City Administrator Lance Rains presented an Electric Department summary and analysis for discussion by aldermen at the April 26 public meeting held at city hall.
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The aldermen seek billing software to export February 2021 electric rate usage in order to calculate a percentage usage per each customer. This information will help the board decide the best option to recoup an exceedingly high February invoice issued by Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA) due to the extremely cold temperatures across the country.
MPUA extended a credit (loan) of $179,717.81 for the excess billing and extended a payback period of 24 months. Currently, the City of Gallatin is paying $7,627.37 in excess each month for the repayment of the credit.
Aldermen are reviewing options to ascertain the best approach to help collect additional funding to offset the $179,717.81 credit repayment owed to MPUA.
In other business, the board voted to amend meeting minutes dated Aug. 10, 2020, stating that the City of Gallatin adopts the Daviess County Intergovernmental Agreement to participate in the 2020 CARES Act Funding program and appointing Mayor Barbara Ballew and/or Administrator Lance Rains to sign the Agreement on the board’s behalf for the funding of Payment #1.
Similarly, the aldermen voted to amend the Oct. 13, 2020, meeting minutes authorizing Payment #2 involving the 2020 CARES Act Funding program.
Administrator Lance Rains will contact Farmers’ Electric to request a more detailed report of franchise tax amounts per quarter.
The aldermen reviewed two letters submitted by a customer to remove utilities associated with a multi-purpose commercial building. After discussion the board denied the request and left the billing unchanged.
City officials anticipate receiving a permit from the Department of Natural Resources by May 31 which will enable a bid process to begin. Engineers are gathering prevailing wage rates which will apply to the improvement project along with other various figures.
Toth & Associates expect to complete an electric rate study draft by this week. The draft will then be reviewed prior to being submitted to the city. The aldermen agreed to set a special meeting to review and discuss the recommended electric rate changes for customers.
The 2400 electric system upgrade engineering evaluation is nearing completion and will be presented to the board once it is complete.
Director of Public Works Mark Morey reported that installation of the base station for the new AMI metering system is expected to be completed by May 5.
Bills totaling $240,393.64 were approved for payment. The aldermen also reviewed the O&M report issued for March by People Service.
Two bids were received for the purchase of road oil. Aldermen voted to accept the bid from Vance Brothers at $2.15 per gallon. The other bid considered was from Costal Energy at $2.28 per gallon.
Prior to the 6 p.m. public meeting, the aldermen toured the municipal water plant to review and discuss operational issues involving the aerator and lime sludge pipelines.
Later during the regular meeting, Gallatin aldermen authorized Mayor Barb Ballew to sign a Release Agreement between the City of Gallatin and Snyder & Associates regarding the City of Gallatin Water Treatment Plant. The alderman also approved final payment of $15,000 to Ross Construction.
Board members agreed to have the water plant sludge lines completed by current city employees along with a purchase of a tig-welder to complete repairs.
Police Chief Mark Richards provided an incident report dated April 26 as follows:
3 incidents of domestic disturbance, 3 medical emergency responses, 3 animal problems and 2 alarm responses. There were also single incidents involving a wanted person, theft, an agency assistance, a welfare check, an assault, a civil standby, an arrest warrant, a traffic accident with damages, a disorderly conduct, a citizen contact, an informational report, a circumstance of a suspicious person, a golf cart inspection, an animal noise problem, a property dispute and a motorist assist.
Gallatin Police assisted with GHS Promenade activities held at the United Methodist Church. Chief Richards also noted that three dogs are currently impounded.
The police chief also noted that a number of homeowners set out a large number of items for bulk pickup as residents attempted to clean up properties. The department will spend the next few weeks reviewing issues that have not yet been resolved. Rapid Service was commended on their efforts making pickups prompt.
Aldermen agreed to erect a new sign at the city’s dump stating access hours. The aldermen also approved a request by the Friends of Gallatin-Daviess County Arts Council to place and fill large flower pots around the town square.
Two readings by title of an ordinance authorizing the city to enter into a contract for mowing service at Dockery Park by Robbie and Rodell Sperry were conducted.
This report of the April 26 public meeting is taken from the unapproved minutes of the board of aldermen. Those preset were Mayor Barb Ballew, alderpersons Steve Evans, Dan Lockridge, Carl McBee, Dan McCann; administrator Lance Rains; clerk Hattie Rains; Public Works Director Mark Morey; Chief Richards and Police Chaplain Austin Bonnett.