HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Utilities Committee 2005-01-13RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado,January 13,2005.
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the UTILITIES COMMITTEE of the
Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado.Meeting held in the
Municipal Building in said Town of Estes Park on the 13th day of
January 2005.
Committee:Chairman Jeffrey-Clark,Trustees Newsom and Pinkham
Attending:All
Also Attending:Town Administrator Repola,Public Works Director Linnane,Senior
Electrical Engineer Matzke,Assistant to the Senior Electrical
Engineer Mangelsen,and Deputy Clerk Williamson
Absent:None
Chairman Jeffrey-Clark called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
LIGHT AND POWER DEPARTMENT
Platte River Power Authority (PRPA)Medicine Bow Wind Farm —Request
Authorization to Participate in New Wind Turbine.
In December 1999,the Town Board approved a twenty-year commitment to purchase
one-quarter of the output of one wind turbine at Platte River’s Medicine Bow Plant.This
commitment was expected to equal approximately 40,000 kWh per month at $0.024 per
kWh or $11,520 annually.In July 2000,the Town Board agreed to purchase 100 blocks
(one block equals 100 kWh per month)of the Town’s total wind energy purchased for
use by the Municipal Building.In March 2003,the Municipal Building was placed on the
Town’s wind energy surcharge with 100%of the electrical use from wind energy and
has since requested a short-term energy purchase of an additional 41,000 kWh per
month over and above the original 40,000 kWh per month.The Town’s current request
for short-term energy expires March 31,2005.
John Bleem,Platte River Power Authority,reported that a new wind turbine (Clipper)is
being installed at the Medicine Bow Plant to serve additional wind energy requirements.
The Clipper wind turbine will produce more power at the lower wind speeds than the
current turbines.The turbine will be owned and operated by Clipper and all electrical
output will be purchased by PRPA.
All PRPA members have been offered the opportunity to participate,and Fort Collins is
prepared to purchase the total output of the turbine.This opportunity would allow Estes
Park to transition the current short-term wind energy purchased to a long-term 10 year
commitment in the Clipper Project at the same price of $0.024 per kWh above
wholesale as the current short-term rate.
The Committee recommends participating in the new Clipper wind turbine with a
ten year contract effective April 1,2005 to purchase 41,000.kWh per month,
replacing the current short-term purchases.
Finance Department Copier Replacement —Request Authorization to Solicit Bids
The Finance Department’s current copier is obsolete,and as of December 2004
maintenance support is no longer available.The 2005 budget includes $15,000 for this
purchase.Administrator Repola reviewed the benefits of purchasing a copier rather
than leasing.
The Committee recommends Finance Staff to be authorized to solicit bids for a
new copier.Bids including staff’s recommendation will be emailed to all
committee members for review and if within budget the bid will be approved.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Utilities Commiftee —January 13,2005 -Page 2
Reports
>The Committee reviewed financial reports for the Light &Power and Water
departments for the month of December.
>Audio visual consultant,EBD is scheduled to start the repair process for the Board
Room AN equipment.The Channel 39 audio problem is an issue with Charter
Communications cable and is not related to the Town’s NV equipment.Staff has
given Charter the week of January 17,2005 to fix the problem.
>The current broadcasting audio is an issue with Charter Communications cable.
>The electric rate increase will be reflected on customer’s February 1st statements.
>The fiber optics installation is complete.A meeting was held last week with Mike
Dahi of ICG to discuss potential market base.ICG would have to invest capital in
infrastructure.
>The MacGregor Mountain water tank construction has been shut down through
August at the request of the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
>The small hydro plant project at the foot of the dam will begin the end of 2005.
There being no further business,Chairman Jeffrey-Clark adjourned the meeting at
9:15 a.m.
Jlliamson,DeputyTownClerr