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All right, we've got six o'clock PM.
It's Thursday, August 20th, 2026. I'm

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here to call to order this meeting of
the utility commission for this evening.

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Could we have a roll call, please?
>> Tom

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» here.
>> Curtis

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» here.
>> Hammer is absent. Fininkler

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» here.
>> Anner

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» here.
>> Sanderson

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» here. Fry
>> here.

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» All right. This meeting this meeting has
been noticed in accordance with state

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statutes and local ordinances. The next
item is to approve the agenda for the

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evening.
>> Move to approve.

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» I will second.
>> We have a motion, a second to approve

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the agenda. Any discussion on the
motion? If none, all in favor, please

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say I.
>> I.

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» Any opposed? The agenda is approved. On
to public comment. Do we have anyone

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present this evening for public comment?
Seeing none, we'll move on to the

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consent agenda. We have three items
which is the approval of the July 16th

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minutes. Uh approve utility department's
cash dispersements report and accounts

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payable report and the outage report.
Are there any questions on the consent

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agenda items?
If not, I'll take a motion to approve.

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» Move to approve.
>> Second.

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» We have a motion and a second to approve
the consent agenda. Any discussion on

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the motion?
If not, we'll need a roll call for that

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then.
>> Curtis,

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» I.
>> Thinkler,

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» I.
>> Anler,

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» I.
>> Sanderson,

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» I.
>> Fry.

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» Hi,
>> Tom.

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» I.
>> All right, we'll move on to new

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business. Item number four, uh, is the
2025 utility audit presentation by Baker

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Tilly. Uh, for our annual, um, financial
review. We have director uh Dan Lehei

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with us this evening.
>> Hi.

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» Thanks for having me here today.

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» There you go. You're good.
>> Am I good?

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» All right.
Well, thanks for having me. I'll just

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give a quick introduction of myself.
I've been involved with the utilities

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audit for quite a while, but I haven't
presented in in a couple years. But my

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name is uh Dan Lee. I'm a director with
Baker Tilly. been with Baker Tilly out

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of our Madison, Wisconsin office for 15
years now. Uh like I said, I've been

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involved with the Columbus Utilities
Audit in some form or fashion since I

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first started with the firm. Uh this
year took on more of a supervisory role,

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director role, uh overseeing the work of
our staff. So here tonight to talk about

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the results of the 2025 audit. So we
have a couple graphs and charts to kind

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of go through here real quick uh to
summarize the results of the year. But

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uh before I get into that, I just want
to talk a little bit about our work and

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our deliverables that we've issued uh
and finalized as part of the audit

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process. So in addition to these graphs,
we've also issued um the financial

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statements themselves uh which includes
our auditor's opinion. Uh I'm pleased to

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report that the utilities received an
unmodified or clean audit opinion this

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year. Uh which is the highest form of
assurance that can be received. So what

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that tells you is that the financial
statements that are presented to the

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outside world are presented fairly and
accurately uh based off of the

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accounting rules uh in the United
States.

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We also issued a document uh called it's
called the reporting and insights from

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the 2025 audit. Uh it includes a couple
different deliverables. Uh the first

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being our required communications under
auditing standards. I call this sort of

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a no news is good news type document. uh
we have standard communications that we

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must issue every year and if there were
any sort of problems to report that's

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where you'd find that items reported
there but kind of have the standard

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communications no difficulties with
management the audit went uh as planned

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and and as scheduled
we also have a section of that report on

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internal controls uh so as part of the
audit process we do assess the internal

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controls of the utility uh we don't
issue an opinion on those controls but

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we do uh report any items uh to you
folks here that were are worthy of your

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attention. We did have one reportable
item uh it's it was called the material

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weakness over financial reporting and
essentially what that means is uh the

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utility has outsourced the
responsibility of preparing the

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financial statements to the auditors. Uh
and I'd say 95% of your peer

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organizations or other electric and
water utilities around you have the same

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issue. It's really a matter of staffing
and you know the cost benefit of hiring

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additional staff to prepare an annual
report that's done once a year versus

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outsourcing it to the auditors. So same
finding as in previous years. Uh but

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nothing unusual and like I said majority
of utilities your size have that same

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same recommendation. So with that I'll
get into the graphs here. Uh the first

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graph here just summarizes the electric
utilities results. Uh so we have a a

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trend analysis on the bottom that shows
revenues as compared to operating

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expenses. The top uh lighter blue line
represents operating revenues. So you

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can see uh operating revenues did
increase this year. Uh that was due to a

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a full the implementation of a full rate
increase uh that was effective in

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February 2024. So essentially we had a a
full year impact of that of that rate

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increase.
Uh you can also see that the uh at the

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top there we've summarized the uh
utility's rate of return. What that

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represents is the net operating results
uh of the utility uh based off of the

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rate of return that's authorized by the
public service commission of Wisconsin.

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The public service commission governs
your rates. So they they use this number

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to to design your rates and charges for
services. So, the utility did fall a

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little bit short of its authorized rate
of return this year. Uh, it's authorized

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for a 6.5% rate. It came in at 1.3. So,
it was an improvement uh from the prior

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year, but this could indicate that it
could potentially be time to take a look

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at your electric rates and consider a
rate increase uh in the near future. I

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know the utility has some uh larger
capital projects planned in the near

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future. So that's another good time to
kind of assess those rates and see where

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they stand. Um so that would kind of
coincide uh well with that.

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Moving on to the next slide for the
water results. Uh similar sort of graph

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trend analysis here. You can see uh
revenues u exceeded expenses in the

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current year. Um revenues did increase
due to another rate uh rate change that

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was effective in August 2025. Um so our
rate of return fell a little bit short

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on the water side as well. But hopefully
next year um with that the impact of

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that full year uh of that rate increase
that was effective towards the batter

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later half of the year uh we can get
that a little bit closer to your uh

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authorized rate of return. Again I do
know the water utility has some capital

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projects coming up too. So just
something to something to monitor and

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keep an eye on in the future.
Moving on to the next uh graph here. The

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water and electric utilities present a
combined financial statement. So here

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are some of the combined metrics that uh
we take a look at. The first one being

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the unrestricted cash on hand. Uh you
can see the utility has about $1.1

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million of unrestricted reserves. Uh
that represents about one a little over

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one month's worth of operations. Um the
government uh government government

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finance officers association has a
minimum recommendation of about 3 months

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there. So uh we'll want to kind of
continue to see that unrestricted

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reserve uh fund to continue to build.
It's sort of dip dip down in 2023 and

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you can see that it's sort of bouncing
up and starting to uh kind of build up

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again.
Uh the next uh ratio to cover is oop

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sorry can you go up back up one more? We
have the debt coverage calculation. Um

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what this represents is the utilities
ability to make uh payments on your

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revenue bonds and also cover uh your
operating expenses. Uh so you're

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required to have a coverage factor of
1.25 and you can see that the utilities

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uh healthfully exceeded that. So that's
a good metric to see and what we like to

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see uh from that perspective. The last
metric on this slide before we move to

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sewer results uh is the debt to equity
or the investment in capital ratio. What

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this measures is how much of the
utilities infrastructure is financed by

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debt versus how much is financed through
customer rates. Uh so the blue graph

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represents how much is f funded by
rates. Uh you can see it's about 89%. Uh

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we generally uh sort of expect to see
kind of a 50/50 split there. 50% debt,

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50% equity depends a little bit about on
the community and the the nature of the

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system. Uh so what this indicates is
that the utilities have capability for

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borrowing uh in the future for any sort
of significant capital projects uh that

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could come up. Uh moving on to the next
slide to talk about the sewer results.

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So there's a little bit more on this
graph uh or on this page, but similarly

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we're presenting sort of a five-year
trend analysis. Uh you can see this year

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expenses did increase uh a little bit up
to 2.3 million and did exceed uh

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operating revenue uh numbers.
What was driving that was there was a

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large maintenance expense this year for
some slip lining. Um you know, it's a

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it's a non-recurring expense that you
don't expect to have year-over-year. Um

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» slip lining.
>> Yeah. for like Yep. Yep. Um so I I think

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that makes up the majority of that
increase. Fortunately, revenues did also

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increase though. Uh that was due to the
u impacts of a rate increase that was

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effective in April of 2025. Uh I know
the utility also did increase rates in

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June of this year. So hopefully sort of
the combination of those two uh rate

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increases uh coupled with you know a
reduction in expenses from that one off

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in 2025 will sort of uh flip that number
a little bit so that the revenues uh

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will exceed expenses in future years.
Uh continuing on talking about the

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unrestricted reserve figures, uh you can
see that the sewer utility had about uh

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a little less than 700,000 in reserves
that represent uh little less than four

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months of operating uh statistic or
operating expenses. Um so it's again

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it's above that 3month minimum threshold
that uh you you'd want to be at. Um it

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has it has dipped down because there has
been larger capital projects that that

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maintenance expense. So something to
keep an eye on and something to monitor

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potentially uh for a future uh sewer
rate increase.

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Then moving on to the debt coverage
calculation. Uh you're required to meet

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a coverage factor of 1.25. Uh the
utility did fall a little bit short the

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last two years. So again, hopefully a
combination of the uh two rate increases

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that were just just implemented will
help uh mitigate that in the future. If

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not, uh might want to look into
potentially uh future rate increases for

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the sewer. I also know there's some
capital projects planned there. So, uh

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something to keep an eye on and
something to consider.

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Then lastly, the same ratio of the debt
to equity or the investment in capital.

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Again, this shows that uh the utility
has some uh borrowing capabilities. 59

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of the 59% of the assets are being
funded by rates. Uh so it's closer to

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that 50/50 ratio that we usually see
with capital intensive utilities. Um but

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again it's a positive number to report
and uh you're on the right side of it.

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You'd want to generally have more uh
equity than debt as it relates to that

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figure.
Any questions on the results of the

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audit or the financial numbers?

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» You asking about the entire audit
presentation

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» presentation or the audit itself.

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Page 13.
>> Can you turn your mic on, Jack?

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» Thank you.
>> Page 13 of the

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utility audit
liabilities, deferred inflows.

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Top of the page,

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liabilities
due to municipality

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$682,00025
and now $459,000

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this year. What does due to municipality
mean?

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» So that would be like inner fund
balances and I think it's note three

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within that document spells out what all
that's what makes that figure up. What

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what utility was that for? Or was that
for

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» electric?
>> Water and electric.

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» Water and electric.
>> No. Three. No. Three. Okay.

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» Um I do know there was an item that was
shown as an advance uh from the

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municipality this year for some some
debt proceeds on a borrowing that didn't

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quite close uh yet at the end of 2025.
All right.

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» Receivable payable. That would be it.
>> Yep. So that has some detail as to what

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makes up that balance.

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But I mean it's generally you know
operating costs. Um you said was it for

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water and light or water?
>> No it talks about the sewer but this is

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the water and light.

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» Yeah. And I think a lot of that is also
the uh pilot payment as well. The

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approval of the payment in L tax. Well
>> I understand pilot.

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» Yeah.
>> But pilot payment's not $65,000 a month.

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That's what got my attention. This is a
big number. Far above payment of Luan

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taxes.
>> Yeah.

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» The tax obligation of the utility is not
$65,000 a month.

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» Right. Right.
>> So

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I mean what what's the obligation
>> here? Can I actually

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So, yeah, looks like there are some
insurance uh charges, um some shared

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wages,
um costs for capital additions. Could be

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a timing issue, too, of when funds were
paid over to the municipality, but you

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know, if you need me to get more detail,
I can dig into this and and get back to

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you.

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» All right. Well, your number's in there,
huh?

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» Yeah.

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» In light of a later discussion tonight
um related to the sur utility,

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how
how does the audit look at our billing

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and verify that billing is being done
correctly?

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Um so what we typically do uh when
there's new rates implemented is we'll

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take a sample of customer bills and
recalculate um the actual charges based

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off of the new newly approved rates and
then we also independently look at

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revenues as a whole. Uh we take a look
at the prior year audited revenues

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factor in any changes in consumption uh
you know any increases in sales to your

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customers. factor in that overall
increase in rates and we kind of develop

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an independent expectation of what we
think the revenue totals will be and we

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compare that to the actual actual
figures themselves.

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» Are you aware that the utility was
incorrectly charging one of our large

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customers going back to January 1 of
2023?

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» Was is that a wholesale customer?
>> The village of Fall River.

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» Okay. Yeah, management did bring that to
our attention uh this year and we did

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acrewue the revenue related to that and
the related receivable.

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» Um so yeah, we were aware of that.
>> Did you look at that what that impact

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had on the the sewer operating?
Obviously we've been running at a

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deficit the last two years. Was there
any analysis if that would have been

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built correctly that we would have been
closer to break even point?

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Yeah, I mean it certainly would have
helped uh you know narrow that that loss

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or reduce that loss. Uh but the revenues
for the entire back billing are

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reflected in the current year's results.
So that revenue total of $2 million

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there does include that total back
billing. Um the it was a big number or

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you know over two years but the split
you you know the difference of what was

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00:16:59,920 --> 00:17:07,360
related to 2024 versus 2025 it was a it
was a number that was small enough where

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we were able to just record it all in
the current year rather than restating

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prior period results.

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» Thank you.
>> Any other questions?

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» One more followup. One more followup.
Is there a professional recommendation

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on how to resolve the difference between
Fall River and what we'd like to do?

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They owe us some back money, right?
And is there a

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approved procedure resolution that you
know of?

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» Yeah, it's probably more
>> I think the last hire they're they're

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00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:56,000
talking about hiring an attorney, right?
We're going to discuss that.

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00:17:52,559 --> 00:18:00,559
» I don't say those words specifically.
Neither did we. So,

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00:17:58,799 --> 00:18:04,559
» I think it'd probably be a question for
an attorney as to how far of a, you

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know, period you can go back to bill
based off of the Wisconsin statutes.

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It's not really something that's covered
by the audit. It'd be a question for an

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attorney, not not to say that you need
an attorney to resolve it, but hey,

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00:18:13,679 --> 00:18:20,120
what's what's what are we allowed to
actually back bill?

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00:18:16,559 --> 00:18:20,120
» It's not in your toolbox.

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00:18:21,120 --> 00:18:26,080
It's more of a laws and regulations
thing, you know, like what in and what

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00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:30,880
your attorney would be comfortable, you
know, defending essentially.

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» So, just to be clear,
our deficit

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includes the money that we're owed,
>> right? Yeah. Those revenues are recorded

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in the in 2025,

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00:18:42,559 --> 00:18:47,760
» I guess. How does that work if we don't
have it? We well you also have a

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receivable an accounts receivable
balance for it. And actually you'll

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00:18:49,679 --> 00:18:56,080
notice this year there's a a long-term
portion of that because last we talked

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00:18:53,919 --> 00:19:01,039
with the management team it was uh
determined it was going to be paid back

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00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:04,880
over a couple year period. So it's acred
in your revenues but you don't have the

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00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:08,559
cash in the door. So it has a we have an
accounts receivable balance recorded for

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that.
>> Yeah.

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» Thanks for clarifying.
>> Yeah. Thanks. Any other questions for

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00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:17,679
Dan while he's up? I see none. Thanks
for the presentation.

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00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:21,760
» Thanks. Yeah, just one more thing. I do
want to thank uh Ry's team for all their

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00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:25,840
help during the audit. They were uh very
very efficient and helpful with us. Gave

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00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:29,919
us all the answers we needed um and and
were very knowledgeable what was going

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00:19:27,360 --> 00:19:33,520
on. So, appreciate your time uh team's
time, Randy, and thanks for your help,

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too.
>> Thank you. Thanks.

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00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:45,520
All right, that was just a presentation,
so there's no action required. We'll

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move on to new business item number five
then, which is consider and take action

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on the funding of the storm water
utility.

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00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:05,039
» I I'll just give a little bit of a
background on this. The this same

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00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:10,880
presentation was provided to the city
council um ear couple months ago. This

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00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:17,200
was referred by the council to the
utility commission um with the I think

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00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:22,880
most are aware that the storm water
utility has been created. The challenge

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00:20:19,919 --> 00:20:27,840
is is is we have not identified how to
fund the storm water utility and that'll

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be the basis of Jason's discussion and
presentation this evening.

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00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:36,799
All right. Thank you, Matt. Uh, yeah,
I'm just here tonight to kind of go over

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00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:40,400
this presentation. You can see we
presented in May to the council. It's

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not the exact same presentation because
Sam's not here and Sam did a amazing job

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00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:50,559
when we were at council, but uh I'm
pinching for tonight because she's out

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00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:55,120
watching paving um on School Street. So,
uh the agenda tonight on the

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00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:58,320
presentation uh up there is uh we want
to talk a little bit about stormwater

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00:20:56,480 --> 00:21:03,280
management in general. Uh why it's
important. We want to review the city's

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00:20:59,919 --> 00:21:07,280
current storm water uh system. What do
we have? What are the challenges? Uh

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we're going to talk about some options.
Um what's the status of the stormwater

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00:21:09,679 --> 00:21:17,840
utility? Um obviously it's been quite a
few years since the last time that we've

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considered this and talk about some
implementation options. And obviously at

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the end there's some answers and
hopefully I got those for or questions.

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00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:31,200
I hopefully I got some answers for you.
Um and we'll go from there.

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00:21:29,039 --> 00:21:35,520
So moving on just a little bit about why
storm water matters. Uh I think these

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00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:39,360
are all pretty intuitive but uh just
kind of talking a little bit about uh

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00:21:37,679 --> 00:21:45,360
how it protects the public safety by
reducing flooding. Uh as we manage storm

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00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:49,840
water as our storm sewers have capacity
uh they're not clogged uh you know

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sediment-free waterways. Uh there's just
a lot of things that will help reduce

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00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:59,440
flooding. As we know flooding is uh more
reoccurring now than it has been in the

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00:21:56,240 --> 00:22:04,080
past. uh we see more intense rainfalls
uh when we do get those generally which

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00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:09,760
uh result more in runoff and so um you
know the propensity for more flooding uh

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00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:14,960
has been growing. Um you know storm
water if we manage it correctly presu uh

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00:22:11,919 --> 00:22:19,440
prevents uh pollution in our waterways.
Uh you know it could be fertilizer

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00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:24,320
runoff. It could be uh sand and gravel.
Uh it could be chemicals that people put

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00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:28,080
on lawns. uh just kind of ao host a
variety of things that storm water

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00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:31,919
management can help with our waterways
uh to keep them clean and healthy. Uh

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00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:37,440
and then uh compliance with federal
regulations. Uh you know we do have uh

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00:22:34,799 --> 00:22:41,520
requirements at the municipal level of
things that we have to do and follow uh

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00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:45,919
on the state and federal regulations.
Uh, one of the things that we do not

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00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:51,840
have in Columbus is what they call an
MS4 permit, which is a permit that EPA

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00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:56,080
and uh, the state of Wisconsin does
regulate for larger communities,

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00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:59,679
generally 10,000 people and above. Uh,
they are over time working towards

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00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:03,840
smaller communities like ours. There are
communities throughout the state that do

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00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:08,240
have these MS4 permit requirements. If
you are an MS4 permitted community, you

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00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:11,840
will be required. Unfortunately, a lot
of that's unfunded mandates, but

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00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:16,960
required to do a lot of storm water
management. Uh that was probably not

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00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:20,960
occurring today in Columbus. So, those
are on the horizon. Uh no promise to

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00:23:19,039 --> 00:23:24,960
when those will be here, but uh it's
just something to be aware of. Uh

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00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:28,640
preserve infrastructure. Uh there's a
lot of other utilities in the city that

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00:23:27,039 --> 00:23:32,320
are affected by storm water. It's not
just storm water. So you think about

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00:23:29,919 --> 00:23:35,760
when we get a heavy rain uh you know we
get storm water that affects our sewer

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00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:42,080
utility. We get more water at the plant
to treat. Um you know we also have uh

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00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:46,320
erosion things that occur uh you know in
waterways that can expose other

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00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:50,720
utilities as well that are in near those
uh infrastructure components. And so uh

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00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:54,960
you know managing storm water is
important to to other things not just

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storm water. And then uh reducing the
long-term costs. If we start thinking

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about, you know, those things of, you
know, what flood damage costs and we

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00:24:02,159 --> 00:24:06,880
start thinking about, you know, what it
costs to treat infiltration at the

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00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:10,559
wastewater treatment plant, you know,
when we get significant rain events, our

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00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:14,159
our flows at our plant will almost
double. Uh, so we're treating twice as

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00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:18,320
much waste water during those rain
events. Uh, and that's just INI, they

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00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:22,880
call it inflow info infiltration into
the uh, sanitary system. So you start

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00:24:20,799 --> 00:24:27,919
looking at what that cost to treat all
of that. You start compounding

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00:24:25,279 --> 00:24:33,200
uh those costs um long term for storm
water.

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00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:36,320
Uh so uh the next slide uh talks a
little bit about our existing

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infrastructure. So just a little bit
about Columbus. Uh I listed here that we

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00:24:39,039 --> 00:24:47,520
have miles of pipes. Um so to put that
in perspective, we have 27 miles of

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roadways in the city. Um, not every road
has a storm sewer or a storm manhole

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00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:56,880
underneath it, but we also have storm
pipes that aren't in roads. We have them

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00:24:54,480 --> 00:25:01,440
uh that are out in easement areas. We
have storm water retention ponds, things

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00:24:58,559 --> 00:25:06,480
like that. Uh, we have we have channels
and creeks. Um, so we have a lot of uh

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00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:11,679
roadways when you think about uh
throughout the city um that don't have

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00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:16,400
curbon gutter on and the water runs into
some type of a a ditch that's channeled

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00:25:13,679 --> 00:25:21,120
away from yards into you know eventually
discharges into a waterway. So it's not

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00:25:19,360 --> 00:25:25,200
just maintaining the pipes and inlets,
it's maintaining those other uh

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00:25:22,799 --> 00:25:29,600
conveyance methods um throughout the
city.

