HomeMy Public PortalAbout05-18-1992 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND,INDIANA,SERVING AS A BOARD
IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATION OF THE RICHMOND POWER&LIGHT PLANT
MONDAY,MAY 18,1992
1 The Common Coundl of the City of Richmond, Indiana, serving as a Board in charge of the operations of the
2 Richmond Power& Light Plant met in regular session at 7 p.m. Monday, May 18, 1992 in the Municipal Building in
3 said City. Chairperson Hutton presided with the following Councilmembers in attendance: Lundy, Brookbank,
4 Donat, McBride, Parker, Allen, Dickman and Elstro. The following business was had to-wit:
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6 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 4,1992
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8 Councilmember McBride moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as prepared, seconded by
9 Councilmember Brookbank and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
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11 APPROVAL OF BILLS. INVESTMENTS AND TRANSFERS
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13 Upon recommendation of the Finance Committee, Councilmember Brookbank moved to approve the following
14 bills for payment,seconded by Councilmember Parker and on unanimous voice vote the motion carried.
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16 sills Already Paid
17 Payroll and Deductions 201,917.36
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19
20 Investments Purchased From:
21 Cash Operating Fund 1,400,000.00
22 Bond Sinking Fund
23 Utility Bond Reserve Fund
24 Depreciation Reserve Fund 728,180.56
25 Insurance Reserve Fund 179,006.44
26 Consumer Deposit Fund
27 Cash Reserve Fund
28 Group Insurance Fund
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30 Total Investments 2,307,187.00
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33 Transfer to City in Lieu of Taxes:
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35 Transfer from Cash Operating Fund to:
36 Payroll Deduction Fund
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39 Transfers from Depreciation Reserve to:
40 Cash Operating Fund
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42 Transfers from Consumer Deposit to:
43 Cash Operating Fund
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45 Transfers from Utility Bond Reserve Fund to:
46 Bond Sinking Fund
47
48 Transfers from Cash Operating
49 Interest and Bond Principal
50 Bond Sinking Fund
51 Cash Reserve Fund
52 Utifity Bond Sinking Fund
53 Depreciation Reserve Fund
54 Insurance Reserve Fund
55 Consumer Deposit Fund
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57 Interest and Bond Principal
58
59 End of Month Petty Cash
60 Revenue Bonds
61 Interest Coupons Redeemed
62 Bond Coupons
63 Miscellaneous Bills Already Paid 397,966.29
64 Total prepaid invoices 2,907,070.65
65 Total Bills Not Paid 337,340.47
Grand Total 3,244,411.12
RP&L Minutes Cont'd
May 18, 1992
Page 2
1 REMARKS BY CHAIRPERSON
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3 Chairperson Hutton reminded Councilmembers that there would be no meeting at RP & L Monday since it is a
4 holiday and noted that is why they met Monday, May 11.
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6 UNFINISHED BUSINESS
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8 None.
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10 STREET LIGHT COMMITTEE REPORT
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12 Councilmember McBride reported that he had in hand a petition from residents of Waverly Drive for street lights.
13 He asked RP & L General Manager Irving Huffman to see that Bob Hankosky at RP & L gets the request.
14 Hankosky will develop a proposal for the street lights, send it back to the Street Light Committee for review or
15 change then the proposal goes to the Board of Works for consideration and if the request is approved the
16 proposal is sent back to Hankosky for installation of street lights.
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18 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
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20 None.
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22 REPORT BY GENERAL MANAGER
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24 Irving Huffman waived his time to pass on to the next item on the agenda.
