The regular meeting of the Monroe City Council was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor R. Kirt Nilsson. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Nilsson. Prayer was offered by Councilmember Warren Monroe.

Councilmembers reviewed the minutes of the June 9, 2009 city council meeting.

Corrections:

Page four: last paragraph add "and 1^st left hand fork."

Page six: next to last paragraph change "appreciate" to "appreciates"

Present:

Mayor R. Kirt Nilsson

Councilmembers Ed Oldroyd, Lamar Ogden, Warren Monroe, Jean Vigil

City Recorder Emalee Curtis

Public Works Superintendent Devin Magleby

Councilmember Troy Torgersen was excused from tonight’s meeting.

Citizens:

Chad Hunt, Richfield Reaper

Kaleb, Shawn, Toni, Kahlill and Addie Smith

Tim Jones, Jones & DeMille Engineering

None

(A) Buddy Qualls - Monroe City Utility Board report

Mr. Qualls did not attend tonight’s meeting as he had nothing new to report from tonight’s board meeting. Another utility board meeting will be held in July to review possible adjustments to the South Monroe Culinary Water user fees following additional review and discussion of calculations of actual costs to deliver water to the South Monroe Culinary Water Users.

(B) Kaleb Smith - proposed Eagle Scout Project

Kaleb would like to have his project completed prior to July 24^th.

Councilmember Oldroyd suggested that when this project is completed, he would like to see a plaque with the scout’s name and the date of eagle project installed on the building. He would like projects to be recognized.

(C) Recommendation - appointment of poll workers for Monroe City General Elections

(D) Ordinance 6/02/2009 Establishing Policies and Procedures for approval of written minutes of public meetings of public bodies of Monroe City

A motion was made by Councilmember Monroe seconded by Councilmember Oldroyd to adopt Ordinance 6/02/2009 Establishing Policies and Procedures for approval of written minutes of public meetings of public bodies of Monroe City. All were in favor. Motion carried.

Councilmember Monroe informed the council that he included funding a hydro feasibility study in next year’s budget. He is actively looking for possible future funding for a new city hydro electric generation plant.

Tim Jones said that he appreciates meeting with the council to explain the scope of the proposed study.

Mr. Jones presented a history of work done in the canyon on the pipelines and penstock and hydro generator plants.

Following the 1983-1984 floods of Monroe Creek, the culinary water line was completely washed out. Prior to the floods, there was a fire that burned up the generator at the middle hydro plant. At that time, the middle plant was moved to the mouth of the canyon. There was also flooding along First Left Hand Fork. The city restored a lot of this work on the pipeline penstock and improved the intake for the upper power plant from Serviceberry and Shingle Fork.

Mr. Jones explained more history of the penstock and diversions as well as potential for hydro development and associated problems. There is 550 ft. of head at one location. The study would determine the amount of power that might be generated. A major concern has always been coordination of construction of transmission lines across forest service ground. A hydrologic study to determine flow and head will be included in the study.

The scope of services proposed to be included in the study:

1. Overall system mapping - with entire water and power systems

2. Hydrologic analysis

3. Transmission line alignment

4. Environmental review

5. Cost estimate

6. Feasibility analysis

7. Site visit

8. Project review meetings with Monroe City and Forest Service (4)

9. Hydrologic & Economic evaluation for Cold Spring Culinary water line

If the council determines they want to proceed with a project, more accurate topographical data will be needed.

Following the study, we might find that an inline turbine would be recommended that could be installed near existing transmission lines. An elevation profile will be needed to determine if this would be practical. It would be prudent to avoid additional use of forest service lands. Any new generating plant will still need to apply for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing approval.

The cost for the study is anticipated to be $16,300.00. This study will provide project feasibility information and allow the council to determine if the city should proceed with a new hydro electric generating project.

Councilmember Monroe declared a potential conflict of interest as he is an employee of Jones and DeMille engineering. As a citizen and a councilmember over the city’s electric utility department, he feels strongly about and is committed to this project as a benefit to Monroe City. He has spent a lot of time looking at the scope of the study and he is not willing to cut any services listed on this contract agreement.

Councilmember Oldroyd had a question on the efficiency feasibility part of the study. Mr. Jones said that he did not include feasibility for alternatives of what will or won’t work as part of the study at this time.