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00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:34,720
We've identified 16 storm water basins
uh in our comprehensive stormwater study

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00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:37,440
around the city. Uh in those basins,
those are the ones that the city

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00:25:35,919 --> 00:25:41,200
maintains. There's obviously private
basins out there that treat storm water,

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00:25:39,360 --> 00:25:45,679
but there's 16 of them. Four are dry, 12
are wet, which means 12 of them are

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00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:51,840
permanent pools or ponds uh that are
meant for both volume and rate control

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00:25:48,159 --> 00:25:57,039
and for water quality. So, total
dissolved solids reduction or suspended

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00:25:54,080 --> 00:26:01,120
solids reduction in those 12. Uh, I put
in here hundreds of inlets. I couldn't

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00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:03,520
even begin to guess how many here. Uh,
but we have a lot of them and I don't

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00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:07,360
even think we have them all accounted
for in our maps and systems. Uh, so

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00:26:05,679 --> 00:26:11,360
there's a lot of infrastructure that's
that's out there. Uh, and then uh

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00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:14,880
multiple waterways. When we start
thinking about uh the crawfish river,

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00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:19,919
it's not just the crawfish river. We
have second ward creek, Robins Creek. Um

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00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:24,559
we have the discharge or drainage way
north um that drains into the crawfish

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00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:29,120
and we also have the the unnamed
tributary to the second war creek. So

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00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:34,240
there's five total uh major waterways
that drain the city. Uh so again those

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00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:38,720
all have uh culverts that water flows
through. They all have flooding

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00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:41,919
potential throughout the city. So again,
uh when you just start thinking about

356
00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:47,520
the inf infrastructure in the city,
there really is a lot there to uh to

357
00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:50,400
manage and and maintain.
Uh as far as the maintenance

358
00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:54,799
responsibilities, we we kind of threw
this in here. A little bit of that is

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00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:58,400
just sediment control. Uh when we start
talking about routine cleaning

360
00:26:56,480 --> 00:27:02,000
inspection, that that involves things
like street sweeping, right? So it's not

361
00:27:00,159 --> 00:27:06,640
just cleaning out inlets. not just
making sure that you know the discharge

362
00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:11,760
end walls are are free and and have
capacity to flow freely. Uh but it's

363
00:27:09,120 --> 00:27:15,679
also uh prevention, it's also you know
sweeping streets, it's keeping things

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00:27:13,360 --> 00:27:19,840
clean and so there's um a lot of
maintenance responsibilities to keep the

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00:27:17,279 --> 00:27:24,320
system functioning that uh is up above
there.

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00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:28,400
So talk a little bit about next uh
projects. Uh so you know the question is

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00:27:27,120 --> 00:27:32,960
you know and this kind of started with
the original discussion with stormwater

368
00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:36,320
utility back in the day uh was you know
kind of what are the projects how many

369
00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:39,600
are there uh we have kind of a
comprehensive plan that we developed and

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00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:43,039
we'll talk about that here in a little
bit uh but you know we named a lot of

371
00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:46,799
projects here and you can kind of see
the numbers highlighted here um just to

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00:27:45,360 --> 00:27:52,080
show you how many projects there are.
There's more than that but uh we started

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00:27:49,679 --> 00:27:55,760
since 2021 working off a priority list
of projects. Um, so the city has been

374
00:27:54,159 --> 00:27:59,279
actively working on this. It's not like
we're just sitting around doing nothing.

375
00:27:57,679 --> 00:28:02,640
Uh, the cities have been targeting
these. And so you can kind of go down

376
00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:08,000
through here and see uh quite a few
projects that have been completed uh

377
00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:14,240
over the years. Um, and that that total
since 2021 has totaled about 1 1.378

378
00:28:11,919 --> 00:28:19,440
million. And so you can see that there's
been some active um prioritization in

379
00:28:17,279 --> 00:28:24,080
these needs and uh projects have been
successfully completed which is great to

380
00:28:21,039 --> 00:28:28,240
see the city uh moving forward and and
making sure that they're maintaining

381
00:28:25,360 --> 00:28:31,360
this system.
So the next slide we're going to talk a

382
00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:35,200
little bit about uh the current
challenges. So um you know this is

383
00:28:33,679 --> 00:28:38,799
obviously the probably the biggest
question I get when we talk about storm

384
00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:44,159
water is okay if we have this need why
don't we go get grants? Um, and so

385
00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:48,880
grants are in high demand. Uh, timing
doesn't always work. Some grants are uh

386
00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:53,120
every other year type grants. So you can
apply one year, but you can't get it the

387
00:28:50,799 --> 00:28:57,200
next year. Uh, they're highly dependent
on funding, the state budgets, what kind

388
00:28:55,120 --> 00:29:00,640
of money get put into those grants. And
they're highly competitive. I mean, uh,

389
00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:05,840
you can probably imagine that every
community in Columbus is got a demand or

390
00:29:03,039 --> 00:29:09,200
a need for storm water. Uh, so, you
know, highly underfunded, highly

391
00:29:07,279 --> 00:29:13,200
competitive type things. So it is a
funding source but you know again uh we

392
00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:18,399
do our best to identify those and apply
to those but aren't always successful

393
00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:23,679
getting grant money. Um so how how is it
funded? So current currently or in you

394
00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:27,120
know the past uh the storm water
projects have been funded through

395
00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:31,600
capital borrowing and obviously capital
borrowing has uh you know a direct

396
00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:35,200
effect on what you're able to borrow and
it has to compete with all the other

397
00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:39,279
things that you borrow for uh throughout
the city. could be buildings and

398
00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:45,520
equipment and whatever else. And so it
it has a it has a place and has been uh

399
00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:50,080
used in that um capacity to to generate
the funds to do the work.

400
00:29:47,919 --> 00:29:54,399
So that's the funding piece. Uh so
prioritization, well, how does the city

401
00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:59,760
decide what to improve? And so the way
that it's kind of historically worked is

402
00:29:57,279 --> 00:30:05,120
uh it's it's reactive. we have a
collapsed pipe or we have uh an issue

403
00:30:02,799 --> 00:30:09,919
with flooding in a particular area or we
have a damaged box culvert or whatever

404
00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:13,440
that might be and so those are the
things that that have come to light

405
00:30:11,679 --> 00:30:17,440
right so Jason help us you know what are
your recommendations how do we get this

406
00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:23,279
how critical is it uh so we make those
identifications and we react to that um

407
00:30:20,799 --> 00:30:27,520
but I think what what you know the
recommendation obviously with any good

408
00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:32,480
um you know infrastructure program is to
be proactive and and not reactive. So,

409
00:30:29,919 --> 00:30:36,320
we want to be identifying those culverts
that have the bottom rusted out of them

410
00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:40,399
before they're collapsing and we want to
replace those before they cause more

411
00:30:37,919 --> 00:30:44,399
damage type thing. And so, as we're
moving towards

412
00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:48,159
developing this comprehensive plan that
we did and then moving forward, we're

413
00:30:46,399 --> 00:30:51,760
you see this list and there's a priority
list that we've been working off of for

414
00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:55,679
a few years now that we're trying to get
ahead of that. We know these projects

415
00:30:53,600 --> 00:31:00,000
have a need. We're trying to identify
them and then provide that attention to

416
00:30:58,159 --> 00:31:03,600
those projects that we need and not be
that reactive type that we've been in

417
00:31:01,679 --> 00:31:06,960
the past. And a lot of that comes with
maintenance.

418
00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:11,039
Um there's a lot that kind of goes into
maintenance. Uh it's employee wages,

419
00:31:08,799 --> 00:31:14,880
it's infrastructure, it's it's it's crew
time, it's time spent, it's resources

420
00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:19,200
available. That resources could be
equipment. Uh could could be a lot of

421
00:31:17,279 --> 00:31:22,720
things. And um you know, we talk about
maintenance and capitalization of

422
00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:26,799
projects and roads. And what we always
say there is, you know, you can spend a

423
00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:30,480
dime to maintain a road and make it last
10 years longer, but if you allow it to

424
00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:34,480
go to failure, it's going to cost you a
dollar, right? And so it's a 10 times

425
00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:37,679
factor usually in roads. And, you know,
storm water is going to be the same type

426
00:31:35,919 --> 00:31:41,600
of thing. If we can maintain these pipes
and infrastructure, uh, and do some, you

427
00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:45,600
know, needed maintenance on those
things, you know, the infrastructure

428
00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:49,600
will last longer and you can push those
larger costs out. So maintenance is

429
00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:54,640
important to the storm water system as
well as it is to the roadways.

430
00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:58,799
So the next slide we'll talk a little
bit about solutions. Um you know a

431
00:31:57,039 --> 00:32:02,240
little bit about you know h how do we
deal with this? And so there's obviously

432
00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:06,240
I always say there's the do nothing
option. So the city continues to treat

433
00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:10,320
storm water management like it has in
the past. Uh you know the funding comes

434
00:32:08,799 --> 00:32:14,640
through the general fund through capital
borrowing. Um projects are completed on

435
00:32:12,799 --> 00:32:19,200
what funds are available or the city is
willing to approve in that cycle. And

436
00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:23,440
it's reactive versus proactive right.
So, it's really, you know, help help us

437
00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:27,279
find a project when we have a list of a
hundred uh that we can put in next year

438
00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:30,399
capital plan. We're going to hope we
pick the right one and if something else

439
00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:34,799
happens, we're just going to have to
react to it and there's going to be a

440
00:32:31,679 --> 00:32:38,000
demand on the system. Um the other way
that we've talked about, and this has

441
00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:43,440
been talked about for several years now,
is to create a separate fee or funding

442
00:32:40,559 --> 00:32:48,960
source through the stormwater utility.
Um that is obviously something that is

443
00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:53,679
done uh to many places around the state
now. Uh continues to grow on communities

444
00:32:51,200 --> 00:33:00,080
adding storm water utilities. Uh it's
funded by residents uh as a utility much

445
00:32:56,480 --> 00:33:04,159
like water, sewer, electric. Uh also uh
we're able to complete more projects uh

446
00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:09,840
because we have a sustainable funding
source. Um we can still borrow uh and

447
00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:14,320
supplement that but we also have its own
source. that we have that commitment to

448
00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:18,080
projects annually. Uh that feels like
that becomes much more proactive than

449
00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:22,159
reactive because we have a dedicated
funding source. Uh we can identify the

450
00:33:20,399 --> 00:33:25,440
projects in the list. We can continue to
complete those projects knowing that we

451
00:33:23,919 --> 00:33:30,320
have funds to do that on a regular
basis. Uh and we're able to keep on top

452
00:33:27,919 --> 00:33:35,679
of maintenance. Um those things that you
know right now uh the general fund has a

453
00:33:32,799 --> 00:33:39,679
very small storm water uh cost in there
for maintenance. And um you know, I'm

454
00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:42,799
sure Randy can attest, you know, I don't
know what the number is in the budget,

455
00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:47,760
but generally it's not very big and it
doesn't go very far. Um so again, I

456
00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:54,559
think there's some benefits to the fee
that can help versus the current option.

457
00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:59,279
So on the next slide here, um we just
want to talk about the utility. Uh so u

458
00:33:57,120 --> 00:34:04,080
the city has adopted a storm water
utility. Uh that was done in 2021. Uh I

459
00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:07,200
don't know that everybody truly
understands the city has a stormwater

460
00:34:05,679 --> 00:34:12,639
utility. The difference is it's not
funded. Uh in in uh 2021 there was a

461
00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:18,639
referendum that failed to implement a
user or a charge fee to raise those

462
00:34:14,639 --> 00:34:24,639
funds. Um so what's changed since 21? So
why are we back here talking about it?

463
00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:28,960
Um it was determined that um at the time
of the referendum that it was believed

464
00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:35,119
that that was a requirement uh because
the funds that were expended when the

465
00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:38,879
regulations on utilities went into place
that that was the amount that I believe

466
00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:43,839
it was 2013 we had to go back find out
how much the city had spent on uh

467
00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:48,079
utility storm related expenses and then
that was what the levy would have to be

468
00:34:45,359 --> 00:34:52,800
reduced by. Uh the city at that time had
believed that it was the total cost

469
00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:58,240
capital and general fund costs towards
the utility spend. Uh in reality it was

470
00:34:55,679 --> 00:35:02,160
only the the general fund cost and not
the capital cost which lowered that

471
00:34:59,839 --> 00:35:07,359
number significantly. So it had a much
less impact on the levy than the city

472
00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:11,599
had thought. Um and so uh going to
referendum obviously was the decision at

473
00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:16,560
the time. But you know it was decided
that you know uh the impact was

474
00:35:14,240 --> 00:35:20,640
relatively small to the overall levy to
make this decision to adopt the user fee

475
00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:26,880
going forward. And so uh that has
changed. Uh so we knew have new kind of

476
00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:30,480
a new um I guess approach to uh what
that really meant and where the city

477
00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:35,520
currently sits. Uh the other thing
that's changed is in 2022

478
00:35:33,119 --> 00:35:40,640
as a result of the failed referendum, a
lot of the general feedback from the

479
00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:43,280
public was uh the fee is okay, but we
have to understand how you're going to

480
00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:47,440
spend it, right? There's this unknown
of, you know, the city just or the

481
00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:52,800
utility just collecting this fee and not
knowing what it's going to be used for.

482
00:35:49,359 --> 00:35:56,960
And you know, I think the the city at
the time and the council had looked at

483
00:35:54,320 --> 00:36:00,880
this and said, uh, we recognize that we
know there's projects out there, but

484
00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:05,440
let's do a comprehensive study and
identify what they really are and, you

485
00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:10,000
know, put some validity behind the ask.
And so in 2022, uh, I had worked with

486
00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:13,599
the city on developing a comprehensive
plan which kind of looks at all facets

487
00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:18,800
of storm water management across the
entire city, not just certain areas. Um

488
00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:25,040
the council in 2023 had asked for a
priority list of those top projects um

489
00:36:21,760 --> 00:36:30,320
that we created uh in that comprehensive
plan. And what we did when we created

490
00:36:27,359 --> 00:36:34,560
that uh is we we gave every project that
we identified a priority score based on

491
00:36:32,720 --> 00:36:39,599
impact uh there was there were several
categories. there was impact um cost,

492
00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:43,280
you know, water quality, all kinds of
things. And that's what generated the

493
00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:50,079
projects that prioritized on the list
were the ones that scored the highest uh

494
00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:52,960
for need. So that was the 2023 memo. And
uh so then since we've been working on

495
00:36:51,599 --> 00:36:58,560
that, so going back to what was
completed, so from 2023 to 2025, uh the

496
00:36:56,880 --> 00:37:01,920
city has continued to complete a number
of storm water projects uh moving

497
00:37:00,640 --> 00:37:05,920
forward off of that list. So, we're
still working off that list uh to

498
00:37:03,760 --> 00:37:11,200
complete those projects. So, that's kind
of the progression of of the ordinance

499
00:37:08,880 --> 00:37:15,119
adoption, the referendum, and then kind
of the progress that we've made since

500
00:37:12,720 --> 00:37:20,240
that.
So, the next couple slides again are

501
00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:24,240
just quick examples of um just projects
that have been completed. Uh there was a

502
00:37:22,480 --> 00:37:29,440
very large diameter, I don't remember
the size of it, 60-in uh pipe that was

503
00:37:26,960 --> 00:37:33,119
replaced under Fuller Street uh in the
tributary to the Second Ward creek that

504
00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:38,560
goes through Washington Park. Uh that
was a significant project cost. I

505
00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:42,240
believe it was um over $500,000 worth of
uh repair. This pipe had to be replaced

506
00:37:40,560 --> 00:37:45,359
because this was one where it was a
large diameter corrugated metal pipe

507
00:37:44,079 --> 00:37:48,480
where the bottom had rusted out of
completely. So, it had no support

508
00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:55,040
underneath the pipe. The water was just
basically running across bare ground. Um

509
00:37:51,599 --> 00:37:58,480
so that was kind of a a example of a
project where you know we need

510
00:37:56,960 --> 00:38:03,760
significant funds to make those
improvements.

511
00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:10,240
Um the next slide uh shows a project
where um we just completed. So those of

512
00:38:07,599 --> 00:38:15,680
you who are familiar with Fireman's Park
uh know that there is a culvert that no

513
00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:19,440
longer exists that is a small dam cvert
that was removed throughout the park. Uh

514
00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:23,520
and hopefully people see that as an
enhancement to the park as much as it is

515
00:38:21,359 --> 00:38:28,079
an improvement to storm water quality.
And so that project was completed as

516
00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:31,760
well. Um again, you know, you know,
several hundred,000 project there that

517
00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:38,720
was completed, but again, we're making
progress towards uh improving that. And

518
00:38:35,599 --> 00:38:42,000
I understand that I've heard reports
that that has helped with some of the

519
00:38:40,160 --> 00:38:45,760
flooding or at least uh the impacts of
some of the heavy rains. Uh so we're

520
00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:50,320
happy that that that project's
completed.

521
00:38:48,079 --> 00:38:54,079
Uh so kind of moving on here, stormwater
utility. So what is it? Uh again, we

522
00:38:52,560 --> 00:38:59,760
talked about that it's going to be the
mechanism that allows us to operate. Uh

523
00:38:56,800 --> 00:39:03,280
it's going to be a dedicated uh funding
source. So once these uh funds are

524
00:39:01,680 --> 00:39:07,359
collected, they're managed and financed
and controlled through that specifically

525
00:39:05,119 --> 00:39:11,599
used for storm water projects. Uh much
like sewer and water utilities. Uh what

526
00:39:09,760 --> 00:39:16,720
are the benefits with the fees? We
talked a lot about that. Um how is it

527
00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:20,720
funded? Again, I think there are two
components of this. There's a base fee

528
00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:25,520
that would be part of that that's uh
kind of charged uh and then there's a

529
00:39:23,040 --> 00:39:30,160
fee based on an equivalent runoff unit.
So, the base fee is essentially an

530
00:39:27,280 --> 00:39:35,599
administrative fee to execute
um you know the utility um needs and

531
00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:40,560
then the the ERU will generate the fees
for the uh for the actual storm owner

532
00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:43,920
piece itself.
>> Er, what's that?

533
00:39:42,240 --> 00:39:47,839
» Equivalent runoff unit.
>> Okay.

534
00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:52,800
So, as we look at funding scenarios, we
we've revisited this and said, "Okay, um

535
00:39:50,560 --> 00:39:57,359
the way that I think the utility had
previously uh looked at and the city had

536
00:39:55,119 --> 00:40:02,400
asked me to kind of develop a plan was
to pick a pick a dollar amount and say

537
00:39:59,839 --> 00:40:07,040
we're going to raise x amount of dollars
without knowing what the need was. Now

538
00:40:04,560 --> 00:40:10,160
that we have the need, uh I think the
we've gone back and looked at this a

539
00:40:08,640 --> 00:40:13,760
little bit differently and said, "Okay,
what knowing the need, what is it that

540
00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:18,000
we need to do to meet some of the needs
that we have listed in the report to

541
00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:21,040
have a meaningful impact?" So we looked
at some funding scenarios. So the first

542
00:40:19,520 --> 00:40:25,200
one here is just a maintenance focused
funding scenario. So rotational ditch

543
00:40:23,599 --> 00:40:28,800
cleaning maintenance, storm water inlet
cleaning maintenance. Again, you see a

544
00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:32,000
lot of maintenance heavy stuff here. Uh
a medium-sized project every few years.

545
00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:34,560
So we're going to take one of these big
projects you just saw off the list.

546
00:40:33,359 --> 00:40:39,520
we're going to get it completed every
every couple years. Um we're also going

547
00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:44,640
to you know do projects that the city
has been completing um you know and and

548
00:40:42,960 --> 00:40:48,400
continue to work on those but you know
some of those may remain deferred uh if

549
00:40:46,720 --> 00:40:52,320
we're going to do this every few years.
So the ERU and we'll talk about

550
00:40:50,400 --> 00:40:55,359
equivalent running unit equivalent
runoff unit here in a minute for

551
00:40:53,760 --> 00:41:00,640
definition but you know that would be
between 90 and $120 annually. So

552
00:40:57,839 --> 00:41:06,000
essentially $10 or less a month for uh
the average residential property.

553
00:41:04,160 --> 00:41:09,200
Uh funding scenario number two, we
looked at what we call what we uh it's

554
00:41:07,599 --> 00:41:12,800
called a balance program. So we're going
to do the annual maintenance as we

555
00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:16,079
talked about. Uh but now we're going to
look to fund one capital project every

556
00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:20,079
other year. So we're going to kind of
ramp that up a little bit. Uh but again

557
00:41:18,240 --> 00:41:24,720
that you know that takes more expense
and so therefore you know you see your

558
00:41:22,319 --> 00:41:27,839
erus here uh bumping up a little bit. So
now it's going to start at the $10 and

559
00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:31,680
it's going to work its way up a little
higher. Um you we're kind of

560
00:41:29,839 --> 00:41:35,599
recommending this as kind of the heavy
medium if you will. Um you know it's not

561
00:41:34,400 --> 00:41:41,599
that much more expensive than the
maintenance but it gives us this ability

562
00:41:37,119 --> 00:41:44,319
to raise funds uh to create um you know
more of these major projects. These are

563
00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:48,400
the bigger ones that are going to have
more meaningful impact. Uh so that's

564
00:41:46,640 --> 00:41:51,920
just the funding scenario number two.
And then on three

565
00:41:50,480 --> 00:41:55,119
uh I think we looked at what we'd call
the aggressive capital program. So,

566
00:41:54,000 --> 00:41:57,839
we're going to pick off one of these
large projects every year. We're going

567
00:41:56,480 --> 00:42:01,359
to continue to do full annual
maintenance. Um, you building out

568
00:41:59,920 --> 00:42:05,440
projects, addressing them
systematically. Uh, this is going to be

569
00:42:03,440 --> 00:42:10,640
your fastest impact, but you start
seeing the dollars getting up into, you

570
00:42:07,280 --> 00:42:15,440
know, 150 to 175 annually. Uh all of
these values are not out of line with

571
00:42:12,560 --> 00:42:20,640
some of the competitor or u comparable
organizations that we see uh from

572
00:42:17,920 --> 00:42:23,200
municipalities around the area, but um
it it is something that we're just going

573
00:42:22,240 --> 00:42:27,760
to have to take a look at from
Columbus's standpoint to make sure that

574
00:42:25,280 --> 00:42:33,119
what is right or what fits for you guys
um is what you need.

