VINTON MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITY BOARD MEETING
JANUARY 9, 2018
A regular meeting of the Vinton Municipal Electric Board of Trustees was held on the 9th day
of January, 2018, at 5:00 p.m., at the Line Distribution Office, Vinton, Iowa. Chairman
Woodhouse presided and the roll being called the following board members were present and
absent: Present: Anderson, Barron, Woodhouse. Absent: Elwick. Also present: Jon Kremer
and Kurt Karr.
Motion by Barron, second by Anderson to approve the minutes of the December 12th meeting.
Question: Yes – All. The Chairman declared the motion carried.
Motion by Woodhouse, second by Barron to approve invoices in the amount of $264,764.47.
Question: Yes – All. The Chairman declared the motion carried.
Motion by Barron, second by Woodhouse to approve the agenda. Question: Yes – All. The
Chairman declared the motion carried.
Kurt Karr, iVinton committee chairman, stated they had a meeting on December 20th. A
Request for Information, RFI, has been drafted. The RFI is to help search for potential partners
for a telecommunications utility. It will be mailed to four to six businesses. Karr stated that they
are working with UNI on a customer survey. From the market research they hope to have at
least a 19% response by either mail or online. SmartSource Consulting is helping with this
survey. The cost estimate for the survey is about $7.600, plus printing and mailing.
General Manager Richtsmeier stated he has advertised the open lineman position with IAMU
and Iowa Energy Workforce Consortium. There has been one response so far. Jeff Long, power
plant employee, is still on light duty. The Trustees would like to hold a retirement open house
for Mark Smith sometime in January.
Elwick joined the meeting at 5:35 pm.
Motion by Barron, second by Anderson to approve the proposed budget for fiscal year 2018-
2019. Question: Yes – All. The Chairman declared the motion carried.
Motion by Woodhouse, second by Elwick to approve an energy adjustment factor of zero
cents per kWh for January billings. Question: Yes – All. The Chairman declared the motion
carried.
Richtsmeier stated he had checked with RPGI and found out that no solar farms installed by
municipals have tried to get solar capacity credit due to the existing high MISO application costs.
VMEU should be able to increase the interconnection 10kW limit without any problems for
individual customers wanting to pursue solar projects.
The Trustees reviewed a breaker maintenance proposal from Shermco Industries. Richtsmeier
recommends two options for switchgear maintenance that will cost $16,255.00. Motion by
Barron, second by Anderson to approve this expense. Question: Yes – All. The Chairman
declared the motion carried.
Motion by Woodhouse, second by Barron to receive and file the December revenue and
expenditure report. Question: Yes – All. The Chairman declared the motion carried.
DECEMBER 2017 Begin. Balance Receipts Expenses End. Balance
Operating 3,551,833.84 365,092.07 266,890.82 3,650,035.09
Capital Improvement 2,280,628.42 275.49 0.00 2,280,903.91
Self Insurance 750,000.00 0.00 0.00 750,000.00
6,582,462.26 365,367.56 266,890.82 6,680,939.00
Richtsmeier stated he is checking on LED security light rates.
General Manager Richtsmeier reported on: 1) Line crew is rebuilding lines on W 17th Street
and taking down the holiday decorations. 2) Alliant interruption to the gas service, power plant
switched to using oil. 3) Kirchner reported engine repair costs totaling $8,845. 4) Attended
telecommunications partnership meeting and an RPGI meeting. 5) On December 28th had a
report of flickering lights. Lineman pulled the meter. 6) OSHA workshop in January. 7)
Received draft audit report. 8) Working on several annual reports.
Secretary stated Project Share funds are available for LIHEAP customers to assist with their
electric heating bills. They should inquire at City Hall or the HACAP office about these funds.
Motion by Barron, second by Anderson to adjourn the meeting. Question: Yes – All. The
Chairman declared the motion carried. Time: 6:10 p.m.
_____________________________
Dr. Alan S. Woodhouse Chairman
Attest: _______________________
Cindy Michael Secretary