Minutes of The Price City Council Meeting

City Hall: Price, Utah

December 7, 2001, 7:30 a.m.

Present:

Councilmembers:                                                 Joanne Lessar, City Recorder

    Roy A. Nikas                                         Pat Larsen, Finance Director

    Betty P. Wheeler                                               Gary Sonntag, PWD/City Engineer

    Joe L. Piccolo                                                    Keith Wight, Human Resource Director

    Stephen L. Denison

Excused: Mayor Lou Colosimo

                Councilmember Richard Tatton

Others Present:

    Shari Madrid                            Sam White                                  Ken Harney

 1.         MAYOR PROTEMPORE - Councilmember Joe L. Piccolo

             MOTION. Councilmember Denison moved that in the absence of Mayor Lou Colosimo,

that Councilmember Joe L. Piccolo be appointed Mayor Protempore. Motion seconded by Councilmember Nikas and carried.

 2.         UTILITY DEPARTMENT REORGANIZATION - Combined With Water/Sewer Dept.

The functions of the Utility Department (water and electrical meter reading, maintenance, coordination with Utah Power & Light Co., etc.) were reviewed. At the present, Ken Harney, Lead Meter Reader, reads meters and works with Utah Power & Light Co. on the City’s electrical system, regarding troubleshooting, work orders, outages, customer complaints, substations, etc. Besides himself, the department consists of another full time meter reader, and two temporary summer employees. In earlier meetings, the Council has discussed hiring another full time meter reader to cover for sickness, vacation, and the time spent by Mr. Harney coordinating with Utah Power & Light Co. The Council discussed whether this department should be placed under the supervision of Sam White, Water/Sewer Supervisor. Mr. Harney would continue the operation and maintenance of the Electrical Department and then assist Sam as needed. MOTION. Councilmember Nikas moved that Ken Harney and the Meter Readers be moved under the supervision of Sam White and that Sam’s department then become the Price City Utility Department. Further, that future adjustments could move the Meter Readers under the supervision of the City Treasurer. Motion seconded by Councilmember Denison and carried.

It was recommended that the emergency position currently held by Robert Whitten be reclassified to permanent full time, and that Mr. Whitten be informed that due to future changes, that this position could possibly change to a permanent part time position. However, there may be a possibility that Mr. Whitten could learn other duties within Mr. White’s department.

 3.         INTERMOUNTAIN POWER AGENCY - Ratification of Appointment

MOTION. Councilmember Nikas moved that the action of the Council to appoint Gary Sonntag as the City’s representative to the Intermountain Power Agency be ratified. Motion seconded by Councilmember Wheeler and carried.

 4.         UTAH ASSOCIATED MUNICIPAL POWER SYSTEMS - Participation In Resource 2001 Project

Gary Sonntag presented a letter of the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems asking the City to participate in their Resource 2001 Project, which is to conduct a study on the feasibility of constructing Unit #3 at the Intermountain Power Project. The City’s portion of the study would be approximately $17,000. This would give the City the possibility of locking into power shares of Unit #3. If Unit #3 is financed following the study, the City’s expenditure for the study will be reimbursed. MOTION. Councilmember Denison moved that the request be approved and that the money be taken out of the Electrical Department Fund Balance. Motion seconded by Councilmember Nikas and carried.

Meeting adjourned at 8:39 a.m.

                                                                                          APPROVED:

ATTEST:                                                                           Joe L. Piccolo, Mayor Protempore

Joanne Lessar, City Recorder