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26 CIVIC HALL RENOVATION
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28 Chairperson Hutton asked for comments from Councilmembers and Councilmember Elstro suggested it go
29 straight to the public.The proposal being heard was that RP& L fund the Civic Hall Renovation with a donation of
30 $300,000. Hutton reminded those in the audience that since it was only a half-hour meeting that only 10 minutes
31 each could be allowed for those speaking for and against the proposal. Before hearing from the public
32 Councilmember Brookbank noted that the donation was a suggestion by a committee and not from the RP& L
33 board members. •
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35 Hearing no one in favor, Chairperson Hutton recognized Ken McElheny, a representative of Alcoa who brought
36 along with him Bobbie Roberts, Alcoa's union representative. McElheny said he felt that Alcoa represented the
37 majority of the industrial community in Richmond which led him to believe it was fair to say that it also represented
38 the majority of the people in Richmond. He noted that most of his comments were based on the reply he received
39 after an anti-proposal article he had written had appeared in the local newspaper. He added that it was the
40 feeling of Alcoa that the funding of the Civic Hall renovation with the cash surplus of RP& L is inappropriate,
41 based on the economic conditions currently found in Richmond. He also called the proposal anti-business and
42 said he even wondered if it was legal. He asked Councilmembers to consider their decision carefully, noting that
43 he believed approving the proposal would have a negative impact on the industrial community in Richmond and
44 asked the members to keep the funds where they belonged, reducing the utility rates, not renovating Civic Hall.
45
46 Larry Stevens, plant manager of Dana Perfect Circle Sleeve Castings Plant,spoke against the proposal saying
47 that his plant ranked among the larger users of the utility, noting that since 1989 through the end of April 1992
48 Dana had spent more than$4.4 million on electrical energy. He said RP& L's service is excellent, rates good and
49 it's a good draw for the city in trying to get new industry. He added that in September 1991 Dana had 236
50 employees and at the end of May 1992 that number will have increased to 295. Commenting that he felt it was
51 not in the City's best interest for money to be taken from RP& L, he said it has to come from profit some place
52 and the utility had already petitioned for a rate increase. He asked Councilmembers not to grant the proposal.
53 .
54 James McNew of1295 Boston Township Road said he didn't agree with RP& L giving money and said he had
55 contacted the consumer counselor at Public Service in Richmond and he agreed with him, noting that the person
56 with whom he spoke said it is not legal. Chairperson Hutton asked if he had talked with the counselor further and
57 McNew said he was supposed to check the records and get back with him and he hadn't done that.
58
59 Councilmember Allen commented that in giving $10,000 that would amount to 14 cents for each residential rate
60 payer.She noted the Civic Center will benefit future generations and is a mammoth operation.
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62 Speaking in favor of the proposal was Joe Longstreth, chairman of the Civic Hall Renovation Fund,who said he
63 understood the concerns of the public but directed his comments to the Councilmembers. He said they were
64 elected as leaders, as shepherds not as sheep and asked them to look at the long term impact of what the Civic
65 Hall renovation will have on the community. He said he felt that it would add to the quality of life in Richmond and
contribute toward an educated work force.
RP&L Minutes Cont'd
May 18, 1992
Page 3
1 He said a work force isn't educated by just thinking about getting across a nice bridge but exposing them to what
2 the very best a community has to offer. He added that a learned and capable work force is a well rounded work
3 force which knows how to speak,write, punctuate,count and also better learn how to live. He said the Civic Hall
4 Renovation will have a major impact on the Richmond community.
5
6 Councilmember Dickman commented that he felt the renovation of Civic Hall is an outstanding project and he
7 hopes the community gets behind it. However, he said, the request for a contribution from RP &L is not in
8 keeping with the Board's mission statement. He made a motion that the request be denied,second by
9 Councilmember Donat and carried on a unanimous voice vote.
10
• 11 Councilmember Elstro recommended that they, as board members, make a policy for the general manager which
12 states that RP&L discontinue donating to organizations as it has in the past,such as helping with the annual
13 Rose Festival or Scott Boys Club. He suggested that this be done within the next few weeks,working along the
14 guidelines of doing no favors for anybody.
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16 ADJOURNMENT
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18 There being no further business,on a motion duly made,seconded and passed the meeting was
19 adjourned.
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24 Sally Hutton, Chairperson
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28 ATTEST:
29 Norma Carnes, City Clerk
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