575
00:42:30,319 --> 00:42:38,640
Uh the next slide uh we look at here was
just the eru. So Jack uh equivalent

576
00:42:36,079 --> 00:42:41,760
runoff unit is a average horizontal
impervious surface area for single

577
00:42:40,240 --> 00:42:46,240
family residential lot within the city
of Columbus. So how we calculate that is

578
00:42:44,160 --> 00:42:51,440
we take samples throughout different
zoning districts and densities for uh

579
00:42:49,440 --> 00:42:55,040
single family uh residential. We figure
out how much impervious area they have

580
00:42:53,280 --> 00:42:58,960
square footage wise. We average that out
across all of them. And we take the

581
00:42:57,119 --> 00:43:02,720
average and we say that's it. That's
going to be what we're going to base our

582
00:43:00,160 --> 00:43:07,200
fee off of. So, everybody across the
city pays one eru if you have a

583
00:43:04,640 --> 00:43:12,800
residential unit, single family home.
Uh, we determined that in 2021 to be

584
00:43:09,200 --> 00:43:16,319
3600 square ft of impervious on a lot.
So, you might have slightly less or

585
00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:21,680
slightly more, but you'll still base pay
off of that 3600 as an average. Um, so

586
00:43:20,000 --> 00:43:27,920
again, somebody with a slightly larger
lot may have the $150 a year because

587
00:43:25,599 --> 00:43:32,319
they have one ERU. somebody with a
slightly bigger lot or smaller lot will

588
00:43:29,760 --> 00:43:37,280
still pay the same amount. Uh and that
that type of equivalent runoff uh

589
00:43:35,280 --> 00:43:40,400
calculation is also supported legally
within the state. So it's been

590
00:43:38,560 --> 00:43:45,839
challenged and the way that's calculated
is is really kind of supported by uh

591
00:43:43,680 --> 00:43:51,920
kind of the history of of the challenge.
So uh for two units mult multi or if you

592
00:43:49,359 --> 00:43:56,960
start getting into multif family uh the
erus are calculated off of a number of

593
00:43:54,240 --> 00:44:04,000
times factor. So if it's twice the 3600
or 7200, you'll be at two erus, two unit

594
00:44:00,000 --> 00:44:08,800
residentials, each pay6. So total 1.2.
So again, just some very standard uh

595
00:44:06,560 --> 00:44:14,000
calculations that have been used and and
again tried and true throughout the

596
00:44:10,880 --> 00:44:17,839
stormwater uh units is how you apply to
multifamily and and uh two single family

597
00:44:16,319 --> 00:44:22,560
residentials.
Uh so once we calculate it, um then what

598
00:44:20,880 --> 00:44:26,560
do we do with it? So we got to talk
about how we bill it. Uh there's a

599
00:44:24,079 --> 00:44:31,839
couple options here. Um I there's pros
and cons to both. Uh it can be done

600
00:44:28,480 --> 00:44:36,240
monthly like your typical bill. Uh right
now I get in my community I get a sewer,

601
00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:39,359
water and storm water utility bill every
month and there's a utility charge for

602
00:44:37,920 --> 00:44:44,880
storm water on that. That's pretty
typical. There are some communities here

603
00:44:41,839 --> 00:44:49,200
that do it on a annual tax basis. So
it's a special charge on a tax bill to

604
00:44:46,960 --> 00:44:52,480
collect it. Um and then there's
obviously some that do quarterlys. Uh

605
00:44:51,200 --> 00:44:56,560
there's some examples up there. Sarah
Fitchburg does quarterly, Middleton does

606
00:44:54,160 --> 00:45:00,480
quarterly. Uh again, some prairie is an
example of somebody who does it monthly.

607
00:44:58,240 --> 00:45:03,680
So again, just it it can all be done
that way. I think the difference is if

608
00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:08,160
it's done on a tax bill, it goes to the
property owner. If it's done on a

609
00:45:05,920 --> 00:45:12,160
utility bill, it goes to the user. So if
there's a renter or somebody in a home

610
00:45:10,400 --> 00:45:15,440
uh that the utility bill is under, that
the, you know, storm water utility bill

611
00:45:13,920 --> 00:45:20,960
would go to them. So again, there's some
nuances to the different options in here

612
00:45:18,160 --> 00:45:25,040
of how we want that uh sent out. But
again, I I think there's examples of how

613
00:45:23,440 --> 00:45:30,960
communities do that regardless of which
way you guys would decide to go if you

614
00:45:27,119 --> 00:45:35,160
implement a storm water utility fee.
Um, next slide.

615
00:45:36,160 --> 00:45:41,520
» I think my presenter there is skipping
over a couple. He's trying to speed me

616
00:45:39,680 --> 00:45:45,119
up.
Um,

617
00:45:42,720 --> 00:45:49,200
» it's working, isn't it?
>> Well, I was I was on track until we got

618
00:45:47,520 --> 00:45:54,560
lost here.
Um so implementation so establish new

619
00:45:52,480 --> 00:45:58,480
project priorities we talked about that
uh the rate study credit policy

620
00:45:56,240 --> 00:46:02,400
development so if we choose to move this
forward uh we'd have to implement the

621
00:46:00,480 --> 00:46:05,040
actually the rate study piece of it so
there's a lot of properties out there

622
00:46:03,680 --> 00:46:09,280
that are commercial where we'd have to
calculate how many erus they have and

623
00:46:06,800 --> 00:46:13,119
we'd have to put that into a uh a rate
for them. Uh there's a credit policy.

624
00:46:11,599 --> 00:46:16,400
We've talked about this in the past.
What happens if somebody mitigates their

625
00:46:14,880 --> 00:46:20,480
own storm water on site through their
own means or methods? Maybe a property

626
00:46:18,400 --> 00:46:23,680
or a community puts in some kind of uh
storm water implementation measures on

627
00:46:22,160 --> 00:46:28,319
their own. What kind of credit do we
give back to them? We develop that

628
00:46:25,760 --> 00:46:32,240
because that's not in place currently.
Certainly public public engagement uh

629
00:46:30,880 --> 00:46:35,440
will be part of that. There will be an
ordinance update. There's some things on

630
00:46:33,839 --> 00:46:39,680
the original ordinance that were adopted
that would need to be adjusted uh today

631
00:46:37,680 --> 00:46:43,839
because things have changed since 2021
when the ordinance was adopted. Like any

632
00:46:41,440 --> 00:46:47,839
ordinance, there's things that uh we
know now that we didn't know then. uh

633
00:46:46,000 --> 00:46:51,599
council review and adoption and a
utility launch. So, there's a bunch of

634
00:46:49,920 --> 00:46:56,240
pieces that would have to kind of fall
into place here. So, um those are kind

635
00:46:54,319 --> 00:47:00,960
of the the pieces of where Columbus is
at and kind of what it would take to

636
00:46:57,520 --> 00:47:06,240
kind of uh implement this. So, so what
would we expect? Um we'd have a better

637
00:47:03,680 --> 00:47:10,240
idea of projects, which we have now. Uh
we'd know what funding we would have

638
00:47:08,160 --> 00:47:14,000
available. We could project that and and
plan better as to what we could get

639
00:47:11,920 --> 00:47:18,880
accomplished. uh that would show your
proactive uh continuous improvements. Uh

640
00:47:16,800 --> 00:47:23,680
you would have a funding balance. So
reoccurring money coming into the system

641
00:47:20,800 --> 00:47:27,359
as we would spend it out. Uh and you
know your CIP would get a little bit of

642
00:47:25,359 --> 00:47:32,240
relief from that. So at the city level
there would be uh less impact to the

643
00:47:29,440 --> 00:47:37,760
general borrowing uh for storm water u
because it you know obviously is funded

644
00:47:34,240 --> 00:47:43,920
through this. So I think that's it. Is
that the last one?

645
00:47:40,960 --> 00:47:47,760
Oh, there's a summary there, but
I think we're ready for questions if

646
00:47:45,599 --> 00:47:51,000
anybody's got any for me.
>> Oh, sure.

647
00:47:51,280 --> 00:47:58,319
» Page six,
we bought projects

648
00:47:56,640 --> 00:48:05,119
and the numbers on the projects I
indicate are they're priority projects,

649
00:48:00,800 --> 00:48:09,200
right? Like number 19, number 69, 25.
>> So, it kind of looks like we're funding

650
00:48:06,720 --> 00:48:12,800
projects of low priority. Am I reading
that right?

651
00:48:09,760 --> 00:48:20,079
» No. you're reading that wrong. Uh the
trick to that is that we numbered every

652
00:48:15,920 --> 00:48:23,839
project we identified on just a number.
We gave it a number one through I think

653
00:48:21,680 --> 00:48:26,960
97 is the the total project. We think we
had 97 priority.

654
00:48:25,200 --> 00:48:30,800
» It's not a priority. We went back and
assigned priority to them after we

655
00:48:28,800 --> 00:48:33,920
numbered them and then those were the
projects that rose.

656
00:48:31,599 --> 00:48:35,839
» Let's cut to the next question that is
is there a list in here? I didn't see

657
00:48:35,520 --> 00:48:39,599
it.
>> Not in the presentation. No, but the

658
00:48:37,760 --> 00:48:45,200
comprehensive storm management plan has
the entire list and there's the priority

659
00:48:41,280 --> 00:48:54,000
list from 2023 that's available.
>> All right, two more questions. Um 2008

660
00:48:51,040 --> 00:49:00,720
we had like 14 inches of rain caused a
big problem and we we fixed some things.

661
00:48:57,200 --> 00:49:04,480
You were here and um trying to figure
out

662
00:49:02,720 --> 00:49:09,200
where are we? If we got 14 inches of
rain again over a two-day period, you

663
00:49:07,119 --> 00:49:13,760
know, just um how big of a headache are
we a step up or two from where we were?

664
00:49:11,040 --> 00:49:18,400
I know we fixed some lift station issues
and got rid of some lift stations that

665
00:49:16,400 --> 00:49:22,559
flooded out and did some other
improvements.

666
00:49:19,839 --> 00:49:27,599
» Are we are we better prepared today than
2008? What would happen?

667
00:49:26,480 --> 00:49:31,839
» That's a trick question.
>> I'd like to say, Jack, if we do get a

668
00:49:29,839 --> 00:49:36,079
big rainstorm, I'm going to blame you.
>> What? So, if we do get a flooding

669
00:49:34,640 --> 00:49:39,839
rainstorm, I'm going to blame you for
that question.

670
00:49:38,240 --> 00:49:44,720
» It's a trick question. And why I say
that is because um every situation is

671
00:49:42,640 --> 00:49:48,319
different. So, um I was very familiar
with 2008 cuz I had a flooded basement

672
00:49:46,800 --> 00:49:52,000
just like everybody else and I was
sandbagging.

673
00:49:49,839 --> 00:49:58,160
Um what happened in 2008 is we had a
very wet winter or a very snow covered

674
00:49:54,960 --> 00:50:03,280
winter between 2007 2008. Fall of 20ou
2007 was also there was a lot of rain in

675
00:50:00,960 --> 00:50:08,079
late summer fall of 2007. So we're very
saturated, very high groundwater. Uh we

676
00:50:06,319 --> 00:50:12,319
went into a very heavy snow year. It
melted in spring. We had actually a lot

677
00:50:09,920 --> 00:50:16,880
of uh in March of that year we had a lot
of damage uh and high flooding because

678
00:50:15,040 --> 00:50:21,200
of all the ice jams. Everything broke up
really quick. We had a lot of water. So

679
00:50:18,559 --> 00:50:25,440
again, I I this is burned in my brain so
I know the answers to this. And so what

680
00:50:22,880 --> 00:50:29,839
happened is when we got to May, when
that storm hit, it came over about a

681
00:50:27,680 --> 00:50:33,920
3-day period and there was there was 14
in of rain, but it was already so

682
00:50:31,839 --> 00:50:34,960
saturated that it had kind of a compound
effect.

683
00:50:34,400 --> 00:50:39,839
» Soaked in.
>> So So it's hard to say like if we got 14

684
00:50:37,680 --> 00:50:44,079
in of rain today and it had been dry out
for 30 days, there's a complete

685
00:50:41,440 --> 00:50:47,520
different result. Now what I can say is
that have we made improvements

686
00:50:45,760 --> 00:50:52,640
throughout the system? Absolutely. Would
that help? 100%. But again, to the

687
00:50:50,800 --> 00:50:56,960
degree of what that would help would
really depend on all those situations

688
00:50:54,400 --> 00:50:58,480
that kind of build up around that storm
event.

689
00:50:57,440 --> 00:51:02,400
» Too many variables.
>> There's a lot of variables. So, last

690
00:51:00,880 --> 00:51:09,760
question.
>> Um, do the comprehensive approach.

691
00:51:07,839 --> 00:51:16,319
How about if we did that for a couple
years and then sunseted it? It might be

692
00:51:13,359 --> 00:51:21,920
the idea is it might be easier to sell
if we sold a two or threeyear

693
00:51:20,240 --> 00:51:26,240
improvement storm water improvement
program. We knew exactly what projects

694
00:51:24,240 --> 00:51:32,359
we wanted to do. We got a good idea how
much it's going to cost. And when we get

695
00:51:28,000 --> 00:51:32,359
the work done, it's going to sunset.

696
00:51:32,400 --> 00:51:37,040
» Maybe you don't have to have an answer
to this one here, but uh

697
00:51:35,839 --> 00:51:41,760
» that's your prerogative. That might be
an easier cell because

698
00:51:39,440 --> 00:51:45,599
» it definitely would take two years.
>> Continuous storm water

699
00:51:44,559 --> 00:51:48,960
» funding.
>> There's way too many projects to get it

700
00:51:47,359 --> 00:51:52,319
done in a couple of years.
>> All right. Three, four years.

701
00:51:50,400 --> 00:51:53,920
» Well, and and I just add that
>> it's just an idea. I don't know if it's

702
00:51:53,280 --> 00:51:58,800
a good idea or not.
>> Right. And but I also think communities

703
00:51:55,680 --> 00:52:03,040
that have created a storm water utility,
I haven't seen any that have then all of

704
00:52:00,640 --> 00:52:07,440
a sudden
disbanded their storm water utility.

705
00:52:05,200 --> 00:52:13,440
many have increased
the amount that they're charging because

706
00:52:10,240 --> 00:52:16,240
what we've seen is costs increase.
And when you develop this

707
00:52:14,640 --> 00:52:20,240
infrastructure,
you have to have a way to maintain it.

708
00:52:18,480 --> 00:52:24,400
And so when you've created the
maintenance through the storm water

709
00:52:22,079 --> 00:52:28,720
utility and now you say you're going to
take the storm water utility away, now

710
00:52:27,200 --> 00:52:31,839
you've still got to maintain that
infrastructure and now you're putting

711
00:52:30,240 --> 00:52:38,960
that on your general fund that is
already stressed.

712
00:52:35,280 --> 00:52:42,960
And and so I understand, I agree, it
would be a much more sellable

713
00:52:40,480 --> 00:52:47,119
proposition to say we're going to
whether it's a fiveyear or 10-year, but

714
00:52:45,440 --> 00:52:53,760
I also think that puts you in a really
tough spot at the end of that time

715
00:52:49,040 --> 00:52:58,319
period of how how you continue because
it's not just

716
00:52:56,400 --> 00:53:04,319
it's not just the infrastructure and
building new infrastructure.

717
00:53:00,640 --> 00:53:09,480
We are currently struggling to maintain
and upkeep the infrastructure that we

718
00:53:06,480 --> 00:53:09,480
have.

719
00:53:12,400 --> 00:53:17,440
» Never mind.
>> I think a good example too is we bought

720
00:53:15,280 --> 00:53:20,640
a street sweeper a couple years ago that
wasn't bought through a storm water

721
00:53:18,720 --> 00:53:23,920
utility. It was bought by the DPW
through the city general fund. But

722
00:53:22,559 --> 00:53:28,559
there's always going to be needs for
those maintenance things even after you

723
00:53:25,680 --> 00:53:32,319
check the projects off. I think one
>> a lot of communities to add to that will

724
00:53:30,640 --> 00:53:36,880
run their leaf collection program
through the storm water utility and if

725
00:53:34,160 --> 00:53:42,160
we wanted to potentially
upgrade to a leaf vacuum or a different

726
00:53:39,440 --> 00:53:46,960
way of collecting leaves that I know has
been bantered around and talked about

727
00:53:44,720 --> 00:53:50,800
that could be a potential project of the
stormwater utility or a partial funded

728
00:53:48,880 --> 00:53:53,520
project of the stormwater utility.
>> Yeah.

729
00:53:51,760 --> 00:53:57,680
» I'm not out of line there am I Jason?
Like that I'm guessing most communities

730
00:53:55,760 --> 00:54:01,760
are doing that. Yeah, leaves in the
street are not generally good for storm

731
00:53:59,520 --> 00:54:04,079
water.
Um,

732
00:54:02,160 --> 00:54:06,559
» I'm assuming the comprehensive plan is
probably available on the website.

733
00:54:05,520 --> 00:54:10,000
» It is on the website.
>> I think getting a look at that entire

734
00:54:08,160 --> 00:54:14,480
list and I'm assuming there's estimated
costs that go with all the projects that

735
00:54:12,160 --> 00:54:16,319
would probably help Jack too if you saw
the whole list.

736
00:54:15,839 --> 00:54:20,240
» Sorry.
>> I think it's 400 pages long. So,

737
00:54:19,040 --> 00:54:24,240
» oh, quick read.
>> It'll it'll it'll keep Jack busy.

738
00:54:22,960 --> 00:54:29,440
» That's why it was included in your
packet. And and just to add to that, and

739
00:54:27,359 --> 00:54:33,520
Jason can clarify, I think a lot of
those projects are things that I've

740
00:54:31,920 --> 00:54:38,000
heard people talking about in terms of
dredging some of the creeks and and

741
00:54:35,520 --> 00:54:41,119
cleaning up. Those are projects in that
listing, right?

742
00:54:39,040 --> 00:54:45,520
» Yeah. Cal capacities in there. Other
things we put in there are uh just I

743
00:54:43,760 --> 00:54:48,480
mean, I'll give an example. I looked it
up today, so I knew this answer tonight,

744
00:54:47,040 --> 00:54:53,119
but I thought this is a great example
that it might come up is we do these uh

745
00:54:51,599 --> 00:54:56,720
re street reconstruction projects
generally annually based on the city

746
00:54:55,200 --> 00:55:00,880
capital plans. Everybody wants their
streets repaired. Well, I just look the

747
00:54:59,040 --> 00:55:04,640
the school street project. Everybody's
familiar with the seven blocks we're

748
00:55:02,240 --> 00:55:08,800
reconstructing. There's $325,000 worth
of storm sewer improvements on that job.

749
00:55:06,800 --> 00:55:12,400
So again, just an example of a cost
that's being borrowed for that's not

750
00:55:10,480 --> 00:55:17,280
being funded out of a utility that could
partially or fully be funded out of a

751
00:55:14,319 --> 00:55:21,119
utility. So again, those annual projects
are occurring. So when you think about

752
00:55:19,200 --> 00:55:24,960
projects and we think about culverts and
and creeks and dredging and, you know,

753
00:55:23,200 --> 00:55:28,880
big large diameter culverts and stuff
like that, that doesn't preclude these

754
00:55:27,359 --> 00:55:32,240
street reconstruction projects from
having significant storm costs, too. And

755
00:55:30,640 --> 00:55:36,000
obviously, we're doing those to repair
our roads, but we're upgrading the storm

756
00:55:34,400 --> 00:55:41,040
sewers and replacing those in those
projects as well. So again, just another

757
00:55:37,680 --> 00:55:45,119
example of a reoccurring need that we
have now. Um, and that's list that'll be

758
00:55:43,520 --> 00:55:49,119
listed in comprehensive plan as a as a
line item, but it just says annual

759
00:55:46,559 --> 00:55:54,319
stormwater reconstruction projects. So,
but yeah, those are all incorporated

760
00:55:51,119 --> 00:56:01,280
into that report.
My question would be or comment. Um,

761
00:55:58,559 --> 00:56:08,000
I don't know if we're
going about it a little bit backwards.

762
00:56:03,440 --> 00:56:13,280
Um I know in that year um my backyard
was

763
00:56:09,520 --> 00:56:18,720
water almost up to the house which is
quite deep and I think the deer were in

764
00:56:15,680 --> 00:56:26,160
our backyard to give them relief from
the deer pen that was flooded. But I

765
00:56:22,240 --> 00:56:34,160
know when now with the two parts of the
park being opened up, I know now the

766
00:56:30,319 --> 00:56:39,680
bottleneck moved downstream like Joe
could probably attest now. I think he

767
00:56:36,160 --> 00:56:45,760
gets more flooding at his place.
Should we start at the end and work our

768
00:56:43,280 --> 00:56:48,559
way to the beginning? You know what I
mean?

769
00:56:46,079 --> 00:56:52,319
» Yeah. Well, if you that that's perfect
setup, Brooke. So, for example, if you

770
00:56:50,319 --> 00:56:55,599
look at that 2023 memo of priority
projects, two of the priority projects

771
00:56:53,920 --> 00:56:58,079
are just that. We knew that, right?
Like, if we do these projects, we're

772
00:56:56,960 --> 00:57:02,079
going to we're going to have to be very
cognizant of the downstream flooding in

773
00:56:59,920 --> 00:57:05,599
Second Work Creek. One of the priority
projects is increasing the culvert

774
00:57:03,760 --> 00:57:11,040
capacity under James Street. That is a
bottleneck. Uh is and it it's a big

775
00:57:09,359 --> 00:57:14,480
culvert, but when we get those
significant waters, that has no chance

776
00:57:12,799 --> 00:57:18,319
of carrying that water under the street.
So, that backs it up before it actually

777
00:57:16,960 --> 00:57:21,599
breaches the street. I think it was just
a few years ago. We had a very quick

778
00:57:20,160 --> 00:57:24,720
flash flood one night and there was
water over top of James Street. I drove

779
00:57:23,280 --> 00:57:27,280
through there. I turn around, I come
back and I couldn't get back. There was

780
00:57:25,920 --> 00:57:31,520
like a foot and a half of water like in
10 minutes that came over that street.

781
00:57:29,040 --> 00:57:34,160
So again, just an example of that's
downstream. That's a priority project.

782
00:57:33,040 --> 00:57:38,000
That's actually number one. That's
priority. I think number one on my

783
00:57:35,760 --> 00:57:41,200
entire list. Uh and then we had a
project where we had looked at dredging

784
00:57:39,680 --> 00:57:45,839
that whole section from the mill pond
all the way up through uh Quantis Park

785
00:57:43,599 --> 00:57:50,160
as a priority project. So, the idea was
to open that up, make more capacity in

786
00:57:48,000 --> 00:57:53,119
there, uh, from a flood standpoint, but
also conveyance standpoint, right? We

787
00:57:51,839 --> 00:57:56,720
need to be able to get that water down
to the dam and and we've done a good job

788
00:57:55,040 --> 00:57:59,920
of monitoring the dam and knowing if
rain is coming, we can draw that down.

789
00:57:58,559 --> 00:58:03,200
We can get the water in the mill pond
lower to take that capacity. The problem

790
00:58:01,920 --> 00:58:06,319
is we can't get it through the system
unless we make these improvements. So,

791
00:58:04,720 --> 00:58:10,319
yes, absolutely right. Those are on the
priority list. So,

792
00:58:07,440 --> 00:58:15,119
» that James Street choke point though is
a state responsibility, isn't it?

793
00:58:13,440 --> 00:58:18,160
Highway 16, Highway 16.
>> Uh, yes. And what we would do is we'd

794
00:58:16,960 --> 00:58:22,079
work with the state to try and figure
out how much we could get them to fund.

795
00:58:20,000 --> 00:58:26,880
That would be 100% correct. So, I don't
know that's a boring 100% of our cost,

796
00:58:24,559 --> 00:58:30,480
but you know, uh, there is a project
there that's a priority project that

797
00:58:28,319 --> 00:58:35,200
needs to be addressed.
My other question would be on the Fuller

798
00:58:33,680 --> 00:58:42,240
Street.
Now, I can't remember how far that went

799
00:58:39,200 --> 00:58:46,960
in, but
eventually we're probably going to have

800
00:58:43,760 --> 00:58:48,319
to replace all the way past Senate.
Correct.

