lead times starting to get better in
general at all? >> Yes, they are. >> And on electrical equipment in particularly um our large transformer that we ordered for the center substation. We're talking about actually delivering it early potentially. >> Nice. >> So maybe there is a light at the end of
the tunnel. >> Yeah. But believe it when you see it, I guess. Yes. >> That sounds good. I'll make the motion to authorize the city manager to accept the bid from Parkson Corporation for the Courtland Lift Station Equipment Replacement
Screening Washer Press in the amount of $80,000. >> Second. >> All right, we have a motion and a second. Um, is there any further discussion? If not, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Motion carries. Uh, next up is our
appointments. Um, I don't know if you've been on them before. I've been on cable commission. I don't mind continuing to do that one. And >> Mr. President, I'd stay on the uh personnel committee if it's all right. >> I will as well. I was on there. >> Are you good with that, Colleen?
>> I'm fine with that. >> Um, how should I announce that? >> So, I would just appointments um same as last 2025 appointments will carry forward to 2026. >> All right. Um, so I approve the uh 2025 appointments will carry forward as the
2026 uh commissioner appointments for cable commissional advisory board and the personnel committees. All right. >> And all in favor? >> Oh yeah. So all in favor say I. >> I opposed. All right. The motion will
carry. Next up is uh item 3.8 our natural gas interconnect. >> Okay. This is um refreshing. >> Sorry. Sorry. Can we go back to that last one? I think we need a second. We only had a I'll second that. Okay.
>> Okay. We have a motion in a second. >> Um is there any further discussion? If not, all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed? >> All the motion carries. >> Now we'll go on to our natural gas interconnect. >> Okay. Yeah, this is the re we're doing
the contract. The last one was uh 20-year contract that is lapsing at the end of March with our Hutch interconnect. They are the primary gas um delivery pipeline that we have come.
You know, we do have a backup that's through Northern Natural, but this is the one that we use 99.9% of the time. The Northern Natural is strictly a backup and actually cannot support new in the middle of winter. It
doesn't have enough capacity to completely support New. And I know the lawyer and everybody has well vetted this contract. So, this should be the last step. Good. And how long is this one for? Five years. >> I thought it was for 20. This is
actually Dave's gas that Dave's item. He just asked me to >> Okay. Uh, it is 5 years. I stand corrected. >> So, it must just be okay. Continue to renew every five years >> and it'll auto renew the way it looks. >> Okay. Very good.
>> All right. I'll take a a motion on that. I'll make the motion to offer the resolution authorizing the city manager to sign a natural grass interconnect agreement with Hutchinson Utilities to supply natural gas to the new public utilities which feeds the city of Newm.
>> I'll second. >> All right, we have a motion and a second. Um, is there any further discussion? If not, we'll call the role. >> Yes, it's thinking. Okay. Commissioner Skiillings, >> yes. >> Commissioner Williams,
>> yes. >> Commissioner Bugler, I hope I'm saying that right. Okay. >> Uh, and Commissioner Visser, President Visser, >> yes. >> Okay, that >> motion. Oh, we got to call. Should we do that now? >> Yeah. >> All right. We We do have to follow back
up with item 3.1. We'll have to call the RO on 31. So, I'll take a I'll take a motion on uh 3.1. >> So, we already have a motion by Skillings and a second by >> Yep. Um so, Commissioner Skiillings, >> yes. >> Commissioner Williams,
>> yes. >> Commissioner Bugler, >> yes. >> President Bisser, >> yes. Motion carries. Sorry about that. >> Uh last up on our new business is our purchase of 8 13.2 KVA breakers.
>> Yeah, this is a receive an order filed. We approved this administratively at the utility um a little over a month ago. We received a quote that was only good for a limited amount of time which saved us effectively $21,250
for each breaker and we were ordering eight breakers. We were planning on doing two at a time over four years, but with that kind of savings and some good pricing on getting them installed, we may be able to eliminate more than a year's worth of the project
with a total savings of the utility 15,000 that was budgeted for the outlying years. This does put this item over budget for this year, but we will just be installing them next year when we have a new budget. And there is a
lead time. It will take a little bit for them to get here. So, they'll be fine on the shelf until our next budget. >> No, I think that's cool. It's important to know. Yeah, we're saving over $200,000 on the breakers. Plus, the savings with the lead time reduction is huge of the project.
>> We may be able to I'd like to see it done in two years. That may be overly optimistic. We may be we will be done in three years. It won't go the full four now, which is great. >> Yeah, that's fantastic. We'll take those wins when we can get them. Right. I'll entertain a motion on that.
>> I'll I'll make the motion to receive an order filed to quote and purchase of eight breakers for the power plant substation from Eaton Corporation. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion and a second. Um is there any further discussion? Not all in favor say I.
>> I. Um opposed. Motion carries. Last item is our report of claims. I'll make the motion to accept the list of claims paid in the amount of 5,589,12566. >> Second. >> All right, we have a motion and a second. Um, is there any further
discussion on the report of claims? If not, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Um, is there any further comments from our commissioners tonight? If not, uh, we're adjourned. Thank you, everybody.