HomeMy Public PortalAboutMarch 4, 2019 - Meeting MinutesMINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE RATE COMMISSION
OF THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
The Members of the Rate Commission of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District met on
March 4, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. at the District's Administrative Offices at 2350 Market Street, Room
109 in St. Louis, Missouri. Commissioners Beckmann, Bowdry, Bresnan, Brockmann, Croyle,
Hawes, Mahfood, Palans, Schoedel, Stein, and Toenjes were present in person. Commissioners
Goss, Ratzki, and Ziegler were present by telephone conference. Commissioner Mahanta was
absent.
Also present were Brian Hoelscher, Executive Director, and Susan Myers, General Counsel, of
the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (the "District"); Pamela Lemoine of Black & Veatch,
Rate Consultant to the Rate Commission; and Lisa O. Stump and Brian J. Malone of Lashly &
Baer, P.C., counsel for the Rate Commission.
Agenda Item 1 — Call to Order
Vice -Chair Mr. Hawes served as Chair until Chairman Mr. Toenjes arrived at 9:02. Secretary
Mr. Schoedel called the roll and declared that a quorum was present. The meeting was called to
order.
Agenda Item 2 — Approval of Minutes
Ms. Stump presented the Commission with draft minutes from the Rate Commission's meeting
on January 4, 2019. A motion was made by Commissioner Croyle to accept the January 4, 2019
minutes as presented. Commissioner Stein seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken. All
Commissioners present voted Aye. No Commissioners voted Nay. No abstentions. The minutes
from the January 4, 2019 meeting were approved and signed by Secretary Mr. Schoedel.
Agenda Item 3 — Public Affairs Committee Report
Commissioner Brockmann distributed a list of recommendations prepared by the Public Affairs
Committee. A discussion was held about the proposed recommendations. Commissioner
Brockmann explained that the Committee would be requesting a budget increase from
$241,000.00 to $268,000.00, in order to increase focus on community stakeholders and
government officials, and to stream two of the public hearings. Commissioner Brockmann made
a motion to increase the budget of the Public Affairs Committee to $268,000.00. Commissioner
Palans seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken. All Commissioners present voted Aye. No
Commissioners voted Nay. No abstentions.
Agenda Item 4 — Approval of Changes to Operational Rules
The Restated Operational Rules that had been submitted to the Rate Commission at its January 4,
2019 meeting were presented for approval. Ms. Stump explained the changes primarily relating
to the timing of receipt of testimony from the District, work sessions with Rate Consultants and
Legal Counsel, and the use of protective orders to address discovery disputes. Commissioner
Stein made a motion to adopt the Restated Operational Rules. Commissioner Croyle seconded
the motion. A voice vote was taken. All Commissioners present voted Aye. No Commissioners
voted Nay. No abstentions.
Commissioner Stein inquired whether it was necessary to elect new officers. Ms. Stump advised
she would investigate and notify the Rate Commission if it was necessary to elect new officers.
Agenda Item 5 — 2019 Wastewater Proceedings
Brian Hoelscher and Marion Gee explained the District's 2019 Wastewater Rate Change
Proposal. A discussion was held about rate modeling, the District's compliance with its Consent
Decree, and the District's current debt service levels. Commissioner Brockmann inquired as to
what is done with the ash disposed from the District's incinerators. Mr. Hoelscher stated that the IN
ash can be marketable, and that the District strives to make the byproducts of waste incineration, WO
such as off heat, available to nearby businesses where possible.
Mr. Hoelscher stated that if, after review of this Rate Change Proposal, the District decides to
issue revenue bonds, the eeriest -an election could be held to authorize the issuance of bonds
would beAAIdpri12021. i1Tmpro
Agenda Item b M
—Consideration and Approval of Resolution to Request 45-Day Extension from
Board of Trustees
Ms. Stump explained that a consensus had developed at earlier meetings that the Rate
Commission should request a 45-day extension immediately to permit the Rate Commission to
adopt a final procedural schedule early in the proceedings, since the extension has been
requested in each rate change proceeding. Commissioner Brockmann made a motion to approve
the Resolution to request a 45-day extension. Commissioner Mahfood seconded the motion. A
voice vote was taken. All Commissioners present voted Aye. No Commissioners voted Nay. No
abstentions.
Mr. Hoelscher explained that the Board of Trustees would like a commissioner to attend a
meeting, either an March 5 or March 14, to explain the Rate Commission's rationale for
requesting an extension. He explained that the Board has typically been receptive to requests for
extensions. Mr. Toenjes agreed to appear before the Board of Trustees on March 14.
Agenda Item 7 — Other Business
Ms. Stump reminded the Rate Commission of its work session scheduled for Friday, March 8.
Ms. Stump will prepare a procedural schedule for the Rate Commission to consider at this
meeting. In the event that the Board of Trustees rejected the request for a 45-day extension, the
procedural schedule would need to be revised.
Agenda Item 8 — Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Mahfood. Commissioner Brockmann seconded
the motion. A voice vote was taken. All Commissioners present voted Aye. No Commissioners
voted Nay. No abstentions.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, on motion duly made, seconded and
carried by unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m.
BY:
Me-16-41.
MARK SCHOEDEL
Secretary of the Rate Commission of the
Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District