801
00:58:47,200 --> 00:58:50,960
» You're just throwing darts at me
tonight, aren't you? Um

802
00:58:50,160 --> 00:58:54,559
» I'm sorry.
>> That is also on the priority project

803
00:58:52,480 --> 00:58:59,760
list. Yeah. So, we did replace it
through Washington Park up to 73 and

804
00:58:58,000 --> 00:59:03,440
stopped. But two of the issues there is
it's going to be very expensive to cross

805
00:59:01,200 --> 00:59:07,040
the state highway and once we get into
the gas station property we're going to

806
00:59:05,280 --> 00:59:10,880
probably end up with contamination and
mitigation and things over there too. Is

807
00:59:09,359 --> 00:59:14,480
that covered in great shape from where
we connected down to where it discharges

808
00:59:12,880 --> 00:59:20,640
in Kuanas? No.
>> It's on our priority list for sure.

809
00:59:17,920 --> 00:59:24,160
» You know I only ask because familiar you
know growing up in that area.

810
00:59:24,480 --> 00:59:32,720
Um what are you had an implementation
slide what would your timeline for that

811
00:59:30,000 --> 00:59:36,160
implementation be if we decided on
something?

812
00:59:34,319 --> 00:59:41,280
Yeah, I mean obviously there's some
pieces to that, right? So, um, so if

813
00:59:39,760 --> 00:59:44,160
there's a recommendation from here to
council, council has to take action on

814
00:59:42,720 --> 00:59:47,680
it. I don't know how long that will
take. You know, I don't know if that's a

815
00:59:45,599 --> 00:59:50,640
a cow or a public hearing or some other
things they want to do there. That's

816
00:59:48,880 --> 00:59:54,799
really their prerogative. Uh, but
assuming that everything can move

817
00:59:51,839 --> 00:59:59,440
forward, the actual rate structure we
have from 2021, we built that the first

818
00:59:57,599 --> 01:00:04,799
time. So, for me to go in and change the
erus and run some new numbers, we'd have

819
01:00:01,520 --> 01:00:08,000
to verify the the 3600 for erus, which I
don't imagine's changed. Well, there's

820
01:00:06,480 --> 01:00:11,760
some businesses that have been built and
changed. So, we'll have to update that.

821
01:00:09,680 --> 01:00:15,280
That's not going to take too long. Uh,
but it's then just figuring out how to

822
01:00:13,440 --> 01:00:18,079
incorporate it into the billing process.
However, the again, the community wants

823
01:00:16,880 --> 01:00:21,839
to do that. The ordinance update is
going to take a little time. Uh, I don't

824
01:00:20,240 --> 01:00:26,400
know if it's realistic to assume it'll
take a few months or more to get it

825
01:00:24,640 --> 01:00:30,000
through the process and get some changes
made, assuming that it's got some

826
01:00:27,839 --> 01:00:35,280
priority
in those other utilities or other

827
01:00:32,240 --> 01:00:40,559
communities. Sorry. You said that some
of them do it monthly, quarterly, yearly

828
01:00:37,520 --> 01:00:44,000
on the tax bill. Um, Middleton does it
quarterly. City of S Prairie does it

829
01:00:41,920 --> 01:00:48,480
monthly. How do they get it to their
customer? Is it a separate bill? Is it

830
01:00:45,920 --> 01:00:51,119
on their utility bill with their other
utilities? How are they getting

831
01:00:49,839 --> 01:00:53,839
» most people that are not putting on tax
bill will build bill through the

832
01:00:52,160 --> 01:00:56,559
utility?
>> Yeah.

833
01:00:54,319 --> 01:00:59,760
» Places I've lived
>> other places I've lived, it's come on

834
01:00:58,079 --> 01:01:02,760
the monthly utility bill.
>> Yeah,

835
01:01:03,599 --> 01:01:11,200
» I have a few questions. Uh, as far as
the erus, I mean, you're talking mostly

836
01:01:08,880 --> 01:01:14,880
here about residential, but is there
something in the ordinance already that

837
01:01:12,559 --> 01:01:18,720
addresses other zoning like commercial,
industrial, things like that already, or

838
01:01:17,200 --> 01:01:24,240
does that need to be created?
>> No. ERUS are for those non-residential

839
01:01:21,280 --> 01:01:28,720
properties are based off of uh the 3600
ft. So, again, we're the same principle.

840
01:01:26,480 --> 01:01:32,559
So, if we have somebody who's got 7,200,
it's two eru. So, it's commercial. It's

841
01:01:30,640 --> 01:01:37,200
just based off of. So what we have to do
is go in and actually calculate project

842
01:01:34,720 --> 01:01:40,960
or parcel by parcel on the commercials
what their total impervious is and then

843
01:01:38,960 --> 01:01:47,200
we just divide that into the 3600 to
give us an eru number. So it could be

844
01:01:42,880 --> 01:01:50,480
2.4 erus or it could be 4.6. Um so we
again we have that calculated for most

845
01:01:48,960 --> 01:01:54,559
of the commercial properties in the city
right now. So it's just applying what

846
01:01:52,079 --> 01:01:56,880
the eru size is and just updating that
in the rate study.

847
01:01:55,680 --> 01:02:00,240
» Imperous factor.
>> Impervious factor. Yep.

848
01:01:58,559 --> 01:02:05,359
» Like roof versus lawn.
>> Yep. Gravel. gravel, roofs, concrete,

849
01:02:04,319 --> 01:02:10,799
you know, those are the type of things
that factor into it.

850
01:02:08,160 --> 01:02:15,359
» Um, the other two questions I have is,
uh, what mechanism has changed that

851
01:02:12,880 --> 01:02:19,280
would allow this to happen now without a
referendum or was it just knowledge at

852
01:02:17,680 --> 01:02:22,559
the time that the city
>> Yeah, maybe Matt can speak more to that.

853
01:02:21,200 --> 01:02:28,720
I I might have botched that a little bit
earlier, but no. Um,

854
01:02:25,599 --> 01:02:34,720
so when this was being discussed for the
first time when I was here, I asked

855
01:02:31,520 --> 01:02:39,359
Ellers how all these communities are
enacting storm water utilities without

856
01:02:36,720 --> 01:02:44,880
going to referendum.
And what they shared was you have to

857
01:02:42,240 --> 01:02:50,160
take a negative levy le levy adjustment
in the year you enact your storm water

858
01:02:46,799 --> 01:02:56,400
utility for whatever you spent from an
operating standpoint in your operating

859
01:02:52,319 --> 01:03:02,000
budget in 2012 or 2013 whenever the law
changed about having to go to

860
01:02:57,760 --> 01:03:08,720
referendum. Um and so I think that the
difference is in 2020 2021 when that was

861
01:03:05,440 --> 01:03:13,920
discussed the the understanding was you
had to take the negative levy adjustment

862
01:03:10,559 --> 01:03:18,480
for both your operating and capital and
the correct information is you only have

863
01:03:15,920 --> 01:03:24,000
to take for what you spent in operating
and so I think with capital it would

864
01:03:21,359 --> 01:03:29,680
have been in excess of $200,000 as a
negative levy adjustment which we can't

865
01:03:26,160 --> 01:03:35,599
afford to do the operating expense is is
roughly $14,000 and some change. That's

866
01:03:33,440 --> 01:03:40,640
a negative levy adjustment that I think
we're willing to take as a one-time hit

867
01:03:37,680 --> 01:03:43,359
to be able to create this funding source
for storm water.

868
01:03:41,680 --> 01:03:45,520
» And that doesn't limit your future
ability for the amount that you're

869
01:03:45,200 --> 01:03:46,960
correct
>> going to raise. Okay.

870
01:03:46,480 --> 01:03:48,319
» Yeah.
>> Yep.

871
01:03:47,839 --> 01:03:51,119
» Um
>> it's a one-time negative levy

872
01:03:50,319 --> 01:03:55,280
adjustment.
>> All right. Um, the other question I

873
01:03:53,520 --> 01:03:59,599
guess is how did the council respond to
this presentation when you got it in

874
01:03:57,680 --> 01:04:03,359
May?
>> Oh gosh, that was back in May.

875
01:04:01,760 --> 01:04:05,680
» I mean, we're probably just making a
recommendation to the council at this

876
01:04:04,640 --> 01:04:07,839
point. I'm I'm assuming,
>> right?

877
01:04:06,319 --> 01:04:11,440
» I mean, Matt, you're going to have to
help me here because my memory back to

878
01:04:09,280 --> 01:04:16,400
May is not well, but I don't remember it
being contentious at all. It was more

879
01:04:13,839 --> 01:04:20,000
like we we want to send this to the
utility commission. want to send it to

880
01:04:18,400 --> 01:04:24,319
utility commission for their input
because obviously there are things that

881
01:04:22,400 --> 01:04:28,799
could impact the utility operation,
right? The billing structure could

882
01:04:26,240 --> 01:04:34,480
potentially be an impact utility, but
there's also um you know depending on

883
01:04:32,720 --> 01:04:39,520
where this goes, there's some advantages
to creating it as well, right? Um so I I

884
01:04:38,000 --> 01:04:44,640
think there are some impacts here to the
utility clearly that the council wanted

885
01:04:41,680 --> 01:04:50,319
input from the utility commission. As
I've talked to council members, nobody

886
01:04:47,520 --> 01:04:57,039
wants to add another fee, but I I think
the council is very in tune with some of

887
01:04:53,440 --> 01:05:03,039
our levy limit issues and concerns both
at the operating budget level as well as

888
01:05:00,319 --> 01:05:06,720
borrowing. And the biggest thing that
I'm talking to people that have

889
01:05:04,799 --> 01:05:11,599
questions about budget and what what
challenges we're facing is the street

890
01:05:09,359 --> 01:05:19,200
project that used to cost 34 of a
million now costs $3 million, right? And

891
01:05:15,520 --> 01:05:24,880
so people may not like this answer, but
if we can take the 320,000

892
01:05:22,240 --> 01:05:29,200
out of the general fund borrowing and
assign it to a storm water utility with

893
01:05:26,799 --> 01:05:33,440
a separate funding source, we can do
more streets.

894
01:05:31,119 --> 01:05:38,880
And I think the number one thing the
council heard last year during the

895
01:05:35,440 --> 01:05:43,200
budget is, "Please fix my street." And
so we aggressively put a 10-year street

896
01:05:41,119 --> 01:05:47,599
plan together that is very different
than past street plans. And Jason can

897
01:05:45,760 --> 01:05:52,079
talk about this. Our street program used
to be we would do a major project and

898
01:05:50,079 --> 01:05:56,799
then we'd do like a mill and overlay or
something smaller. And then we'd do a

899
01:05:53,680 --> 01:06:01,599
major project and then we'd do a smaller
maintenance mill and overlay. We've now

900
01:05:59,680 --> 01:06:07,119
got 10 years stacked of we're going to
do a major street project 10 years in a

901
01:06:03,920 --> 01:06:10,960
row. and and that
we've got to stretch dollars as far as

902
01:06:09,039 --> 01:06:16,960
we can to be able to do that and be able
to deliver the residents expectations of

903
01:06:14,160 --> 01:06:23,680
having their streets repaired.
>> Yeah. And I think also to add to that,

904
01:06:19,520 --> 01:06:29,520
um, the council is is trying to stop
kicking cans down the road, um, and

905
01:06:26,880 --> 01:06:34,640
trying to take care of needs. And the
fact that storm water has been such a

906
01:06:31,920 --> 01:06:40,720
problem for so long and we just haven't
been able to make a lot of progress up

907
01:06:37,280 --> 01:06:46,160
until like recently to show our
commitment to it from a city perspective

908
01:06:43,920 --> 01:06:50,400
before we felt comfortable with being
able to put in a utility. It's like

909
01:06:48,720 --> 01:06:54,640
we're showing we have a plan now and
Jason um talked about that a little bit

910
01:06:53,119 --> 01:07:00,640
and we're doing some of these projects
ourselves like see we find it important

911
01:06:57,760 --> 01:07:07,119
but we want to continue but we can't do
it continue doing it that way long term

912
01:07:04,799 --> 01:07:12,480
» and and to answer one of Jack's earlier
points I don't know that any community

913
01:07:09,760 --> 01:07:18,160
can handle a 14inch rainfall no matter
how much storm water infrastructure you

914
01:07:15,359 --> 01:07:22,799
plan and manage for Um, I would say
Middleton, where I worked, has done a

915
01:07:20,640 --> 01:07:27,440
great job of of implementing storm water
infrastructure, and we got a 14-inch

916
01:07:25,599 --> 01:07:37,200
rainfall over a 12-h hour period of
time, and it it was a war zone.

917
01:07:31,920 --> 01:07:42,960
» So, my thought is, how does this affect
the utilities? I mean, it almost seems

918
01:07:40,000 --> 01:07:49,599
like it it's more of a DPW
issue than

919
01:07:45,280 --> 01:07:53,520
um water um electric sewer type.
>> Originally, when when this commission

920
01:07:51,359 --> 01:07:57,440
was created, there there was the intent
of having a storm water utility under

921
01:07:55,520 --> 01:08:01,280
it, which has been created, but there's
no funding for it. So,

922
01:07:58,960 --> 01:08:06,640
» your your ordinance clear currently
states that you manage the storm water

923
01:08:03,359 --> 01:08:11,160
utility that is an unfunded utility. So
the funding is just coming from

924
01:08:07,839 --> 01:08:11,160
somewhere else.

925
01:08:11,760 --> 01:08:16,200
» Yep.
>> So

926
01:08:17,359 --> 01:08:24,239
» the the streets issue is not going to go
away. When I ran for city council in

927
01:08:21,440 --> 01:08:29,520
2013, that was a hot button item and
it's 2026.

928
01:08:26,480 --> 01:08:33,759
» Um so I'm all for it. My main concern is
that

929
01:08:31,600 --> 01:08:39,199
I I'd be happy to make a recommendation
to the council, but when the word gets

930
01:08:35,759 --> 01:08:42,000
out that there's going to be a fee, um I
remember doing that once when I was

931
01:08:40,560 --> 01:08:45,679
mayor and there were people from all
over the state emailing me, how dare you

932
01:08:43,839 --> 01:08:50,159
do this. So, there's got to be some
bravery on the council when it gets that

933
01:08:47,920 --> 01:08:54,239
far. That's the only reason I'm asking
what the mechanism is at this point. So,

934
01:08:52,560 --> 01:09:00,480
» well, and I think we've already been
seeing that, you know, but I think a lot

935
01:08:56,560 --> 01:09:05,040
of the problem is is it's misinformation
or lack of information that's being

936
01:09:02,560 --> 01:09:11,600
shared with the community. And that's
something else we've also been trying to

937
01:09:08,400 --> 01:09:14,159
um increase within council and with, you
know, awareness to the community, kind

938
01:09:13,040 --> 01:09:18,000
of like what we're doing with the public
safety building and stuff like that. But

939
01:09:16,159 --> 01:09:24,000
the problem is is getting people to show
up. you know, you can build it, but it

940
01:09:21,920 --> 01:09:32,159
depends if they come or not. So, the
opportunities to learn and understand

941
01:09:28,480 --> 01:09:36,400
um don't outweigh
people just wanting to complain.

942
01:09:34,480 --> 01:09:40,400
» I think the projects in Fireman's Park
are a great example, though. I mean, I

943
01:09:38,640 --> 01:09:44,159
think you guys were out there potholeing
10 or 12 years ago because we knew there

944
01:09:42,560 --> 01:09:48,400
was an issue and it takes a long time to
get those done. But I think anybody that

945
01:09:46,480 --> 01:09:52,000
goes to the parks or to the school sees
that project and the people that live in

946
01:09:50,400 --> 01:09:57,760
that area know that the flooding has
been mitigated somewhat um that maybe

947
01:09:55,280 --> 01:10:01,760
they'd be on more on board now as well.
But you know that project all got paid

948
01:09:59,840 --> 01:10:05,120
from somewhere and you had to take
something else out of the budget or the

949
01:10:03,600 --> 01:10:11,600
borrowing to do that.
>> And that project was a lot more visual

950
01:10:07,760 --> 01:10:14,239
and in your face. It's the projects that
>> the storm water that gets put underneath

951
01:10:13,199 --> 01:10:19,280
every street that you're
>> pretty things that you know that it's

952
01:10:16,800 --> 01:10:23,920
hard to see benefits from. The other
thing is is like everybody that's had

953
01:10:21,840 --> 01:10:29,199
flooding problems
>> wants it to be fixed, but everybody that

954
01:10:27,440 --> 01:10:33,920
doesn't have flooding problems don't
want to pay for the people that have

955
01:10:30,640 --> 01:10:36,960
flooding problems to have it fixed. So,
um you have that and I think you're

956
01:10:35,280 --> 01:10:42,159
going to have that no matter what.
>> Yeah. was my question about the er. I

957
01:10:40,320 --> 01:10:46,000
mean, obviously, if you live on a hill,
flooding is not an issue. If you live at

958
01:10:43,760 --> 01:10:49,280
the bottom of the hill, it's more of an
issue, but you're both paying the same

959
01:10:47,600 --> 01:10:52,000
amount if you have the same size home
because eventually you're going to have

960
01:10:50,719 --> 01:10:55,280
to drive down the hill to go to the
grocery store. You know, the

961
01:10:53,679 --> 01:10:59,120
infrastructure is affected. All that
stuff is affected.

962
01:10:56,320 --> 01:11:06,239
» Exactly. My house is is pretty high up.
My sump pump has never ran once since

963
01:11:01,280 --> 01:11:11,360
I've lived here. Um, and just like a
block down the road, if it's just spring

964
01:11:09,360 --> 01:11:16,239
and there isn't even rain and I'm
walking around, I hear people some pumps

965
01:11:13,600 --> 01:11:22,960
running nonstop and spitting water out.
So, um, I think I think just people have

966
01:11:20,400 --> 01:11:29,440
to be better better neighbors and, you
know, and be concerned about everybody.

967
01:11:26,000 --> 01:11:34,080
» I ran into this problem a lot when I was
working. I founded a lot of storm sewer

968
01:11:32,080 --> 01:11:38,560
projects.
We squeezed it down to a real easy

969
01:11:36,880 --> 01:11:43,040
concept.
We all live in this drainage basin

970
01:11:40,800 --> 01:11:46,000
together.
>> And so when they complain about, I live

971
01:11:44,640 --> 01:11:49,760
in the hill, oh, I don't have to pay.
You tell them, no, you're part of the

972
01:11:47,760 --> 01:11:53,040
drainage basin, too.
>> You the water's running off of your roof

973
01:11:51,600 --> 01:11:55,120
just as much as running off everybody
else's roof.

974
01:11:53,679 --> 01:12:00,640
» Yeah, Sandy,
>> everything goes downhill.

975
01:11:58,320 --> 01:12:04,560
First of all, I I fully support funding
a a storm water utility. One of the

976
01:12:02,880 --> 01:12:09,600
things that you said tonight that I
hadn't considered was that utility bills

977
01:12:06,800 --> 01:12:15,760
would go to the renter versus if it was
on the tax bill, it would go to the

978
01:12:12,239 --> 01:12:19,920
owner. And I think that having it go to
the owner seems more appropriate because

979
01:12:17,600 --> 01:12:23,920
they have more control over what the
what the impervious surface is on that

980
01:12:22,320 --> 01:12:28,560
property.
But it kind of goes against what is

981
01:12:26,400 --> 01:12:30,640
intuitive to have it be a utility on a
utility bill.

982
01:12:29,120 --> 01:12:34,000
» Yeah. Certainly that's a drawback of the
utility bills, right? Because utility

983
01:12:32,080 --> 01:12:37,360
bills can vary. I mean, some landlords
pay them and work it into the rent.

984
01:12:35,679 --> 01:12:41,920
Others are go directly to the renter and
stuff. And so that's that's always the

985
01:12:39,679 --> 01:12:45,679
decision of well then how do you how do
you decide

986
01:12:43,600 --> 01:12:48,960
how to get that to the right person,
which is the owner? And a lot of cases,

987
01:12:47,360 --> 01:12:53,040
you're you're right. I mean, we have a
lot of owners that don't even live in

988
01:12:50,320 --> 01:12:58,239
the city. Um, but yet it's their
property that's contributing. So, is

989
01:12:55,040 --> 01:13:00,800
there is there a way to to to mitigate
that? I don't I don't know. I guess that

990
01:12:59,840 --> 01:13:04,960
would be something we'd have to look
into. And I don't know if you have any

991
01:13:02,080 --> 01:13:10,800
thoughts on that, Matt, but I mean
I mean I have my unsolicited two cents

992
01:13:07,920 --> 01:13:14,960
on it. Um, I would say even if the owner
is out of the city, they're not the one

993
01:13:13,120 --> 01:13:22,159
utilizing the infrastructure within the
city and the renter is. The other thing

994
01:13:17,440 --> 01:13:27,760
is is I selfishly as a council member do
not want to raise the taxes again

995
01:13:24,560 --> 01:13:31,520
because we get beat up nonstop for that
and we have the public safety building

996
01:13:29,520 --> 01:13:38,400
come up that is inevitably going to
raise the taxes. So I selfishly want it

997
01:13:35,520 --> 01:13:45,840
on the utility because it's easier to
explain as a utility than people getting

998
01:13:41,600 --> 01:13:49,920
a one-time lump sum once a year. I can
see that. Um, but it's the owner's

999
01:13:47,760 --> 01:13:53,640
equity that's being protected by the
storm water utility.

1000
01:13:54,560 --> 01:14:01,679
Yes and no. Because like for me, the
storm water utility isn't raising my

1001
01:13:59,440 --> 01:14:05,760
equity at all. But if I was renting to
somebody and I didn't live in the city,

1002
01:14:04,000 --> 01:14:09,199
I would say, well, they're using the
infrastructure, they're using the parks,

1003
01:14:07,520 --> 01:14:15,760
they're using the roads, and the storm
water utility protects all of that, and

1004
01:14:12,640 --> 01:14:18,960
they're using it, not me.
I see what you're saying. I don't agree,

1005
01:14:17,920 --> 01:14:22,880
but I see what you're saying.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I feel like it could

1006
01:14:20,800 --> 01:14:26,800
go either way. I mean, you can put an
argument on either side. I just think

1007
01:14:25,199 --> 01:14:32,560
that
it would be

1008
01:14:28,880 --> 01:14:38,640
easily consumable on a utility bill
versus taxes.

