April 17, 2023 Commission Minutes

GOODLAND CITY COMMISSION

Regular Meeting

April 17, 2023                                                                                                                       5:00 P.M.

Mayor Aaron Thompson called the meeting to order with Vice-Mayor J. J. Howard, Commissioner Jason Showalter and Commissioner Brook Redlin responding to roll call.  Commissioner Ann Myers was reported absent.

Also present were Dustin Bedore – Director of Electric Utilities, Frank Hayes – Chief of Police, Joshua Jordan – IT Director, Kenton Keith – Director of Streets and Facilities, Neal Thornburg – Director of Water and Wastewater, Danny Krayca – Director of Parks, Jake Kling – City Attorney, Mary Volk – City Clerk and Kent Brown – City Manager.

Mayor Thompson led Pledge of Allegiance

PUBLIC COMMENT

CONSENT AGENDA

1. 04/03/23 Commission Meeting Minutes
2. 04/11/23 Special Commission Work Session Minutes
3. Appropriation Ordinances: 2023-08, 2023-08A, and 2023-P08

ON A MOTION by Commissioner Redlin to approve Consent Agenda seconded by Vice-Mayor Howard.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 4-0. 

PRESENTATIONS & PROCLAMATIONS

1. Arbor Day Proclamation – Mayor Thompson proclaimed April 28^th as Arbor Day in the City of Goodland.  Danny stated, the ceremony that day will be in Steever Park north of the pool at 1:30.
2. Lead Service Line Project Presentation – Shauna Johnson, Utility Billing Clerk presented new EPA Lead and Copper regulation to Commission and what is required for the City to be in compliance with regulation.  Shauna reviewed the information that will be gathered from each customer including the material of the piping all the way from the water treatment plant to the service line that connects to the house or business and finally the piping within the house or business.  KDHE is requiring this inventory to identify all pipes (current or previous) that may have had lead or even material such as galvanized iron or copper that may have used lead in fittings or is a bonding agent for lead.  Mayor Thompson stated, good presentation, I like your ideas to get information out and for inventory collection.  Is the survey going out with utility bills?  Shauna stated, we will do a separate mailing.  Kent stated, deadline is October 2024 but we have 2,500 customers so may provide a future update to commission on what percentage has responded and to encourage further completion.

FORMAL ACTIONS

1. Jerry Becker: Parks & Tree Board Application – Aaron stated, Jerry is the individual that spoke to commission earlier about trees and followed through by completing an application.  ON A MOTION by Vice-Mayor Howard to approve the appointment of Jerry Becker to the Parks & Tree Advisory Board seconded by Commissioner Redlin.  MOTION carried on a VOTE of 4-0.    

DISCUSSION

1. South Loop: Electrical System Upgrades – Kent stated, we had an inquiry for additional service that will require additional power on south loop.  Dustin has been planning the project to update south loop for last number of years, but project may become more of a priority.  Dustin stated, we are at the point now that I thought we would be a few years back.  In 2014 the south loop became a concern with growth out toward interstate.  We started putting money back in 2015 and have seen additions or upgrades of Tesla, Steak and Shake, Subway, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Arby’s, 24/7 and Goodland Greenline.  With these services, looking at approximately 1800KVA and the additional service request is 750KVA.  It will be hard to supply where requested with the infrastructure we have in place.  The south loops were built in the 1980’s.  The main backbone of it is a large 477 wire that is good for about 640amps.  The problem is we go from 477 wire to a 4 ott wire at Frontier Ag with the underground behind Walmart and Yost’s.  The loop feeds to Mid America trailer park where it feeds itself.  The 4 ott underground is good for 280amp while overhead is 390amp.  We will gain if we can put loop overhead but the problem is several years ago there was a request to put loop underground from Yost’s to the interstate and it runs at a zig zag.  We started putting money back in 2015, but the estimated cost then will not come close to current project costs.  Over the years the project was not fully funded or may have not been funded.  We want to begin the project to fill capacity for some growth, then continue to phase in remainder of project.  This business is requesting 33 amps.  Right now we cannot get supplies to go underground and I do not have enough supplies on hand.  I would like to get to area behind Sonic or even south to McDonalds which leads to a problem with our generation capacity.  Kent stated, on the west half of loop the capacity is sufficient.  Dustin stated, it will depend on where it is split.  The build was a good design but critical part is on east side because it is underground.  There is not a lot of area for growth on east side and the underground is in that area.  Kent stated, the charging stations will put a strain on our total capacity because of other projects that will follow.  Concerning our plant, our total capacity should be 115% of what we generate.  Our population has decreased but summer peak generation is the same or increased. Total over all capacity is right over 16MW.  Part of it is behavior and we are at a time where more things use electricity.  Our peak last summer of just over 13MW is much higher than it was twenty years ago.  Might need a discussion of what to do with additional generation.  This one request is ¾ of a MW for that one transformer.  With improvements to charging stations, the vendors (and state certification requirements) are requesting additional power that will allow a quicker charge.  It is not if, but when we have to comply to supply power for charging stations.  Staff is evaluating what we need to move ahead.  This project to redo the south loop was discussed ten years ago and our location may help other businesses along that corridor.  Mayor Thompson asked, what is the current balance put back for this project?  Mary stated, $1,200,000.  Mayor Thompson asked, if we do a portion of the project how much will it cost?  Dustin stated, when project reserve was started years ago, the cost was much less.  You are paying more now for the same material plus availability of supplies is a problem.  City of Colby wanted to borrow certain parts and materials for one of their projects, but they do not know when they can replenish our supply so we had to refuse their request.  Transformers today are many months out and the cost is so high.  We have held up the college project because we do not have the transformer and do not know when it will be delivered.  With this project we do not know when we will receive the transformer and do not know when the supply chain will correct.  They do not have the material to build transformers right now.  With the current balance, we may get to the interstate but the cost originally was to upgrade the entire loop.  Kent stated, we are meeting with the vendor later this week.  Whether it is for this request or another, we have to address the project now.  Dustin stated, I talked to Garden City who had ordered supplies; but, the vendor will not deliver those supplies originally set aside for Garden City because they are delivering those supplies to a local Rural Electric Association instead.  Our Executive Committee talked about pooling resources for municipalities, but it will be down the road.  It is frustrating to make things work, especially with outages when we cannot get supplies.  Mayor Thompson stated, I think we understand the time has come to address project. 

REPORTS

1. City Manager – 1.  Manager memo is in the packet.  2. March month end fund balance report is in the packet.  3.  City cleanup is scheduled for May 4^th and 5^th.  4. Weather is getting warm and many are watering grass; it is early to be watering a lot.  As we move into summer we will be encouraging conservation, especially when it gets really hot.  5. Neal is getting well #5 repaired to ensure we have resource and supply available. 
2. City Commissioners

Vice-Mayor Howard – 1.  No Report 

Commissioner Showalter – 1.  No Report 

Commissioner Myers – 1.  No Report 

Commissioner Redlin – 1.  No Report 

• Mayor Thompson– 1.  No Report 

ADJOURNMENT WAS HAD ON A MOTION BY Commissioner Redlin seconded by Commissioner Showalter.  Motion carried by unanimous VOTE, meeting adjourned at 6:06 p.m.  Next meeting is scheduled for May 1, 2023. 

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ATTEST:                                                                               Aaron Thompson, Mayor

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Mary P. Volk, City Clerk