HomeMy Public PortalAbout08-04-1986 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, AUGUST 4, 1986
1 The Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana, serving as a Board in charge
2 of the operation of the Richmond Power & Light Plant, met in regular session August
3 4, 1986 at the hour of 7:00 P.M. in the Municipal Building in said City. Chairman
III 4 Elstro presided with the following Councilmember in attendance: Williams, Brookbank,
5 Whitesell, Parker, Bodiker, Hutton, and Morris. Absent : Hankinson. The following
6 business was had to-wit:
7
8 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 21, 1986
9
10 Councilmember Brookbank moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as
11 prepared, seconded by Councilmember Brookbank and on unanimous voice vote the motion
12 was carried.
13
14 APPROVAL OF BILLS, TRANSFERS, AND INVESTMENTS
15
16 Upon recommendation of the Finance Committee, Councilmember Parker moved to approve
17 bills already paid, transfers made, investments purchased and bills to be paid
18 as follows, seconded by Councilmember Brookbank and on unanimouss voice vote the
19 motion was carried.
20
21 Bills Already Paid
22 Payroll and deductions of 7/25/86 160,365.91
23
24 Transfers from Cash Operating Fund to:
25 Depreciation Reserve Fund 91,000.00
26 Cash Reserve Fund 172,224.00
27 Utility Bond Sinking Fund 71,521.89
28 Total Transfers 334,745.89
III 29
30 Investments Purchased from:
31 Depreciation Reserve Fund 1,354,070.00
32 Utility Bond Reserve Fund 1,229,451.57
33 Cash Operating Fund 906,254.11
34 Utility Bond Sinking Fund 71,521.89
35 Cash Reserve Fund 467,842.00
36 Total Investments 4,029,139,57
37
38 Bond Principal & Interest Payment , 12,143.75
39
40 Miscellaneous Bills Already Paid 922,215.84
41
42 Total Bills Already Paid 5,458,610.96
43
44 Total Bills Not Paid 786,512.66
45
46 Grand Total of All Approved Bills 6,245,123.62
47
48 REPORT FROM STREET LIGHT COMMITTEE
49
50 Chairman Elstro stated that he had looked into a request from Councilmember Williams
51 for lights on North F Street and felt that a couple of lights were needed.
52
III53 REPORT BY GENERAL MANAGER
54
55 Expansion of RP&L Service Building
56
57 General Manager Huffman informed the Board that inr_considering the, proposed expansion
58 to the Service Building, how to best utilize the Service Building was considered
59 along with addressing the problem of running out of space. He stated it was decided
60 that the proposed addition to the Service Building would be the best approach and
61 along with being used for storage of equipment it would also be used as a working
62 area for repairs to equipment during inclement weather.
63
64 Mr. Huffman asked the Board to authorize him to engage the consulting and architectural
65 firm offering the best proposal to design specifications for the addition in order
•
RP&L Minutes Cont 'd
August 4, 1986
Page 2
1 that a more accurate cost of the facility be developed. Mr. Huffman indicated
2 that there is more than enough money available to pay for the project in the
3 savings account and upon completion of specifications a determination could be
4 made what the next step would be on the facility.
5
11/
6 Councilmember Hutton asked about not receiving information about the project in
7 her packet and Mr. Huffman stated the materials had been mailed out with
8 anticipated delivery on Saturday and that some had not been delivered until today.
9
10 Councilmember Brookbank stated that she found 700,000.00 extremely high for a
11 pole barn and asked exactly what the Board was voting on.
12
13 Chairman Elstro stated they were just voting on engaging the consulting and
14 architectural firm to design the specifications.
15
16 Councilmember Whitesell stated that he had to assume the project would be around
17 the 700,000.00 range and that obviously the Board would be authorizing the consulting
18 and architectural firm to design specifications around what management felt was
19 needed and that would definately make the project in that dollar range.
20
21 Mr. Huffman stated they had investigated other buildings and that the cost of
22 a steel or aluminum building with insulation would be more expensive than the
23 block with brick veneer building being proposed.
24
25 Councilmember Whitesell commented that he feels the Board favors the building, but the
26 style and extent of the building seems to be in question and he inquired as how to
27 satisfy both problems.
28
29 Mr. Huffman stated that he didn't feel that both issues can be satisfied since he fee
30 they need a building heated and designed for the future. He said they were not
31 prepared to redo what has been started and that a pole barn is for storage and not
32 good working conditions.