1009
01:14:35,520 --> 01:14:42,719
» Point made. I think that regardless
implementation on a utility bill will

1010
01:14:40,239 --> 01:14:47,199
cause questions and frustrations because
they've had an electric rate increase, a

1011
01:14:45,199 --> 01:14:52,640
water rate increase. We're talking about
a sewer rate increase, and now you're

1012
01:14:48,719 --> 01:14:56,800
going to add the weight, sorry, storm
sewer utility fee on there. Um, and then

1013
01:14:55,679 --> 01:15:00,320
you have a small group of people that
are fielding those questions as well and

1014
01:14:58,480 --> 01:15:04,560
are going to get beat up constantly. I'm
not disagreeing with the storm water

1015
01:15:02,320 --> 01:15:10,719
utility because I do agree that managing
the storm water is a huge huge need in

1016
01:15:07,280 --> 01:15:13,280
this city but try not to discount that
the people that are going to be

1017
01:15:11,840 --> 01:15:17,920
implementing it are also going to get
beat up pretty badly once they implement

1018
01:15:15,600 --> 01:15:20,560
it and that will be a challenge on how
they're going to implement it. That's

1019
01:15:18,960 --> 01:15:25,679
not going to be easy either.
>> And I totally understand that. I also

1020
01:15:23,040 --> 01:15:32,159
think that our utilities are very
reasonably priced still even after rate

1021
01:15:28,159 --> 01:15:34,960
increases that we might want to do some
education on that too. I think no matter

1022
01:15:33,679 --> 01:15:41,280
which way you implement it, you're going
to have to do education on it. But um

1023
01:15:39,120 --> 01:15:44,239
you know just
>> just considering that

1024
01:15:42,480 --> 01:15:48,719
» I just add like I think part of our
strategy with the utility rates have

1025
01:15:46,080 --> 01:15:54,080
been we want to do small incremental
frequent increases as opposed to large

1026
01:15:51,920 --> 01:15:58,719
step increases that you're seeing in the
news in other utility operations

1027
01:15:57,040 --> 01:16:04,400
throughout the state where they haven't
raised and now they're making big jumps.

1028
01:16:00,880 --> 01:16:10,400
And um I think the reality is is is the
cost for everyone is increasing and

1029
01:16:07,360 --> 01:16:14,480
nobody wants to see increases. But I I
I'm not aware of any community out there

1030
01:16:12,239 --> 01:16:19,520
that's magically not increasing their
costs of operating whether it's their

1031
01:16:16,960 --> 01:16:25,920
utilities that you know or other facets
of the city.

1032
01:16:21,840 --> 01:16:32,560
» Is there a way to split it like 50% on
the tax bill, 50% on a monthly basis?

1033
01:16:28,640 --> 01:16:38,000
that way. They're kind of both. It
covers both. It hits the homeowner.

1034
01:16:35,120 --> 01:16:43,840
Well, if you are a homeowner, it hits
you get it 100% no matter what. But if

1035
01:16:40,560 --> 01:16:49,760
you're renting, you only pay for your
portion and it as a property owner,

1036
01:16:47,120 --> 01:16:55,679
you're only paying for your portion.
And my second comment would be everybody

1037
01:16:53,760 --> 01:17:03,600
that's running for election right now,
you hear them, they're trying to limit

1038
01:16:58,080 --> 01:17:08,560
these how much we can raise our rates.
What is going to happen then? You know

1039
01:17:06,640 --> 01:17:13,040
what I mean?
You want my response to that question?

1040
01:17:11,040 --> 01:17:16,880
They're great electable issues that
people always talk about and the

1041
01:17:14,560 --> 01:17:19,760
implementation of them is not realistic.
>> Right.

1042
01:17:17,360 --> 01:17:25,440
» I understand that.
I would it be like an oversight

1043
01:17:23,280 --> 01:17:31,040
nightmare of the storm water utility to
bill it 50/50 and take more staff

1044
01:17:28,880 --> 01:17:33,440
resources than just to have it on one or
the other?

1045
01:17:31,600 --> 01:17:38,800
» It's an interesting concept that I don't
think that I've contemplated and I think

1046
01:17:35,840 --> 01:17:42,719
there's some legal questions and some un
unanswered questions that I think we

1047
01:17:40,480 --> 01:17:48,080
would need to get answers on. I actually
had the same thought for this reason is

1048
01:17:45,360 --> 01:17:52,080
that if you split the cost, the cost
that's on your utility bill is minimal

1049
01:17:50,400 --> 01:17:55,920
and also on your tax bill. When you look
at how much you pay for garbage and

1050
01:17:53,440 --> 01:18:00,480
recycling, that's not my taxes going up.
There's a fixed cost that goes with that

1051
01:17:57,600 --> 01:18:03,360
and that can vary based upon contracts.
>> But if you had that small charge,

1052
01:18:01,920 --> 01:18:06,640
» I really like that you just said that
because I've not heard it from anybody

1053
01:18:04,880 --> 01:18:09,679
else. They view it as their taxes going
up, not the cost of

1054
01:18:07,840 --> 01:18:14,159
» You can't include that as your total
taxes when you file. I'm just saying.

1055
01:18:11,199 --> 01:18:20,239
Yep, I know. But I recognize that. But
anyway, I think if you saw a storm water

1056
01:18:16,400 --> 01:18:23,920
bill for $60 a year next to garbage and
recycling for $200 and some dollars, I

1057
01:18:22,640 --> 01:18:28,480
think I don't think you'd get a whole
lot of people angry about that. So, if

1058
01:18:27,120 --> 01:18:32,800
we could do a hybrid, but that would be
up to the council ultimately.

1059
01:18:31,520 --> 01:18:36,960
That's my assumption. Well, I mean, I
think the council would want

1060
01:18:33,840 --> 01:18:43,360
recommendation though from from you all
and and they would

1061
01:18:39,520 --> 01:18:48,719
then agree or disagree or you know
>> um but we could always I mean you could

1062
01:18:46,400 --> 01:18:54,159
always and I don't know Matt how you
feel about this. I mean if everybody

1063
01:18:51,120 --> 01:18:58,880
feels strongly about you could give an
option like we would prefer to do it

1064
01:18:56,560 --> 01:19:04,880
50/50. Let's say everybody's okay with
that, but if that's not legally possible

1065
01:19:02,159 --> 01:19:10,159
or not just doesn't make sense, you
know, fiscally, then we would prefer XYZ

1066
01:19:08,239 --> 01:19:13,840
and then like give at least a second
option. I don't know.

1067
01:19:11,520 --> 01:19:17,600
» Sure.
>> I mean, my assumption is the the garbage

1068
01:19:15,920 --> 01:19:20,719
and recycling fee that comes in on the
tax bill, that's in a segregated

1069
01:19:19,360 --> 01:19:24,640
account. It's not mixed in with the
general fund. It's it can't go anywhere

1070
01:19:22,719 --> 01:19:28,480
else. So, it would have to go to the to
the new utility. It's its own special

1071
01:19:26,640 --> 01:19:31,760
revenue fund is how the garbage
recycling is set up.

1072
01:19:29,679 --> 01:19:36,719
» Okay.
>> Uh what specifically are you looking

1073
01:19:34,320 --> 01:19:42,000
from us tonight? Like a yes or a no
overall or like which version of this to

1074
01:19:39,920 --> 01:19:48,080
give a recommendation?
Um I think I think what council would be

1075
01:19:44,719 --> 01:19:52,880
looking for is you know Jason had a low
a medium and a high example a

1076
01:19:50,400 --> 01:19:56,560
recommendation there and then if there
is a recommendation on the billing

1077
01:19:54,640 --> 01:20:01,840
structure as Molly talked about I think
those are are two um valuable things for

1078
01:19:59,679 --> 01:20:07,280
the council to consider. Do you know
what mechanism would be involved if we

1079
01:20:04,640 --> 01:20:13,560
do move forward with this to adjust
those rates after it's created? After

1080
01:20:09,920 --> 01:20:13,560
the fund is created,

1081
01:20:13,840 --> 01:20:22,640
» this has been bantered by the council
and these discussions too and um

1082
01:20:20,960 --> 01:20:27,360
I don't know that there's been any
concrete discussion on on how that is

1083
01:20:25,600 --> 01:20:34,640
dealt with. I I think what you're
referencing is um some kind of built-in

1084
01:20:31,040 --> 01:20:40,480
escalator or some kind of builtin
um control mechanism that doesn't allow

1085
01:20:36,960 --> 01:20:43,760
the rate to to increase significantly or
>> not really uh just I think since it's

1086
01:20:42,880 --> 01:20:48,400
new yeah
>> is that if you implement kind of at the

1087
01:20:45,520 --> 01:20:52,560
base level which is way more than we
have right now it's a separate funding

1088
01:20:50,239 --> 01:20:56,320
source and then you incrementally bring
it up a little bit the first couple

1089
01:20:54,560 --> 01:20:58,320
years to take the sting out of it.
>> Yeah.

1090
01:20:56,640 --> 01:21:01,440
» I'd rather do that personally.
>> Yeah.

1091
01:20:59,040 --> 01:21:05,679
» Than say, let's go for the gusto and do
the the gold package. That's just me.

1092
01:21:04,320 --> 01:21:11,199
» Yeah. I
>> Others may feel differently.

1093
01:21:07,520 --> 01:21:16,239
» And my my whole thing on this is the the
past approach was let's let's create

1094
01:21:13,679 --> 01:21:21,520
this to have it, but we don't know what
it's going to do, right? And I I think

1095
01:21:19,120 --> 01:21:25,600
to for me to be able to sell this to the
public is here's the projects it's going

1096
01:21:23,920 --> 01:21:30,080
to accomplish. here's the schedule that
we're going to accomplish them and that

1097
01:21:27,840 --> 01:21:34,080
the rate makes sense based on what we
want to accomplish for the utility.

1098
01:21:32,560 --> 01:21:41,120
» Yeah, I think the council had more
concerns with the rate changing

1099
01:21:37,440 --> 01:21:45,199
frequently than a rate that has been
confirmed is the rate we need to pick

1100
01:21:43,120 --> 01:21:51,520
the projects to be charged from the
beginning. So, um I think that there is

1101
01:21:48,560 --> 01:21:55,840
definitely a desire to have that number
figured out and solid from the

1102
01:21:53,280 --> 01:21:55,840
beginning.

1103
01:21:56,480 --> 01:22:01,360
Lori,
>> how I mean I I guess I struggle with

1104
01:21:59,040 --> 01:22:04,719
that because like we talked about a road
this year costs this much, a road next

1105
01:22:02,800 --> 01:22:09,520
year cost this much. Storm water is
going to be the same. In your ordinance,

1106
01:22:06,960 --> 01:22:13,360
can you write in there every 3 years
you're increasing it this percentage due

1107
01:22:11,520 --> 01:22:18,320
to
inflation or what have you, but have it

1108
01:22:16,080 --> 01:22:23,520
set ahead of time and that you're not
doing it every year per inflation, but

1109
01:22:20,080 --> 01:22:27,600
every couple of years for inflation. I
you can set it, but it'd be unrealistic

1110
01:22:26,400 --> 01:22:31,120
to think that you're going to be able to
keep it at the same level.

1111
01:22:29,120 --> 01:22:35,360
» Oh, for sure. I meant just it not
increasing for like three or four years

1112
01:22:33,040 --> 01:22:41,600
in a row, ramping up. We wouldn't want
that. But we council does want in the

1113
01:22:38,320 --> 01:22:45,520
ordinance that clarified like how do you
how do you justify an increase because

1114
01:22:43,520 --> 01:22:48,560
of inflation in the future and stuff
like that?

1115
01:22:46,560 --> 01:22:52,480
» And who would be responsible for the
rate increases? Is it this commission or

1116
01:22:50,400 --> 01:22:57,840
is it the city council because we have
to adjust the utility rates here?

1117
01:22:55,040 --> 01:23:03,360
» Well, I think it would be utilities
making a recommendation to council

1118
01:23:01,360 --> 01:23:06,360
» just like it is now.
>> Okay.

1119
01:23:07,360 --> 01:23:14,159
» Um my opinion on the matter is the
funding scenario too. Um I think that

1120
01:23:12,800 --> 01:23:19,520
you might as well start out right in the
middle. Get the money going. Get it

1121
01:23:16,639 --> 01:23:24,159
taken care of. Um, I'm split on whether
it should go on a utility bill or a tax

1122
01:23:21,280 --> 01:23:28,719
bill. I really am. I don't know. I mean,
I understand the implic implementation

1123
01:23:26,400 --> 01:23:31,360
imple, you know what I'm trying to say,
implications of both. I was like, you

1124
01:23:30,080 --> 01:23:34,800
know what I'm trying to say, of both.
So, I I don't know how I feel one way or

1125
01:23:33,360 --> 01:23:39,120
another on that. So, I'm not going to
provide that. But I do think that this

1126
01:23:36,880 --> 01:23:43,040
is absolutely necessary within the city
just like roads and everything else. So,

1127
01:23:41,440 --> 01:23:49,280
I'm
recommending funding scenario two.

1128
01:23:46,000 --> 01:23:55,080
I'm also good with funding scenario too,
but you all know my opinion on where it

1129
01:23:51,920 --> 01:23:55,080
comes from.

1130
01:23:57,840 --> 01:24:04,719
» Getting the opinions down here on which
version?

1131
01:24:01,360 --> 01:24:08,080
» Two is fine. I I still think we should
do a 5050.

1132
01:24:07,440 --> 01:24:11,520
» I think that
>> is the preference if that's um frowned

1133
01:24:10,159 --> 01:24:17,120
upon.
>> I don't Why would it be frowned upon?

1134
01:24:14,480 --> 01:24:20,639
We haven't talked to lawyers or the
impact on city staff. I mean, if it's

1135
01:24:19,120 --> 01:24:25,679
going to cost us
>> x amount of dollars to even implement a

1136
01:24:23,040 --> 01:24:29,520
50/50, the juice might not be worth the
squeeze, you know?

1137
01:24:27,120 --> 01:24:36,159
» I mean, wouldn't it all go to the same
fund anyways? I mean, so it's just a

1138
01:24:32,960 --> 01:24:41,440
matter of how it's collected.
>> I mean, maybe, but support and questions

1139
01:24:39,040 --> 01:24:46,880
are going to come to more city staff
than just one area.

1140
01:24:43,920 --> 01:24:50,800
I would opt for simplicity,
accountability,

1141
01:24:49,199 --> 01:24:56,320
transparency.
If you start splitting it up, we're

1142
01:24:53,120 --> 01:25:00,960
getting 25% from there and 10% from
there. And then then it gets confusing

1143
01:24:58,080 --> 01:25:06,159
like, well, whose obligation is it? Now,
$10 a month for storm sewer

1144
01:25:04,239 --> 01:25:09,360
function, it's
people can swallow that on their utility

1145
01:25:08,080 --> 01:25:13,360
bill.
Okay, we got we had this utility bill

1146
01:25:11,280 --> 01:25:17,840
for six years now. We're finally going
to run around, put some money in there

1147
01:25:15,600 --> 01:25:23,520
so we can do some more things and fix
the streets in two. And um

1148
01:25:22,080 --> 01:25:27,040
yeah, they're going to cry. I mean, I
don't blame them. I don't like my tax

1149
01:25:24,880 --> 01:25:32,480
bill
and but uh I don't know how you can get

1150
01:25:29,600 --> 01:25:36,880
around it. How about if we don't build a
brand new public safety building? Let's

1151
01:25:33,920 --> 01:25:41,280
take that one off.
You know how much time I put into uh

1152
01:25:39,199 --> 01:25:46,480
selling the historic preservation
district? Now they're going to like get

1153
01:25:43,760 --> 01:25:48,719
rid of city hall. You know how much time
I put in trying to

1154
01:25:47,440 --> 01:25:52,560
» That's a topic.
>> Well, I'm trying to get

1155
01:25:50,400 --> 01:25:57,440
» it creates a whole lot of room if you
>> We can go round and round and round

1156
01:25:54,000 --> 01:26:02,400
another day on that, but not today.
>> Sandy, do you have a preference?

1157
01:25:58,800 --> 01:26:06,480
» I also would prefer scenario two. Um,
and I

1158
01:26:04,239 --> 01:26:10,239
I understand the simplicity of putting
it on the utility bill. I also

1159
01:26:08,719 --> 01:26:18,159
understand the simplicity of putting on
the tax bill. There's um, but I I get

1160
01:26:14,880 --> 01:26:22,159
the 50/50, too. I I do think that if we
do the 5050, people will see it as

1161
01:26:20,159 --> 01:26:25,840
double dipping.
And I wonder

1162
01:26:24,080 --> 01:26:31,120
» I understand what you're saying and that
was kind of a thought,

1163
01:26:29,600 --> 01:26:40,960
but
if it's explained properly, you know,

1164
01:26:35,520 --> 01:26:45,520
it would be to a user fee and basically
an owner portion, I guess, more or less.

1165
01:26:45,120 --> 01:26:49,520
» Okay,
>> that's the way I I would look at it.

1166
01:26:47,679 --> 01:26:52,520
» And that makes perfect sense.
>> Yeah.

1167
01:26:53,520 --> 01:27:01,040
I I like scenario number two as well.
And I'm still leaning on the hybrid. And

1168
01:26:58,880 --> 01:27:07,120
here's another reason. If you put it on
the tax bill, it has to get paid. If you

1169
01:27:04,639 --> 01:27:11,600
don't pay for your trash and recycling
and you just short your tax bill by

1170
01:27:08,960 --> 01:27:16,480
$272, you haven't paid your taxes. So,
it's always collectible. Utility bills

1171
01:27:14,080 --> 01:27:21,440
are different.
Um, if you decide you don't want to pay

1172
01:27:19,520 --> 01:27:27,040
that $10 and you short your bill every
month $10, who's not getting the $10?

1173
01:27:24,800 --> 01:27:30,800
You're paying one bill.
So, I think having the hybrid, if it's a

1174
01:27:28,960 --> 01:27:35,040
possibility,
I think it looks better. Like, if if the

1175
01:27:33,360 --> 01:27:38,320
the property owner is getting the tax
bill and the renters's not, then they

1176
01:27:36,560 --> 01:27:43,120
have to pay their portion and it makes
those both of those numbers a little bit

1177
01:27:40,639 --> 01:27:46,560
smaller. But, I'm not going to get hung
up on that. I just think that might be a

1178
01:27:44,960 --> 01:27:51,440
good way to approach it and let council
kind of talk to staff and find out what

1179
01:27:49,760 --> 01:27:55,280
is possible and what's not possible. And
if it's a logistical nightmare to do it,

1180
01:27:53,600 --> 01:27:59,760
then
let the council decide.

1181
01:27:58,000 --> 01:28:04,320
So is the recommendation then if it's a
logistical because it seems like the

1182
01:28:01,199 --> 01:28:08,639
majority want the 50/50 split or not a
preference, but if it's a logistical

1183
01:28:06,239 --> 01:28:12,159
nightmare, you don't want to give a
second preference. You just you want to

1184
01:28:11,120 --> 01:28:15,840
leave it up to council.
>> The council Yeah. I mean, ultimately you

1185
01:28:14,000 --> 01:28:19,760
guys decide that stuff. I mean, there's
so many other things to consider. I

1186
01:28:17,760 --> 01:28:25,120
mean, this is a benefit to the
utilities, but it's also a benefit to

1187
01:28:21,520 --> 01:28:27,199
the city by freeing up more general
funds.

1188
01:28:25,600 --> 01:28:30,719
» Yeah. I guess I would like everybody to
agree that they would leave it then for

1189
01:28:28,960 --> 01:28:35,840
council to decide versus a
recommendation because I think that's

1190
01:28:32,960 --> 01:28:38,880
risky um in doing that because you may
not like what council chooses.

1191
01:28:37,280 --> 01:28:42,960
» Oh, if we make a recommendation, you
don't have to follow it. I mean, that's

1192
01:28:40,800 --> 01:28:50,239
what a recommendation is, right? Yeah.
>> Right. But right, I'm I guess I would

1193
01:28:46,239 --> 01:28:55,520
just be hoping as council to have if the
recommendation is 5050 and it turns out

1194
01:28:52,560 --> 01:29:01,040
to be a logistical nightmare, I would
worry that council may send it back to

1195
01:28:58,080 --> 01:29:06,080
utility asking what is a better what's
the second option. I'm not saying it

1196
01:29:03,280 --> 01:29:10,800
will happen, but it could happen because
the new structure that we have is that

1197
01:29:09,120 --> 01:29:15,120
if something can be handled in a
committee or commission, we would like

1198
01:29:12,880 --> 01:29:20,880
that to happen and then a recommendation
to council because the committee and the

1199
01:29:17,840 --> 01:29:27,000
commission is the quote unquote experts
of the area. So, I'm just

1200
01:29:24,000 --> 01:29:27,000
» sure.

1201
01:29:29,040 --> 01:29:37,320
» Well, shoot. I'll go ahead and make a
motion funding

1202
01:29:34,320 --> 01:29:37,320
recommend

1203
01:29:38,080 --> 01:29:44,080
» and then that's it.
>> You don't want to

1204
01:29:42,080 --> 01:29:48,639
» Well, and then Well, I would then like
to see a recommendation to council that

1205
01:29:46,000 --> 01:29:53,440
they pick the way that they fund it then
if you're not going to offer a

1206
01:29:49,920 --> 01:29:56,639
recommendation on how it's funded
because otherwise council will be like,

1207
01:29:54,880 --> 01:30:02,000
"Okay, well, how are we supposed to fund
it?" And again, I worry it's going to

1208
01:29:58,639 --> 01:30:07,280
get kicked back.
>> I'll move funding scenario number two,

1209
01:30:04,560 --> 01:30:16,000
putting$120
to $150 per EU on the utility.

1210
01:30:13,040 --> 01:30:19,199
» Second.
>> All right, we've got a motion, a second

1211
01:30:17,440 --> 01:30:26,320
to make a recommendation to city council
for scenario number two with no

1212
01:30:23,199 --> 01:30:28,080
recommendation as far as the billing. He
said on the utility bill.

1213
01:30:27,520 --> 01:30:31,600
» Utility bill.
>> Oh, utility bill. Sorry, I didn't hear

1214
01:30:29,520 --> 01:30:36,320
that. With the recommendation that it's
on the utility bill.

1215
01:30:34,080 --> 01:30:40,159
» Do we have a roll call on this one?
>> Is there any other discussion on the

1216
01:30:37,679 --> 01:30:43,120
motion?
>> No.

1217
01:30:40,480 --> 01:30:48,239
» What uh
I guess Matt, what

1218
01:30:46,080 --> 01:30:54,199
what's easiest to collect? Is it easier
to collect taxes or is it easy to

1219
01:30:50,400 --> 01:30:54,199
collect billing?

1220
01:30:54,960 --> 01:31:01,760
my opinion is billing. It's uh
straightforward. We have a system down

1221
01:30:58,480 --> 01:31:07,840
for it and and we have steps to take
when it's not being paid or collected.

1222
01:31:04,159 --> 01:31:12,800
So, fair enough.
>> Any other discussion? If none, let's

1223
01:31:10,400 --> 01:31:16,960
take a roll call then.
>> Andler.

1224
01:31:14,719 --> 01:31:20,400
I Sanderson.
>> Hi.

1225
01:31:18,320 --> 01:31:21,679
» F. I
>> Tol.

1226
01:31:20,960 --> 01:31:24,960
» Hi,
>> Curtis. I

1227
01:31:23,920 --> 01:31:30,679
» I
>> unanimous got through that.

1228
01:31:27,679 --> 01:31:30,679
» Amen.

1229
01:31:31,040 --> 01:31:38,000
» They weren't intended to be
>> appcate all.

