MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, NEMAHA COUNTY, NEBRASKA
HELD JANUARY 9, 2012
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, NEMAHA COUNTY, NEBRASKA (BPW), met in regular session on the 9th of January, 2011 at the regular meeting place of the Board at the hour of 12:00 p.m.  This meeting was held in open session as required by Chapter 84, Article 14 of Nebraska Statutes.
Chairman Hahn called the meeting to order and requested roll call:  Members present –Glenn, Hahn, Kubik, & Wilson.
Chairman Hahn announced this was an open meeting and information about open meetings was posted on the north wall of the Board Room.
Chairman Hahn noted all Board Members have received a copy of the Agenda for this meeting.
General Manager (GM) Dave Hunter presented to the Board a proposed sewer rate for 2012.  The overall increase was about 3% with lower monthly capacity fees with more emphasis on usage.  After much discussion, Member Kubik made a motion to table the discussion of 2012 sewer rates until the 2012 water rates were available for review as well.  Member Wilson seconded the motion.  Roll call:  those voting aye – Glenn, Hahn, Kubik, & Wilson.  Chairman Hahn declared the motion carried.
GM Hunter presented a water rate comparison to the Board for their review.  It showed the water rates of several other communities who are facing similar issues that the citizens of Auburn are facing with their water system.  GM Hunter reported that he was still working on the 2012 water rates for Auburn.  
GM Hunter reported that there were still a couple of issues that needed to be resolved in order to complete the Water Plant Project.  The issues are with documentation regarding the Buy American provision of receiving American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funding.  Until these issues could be resolved, the project would remain open and no final payment would be issued to the contractor.
Tommy Grafton has inquired about the possibility of connecting to City Sewer when he builds a new home at the location of the Lawrence Hector’s home.  GM Hunter asked the Board how they would like to respond to this request.  After much discussion, Member Glenn made a motion to approve Tommy Grafton connecting to the city sewer system.  Member Kubik seconded the motion.  Roll call:  those voting aye – Glenn, Hahn, Kubik, & Wilson.  Chairman Hahn declared the motion carried.
GM Hunter reported to the Board regarding the December 27, 2011 power outage that affected a number of BPW customers.  GM Hunter reported that a squirrel had entered the substation located at the power plant and caused damage to the main breaker on the 69 line.  GM Hunter reported that the power plant was unable to generate electricity at this time without this breaker.  The electrical load was being rerouted through the south substation until a new breaker arrived.  The approximate cost of the outage was estimated at $10,000.
Accounting & Finance Manager (AFM) Melissa Sierks presented to the Board recommended sick leave bonuses to be paid to BPW employees.  These bonuses are paid at ½ salaries for hours earned over the maximum accrued hours of sick leave per employee.  The total dollar amount of the recommended sick leave bonuses for 2011 is $13,415.08.  Member Glenn made a motion to approve payment to employees of sick leave bonuses in the amount of $13,415.08.  Member Kubik seconded the motion.  Roll call:  those voting aye – Glenn, Hahn, Kubik, & Wilson.  Chairman Hahn declared the motion carried.
AFM Sierks presented to the Board a letter from Hamilton & Associates regarding the 2011 Financial / Single Audit.  AFM Sierks explained to the Board that in 2011 the BPW needed a single audit according to A-133 due to the receipt of more than $500,000 in federal funds from all sources.  AFM Sierks explained that field work would be done the week of February 20th with issuance of a report to the Board at their March 12th meeting.
AFM Sierks reminded the Board of their obligations regarding a potential conflict of interest.  AFM Sierks also included a copy of the conflict of interest form for their review and stated that the form would need to be completed on any apparent situations where a potential conflict existed.
On Financial:  
AFM Sierks presented the Board with Year End Reports that reported the following amounts:  Conservation Rebates - $8,780.10; Sick Leave Bonuses - $13,415.08; Electric Outage Report – Year 2011 70.67 Minutes Outage Time per Customer; Annual Interest on Investments / Bank Accounts - $107,028.65; Payments to City of Auburn & Villages for in Lieu of Taxes – Auburn - $129,262.27, Brownville - $10,476.67, Johnson - $17,001.63, and Nemaha - $5,907.91; Free Services Provided to the City of Auburn - $107,581.21; Related Party Transaction – Glenn’s Corner Market - $1,509.73 & O.K. Tire Stores - $483.72.  Member Glenn made a motion to approve the year end reports and include them as part of the minutes of the meeting and review again next year.  Member Kubik seconded the motion.  Roll call:  those voting aye – Glenn, Hahn, Kubik, & Wilson.  Chairman Hahn declared the motion carried.
AFM Sierks reported that the following CD’s are maturing in February prior to the next Board Meeting CNB 16115 & 16116.  Member Kubik made a motion to have AFM Sierks invest the proceeds from the CD’s for 30 months.  Member Wilson seconded the motion.  Roll call:  those voting aye – Glenn, Hahn, Kubik, & Wilson.  Chairman Hahn declared the motion carried.
