HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-03-1991 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
SEPTEMBER 1 1991
1 The Common Council 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 September 3, 1991 at the hour of 7:00 P.M. in the Municipal
3 Building in said City. Chairman Elstro presided with the following Councilmembers in attendance: Lundy,
4 Brookbank, Hankinson, McBride, Parker, Hutton and Morris. Absent: Paust. The following business was had
5 to-wit:
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7 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 19, 1991
8 •
9 Councilmember McBride moved to approve the minutes of the previous meetings as prepared, seconded by
10 Councilmember Hankinson and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
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12 APPROVAL OF BILLS, INVESTMENTS AND TRANSFERS
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14 Upon recommendation of the Finance Committee, Councilmember Hankinson moved to approve the following
15 bills for payment,seconded by Councilmember Brookbank and on unanimous voice vote the motion carried.
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17 Bills Already Paid
18 Payroll and Deductions 195,702.84
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21 Investments Purchased From:
22 Cash Operating Fund 1,375,000.00
23 Bond Sinking Fund
24 Utility Bond Reserve Fund
25 Depreciation Reserve Fund 1,445,114.55
26 Consumer Deposit Fund
27 28
Cash Reserve Fund
Group Insurance Fund
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30 Total Investments
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33 Transfer to City in Lieu of Taxes:
34
35 Transfer from PY Ded.to:
36 Cash Operating Fund
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38 Transfers from Depreciation Reserve to:
39 Cash Operating Fund
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41 Transfers from Consumer Deposit to:
42 Cash Operating Fund
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44 Transfers from Utility Bond Reserve Fund to;
45 Bond Sinking Fund
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47 Transfers from Cash Operating :
48 Interest and Bond Principal
49 Bond Sinking Fund
50 Cash Reserve Fund
51 Utility Bond Sinking Fund
52 Depreciation Reserve Fund
53 Insurance Reserve Fund
54 Consumer Deposit Fund
55
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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 265,311.12
64
65 Total Bills Not Paid 1,918,312.14
Grand Total 5,199,440.65
RP&L Minutes Cont'd
September 3, 1991
Page 2
1 REMARKS BY CHAIRPERSON
2
3 Interest Disclosure for Irving Huffman
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5 The Interest Disclosure for Mr. Irving Huffman, Manager of Richmond Power& Light, as a member of the Board of
6 Directors of Peoples Federal Savings Association was presented to the Board.
7
8 Councilmember Parker moved to accept and file the Interest Disclosure of Mr. Huffman, seconded by
9 Councilmember Hutton and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried.
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11 UNFINISHED BUSINESS
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13 No business.
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15 STREET LIGHT COMMITTEE REPORT
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17 None were presented.
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19 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
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21 None was presented.
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23 REPORT BY GENERAL MANAGER
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25 Mr.Huffman reported for the information of the Board that RP&L initially put in fiber optic backbone system for two
26 way communication between substations and the Whitewater Valley generating station which is compatible with
27 CATV.
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29 Mr.Huffman told the Board that with their requested entry into the cable TV service,they are doing the same thing
30 that was done in 1900 when the public decided that the private electric company was not doing the job or being
31 responsive to the public need. He said the Board at that time felt there was a need for a better, more reliable,
32 reasonably priced electric company and one that would consider public input. Mr. Huffman informed the Board
33 that at time they voted to enter the electric business in competition with a privately owned company and both
34 operated in competition for fifteen (15)years,with RP&L buying out the private company in 1915.
35
36 Mr.Huffman reminded the Board that in 1987 Rice&Associates surveyed the City of Richmond to see if RP&L
37 should enter the cable business and even though the pubic felt that was proper,the Board felt the services of the
38 private operator would improve and they voted not to go into the business at that time.
39
40 Mr. Huffman stated that the problems with cable TV in the community have not gone away and RP&L has
41 completed another survey indicating that 90.5%of the responses being in favor and a 57%subscriber response
42 rate.
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44 Mr. Huffman said the study submitted by Electrotec indicated the operating parameters. He said they have
45 received comments from the business community and have discussed the issue with the Chamber of Commerce
46 Board and they can understand why we are investigating the issue and considering entering the business even
47 though their philosophies differ.
48
49 Mr. Huffman informed the Board there was a motion on the agenda to authorize Richmond Power& Light to hire
50 necessary legal and other consultant services to prepare and submit a request for a franchise to provide cable TV
51 service to the customers within the Richmond Power and Light electric service area. Mr. Huffman said he felt if
52 the Board voted for the motion,they were indicating they want to get into the business.
53
54 Councilmember Hankinson so moved to authorize Richmond Power& Light to hire necessary legal and other
55 consultant services to prepare and submit a request for a franchise to provide cable TV service to the customers
56 within the Richmond Power and Light electric service area. The motion was seconded by Councilmember
57 McBride.
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59 Prior to vote, it was requested that questions be addressed.
60
61 Councilmember Morris questioned what would the process be and as the procedure went along and negative
62 changes were presented,would the Board have an opportunity to reconsider.
63
64 Mr. Huffman it was the intent that if all indicators were position to proceed with the project and not play with it.
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RP&L Minutes Cont'd
September 3, 1991
Page 3
1 It was requested that public input be allowed by Mr. Robert O'Maley of 3315 Dorothy Lane. Mr.O'Maley
2 expressed his concerns that the Board was moving along on this issue without a public hearing and that a few of
3 the public did feel the Board should not vote to enter the cable business.
4
5 Chairman Elstro told Mr.O'Maley that two public meetings had been held on the issue and he called for the vote
6 by roll call.
7
8 The motion passed on the following call of the roll:
9
10 Ayes: Lundy, Brookbank, Hankinson, McBride, Parker, Hutton, Morris and Elstro (8)
11 Nays: None
12 Absent: Paust
13
14 ADJOURNMENT
15
16 There being no further business, on a motion duly made,seconded and passed the meeting was
17 adjourned.
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23 Jack Elstro, Chairperson
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27 ATTEST:
28 Mary Merchanthouse, City Clerk
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