33
34 Councilmember Whitesell commented on the architect being paid on a percentage
35 of costs of the building and ask how the architect would be paid if the Board
36 rejected the specifications.
37
38 Mr. Huffman stated that architect would cost 34,125.00 and that there has been
39 precedence set for receiving specifications and not immediately building the
40 structure. He indicated that procedure was utilized in the construction of
41 the downtown collection office.
42
43 Councilmember Morris commented on the cost of the proposed structure and that
44 other structures such as one just completed at the landfill cost 10.00 a square
45 foot. She stated that she was not concerned with aesthetics, but rather a
46 useable structure.
47
48 Councilmember Morris suggested that this project be included in an orderly
49 capital plan for next year taking revenue levels and percent of capitalization
50 into consideration. Councilmember Morris stated she felt that 34,000.00 was
51 a lot of money to be paying out if there should be changes .
52
53 Councilmember Parker moved to authorize the General Manager to engage the
54 consulting and architectural firm offering the best proposal meeting the .
55 requirements for the Service Building Addition. The motion was seconded by
56 Councilmember Williams .
57
58 Councilmember Bodiker asked if a maximum dollar amount could be included in
59 the motion and Councilmember Parker amended the motion to reflect the 34,125.00
60 maximum dollar amount for the consultant.
61
62 Councilmember Bodiker commented that he has a problem adding three (3) walls
63 for storage at 50.00 per square foot.
64
65 Mr. Huffman explained that the design was for storage area above a lower storage
RP&L Minutes Cont'd
August 4, 1986
Page 3
1 and work area and will serve all purposes. He stated that the facility has
2 to be heated.
3
III 4 Councilmember Williams stated that with the amount of equipment owned by RP&L
5 it was a bad movecl to not have storage.
6
7 Councilmember Parker suggested that it might be adviseable to have the architect/
8 consultant present facts and figures on some different types of structures
9 in order that the Board could have some different ideas to consider.
10
11 Mr. Huffman stated he would have to know what type of building the Board wanted
12 such as insulation, floors, etc.
13
14 Councilmember Whitesell stated he concurred with Councilmember Parker and
15 Councilmember Williams, but tonight was the first time he had heard that the
16 building would also be used as a work area and that the Board had been approached
17 in the past only regarding a storage building. He said that based on the request
18 for storage only, he doesn't see any since in proceeding, but if there is a
19 necessity for a work building it might justify that expenditure.
20
21 Mr. Huffman stated thay they had started working with the garage concept and
22 somewhere it was referred to as a storage building. He said it will be a working
23 building.
24
25 Councilmember Whitesell recommended receiving more alternatives and better
26 clarification of intended useage. He also stated that he felt it was foolish
27 to spend 35,000.00 when the issue might not pass.
III 28
29 Councilmember Bodiker stated that he assumed the working area would be left
30 where it was and the new area would be storage. He said that he could see
31 the need to house equipment and not need the immediate expense of heating.
32
33 Mr. Huffman stated that the heaters were very inexpensive, but that the insulation
34 was the critical part and very costly. He added that it needed to be
35 incorporated into the design.
36
37 Councilmember Parker stated that the Board should not vote tonight , but should
38 have the consultant/architect talk with the entire Board since the Board seemed
39 to agree on the need for a building, but are not agreeing on the type.
40
41 Councilmember Morris stated that she agreed with Councilmember Parker since
42 she had never heard about any use for the building except storage.
43
44 Councilmember Brookbank stated she only recalls storage being addressed and
45 not a working building concept.
46
47 Councilmember Parker withdrew his motion to authorize the General Manager to
48 engage a consulting/architectural firm. Councilmember Williams withdrew his
49 second for the motion.
50
51 NEW BUSINESS
52
III 53 Councilmember Parker moved to schedule an architect/consulting firm to meet
54 with the Board on August 25, 1986 regarding the addition to the Service Building,
55 seconded by Councilmember Brookbank and on a voice vote the motion was carried.
56
57 Mr. Huffman stated he would contact Clinton & Associates for a presentation
58 to the Board.
59
60 ADJOURNMENT
61
62 There being no further business, on a motion duly made, seconded and passed
63 the meeting was adjourned.
64
65 Howard J. Elstro, Chairman
ATTEST:
Mary Merchanthouse, City Clerk