1230
01:31:37,040 --> 01:31:41,920
» Thank you, Jason.
>> Take care, Jason. Good to see you.

1231
01:31:39,679 --> 01:31:41,920
» Bye.

1232
01:31:46,480 --> 01:31:51,360
All right, we're going to move on to
item number six then next, which is

1233
01:31:50,080 --> 01:31:55,760
consider and take action on the
substation 2 water street transformer

1234
01:31:53,520 --> 01:32:00,400
purchase. There is information in our
packets about that with the bits that

1235
01:31:58,239 --> 01:32:05,199
were received.
So,

1236
01:32:02,560 --> 01:32:11,920
substation 2 upgrade. This project was
approved by the council in 2024

1237
01:32:08,239 --> 01:32:16,639
and it is I believe and it is starting
to come together. Uh materials are being

1238
01:32:14,239 --> 01:32:21,600
procured.
You'll see in the packet that uh we had

1239
01:32:19,360 --> 01:32:25,840
put out to bid for transformers.
Transformers are extremely expensive

1240
01:32:23,360 --> 01:32:31,520
now, especially the size we need for
substations.

1241
01:32:27,600 --> 01:32:37,120
Um, we received five bids, I believe,
and

1242
01:32:34,239 --> 01:32:43,040
the consulting engineer that we use a
great deal, Forester, has recommended

1243
01:32:40,560 --> 01:32:49,360
that of the two lowest bids, we actually
go award the contract to the second

1244
01:32:46,639 --> 01:32:55,199
lowest bidder because we find we feel
that the greater value is with that

1245
01:32:52,480 --> 01:32:59,199
product that they supply.
Um,

1246
01:32:56,719 --> 01:33:04,719
» sure.
>> I got to ask a question on were these

1247
01:33:01,679 --> 01:33:09,920
solicited as quotes or through a formal
bidding process?

1248
01:33:06,800 --> 01:33:13,679
» Through the formal bidding process.
>> So my understanding is when you do a

1249
01:33:12,080 --> 01:33:18,480
formal bidding process in the state of
Wisconsin, you're required to take the

1250
01:33:15,280 --> 01:33:21,360
low bid unless you've prevetted your
vendors.

1251
01:33:20,400 --> 01:33:26,400
» Unless what?
>> If it's an RFB, yes, you have to take

1252
01:33:23,280 --> 01:33:30,320
the lowest bid. If it's an RF
>> Q

1253
01:33:26,800 --> 01:33:33,920
» Q, then you can take the person that's
most qualified and doesn't necessarily

1254
01:33:32,159 --> 01:33:38,480
have to be the lowest bid. So if it was
an RFB, you have to take lowest.

1255
01:33:36,159 --> 01:33:43,080
» Well, I'll have to find out then. It was
my understanding. I mean, I don't think

1256
01:33:43,280 --> 01:33:50,400
» and and and I'm going to clarify this as
there may be different rules for

1257
01:33:47,120 --> 01:33:56,960
utilities than for the city. I I I will
state that, but it as the city, we're

1258
01:33:52,719 --> 01:34:00,760
not allowed to um not take the low bid
on a bidded project.

1259
01:34:01,040 --> 01:34:09,440
Okay. I wasn't prepared for that
question, I'm afraid. Um

1260
01:34:06,639 --> 01:34:14,320
I have at other times, well, many many
times in my career in utilities, we do

1261
01:34:12,960 --> 01:34:18,560
not necessarily always take the lowest
bidder because it is not the greatest

1262
01:34:15,679 --> 01:34:22,560
value. Um, many projects can be very
under bid.

1263
01:34:20,880 --> 01:34:27,040
So,
I'll have to get that answer. Um,

1264
01:34:25,679 --> 01:34:30,000
» can I say something real quick?
>> Yes.

1265
01:34:27,360 --> 01:34:34,480
» I'm sorry. You made Jason stay, but
we've had Rukard and Milky

1266
01:34:32,800 --> 01:34:37,040
» review bids for us in the past for other
projects

1267
01:34:35,360 --> 01:34:42,320
» and then they do this similar thing that
Forester did for us here. Has Rrooker

1268
01:34:40,159 --> 01:34:49,120
and Milky ever suggested that we don't
take the lowest bidder for any sort of

1269
01:34:46,400 --> 01:34:52,000
cause? I don't trying to be as general
to not like you know you know what I'm

1270
01:34:51,040 --> 01:34:55,840
trying to ask.
>> Yeah.

1271
01:34:53,199 --> 01:35:00,480
» Have we done this before in a different
situation with utilities? The way that

1272
01:34:58,719 --> 01:35:04,639
I've always approached it in my 20s some
years with municipalities is it has to

1273
01:35:02,239 --> 01:35:08,880
be the lowest respons lowest responsible
bidder and responsible bidder is clearly

1274
01:35:07,360 --> 01:35:12,239
defined as somebody who meets all the
qualifications. So if they meet all the

1275
01:35:10,400 --> 01:35:16,080
qualifications then you have to
basically take the low bid. If it's

1276
01:35:14,560 --> 01:35:19,520
nonresponsible
means maybe you've had experience with

1277
01:35:18,239 --> 01:35:22,960
them where they've defaulted on
something in the past where they had a

1278
01:35:20,960 --> 01:35:28,719
contract with you or done something.
There are grounds or exceptions to that

1279
01:35:25,679 --> 01:35:33,199
in in my understanding that can be made,
but that's only if you have again those

1280
01:35:31,120 --> 01:35:38,239
pre-qualifications identified up front
for the biders when they submit. So

1281
01:35:34,880 --> 01:35:42,880
again, there there is some I think ways
that we've done it. Um but again, I know

1282
01:35:41,520 --> 01:35:47,040
there's some risk in it and there's
always some debate of whether you can

1283
01:35:45,120 --> 01:35:51,679
accept something that's not low and on
based on what grounds. So, I've ran

1284
01:35:49,120 --> 01:35:56,239
across it a few times, but I can't say
that I've ever made a recommendation

1285
01:35:53,040 --> 01:35:58,639
that isn't lowest.
>> Sorry, I didn't mean to put you on the

1286
01:35:57,360 --> 01:36:03,520
spot on your topic.
>> One way to avoid this in the future is

1287
01:36:01,280 --> 01:36:11,360
if you have a particular brand that you
want used, call that out in your RFB

1288
01:36:08,000 --> 01:36:16,560
because then you can just get bids from
people that use a certain brand.

1289
01:36:14,960 --> 01:36:21,520
Well, just for a little further
explanation, it it was more of we had to

1290
01:36:19,120 --> 01:36:28,960
make a decision for the products that
were submitted

1291
01:36:23,760 --> 01:36:33,440
um on what is going to provide
the city in a greater capacity if we

1292
01:36:31,679 --> 01:36:39,120
grow.
If we felt that

1293
01:36:36,080 --> 01:36:42,719
um our load requirements would stay the
same for the next 20 years as they are

1294
01:36:40,719 --> 01:36:48,080
in 2026, then we would be very
comfortable going with the lowest bid.

1295
01:36:45,119 --> 01:36:54,080
The second lowest bidder though is
offering a product that allows for

1296
01:36:50,719 --> 01:37:00,239
greater capacity growth.
And so Dalton and I made the decision

1297
01:36:57,360 --> 01:37:05,600
that we feel Columbus is on the brink of
growing and this is going to serve us

1298
01:37:04,000 --> 01:37:10,480
better
long after my career is over.

1299
01:37:08,800 --> 01:37:15,679
So that was the background of it. I'm
thinking now that

1300
01:37:13,280 --> 01:37:20,400
I should pull this and uh if it doesn't
come back to commission it's because

1301
01:37:18,080 --> 01:37:25,679
this was indeed a bid. So
>> well and if I can add something as far

1302
01:37:22,639 --> 01:37:29,440
as the lowest responsible bidder goes uh
the reason that we're going with Walka

1303
01:37:27,360 --> 01:37:35,520
as well is different capabilities of the
transformer as opposed uh to the

1304
01:37:32,239 --> 01:37:41,520
Virginia. Now while they do have and
make kind of what we're looking for it's

1305
01:37:39,600 --> 01:37:47,119
better supported through Waka. What
we're going to is right now in our

1306
01:37:44,000 --> 01:37:51,520
substation we have voltage regulators.
Essentially, it's a unit after the

1307
01:37:49,040 --> 01:37:58,639
transformer regulates the voltage tap
changes um as needs arise for lower

1308
01:37:55,840 --> 01:38:03,119
higher voltages. What we're going to now
with this larger transformer is what's

1309
01:38:00,239 --> 01:38:09,040
called an LTC, a load tap changer, which
is in my opinion and forers as well

1310
01:38:05,920 --> 01:38:14,239
better supported through WacaWaw as far
as service, sales, dependability, things

1311
01:38:11,119 --> 01:38:19,520
of that nature. So,
I get the lowest responsible bidder

1312
01:38:16,719 --> 01:38:24,000
thing, but I don't think this is a fight
that Virginia would be willing to get

1313
01:38:21,520 --> 01:38:29,040
into. I mean, these transformers are
bought and sold all over the United

1314
01:38:26,159 --> 01:38:33,760
States all the time. I don't think that
one transformer here is much to pay

1315
01:38:32,000 --> 01:38:37,760
attention to. I don't know my opinion on
that.

1316
01:38:34,480 --> 01:38:41,440
» It's law though, unfortunately.
>> Responsible bidder. Like, how do you

1317
01:38:39,280 --> 01:38:43,600
define that? Is there labor involved in
this project?

1318
01:38:42,480 --> 01:38:49,520
» Yes,
>> by the vendor.

1319
01:38:45,600 --> 01:38:54,400
» Um, labor by the vendor? No. Now, they
will have somebody on site to review

1320
01:38:52,480 --> 01:38:56,880
» and like ensure it's being installed,
but the labor itself is not by the

1321
01:38:56,159 --> 01:39:01,679
vendor. No.
>> So, if it's a materials purchase, you

1322
01:38:58,880 --> 01:39:08,480
are not required to go low bit. If labor
is involved, you and the labor exceeds

1323
01:39:05,600 --> 01:39:13,280
now $50,000 because of the change in
state law that went from 25 to 50. If

1324
01:39:11,199 --> 01:39:18,320
labor exceeds 50, then you're required
to go low bit.

1325
01:39:16,400 --> 01:39:21,280
» I'm a little surprised that Forester
didn't catch this.

1326
01:39:19,840 --> 01:39:26,000
» Yes, sir. So am I.
>> Well, my other question is, are all of

1327
01:39:23,920 --> 01:39:30,239
these transformers apples to apples? Are
they all within the specs of the bid

1328
01:39:27,760 --> 01:39:34,400
that you put out? You said that the walk
shaw one will be able to allow the city

1329
01:39:32,239 --> 01:39:37,360
to grow, but what were the specs of the
bid that was put out?

1330
01:39:36,000 --> 01:39:44,320
» That's the sticking point. If you guys
weren't specific to that in the bid, you

1331
01:39:40,080 --> 01:39:48,080
can't choose it later.
>> What do you mean?

1332
01:39:44,960 --> 01:39:52,480
» We're hiring we're hiring a forester to
figure all that out for us. We can get

1333
01:39:50,320 --> 01:39:56,960
really deep into the weeds on an
electrical transformer. This can get

1334
01:39:54,159 --> 01:40:02,719
complicated. Do you want to debate that?
Now, I've whenever I've gone out in the

1335
01:39:59,600 --> 01:40:06,719
field and audit projects, the most
problematic ones were always at the

1336
01:40:04,639 --> 01:40:10,639
lowest bid.
You know, we got a professional telling

1337
01:40:08,639 --> 01:40:14,560
us, you know, buy the walkie shaw one.
It's a better deal.

1338
01:40:12,080 --> 01:40:19,040
» I'm good with that. It's getting late.
>> We're not arguing that, Jack. We're

1339
01:40:17,360 --> 01:40:22,239
stating state law.
>> Well, they're going to figure that out.

1340
01:40:20,880 --> 01:40:25,920
» We have to comply with
>> I know. Yeah, but Ry's going to go check

1341
01:40:24,320 --> 01:40:31,199
that out and figure it out. And if they
require us to take a low bid, you know,

1342
01:40:28,560 --> 01:40:35,119
well, I guess our hands are tied. But,
>> you know, we don't have to figure that

1343
01:40:33,199 --> 01:40:40,159
out. Revise your
>> So, the these are all comparables. These

1344
01:40:37,840 --> 01:40:43,520
are apples to apples across the board.
All the specifications are the same

1345
01:40:41,760 --> 01:40:48,960
throughout. This is the way the bid came
in. And with Matt saying it's the

1346
01:40:46,960 --> 01:40:53,800
material and this is strictly a material
purchase. Does that apply?

1347
01:40:54,320 --> 01:41:01,840
I feel like what we should be doing is
moving this recommendation forward from

1348
01:41:00,080 --> 01:41:05,360
Forester and if Forester did something
inappropriate, they're going to notify

1349
01:41:03,520 --> 01:41:08,480
staff and then we have to figure it out
from there. We're not doing anything

1350
01:41:06,639 --> 01:41:13,280
wrong by taking this recommendation from
Forester.

1351
01:41:09,440 --> 01:41:15,760
» Is Forester liable if if it breaks um
>> they went through the bidding

1352
01:41:14,639 --> 01:41:18,880
procurement process.
>> They should know the bidding process.

1353
01:41:17,920 --> 01:41:22,719
» How
>> I mean if they're accountable, sure,

1354
01:41:20,400 --> 01:41:27,040
that's a valid thing. But my experience
is it's not the vendor that's

1355
01:41:24,320 --> 01:41:30,639
accountable. It's the it's the city or
the state that's accountable.

1356
01:41:29,199 --> 01:41:34,000
» I don't know directly that answer. How
would we hold them accountable?

1357
01:41:32,719 --> 01:41:36,880
» That's why I'm saying they can't be
accountable. It's it's were the

1358
01:41:35,679 --> 01:41:42,800
accountable one.
>> But if it's purely material, maybe it's

1359
01:41:38,880 --> 01:41:48,239
not an argument that is even there. I'm
I'm going to throw out a recommendation

1360
01:41:44,239 --> 01:41:53,840
that maybe helps this move along is make
make your motion to approve Waka Shaw

1361
01:41:51,520 --> 01:41:56,840
pending city attorney review.
>> Perfect.

1362
01:42:01,440 --> 01:42:07,360
» May I can't make the motion.
>> I can't make a motion.

1363
01:42:05,360 --> 01:42:15,199
» That's probably illegal.
>> I'll move to approve MC Sales Walka. um

1364
01:42:12,000 --> 01:42:20,719
after verification with city attorney
that we can choose them versus the

1365
01:42:18,560 --> 01:42:24,960
lowest bid.
>> I'll still second.

1366
01:42:22,880 --> 01:42:31,480
» All right. There's a motion and a second
to approve MC sales of Wakaaw the amount

1367
01:42:28,080 --> 01:42:31,480
of 1.868,226

1368
01:42:32,400 --> 01:42:39,639
for the purchase of a transformer
with approval of the city attorney.

1369
01:42:40,800 --> 01:42:44,920
Any discussion on the motion?

1370
01:42:45,199 --> 01:42:53,280
We'll need a roll call on that, but we
are missing one member right now.

1371
01:42:50,880 --> 01:42:55,040
» You take the vote and if they're back,
does that work?

1372
01:42:54,080 --> 01:42:57,040
» Yep.
>> Fry

1373
01:42:56,239 --> 01:42:58,400
» I.
>> Tom,

1374
01:42:57,679 --> 01:42:59,679
» I
>> Curtis

1375
01:42:59,119 --> 01:43:01,040
» I
>> Fininkler

1376
01:43:00,400 --> 01:43:08,280
» I
>> Handler I

1377
01:43:03,280 --> 01:43:08,280
» Sanderson will say

1378
01:43:13,600 --> 01:43:17,600
Yes or no?
>> We're waiting on you for your vote.

1379
01:43:16,080 --> 01:43:21,360
» We took a vote.
>> What do we have another?

1380
01:43:18,639 --> 01:43:24,480
» We took a vote to to award it to Walka
with the approval of the city attorney.

1381
01:43:23,440 --> 01:43:26,560
Basic contingent.
>> I'll vote for Walkaw.

1382
01:43:25,760 --> 01:43:30,639
» Okay.
>> Got a yes.

1383
01:43:27,679 --> 01:43:36,679
» Y Sanderson.
>> I I guess I

1384
01:43:33,199 --> 01:43:36,679
» motion's approved.

1385
01:43:44,239 --> 01:43:49,199
All right, let's move on to number
seven. Consider and take action on

1386
01:43:47,119 --> 01:43:54,880
electric lead lineman proposed updated
wage scale. So, as everyone knows, we

1387
01:43:52,400 --> 01:44:00,239
have hired Mr. Highley here as our
assistant director. This has left a

1388
01:43:56,880 --> 01:44:08,000
vacancy for our uh department lead,
electric department lead. Um, and we are

1389
01:44:03,760 --> 01:44:14,239
about to post this position, but
the market out there right now in our

1390
01:44:10,480 --> 01:44:19,040
area for the lead in some cities, they
call it Foreman still, is considerably

1391
01:44:17,760 --> 01:44:24,800
higher. They've had some cola
adjustments since Columbus had set their

1392
01:44:21,679 --> 01:44:28,960
wage scale. So in order to stay
competitive uh in this very competitive

1393
01:44:27,119 --> 01:44:34,639
market which I've discussed with the
commission before um I am proposing or

1394
01:44:32,480 --> 01:44:40,320
asking your permission to uh increase
our wage range now from initially it was

1395
01:44:38,800 --> 01:44:44,880
58.95
I believe was a ceiling and now we are

1396
01:44:42,000 --> 01:44:49,360
requesting that the ceiling be 6095.
Uh that does not mean we that's what we

1397
01:44:46,960 --> 01:44:54,320
would start the new lead at but that
would be their salary range that they

1398
01:44:51,360 --> 01:44:54,320
could expect.

1399
01:44:54,400 --> 01:44:59,080
Yes.
Yes.

1400
01:45:00,639 --> 01:45:08,719
» I make a motion to accept the wage range
for the electric lead lineman proposed

1401
01:45:06,560 --> 01:45:12,239
updated wage scale.
>> I will second.

1402
01:45:10,239 --> 01:45:18,719
» All right. We got a motion, a second to
approve the uh wage range adjustment

1403
01:45:16,159 --> 01:45:22,880
um as given by Randy. Any discussion on
the motion?

1404
01:45:21,040 --> 01:45:24,080
If none let's take a roll call on this
please.

1405
01:45:23,520 --> 01:45:25,840
» Tom
>> I

1406
01:45:24,800 --> 01:45:27,199
» Curtis
>> I

1407
01:45:26,480 --> 01:45:28,639
» Finler
>> I

1408
01:45:27,760 --> 01:45:30,000
» Handler
>> I

1409
01:45:29,199 --> 01:45:31,040
» Sanderson
>> I

1410
01:45:30,480 --> 01:45:34,719
» Fry
>> I

1411
01:45:32,960 --> 01:45:38,960
» could I just ask one question about the
position description. We don't mention

1412
01:45:36,960 --> 01:45:44,320
anywhere at all the the assistant
utility director as being part of the

1413
01:45:41,199 --> 01:45:48,719
hierarchy and the and seeing that was
that's a newly created position and you

1414
01:45:46,560 --> 01:45:50,639
might want them to be
>> yes

1415
01:45:49,119 --> 01:45:53,600
» somewhere in that hierarchy
>> they answer to this yes that's a very

1416
01:45:52,560 --> 01:45:59,960
good point
>> so just an idea

1417
01:45:55,840 --> 01:45:59,960
» we'll we'll make that change

1418
01:46:00,400 --> 01:46:04,600
» I'm going to take the screen Yep.

1419
01:46:07,360 --> 01:46:14,480
» All right. On to the fun one.
Consider, discuss, and take possible

1420
01:46:12,239 --> 01:46:19,520
action on email sent from Fall River
Village President on July 30th, 2026

1421
01:46:17,360 --> 01:46:24,880
regarding the outstanding Arers O2
Columbus utilities.

1422
01:46:22,320 --> 01:46:29,119
We've had this conversation a couple
meetings ago.

1423
01:46:27,040 --> 01:46:32,880
Yes, we have. I'm sorry. And let me open
up

1424
01:46:31,040 --> 01:46:38,719
just some data that I want to share with
commission. I wanted to bring this to

1425
01:46:34,960 --> 01:46:43,440
commission because the president of Fall
River did reach out specifically to the

1426
01:46:42,000 --> 01:46:52,080
commissioners and he did mention my
name. Um so I want to make some u

1427
01:46:48,960 --> 01:46:59,360
clarifications here. Uh this was the
last email sent by the president of Fall

1428
01:46:55,040 --> 01:47:03,520
River. um the areas I've highlighted um
he has completely misrepresented the

1429
01:47:01,679 --> 01:47:09,679
actual circumstances and I want to go
through those four and just explain to

1430
01:47:06,159 --> 01:47:14,679
um the commission why this is not
realistic what he has been saying um

1431
01:47:15,280 --> 01:47:22,560
so this is a timeline of when this whole
thing started when I started here at

1432
01:47:20,400 --> 01:47:29,199
Columbus one of the first tasks we took
on was doing a rate case for sanitary

1433
01:47:26,239 --> 01:47:34,320
sewer uh because of we found some
problems with our financial situation in

1434
01:47:32,320 --> 01:47:39,600
sanitary and so we did a rate case and
during that rate case we discovered that

1435
01:47:37,280 --> 01:47:48,639
Fall River had not been built properly
for the last four years. Um we then on

1436
01:47:43,520 --> 01:47:54,639
March 1st of this year u myself Matt
Jason uh our business manager Michelle

1437
01:47:51,600 --> 01:48:01,199
and Mayor Hammer all met with Mr.
Slottton and his staff and uh presented

1438
01:47:58,080 --> 01:48:06,560
to them our rate case and then during
that conversation we explained to him

1439
01:48:03,199 --> 01:48:12,639
that there was an error in
um the billing. Um we apologized for the

1440
01:48:10,159 --> 01:48:18,080
air but we explained how this was an
error service was provided

1441
01:48:15,119 --> 01:48:23,119
um and you understand the story that um
we felt not felt it was necessary that

1442
01:48:20,480 --> 01:48:26,800
we collect this outstanding balance. Uh
at that time Mr. Slottton did not

1443
01:48:25,040 --> 01:48:33,840
respond. He said he wanted some time and
then they did s send a response on May

1444
01:48:29,280 --> 01:48:38,080
2nd. Um in his letter
um he said that the city has indicated a

1445
01:48:36,719 --> 01:48:43,920
village has been under charged
approximately 117,000.5

1446
01:48:41,360 --> 01:48:48,000
um dating back to 2022 and then he
states that the village does not believe

1447
01:48:45,280 --> 01:48:53,760
a back payment is justified.
They went on with another reason um

1448
01:48:50,560 --> 01:48:58,880
saying that uh in the sewer utility
invested funds that they're they believe

1449
01:48:57,360 --> 01:49:04,719
we could have been collecting interest
off of this. It is my from my office our

1450
01:49:02,639 --> 01:49:09,520
position is this has nothing to do with
our billing process. Uh if they wanted

1451
01:49:06,800 --> 01:49:14,800
to dispute that they can uh approach
Matt the city or that but that has

1452
01:49:12,639 --> 01:49:22,719
nothing to do with me. I'm I'm It's my
job uh as director to collect revenue

1453
01:49:17,920 --> 01:49:27,679
and to uh cover our costs. So I did not
um I do not recognize this. Um if I'm

1454
01:49:25,360 --> 01:49:32,639
instructed to recognize this uh to
factor this into what they owe us, I

1455
01:49:30,159 --> 01:49:36,560
will do so. But this is something I
cannot consider. I do not consider this

1456
01:49:34,320 --> 01:49:41,119
for other customers we have and other
businesses.