Chairman Hahn asked for any objections or exceptions to the General Consent Items listed under Agenda Item #13.  Motion was moved by Member Glenn, seconded by Member Kubik, the Board approve the General Consent Items listed below:
a)    Approve the previous meeting’s minutes and dispense with reading of same,
b)    Approve monthly compensation of officers, management and employees as previously fixed by the Board,
c)    Approve, ratify and allow the following checks written/transfers during the month:
Checks Written During the Month of
December 2011:
NDEQ    529,507.84
NPPD    195,605.13
Nebraska Department of Revenue    24,507.00
Constellation Energy    1,138.50
Petty Cash    482.92
Windstream    456.88
Specter Instruments    395.00
Black Hills Energy    106.01
Great Plains    79.83
Long, Craig    57.50
Approve the following claims submitted for payment:
Action Technology    730.00
Altec    47.67
American Recycling    74.00
Ameritas    1,920.00
County Publications    262.58
Auburn Plumbing    40.17
Postmaster    1,220.00
Vision Metering    1,330.00
Beard’s Salvage    72.31
BPW    16,511.34
Bulldog Auto Parts    349.50
Cintas    630.51
City Of Auburn    10,756.27
D.R. Thomas    352.53
Dakota Supply    3,444.43
Eggers Bros    329.96
Credit Bureau of Council Bluffs    32.00
Farwest Line Specialties    59.28
First Bank Card Center    353.58
First National Bank10.00
Fleet Services    3,038.00
General Fire & Safety    326.75
Glenn’s Corner Market    63.05
W.W. Grainger    17.61
Great Plains One-call    63.09
Hach Chemical    373.78
Hawkins    60.00
DHHS State of Nebraska    228.90
NHHS-Division of Public Health    230.00
HDR Engineering    4,044.96
Husker Electric    1,967.86
JEO Consulting    500.00
Kriz-Davis Co.    7,066.44
LARM299.00
Lynch Hardware    7.87
McMaster-Carr    12.99
Mid Con Systems    400.52
Mike’s Window Service    10.65
NPPD    500.00
NRWA    250.00
Nemaha County Clerk2,936.00
Muse, Ferida M.    140.21
Nemaha, Village Of5,907.91
Northern Tool    94.99
Northern Safety    330.94
Olsson Associates    3,275.87
OPPD    8,820.62
Orscheln    564.92
Pamida    46.82
Sack Lumber    155.81
Skarshaug Testing    811.46
HHS-State of NE    200.00
Stutheit Implement    57.03
Sunmart    9.38
Tri-state Office    170.28
US Cellular    161.16
HireRight    153.25
Utility Solutions    11,715.00
Brownville, Village Of    10,476.67
Johnson, Village Of    17,001.63
Vermeer Equipment    118.50
Water Engineering    418.37
WAPA    36,190.90
Kurt & Kimberly Knippelmier    31.92
Windstream    121.87
Clark, Jim & Sharon    30.00
Country View Terrace West    1,200.00
AED Professionals    145.00
Hoak, Cady    426.00
Amsan    42.02
CSS - Energy Care    68.97
Capital Business Systems    209.61
BTE Corporation    2,750.00
Seelye Plastics    144.86
Ligouri, Angelo    594.75
Gray, Saundra    6.13
Silk Abstract Co.    73.69
Dean, Jennifer    126.00
Zacharias Farms    910.00
Boswell, Carlie    121.80
Storey, Tim    167.63
THEYE, JAY W.    57.50
Christiansen, Chase    30.34
Transfer funds from E-W-WW Revenue funds into checking for expenses, plus the routine interdepartmental transfers to T&D.
Transfer of $269,000 to Checking from Revenue
d)Approve Free Service Report for furnishing utilities, materials, equipment, inspections and labor to the city free of charge and in lieu of tax payments to the city for the month of December 2011 in the amount of $16,600.97.
Roll call:  those voting aye – Glenn, Hahn, Kubik, & Wilson.  Chairman Hahn declared the motion carried.
Motion was moved by Member Kubik, seconded by Member Wilson, the Board approve the claim of Glenn’s Corner Market - $63.05.  Roll call: those voting aye – Hahn, Kubik, & Wilson.  Member Glenn abstained.  Chairman Hahn declared the motion carried.
Reports:
Water Department
2011 FEMA Flood Assistance
New Radios
Employee Recognition Dinner
There being no further business to come before the Board, motion was moved by Member Kubik the Board adjourn to the next regular Board Meeting to be held February 13, 2012 at the hour of 12:00 p.m. at the regular meeting place of the Board.  Member Wilson seconded the motion.  Roll call:  those voting aye – Glenn, Hahn, Kubik, & Wilson.  Chairman Hahn declared the motion carried.   Chairman Hahn declared the meeting adjourned.  Agenda items will be posted.
Dick Hahn, Jr., Chairman
ATTEST:
Doug C. Glenn, Secretary
CERTIFICATE
I, Melissa Ann Sierks, Notary Public for the State of Nebraska, do hereby certify the attached and foregoing minutes is a true, correct and conformed copy of proceedings had and done by the Board of Public Works at their January 9, 2012 meeting; all of the subjects acted upon in the foregoing proceedings were contained in the agenda for the meeting, kept continually current and available for public inspection at the Office of the Board; such subjects were contained in the agenda for at least twenty-four hours prior to said meeting; at least one copy of all reproducible material discussed at the meeting was available at the meeting for examination and copying by members of the public; the said minutes were in written form and available for public inspection within ten working days and prior to the next convened meeting of said body, all in accordance with Chapter 84, Article 14 of Nebraska Statutes.
Melissa Ann Sierks, Notary Public
in and for the State of Nebraska.    
My Commission Expires June 15, 2014.
Herald Jan. 26