1457
01:49:38,080 --> 01:49:44,320
Um but what I want to point out here is
Mr. Slottton is just dead wrong when he

1458
01:49:42,880 --> 01:49:50,239
said that he has not had a chance to
talk about this. He's had eight months.

1459
01:49:47,199 --> 01:49:55,520
Um there have been many exchanges.
Um

1460
01:49:52,800 --> 01:50:00,960
prior to this first invoice we sent Fall
River uh in the beginning of June, Mr.

1461
01:49:58,480 --> 01:50:08,159
Slottton contacted our administrator,
Mr. And admmonson, sorry, Matt. Um, and

1462
01:50:05,679 --> 01:50:13,040
he stated to Matt, um, I'm speaking on
Matt's behalf, but he stated to Matt

1463
01:50:09,760 --> 01:50:18,800
that they do not intend to pay this. Um,
he never reached out to me. Um, but then

1464
01:50:16,239 --> 01:50:22,800
we send the invoice. It was pretty clear
in that invoice there. I'm sorry that,

1465
01:50:21,119 --> 01:50:27,199
um,
they have this particular bill as

1466
01:50:25,760 --> 01:50:31,520
instructed by the commission has been
spread out in 60 payments. There's no

1467
01:50:29,119 --> 01:50:37,280
interest attached to this. We could have
attached interest. Uh the numbers there

1468
01:50:34,239 --> 01:50:40,800
when we were pulling them were uh if
they were to pay this in lump sum the

1469
01:50:38,880 --> 01:50:46,239
interest which we have every right to
claim would have been 5500 to 6,000. If

1470
01:50:44,239 --> 01:50:50,639
we spread this payment over 60 years and
collected interest that would be 17,000.

1471
01:50:48,719 --> 01:50:54,560
I think that we are being gracious in
this matter. But we are not asking for

1472
01:50:53,119 --> 01:50:58,719
interest. We're just asking for the
payments. And we have given them you

1473
01:50:57,119 --> 01:51:04,800
know the 60-month spread as I was
instructed and I'm glad to do it.

1474
01:51:01,679 --> 01:51:10,159
But then Mr. Slottton sends this email
saying that um they do not intend to pay

1475
01:51:07,119 --> 01:51:14,280
it. They do not think this is justified.
Um I sent a response.

1476
01:51:14,480 --> 01:51:22,400
I laid it out very clearly what the
balance was. I uh explained that um you

1477
01:51:20,239 --> 01:51:27,920
know made it gave a further explanation
that you have 60 months. There is no

1478
01:51:25,360 --> 01:51:32,159
interest here. Um I'm more than willing
to talk about this and uh contrary to

1479
01:51:30,400 --> 01:51:36,719
Mr. Slottton's claim. I did not threaten
legal action. I just laid out what the

1480
01:51:34,080 --> 01:51:43,280
procedures were if invoices are not
paid. This is the same uh boilerplate

1481
01:51:40,880 --> 01:51:49,360
procedure we use for everybody that we
apply a very minimal 1% per month

1482
01:51:46,719 --> 01:51:54,480
penalty. In their case, it would be I
think $19 a month. Um and if that

1483
01:51:53,119 --> 01:52:00,400
doesn't happen, then I'm going to go to
a collection agency. If that doesn't uh

1484
01:51:57,199 --> 01:52:04,719
produce the balance then we will pursue
legal proceedings. This is nothing new

1485
01:52:02,719 --> 01:52:11,119
in the industry.
So I I don't know

1486
01:52:09,119 --> 01:52:14,480
I cannot speak for Mr. Slottton. I know
if I behave this way I would be

1487
01:52:12,719 --> 01:52:18,960
embarrassed at my professional
immaturity

1488
01:52:16,080 --> 01:52:22,320
um using this aggressive language and uh
calling me out in front of the

1489
01:52:20,239 --> 01:52:27,040
commission. But I just wanted to explain
to commission and if you have any more

1490
01:52:24,480 --> 01:52:32,960
instructions for me, I'm going to follow
them. But I am fully prepared to just

1491
01:52:30,560 --> 01:52:35,840
continue sending them the invoices and
you know if I'm more than willing to

1492
01:52:34,639 --> 01:52:40,239
talk to Mr. Slaugh, but I don't know
what more there is to talk about. Um, we

1493
01:52:38,880 --> 01:52:45,280
believe the debt well, we know the debt
is owed and I just don't think any court

1494
01:52:42,480 --> 01:52:50,239
in Wisconsin would every court in
Wisconsin would recognize our claim as

1495
01:52:47,040 --> 01:52:54,719
legitimate. So, there's plenty of
hypotheticals you could put out there.

1496
01:52:51,679 --> 01:53:00,000
If we had overbuild them, would we be
entitled to pay that back to them? You

1497
01:52:57,280 --> 01:53:05,520
know, um how do they treat their clients
when there's billing errors? You know,

1498
01:53:01,760 --> 01:53:12,400
do they forgive that so quickly or so?
>> The when I saw the email um

1499
01:53:09,920 --> 01:53:17,280
sent out to the commissioners, I was
very disappointed. And I would also

1500
01:53:15,199 --> 01:53:21,119
remind commissioners that it's not
advisable for any of us to meet

1501
01:53:18,719 --> 01:53:26,639
independently to have casual
conversation in this sort of situation.

1502
01:53:24,080 --> 01:53:31,440
So for him to put that invitation out
there was alarming to say the least.

1503
01:53:30,880 --> 01:53:34,800
» Yes, sir.
>> Here. What? That's a monthly bill. What

1504
01:53:33,760 --> 01:53:37,520
is this one up here?
>> That is a monthly invoice. Yes, monthly

1505
01:53:36,800 --> 01:53:42,880
bill.
>> So, okay. It talked about several years

1506
01:53:40,560 --> 01:53:47,040
here. What is this then? So we have
spread out their bill the balance being

1507
01:53:44,960 --> 01:53:52,000
16,000
some hundred and we've spread that out

1508
01:53:49,119 --> 01:53:53,760
in 60-month payments.
>> So

1509
01:53:52,719 --> 01:53:55,440
» 60 payments
>> yes

1510
01:53:54,159 --> 01:53:59,679
» would get them caught up.
>> Yes.

1511
01:53:56,880 --> 01:54:03,040
» So what and what's their typical monthly
bill to us?

1512
01:54:01,679 --> 01:54:07,119
» I don't have that number off the top of
my head. It's more than that but

1513
01:54:05,199 --> 01:54:08,320
» Well, yeah. I'm I'm trying to put it in
perspective.

1514
01:54:08,000 --> 01:54:11,760
» Yes.
>> So they're paying maybe $30,000 a month.

1515
01:54:10,880 --> 01:54:16,480
Oh, no.
>> Sir,

1516
01:54:12,159 --> 01:54:20,800
» no, not 40. Yes. Uh, less than that, but
>> I don't have that number.

1517
01:54:18,000 --> 01:54:26,000
» Bill, monthly bills 15 to $20,000 a
month, and they're griping about this a

1518
01:54:23,360 --> 01:54:28,560
rear, which is generously spread over
five years.

1519
01:54:26,719 --> 01:54:34,400
» Yes, sir.
>> Trying to get it.

1520
01:54:31,280 --> 01:54:41,199
» I 100% have your back, Randy. And I
think we should just keep invoicing them

1521
01:54:36,320 --> 01:54:46,239
and take the the steps that we take with
anybody else that doesn't pay their

1522
01:54:43,599 --> 01:54:50,560
bill. It's I mean, in my opinion, that's
the most

1523
01:54:48,080 --> 01:54:55,840
equitable way to handle this situation.
You know, we're not going to give

1524
01:54:52,000 --> 01:54:59,520
preferential treatment like you know,
it is what it is. Like it's an

1525
01:54:57,760 --> 01:55:05,599
unfortunate situation, but it is what it
is. You know,

1526
01:55:01,920 --> 01:55:12,880
» my question is what is my answer?
>> I unfortunately work with two members of

1527
01:55:09,040 --> 01:55:18,080
the Fall River Village.
I was approached by one of them about

1528
01:55:15,199 --> 01:55:24,400
this and I forwarded you the email that
you already had received. Um, am I

1529
01:55:21,840 --> 01:55:30,080
supposed to
no comment? My advice would be is to

1530
01:55:27,199 --> 01:55:34,719
direct them to direct their questions to
the utility director, Andy Myum.

1531
01:55:32,800 --> 01:55:37,760
» I think he's asking how he's supposed to
speak right now.

1532
01:55:36,560 --> 01:55:41,040
» No.
>> No. Okay.

1533
01:55:39,040 --> 01:55:47,360
» Okay. I heard I was wondering if you
needed to abstain or not.

1534
01:55:44,960 --> 01:55:54,199
» I'm not really worried about that, but I
know

1535
01:55:48,480 --> 01:55:54,199
» I'm gonna get feedback at work.

1536
01:55:54,320 --> 01:56:03,520
they're welcome to contact me.
>> Yeah. And I think, you know, I did share

1537
01:55:59,440 --> 01:56:10,719
the email with them that I I said
that we should invite him to come and

1538
01:56:06,320 --> 01:56:15,119
meet with us in person. Obviously, if we
extend that and he doesn't come, that's

1539
01:56:13,520 --> 01:56:18,239
on him.
>> I mean, we don't even have to extend it.

1540
01:56:16,639 --> 01:56:19,840
We have a public comment section on
every agenda,

1541
01:56:19,199 --> 01:56:23,480
» right?
>> He could just come.

1542
01:56:24,400 --> 01:56:29,679
And we did address the interest on the
amount that we're holding from them. And

1543
01:56:28,800 --> 01:56:33,440
we
>> decided as a group that that's not part

1544
01:56:32,000 --> 01:56:35,119
of the repayment because that's interest
that was owed to us.

1545
01:56:34,480 --> 01:56:39,920
» That's correct.
>> How about if we all go over to a Fall

1546
01:56:36,960 --> 01:56:45,040
River board meeting and we each like
>> give them five minutes of our mind under

1547
01:56:43,280 --> 01:56:47,040
public comments. How about how about we
do that?

1548
01:56:46,159 --> 01:56:51,119
» Zeny.
>> Um first of all, Randy, I I don't have

1549
01:56:49,440 --> 01:56:57,920
any problem at all with how you handled
this. Um I I do think though that fall

1550
01:56:55,679 --> 01:57:02,320
we we need to be good neighbors as far
as working with Fall River. So if they

1551
01:57:00,239 --> 01:57:08,480
want to come back with a counter other
than what they've already suggested, you

1552
01:57:05,760 --> 01:57:15,040
know, as maybe it was extending it to I
don't know whatever it might be.

1553
01:57:11,440 --> 01:57:21,040
If if meeting with them again preserves
a relationship, maybe we don't change,

1554
01:57:17,840 --> 01:57:23,679
maybe we do. Um I think it would be
worth a discussion if you think it would

1555
01:57:22,800 --> 01:57:28,719
be productive.
>> Yeah, I absolutely want to get along

1556
01:57:25,840 --> 01:57:34,080
with them. Um there's no productive
reason not to. Um they did actually they

1557
01:57:31,360 --> 01:57:35,679
have not offered any counter. They just
said they don't want to pay it.

1558
01:57:35,280 --> 01:57:39,400
» Mhm.
>> So but

1559
01:57:39,599 --> 01:57:46,960
I think my hands are tied now on I mean
all I can do is maybe I can offer him

1560
01:57:45,199 --> 01:57:50,239
you know the 60 months and the no
interest. Mhm.

1561
01:57:48,239 --> 01:57:54,400
» So, but
>> which I'm comfortable with.

1562
01:57:51,520 --> 01:57:59,360
» Yeah.
But I'm going to refrain from making

1563
01:57:57,599 --> 01:58:04,000
comments that I would like to make and
wish that we had a close session to

1564
01:58:00,960 --> 01:58:09,599
discuss options at this point. Uh maybe
next month. Uh we could consider that

1565
01:58:07,119 --> 01:58:13,239
based upon what activity might happen
between now and then.

1566
01:58:14,080 --> 01:58:18,880
» Okay.
I I think we need to be able to have a

1567
01:58:17,360 --> 01:58:23,119
comfortable conversation about what
options are and doing it in public. I

1568
01:58:21,760 --> 01:58:26,880
think we've already had this
conversation once and we haven't gained

1569
01:58:25,040 --> 01:58:33,639
an inch of ground.
>> Um is that something that even can be

1570
01:58:29,840 --> 01:58:33,639
taken to close session?

1571
01:58:36,159 --> 01:58:44,080
» I can confer with city attorney. I I I'm
confident that it's a negotiation and

1572
01:58:42,320 --> 01:58:49,119
negotiations can be in close session,
but we'll make sure that we have

1573
01:58:45,760 --> 01:58:52,000
conversation and have the discussion um
framed correctly.

1574
01:58:50,320 --> 01:58:56,159
» Is it a negotiation when they're just
refusing and they're not asking for

1575
01:58:53,760 --> 01:59:03,239
something different? That's what I would
want to know from from the attorney is

1576
01:58:59,440 --> 01:59:03,239
are we even negotiating?

1577
01:59:05,840 --> 01:59:09,679
» And I'll have that conversation with
Paul.

1578
01:59:10,719 --> 01:59:17,040
What do you need from us tonight, Randy?
>> Um,

1579
01:59:15,199 --> 01:59:21,679
well, I if there was a change in
direction, that's what I needed to know.

1580
01:59:19,360 --> 01:59:26,320
If the commission sought that, I'd take
another

1581
01:59:24,000 --> 01:59:29,840
another step here, another direction.
But

1582
01:59:27,840 --> 01:59:34,480
» I think you're handling the situation
the best you can based upon the

1583
01:59:32,080 --> 01:59:39,679
communications I've seen from you.
>> All right. Thank you.

1584
01:59:37,360 --> 01:59:43,599
Well, then I'll move forward uh in the
same direction. Then

1585
01:59:40,800 --> 01:59:48,960
» I would please ask that staff considers
having, you know, this on next month's

1586
01:59:46,560 --> 01:59:53,440
agenda with a possible close session if
that's feasible so we can discuss

1587
01:59:51,440 --> 01:59:59,520
further so we can get some updates on
what's happened between now and then.

1588
01:59:56,800 --> 02:00:02,760
» Okay.
>> Thank you.

1589
02:00:05,520 --> 02:00:07,679
Jason.
>> Good night, Jason.

1590
02:00:06,800 --> 02:00:11,679
» Good night.
>> Take care.

1591
02:00:10,239 --> 02:00:14,560
» All right, let's move on to something a
little bit more fun.

1592
02:00:13,679 --> 02:00:18,840
» My favorite part,
>> director's report outline.

1593
02:00:19,440 --> 02:00:28,000
So, we have been very busy in the latter
part of July and uh August. I'll try and

1594
02:00:25,840 --> 02:00:34,560
zip through this quickly. Um the last
part of it though is actually not

1595
02:00:31,760 --> 02:00:39,760
you'll see it is a little depressing. Uh
one of our sister communities has gone

1596
02:00:37,040 --> 02:00:44,719
through a very devastating storm that we
responded to. But uh in the water

1597
02:00:42,480 --> 02:00:50,480
department we've been doing plant water
meter replacements and plant repairs. Um

1598
02:00:48,080 --> 02:00:55,280
in both uh plants, this is an influent
effluent water meter that we've replaced

1599
02:00:52,400 --> 02:00:59,760
in both. Uh this went from disc meters
to the new updated disc meters. Um this

1600
02:00:57,920 --> 02:01:05,280
leads to more accurate readings on our
water production

1601
02:01:01,920 --> 02:01:10,320
and the crew was busy with this.
Some other activities we've been doing

1602
02:01:06,719 --> 02:01:15,119
in water is um we are we have purchased
and I brought this up at previous uh

1603
02:01:13,199 --> 02:01:21,599
commission meetings a new correlator.
This helps us pinpoint a water main

1604
02:01:18,560 --> 02:01:27,199
break uh underground which can just save
valuable amount of time and effort. Um

1605
02:01:24,800 --> 02:01:32,080
often times we end up trying to guess
where the water is come where the break

1606
02:01:29,280 --> 02:01:37,440
is and so we'll do an exploratory trench
and hope we're close. Sun Prairie had a

1607
02:01:35,040 --> 02:01:43,760
significant water break and they
requested our uh help. Um so our crew

1608
02:01:40,080 --> 02:01:48,239
went out there with our correlator and
um what ended up happening was uh they

1609
02:01:46,719 --> 02:01:53,199
were searching Sun Prairie for five
hours. Our crew showed up and in about

1610
02:01:50,880 --> 02:01:57,440
58 seconds he says they pinpointed the
leak. Um it was 22 feet away from where

1611
02:01:56,080 --> 02:02:00,639
they were digging. So where that
measuring wheel is is where the actual

1612
02:01:59,040 --> 02:02:06,159
leak ended up being.
>> Um but we are glad to help Sun Prairie.

1613
02:02:02,719 --> 02:02:11,599
They too are part of our co-op. Um, and
this is just um an example though of uh

1614
02:02:09,199 --> 02:02:15,599
good investments we're making, I feel,
and uh trying to save time with our

1615
02:02:14,000 --> 02:02:19,840
staff.
Um, the water department also has been

1616
02:02:17,520 --> 02:02:25,760
cleaning out and exercising distribution
valves on our main lines. Uh, here Craig

1617
02:02:22,880 --> 02:02:29,280
is doing just that. Um, this valve vault
has some standing water in it and

1618
02:02:27,199 --> 02:02:33,440
debris. So, we suck that out, clean up
the valves, grease them, make sure

1619
02:02:30,800 --> 02:02:37,360
everything's operational.
Um and then finally they've been uh

1620
02:02:35,440 --> 02:02:40,400
cleaning aation stones at the water
plants. This is just one of the many

1621
02:02:38,880 --> 02:02:44,639
filter systems we have for water
production. Uh this allows for better

1622
02:02:42,800 --> 02:02:49,360
flow of air into the stone which helps
in our iron removal process.

1623
02:02:47,760 --> 02:02:52,400
It's not such a pleasant picture there,
but you see what we're cleaning out

1624
02:02:50,719 --> 02:02:57,840
there.
Um unfortunately I I miss getting some

1625
02:02:55,599 --> 02:03:02,800
pictures of wastewater. I'm going to owe
them a really big presentation one of

1626
02:03:00,239 --> 02:03:08,000
these days. Um, they sort of just been
in the background doing their jobs, uh,

1627
02:03:05,119 --> 02:03:13,199
cleaning lines and doing maintenance.
Um, but I will

1628
02:03:11,520 --> 02:03:17,840
pay them just dues and all the efforts
they make in electric. Uh, we've been

1629
02:03:16,159 --> 02:03:22,239
doing a good deal of new construction.
This is out at Cardinal Heights where

1630
02:03:19,280 --> 02:03:26,320
we're energizing some new homes
um, and running the services up to the

1631
02:03:24,080 --> 02:03:32,719
meter sockets.
Uh and here um the crew is doing some

1632
02:03:29,599 --> 02:03:34,320
exploratory pits to find where our what
do you call that?

1633
02:03:33,840 --> 02:03:38,400
» Feeders.
>> Our feeders are um this is an

1634
02:03:36,560 --> 02:03:42,320
anticipation of some new work we're
going to be doing at this substation as

1635
02:03:39,920 --> 02:03:45,119
well. And the transmission company ATC
is going to be doing a good deal of work

1636
02:03:43,679 --> 02:03:48,960
in this same substation. We'll be
sharing it with them. So we needed to

1637
02:03:46,880 --> 02:03:52,840
find out just where our grounds are. And
that's what was happening here.

1638
02:03:53,760 --> 02:04:01,920
» Yes.
uh in public works. They've been very

1639
02:03:57,920 --> 02:04:07,599
busy the last four weeks. Uh we had a
sinkhole form on Dick Street. Um

1640
02:04:05,679 --> 02:04:12,000
because there was a storm sewer lined
right up there. Uh we had a pretty good

1641
02:04:10,080 --> 02:04:16,800
idea where it was and we were right. Uh
there was a gap in that storm pipe. You

1642
02:04:14,560 --> 02:04:21,840
can see just the top of it there. And uh
so material bedding road material was

1643
02:04:19,679 --> 02:04:26,000
going into the pipe and washing out.
Once we identified it, we're able to

1644
02:04:23,360 --> 02:04:30,960
successfully plug it and back fill it.
Um, this is not paved yet. We're going

1645
02:04:28,320 --> 02:04:34,719
to pave this very soon as we when we
have little projects like this, it's

1646
02:04:33,199 --> 02:04:38,800
hard to get a contractor to come out
individually. It's hard for our we don't

1647
02:04:36,480 --> 02:04:41,920
have all the equipment for patching
something like that correctly. So, we

1648
02:04:40,080 --> 02:04:46,719
try to fold it into an existing project
and that's what we're doing here. So,

1649
02:04:43,840 --> 02:04:50,880
this will get repaved soon. But the crew
uh we back fill it with stone and it's

1650
02:04:48,880 --> 02:04:54,239
actually doing us a service right now by
leaving it in stone and traffic going

1651
02:04:52,480 --> 02:04:59,639
over it. Just making sure that there's
no gaps or no more uh settlement.

1652
02:05:00,719 --> 02:05:08,239
Uh the DPW crew also was still doing
some corrections or remediation from the

1653
02:05:05,760 --> 02:05:12,880
last big storm we had. Um they were
fixing and uprighting the scoreboard at

1654
02:05:10,400 --> 02:05:17,599
the football field. this had become
twisted in the wind and so they were

1655
02:05:14,880 --> 02:05:22,320
able to straighten that up. They're also
doing work at the community center. Um

1656
02:05:20,480 --> 02:05:28,239
we tore down some old cabinets and we're
doing repainting. We're doing this right

1657
02:05:23,679 --> 02:05:32,800
now. Um and we're uh replaced a slide
and got a jungle gym system up and

1658
02:05:31,119 --> 02:05:35,760
running again. It took a while to get
the right parts. We got the slide a

1659
02:05:34,480 --> 02:05:41,679
while ago, but we didn't have the right
brackets. Um we do have more mulch now.

1660
02:05:39,199 --> 02:05:45,400
It just arrived today. Uh we'll be
completing this tomorrow.

1661
02:05:45,440 --> 02:05:50,639
And then we're really excited about this
new attachment we got. You're going to

1662
02:05:48,480 --> 02:05:55,440
see this a lot now in the next four or
five weeks. Uh knocking down the brush

1663
02:05:52,639 --> 02:05:59,520
and all the cicks and streams. Um we
really did not have the right equipment

1664
02:05:57,280 --> 02:06:02,639
to do this other than doing it by hand,
which we just didn't have the labor for.

1665
02:06:01,199 --> 02:06:06,239
So this was something we were waiting
for all summer. It has arrived and

1666
02:06:04,880 --> 02:06:11,440
you're going to see a lot of this going
on now. This will really mulches up the

1667
02:06:08,639 --> 02:06:16,000
weeds into little bits. Um, so it won't
clog our drainage systems here. And

1668
02:06:14,400 --> 02:06:20,480
we're excited to use this.
>> Can we get a video in the future?

1669
02:06:18,800 --> 02:06:24,080
» Sure. Absolutely.
>> Might bump my back truck wanting to use

1670
02:06:23,199 --> 02:06:27,280
that up.
>> Yeah. Okay.

1671
02:06:26,080 --> 02:06:32,800
» Fun.
>> Uh, finally, DPW also did some community

1672
02:06:30,480 --> 02:06:39,360
projects. Uh, we were at the library and
we read to a group of children and we

1673
02:06:35,840 --> 02:06:44,480
brought the goat and that was a big hit.
Um, there are great a lot of kids were

1674
02:06:42,560 --> 02:06:48,320
there. We read three books about road
construction and they all themed with

1675
02:06:46,239 --> 02:06:54,159
animals doing the construction. And
>> that's great unless you're the group

1676
02:06:50,079 --> 02:06:58,800
following it. Yes.
You didn't bring a goat or truck.

1677
02:06:56,239 --> 02:07:03,119
» Yeah, we had staff I had staff queued up
in in different various pieces of

1678
02:07:00,480 --> 02:07:06,239
equipment and uh then I would radio them
to come forward and there the piece of

1679
02:07:04,719 --> 02:07:11,920
equipment to show the kids what all we
use to keep the city going.

1680
02:07:09,679 --> 02:07:17,880
So, and he was very happy. He got lots
of treats to be there.

1681
02:07:14,880 --> 02:07:17,880
projects.

1682
02:07:20,159 --> 02:07:28,880
We have the School Street project. We
are now completely done with utilities

1683
02:07:24,960 --> 02:07:34,320
um up to from Letington to Main Street.
Um we're now working north of that from

1684
02:07:31,599 --> 02:07:38,239
Maine to what is it? Hamilton
>> Hibbert.

1685
02:07:34,719 --> 02:07:43,119
» Hibert, sorry. Um however, the good news
there is we started paving today. um in

1686
02:07:41,119 --> 02:07:47,840
my line of work, this is always a good
time when um all the efforts are coming

1687
02:07:46,400 --> 02:07:52,159
to a conclusion and you can start
paving.

1688
02:07:49,440 --> 02:07:56,320
And so you'll see here, this is just
some sidewalk work that also got done.

1689
02:07:54,239 --> 02:08:00,880
Uh the pavers are on site. These trucks
are delivering a hot mix asphalt

1690
02:07:57,920 --> 02:08:06,960
material around 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Um and then they place it in the hopper

1691
02:08:04,320 --> 02:08:12,800
of the the paver.
I don't know how these people do this

1692
02:08:08,560 --> 02:08:17,040
job in the summer, but they do. Um, but
this is today they're putting down what

1693
02:08:14,560 --> 02:08:22,639
we call binder. This is normally the
aggregate or the as asphalt mix that has

1694
02:08:20,079 --> 02:08:26,800
larger stone in it and it's meant to be
the base. And then tomorrow they're

1695
02:08:24,960 --> 02:08:33,199
going to be putting on two coats of
surface. This is uh has finer aggregates

1696
02:08:29,920 --> 02:08:37,840
and more of the um petroleum based
adhesive that you call asphalt. And the

1697
02:08:35,679 --> 02:08:41,760
primary purpose for that is to keep
water from getting into the base. So

1698
02:08:40,239 --> 02:08:45,599
when that's doing its job, everything
else should hold up fine.

1699
02:08:44,159 --> 02:08:49,119
But uh that's what's happening right
now. This is the hot roller. Normally we

1700
02:08:47,920 --> 02:08:53,199
call it the hot roller because you get
about 90% of your compaction with the

1701
02:08:50,960 --> 02:08:58,159
hot roller. And then the cold roller
comes in when the temperature is down to

1702
02:08:55,199 --> 02:09:02,400
about 150 degrees or so to get out all
the lines and creases you see there.

1703
02:09:00,880 --> 02:09:07,280
So,
some other work we've had going on is uh

1704
02:09:04,719 --> 02:09:11,040
we did remediation on the pavilion roof.
There was storm damage there that was

1705
02:09:09,199 --> 02:09:16,000
waiting to be fixed. The crew was out
there. Um I will admit, I don't want to

1706
02:09:14,480 --> 02:09:20,719
look at Matt's face right now. It didn't
go entirely well. There were some

1707
02:09:17,520 --> 02:09:27,040
hiccups. Um there was a conflict with a
renting venue, but unfortunately for

1708
02:09:23,360 --> 02:09:32,560
Brooke, it didn't cancel the venue. Um
but it is done now. It does look good.

1709
02:09:29,760 --> 02:09:37,199
Uh we're going to we're addressing some
issues with the contractor. Um and we're

1710
02:09:35,520 --> 02:09:39,119
going to have an inspection performed on
the roof to make sure everything was

1711
02:09:38,639 --> 02:09:41,679
well.
>> Previous

1712
02:09:41,199 --> 02:09:46,239
it
>> important to note this was all

1713
02:09:44,000 --> 02:09:51,920
» this was a claim as a result of storm
damage from the April um not quite

1714
02:09:49,040 --> 02:09:57,920
tornado. So this was all done um as work
under our insurance provider. Uh they

1715
02:09:54,480 --> 02:10:02,520
reshingled the roof and um repaired the
chimney that had been damaged in the

1716
02:09:59,520 --> 02:10:02,520
storm.

1717
02:10:02,800 --> 02:10:10,719
» Didn't quite
>> No, they did not. They No, they did not.

1718
02:10:09,040 --> 02:10:14,639
Uh this is the pickle ball courts going
in. Um they're making great progress

1719
02:10:13,119 --> 02:10:17,040
here. This should be done in a few
weeks.

1720
02:10:16,000 --> 02:10:20,560
» Check that.
>> Okay.

1721
02:10:18,719 --> 02:10:26,159
I was told today the asphalt needs to
cure cure period before um the color

1722
02:10:24,239 --> 02:10:32,159
surface coat and lines get put on. So,
they want to make sure that the proper

1723
02:10:28,239 --> 02:10:36,719
cure time occurs on the asphalt. So, um
you'll see fencing going up next week.

1724
02:10:34,800 --> 02:10:44,639
Uh I know they're going to do some work
tomorrow on um finalizing restoration

1725
02:10:40,719 --> 02:10:50,400
and the ponds. Um but yeah, it's
progressing and um getting exciting.

1726
02:10:48,320 --> 02:10:54,639
Okay. I actually just assumed that they
were going to be done soon from that. Um

1727
02:10:53,599 --> 02:10:58,639
» wishful thinking.
>> Yes. Well, the asphalt was in for in my

1728
02:10:56,800 --> 02:11:03,199
line of work. That's the end of the
project.

1729
02:10:59,679 --> 02:11:10,320
» Now you got to pay the bills. Um last
topic. So on the 27th of July, a sister

1730
02:11:07,119 --> 02:11:14,400
community of ours um experienced a
devastating tornado.

1731
02:11:12,560 --> 02:11:20,480
Um, as I've explained to the commission
and you all know very well, our system

1732
02:11:17,199 --> 02:11:24,800
exists only when we were able to rely on
aid from our other communities. Uh, we

1733
02:11:22,880 --> 02:11:30,159
do not have the resources to respond to
emergencies like a wei energies and

1734
02:11:26,560 --> 02:11:36,159
that. So, it's important when one of our
other cities needs help that they get a

1735
02:11:33,599 --> 02:11:40,800
big response and they did here. Um, I
got the call on the 27th

1736
02:11:38,560 --> 02:11:48,639
of just how bad it was and then the news
article started coming up. Um on that

1737
02:11:43,280 --> 02:11:53,440
day the director in Juno um Nick Gman uh
and I drove up there ahead of our crews

1738
02:11:52,159 --> 02:11:57,199
uh we were on the phone with the
director of Waterlue as we are

1739
02:11:55,119 --> 02:12:06,079
assembling our crews. Dalton got busy
contacting the other linemen um and they

1740
02:12:01,040 --> 02:12:11,119
all convened. It was um Columbus, Juno,
um Lake Mills, and Wapon. And I believe

1741
02:12:09,520 --> 02:12:17,520
there was another one there that joined
us all in uh Juno. And we headed up from

1742
02:12:14,719 --> 02:12:21,599
there. But Nick and I drove up ahead of
them to just start uh assessing the

1743
02:12:20,159 --> 02:12:26,159
situation and giving them directions of
where to go. When we got there, it was

1744
02:12:24,239 --> 02:12:30,719
I'm going to go through some photos. Uh
it was I had never seen anything like

1745
02:12:28,079 --> 02:12:35,520
it. Um
their engineers were having a hard time

1746
02:12:33,199 --> 02:12:41,360
cope hard time coping with how we do
where do we even begin? A lot of roads

1747
02:12:37,840 --> 02:12:47,920
were just in inaccessible. Um trees
houses completely obliterated and in the

1748
02:12:44,159 --> 02:12:53,560
roads. But um we got there and we start
seeing finding scenes like this. Um,

1749
02:12:55,040 --> 02:13:00,880
but then
as we're looking at all these, you know,

1750
02:12:59,679 --> 02:13:06,320
you know, truck, some trucks were
sitting in a house. Uh, some homes were,

1751
02:13:04,000 --> 02:13:10,320
like I said, completely devastated.
There was people walking just in shock

1752
02:13:08,320 --> 02:13:14,880
in their yard because they no longer had
a place to live.

1753
02:13:12,079 --> 02:13:19,119
Um
the first task we had to do was start

1754
02:13:16,880 --> 02:13:22,480
trying to get access to some of these
down lines because this was very

1755
02:13:21,040 --> 02:13:27,280
dangerous. There were a lot of people
just roaming. A lot of gawkers were

1756
02:13:24,880 --> 02:13:34,040
creating problems too. So we needed to
get access to a lot of these lines and

1757
02:13:28,960 --> 02:13:34,040
kill them and open. Um

1758
02:13:34,400 --> 02:13:41,920
yeah, and it's just this next one just
gives you a greater idea of and the

1759
02:13:39,920 --> 02:13:46,079
background there is what we call the
island or they call the island and that

1760
02:13:43,679 --> 02:13:50,960
was hit even harder. Their water
production facilities were leveled. They

1761
02:13:48,639 --> 02:13:55,920
had no way of producing fresh water at
the time. Um they were able to back feed

1762
02:13:53,760 --> 02:14:00,560
into a neighbor's water system and
deliver that into their circuit too. Um

1763
02:13:58,560 --> 02:14:05,360
but getting it to these houses was just
impossible there. You know, we were

1764
02:14:02,079 --> 02:14:10,880
smelling um gas in the area. This was
another big concern because we're

1765
02:14:07,440 --> 02:14:15,760
dealing with electricity and I was very
nervous for Dalton and his crew. Dalton

1766
02:14:13,280 --> 02:14:21,280
got his harness back on and he was up in
the bucket for days. But you can just

1767
02:14:17,679 --> 02:14:26,560
see some of these pictures here. Um
one of our linemen, Jeff, uh he's been

1768
02:14:24,560 --> 02:14:30,320
he's responded to a lot of hurricanes in
Florida, a lot of tornadoes. He said

1769
02:14:28,079 --> 02:14:35,360
this was the worst he'd ever seen it.
Um,

1770
02:14:31,760 --> 02:14:39,520
» if you know the area, Dodie Island is
one of the more affluent areas in the

1771
02:14:37,520 --> 02:14:43,440
greater Appleton area as well. That's
not a

1772
02:14:41,440 --> 02:14:47,199
there's some really historic and old
homes on that island.

1773
02:14:45,679 --> 02:14:52,079
» Dodie Island then is in the background
there. This house in the front is

1774
02:14:50,320 --> 02:14:55,599
completely slid off as foundation. You
can see

1775
02:14:54,639 --> 02:14:58,480
um
>> but yes, I'm sorry. Imagine being in

1776
02:14:57,599 --> 02:15:03,440
that basement.
>> Oh,

1777
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:07,920
» is there any post post um support for
the folks that respond to this as far as

1778
02:15:05,920 --> 02:15:13,280
PTSD or
>> um I mean the Red Cross was on site then

1779
02:15:10,639 --> 02:15:16,159
and they provide services like that. Is
that what you mean? Just

1780
02:15:14,400 --> 02:15:20,960
» Well, the people that are responding,
not so much the home for us. Yes.

1781
02:15:19,280 --> 02:15:24,239
» Oh.
Um

1782
02:15:21,760 --> 02:15:28,480
» what was the width of the tornado? Mile
and a half. My only wide correct.

1783
02:15:27,840 --> 02:15:32,639
» Yeah.
>> Oh my god.

1784
02:15:29,280 --> 02:15:36,880
» I don't know, Sandy. Um
>> I would hope if if anybody needs it that

1785
02:15:35,199 --> 02:15:40,440
we can find a way to get them.
>> Yeah.

1786
02:15:37,280 --> 02:15:40,440
» For them.

1787
02:15:40,960 --> 02:15:45,440
» That is a very good point. Um
>> employee assistant programs would be

1788
02:15:44,639 --> 02:15:48,079
available.
>> Okay.

1789
02:15:46,159 --> 02:15:52,159
» I'm actually a little embarrassed now. I
hadn't thought about that. I just I'm so

1790
02:15:49,840 --> 02:15:57,119
used to grunting at these guys and you
know um and getting the right response

1791
02:15:55,199 --> 02:16:02,800
» and that gets work for you sometimes.
>> Yeah. That you're very right. They

1792
02:15:59,760 --> 02:16:09,920
witnessed a lot of a lot of this. I mean
you see Dalton and Jake there. Um

1793
02:16:07,599 --> 02:16:13,199
and this is one of the first areas we
tackled when we got on site and it was

1794
02:16:11,679 --> 02:16:16,800
just trying to get these power lines off
the homes

1795
02:16:14,880 --> 02:16:22,159
that and then we were just trying to
secure the area. We had people walking

1796
02:16:19,280 --> 02:16:25,679
in underneath the lines and
I don't know and then you had some

1797
02:16:23,360 --> 02:16:28,480
others like I said uh that were just in
shock. They wouldn't understand you when

1798
02:16:27,280 --> 02:16:34,000
you were talking to them because they
just couldn't believe what had happened.

1799
02:16:31,280 --> 02:16:36,719
Um but
day too

1800
02:16:34,960 --> 02:16:41,120
» yeah
I started I always do I get a little

1801
02:16:38,960 --> 02:16:45,519
emotional about now you know these next
pictures because it was awesome just

1802
02:16:42,639 --> 02:16:48,960
seeing the effort out there. Um, how
many crews, Dalton, do you think showed

1803
02:16:47,120 --> 02:16:52,240
up? How many municipalities?
>> There was 25 overall.

1804
02:16:50,639 --> 02:16:56,800
» Yes.
>> Um,

1805
02:16:54,479 --> 02:17:00,639
yes. Three of our four went up there,
the linemen, and then we sent the fourth

1806
02:16:58,800 --> 02:17:08,160
up. Um, you know, we replaced someone
else just to give them some rest. Dton

1807
02:17:03,519 --> 02:17:13,760
went up on the weekends as well. Um,
you know, they stayed in a hotel nearby

1808
02:17:11,120 --> 02:17:17,359
and, um, they just got to work. We
started at the very base trying to get

1809
02:17:15,359 --> 02:17:22,559
some of the most dangerous poles off the
homes, trying to get accessibility in

1810
02:17:20,399 --> 02:17:27,679
the roads. Another piece of equipment we
sent up was our shop or our vac truck.

1811
02:17:25,280 --> 02:17:31,280
This is extremely useful at this time
because, you know, we can't call

1812
02:17:28,800 --> 02:17:35,679
Digger's hotline now and wait 3 days for
them to come out and identify. We need

1813
02:17:32,960 --> 02:17:41,120
to start working. So, it was imperative
we and another municipality sent their

1814
02:17:37,760 --> 02:17:46,800
vac truck and our two operators uh in
the sanitary department worked non-stop

1815
02:17:43,519 --> 02:17:49,519
for two days, two or three days.
>> How

1816
02:17:47,840 --> 02:17:55,840
» Yeah. What does the back do? C
>> can you expand on how like you can't

1817
02:17:53,920 --> 02:18:00,000
wait for digger's hotline? So, what you
use the vac truck in case the vac truck

1818
02:17:58,080 --> 02:18:05,760
can't electrocute itself. Is that the
point? So the vac truck can excavate

1819
02:18:03,120 --> 02:18:08,160
without rupturing existing utilities
underground.

1820
02:18:06,399 --> 02:18:11,519
» Okay, perfect.
>> Thanks.

1821
02:18:08,800 --> 02:18:16,000
» Yep. It helps us also, we call it
potholeing where we're identifying if we

1822
02:18:13,599 --> 02:18:21,760
think I mean you get an idea here in the
industry long enough there's typical

1823
02:18:19,760 --> 02:18:25,599
areas where you're running your
sanitary, your sewer, your gas lines,

1824
02:18:24,399 --> 02:18:29,920
your communications if they're
underground. Um so we then start

1825
02:18:27,920 --> 02:18:32,639
potholeing and looking for them. So, if
we know what that's there, the gas

1826
02:18:31,359 --> 02:18:37,519
line's the one we're looking for the
most, um, then we can safely dig in

1827
02:18:35,439 --> 02:18:42,960
another area nearby.
But, it's just absolutely essential. So,

1828
02:18:40,080 --> 02:18:48,319
this big hero is Jeff. Uh, he's a mascot
kind of now with us, but he's been in

1829
02:18:45,599 --> 02:18:52,000
the industry a long time and, um, he
absolutely is passionate about

1830
02:18:49,760 --> 02:18:56,519
responding to these and he spent a good
deal of time up there with Dalton, too.

1831
02:18:56,719 --> 02:19:02,160
And the rest of the pictures are just
all the crews. You look at all those

1832
02:19:00,479 --> 02:19:06,160
bucket trucks. They just go all to the
very end of the picture there. Probably

1833
02:19:03,760 --> 02:19:10,679
15 of them. And they're all working in
conjunction with each other.

1834
02:19:07,679 --> 02:19:10,679
» Wow.

1835
02:19:11,840 --> 02:19:19,200
» And I know that you guys aren't looking
for fanfare, but I think that getting

1836
02:19:17,200 --> 02:19:24,319
them on social media a little bit around
the initial

1837
02:19:21,280 --> 02:19:27,840
when it happened so that people
understand that our guys were there

1838
02:19:26,319 --> 02:19:31,439
helping out. I saw a lot of questions
pop up and again I know the last thing

1839
02:19:30,319 --> 02:19:34,479
you guys want to stand on fair and the
last thing you guys are doing is taking

1840
02:19:32,559 --> 02:19:39,439
pictures. You're doing these just to get
the point across but I think that our

1841
02:19:36,399 --> 02:19:46,719
community needs to understand how much
we help others when needed.

1842
02:19:41,599 --> 02:19:50,319
» I agree. Um we can still do that. I
refrain from doing that right away

1843
02:19:48,319 --> 02:19:54,800
because this you know this is still raw
and the for the people of Manasha.

1844
02:19:52,800 --> 02:19:57,920
So,
and yeah, at the time, you know, I'm the

1845
02:19:56,560 --> 02:20:03,200
one taking a lot of these pictures, not
this one or not the ones from the bucket

1846
02:20:00,080 --> 02:20:10,479
all the time, but all the way up to 41.
>> Yeah.

1847
02:20:05,359 --> 02:20:15,200
» So, let's run through the rest of these.
>> But I can say and these guys were

1848
02:20:13,040 --> 02:20:19,680
working well into the night every night
for about three weeks.

1849
02:20:18,080 --> 02:20:25,120
» Three weeks.
>> Yes, sir. Now, Manasha has they are

1850
02:20:22,479 --> 02:20:29,280
fully restored. Not all services are
restored because there are no homes in

1851
02:20:26,960 --> 02:20:34,399
some of these places, but all the
primary and secondary has been restored.

1852
02:20:31,840 --> 02:20:41,600
Um, I just think it's a great testament
to our community, our electric co-op

1853
02:20:37,280 --> 02:20:44,319
community. So, that concludes my report.
>> Thank you to your team for that

1854
02:20:43,439 --> 02:20:48,720
response.
>> Well, they did most of the work. I I

1855
02:20:47,040 --> 02:20:52,800
worked the phone,
>> so Yeah.

1856
02:20:51,120 --> 02:20:56,319
» So,
>> before we do, uh, Sandy pointed out that

1857
02:20:54,800 --> 02:21:00,000
we may need to change our meeting date
for next month.

1858
02:20:57,359 --> 02:21:06,560
» Yes, she's very correct. Um, there is a
WPPI meeting that, um, three or four of

1859
02:21:03,520 --> 02:21:11,280
us now will be attending. I can send out
an email to everyone for suggestions.

1860
02:21:09,120 --> 02:21:12,000
Um, maybe I'll have some target dates on
there.

1861
02:21:11,600 --> 02:21:16,160
» Okay.
>> A lot of times in the past, they've just

1862
02:21:13,520 --> 02:21:19,280
pushed to the fourth.
>> Okay.

1863
02:21:17,040 --> 02:21:22,080
» I'll propose that. And if that's
successful, we'll schedule that then.

1864
02:21:21,200 --> 02:21:24,479
» Sounds good.
>> Okay.

1865
02:21:23,040 --> 02:21:27,359
» Thank you.
>> Thank you, Commission.

1866
02:21:25,760 --> 02:21:32,520
» Jack made a motion to adjurnn. Is there
a second?

1867
02:21:29,520 --> 02:21:32,520
» Second.

1868
02:21:32,640 --> 02:21:40,880
» Motion and a second to adjurnn. All in
favor, please say I. I.

1869
02:21:36,160 --> 02:21:40,880
» Any opposed? We are 8:21.