Mayor Nilsson stated that Councilmember Oldroyd has served as Mayor Pro Tempore for the previous six months. Councilmember Torgersen was appointed to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore for the next six months.

(G) Approval of warrant register, cash disbursements and adjustments journals

Councilmember Monroe had a question regarding a check for $525.00 from the sewer anticipation fund. He was told that it was found that a property owner has been paying the monthly sewer anticipation fees but the property is located outside the city limits. The amount that had been paid to the city has now been refunded to the property owner.

Councilmembers reviewed and approved the warrant register, cash disbursements and adjustments journals.

All newsletter articles should be submitted to Treasurer Leavitt by June 29^th.

Public Works Superintendent Magleby asked the council’s permission to arrange for a luncheon when the Local Emergency Planning meeting is held in Monroe in July. Permission was granted.

Lee Holloman has a 12' pine tree he would like to donate to the city. Councilmembers approved moving it to the park then filling the hole on Mr. Holloman’s property when the tree is removed.

The debris basin annual inspection is tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. Interested individuals will meet at the dam.

Devin requested vacation time off next week. It was approved.

A list of surplus shelves was submitted to the council by Monroe City Librarian Evelyn Marvidikis. These shelves were approved to be added to the city’s list of surplus property.

5.  Department business - reports and concerns - Law enforcement concerns

Councilmember Oldroyd said that he has received numerous compliments on the work city crews are doing.

There will be a pre construction meeting June 29^th at 11 a.m. at the city hall for the irrigation improvement project.

There was a utility board meeting tonight. No decisions were made and a work session will be held in July to further review information regarding South Monroe Culinary water user fees.

Councilmember Monroe gave the council an update on the American Public Power Association, (APPA) convention he attended last week in Salt Lake City. The Monday and Tuesday sessions were very informative. The face of public power is changing and government regulation continues to be real problem. The general attitude toward cap and trade is softening. The bill probably will be transitioned gradually. There was a lot of discussion on California power issues. They are now purchasing power across the border in Mexico to get around the state regulations. There continues to be a massive push for conservation as well as to green power and renewable power. Monroe City has actively pursued conservation in our community and our revenues have outpaced our expenses by 3%.

Councilmember Monroe reviewed some of the speakers and the topics they covered at the conference. Technology is changing the face of power for the world as well as for the future generation for Monroe City. The general consensus is that nuclear power is going to be the major provider of power for the future. Nuclear power is considered a renewable resource at this time. The main issue of constructing new nuclear plants is the time it takes for federal licensing for a new plant.

It will be interesting to see what the next ten years brings. Solar, geothermal, hydro and wind power are all players. All in all it was a very informative conference.

Councilmember Monroe has been talking with Tim Jones and John Spendlove about Monroe City hydro issues. After attending the conference Councilmember Monroe felt it was important to begin working on a feasibility study for a new city hydro generation plant.

Old drawings from 1986 were reviewed. This was when the pipeline was redone to achieve more head to generate more power. A feeder line at First Left Hand Fork was designed with the possibility to build a new hydro. One major hurdle is building the transmission line on forest service land.

The scope of work for the current study does include constructing a hydro plant on the Cold Spring culinary line. Councilmember Monroe wants this study to have the outcome of real data to see the possibility of a project. He believes it is in the city’s best long term interest to proceed with a feasibility study at this time.

The playground equipment supplier will be in Monroe soon to put together the new equipment at Mtn. View Park. New information was received today about a possible city skate park. Councilmember Torgersen will continue to study skate park information.

Mayor Nilsson opened a sealed bid for city surplus property. Calvin Curtis submitted a bid of $200.00 for the 1978 Dodge one ton dually truck-no bed as is. This bid was accepted.

Mayor Nilsson asked councilmembers for ideas for the city float for the 24^th parade. Please inform him of any float ideas as soon as possible. Councilmembers were asked to put July 22^nd on their calendars to meet in Richfield to wrap the meat for the BBQ.

Mayor Nilsson attended the open house for Elsinore Town’s new building. The building has a fire station, city offices and council chambers. It is a really nice facility. While in Elsinore, he visited with their mayor and discussed Sevier County funding activities that conflict with traditional activities held in the south end of the county. This issue will be discussed further with the county commissioners.

Mayor Nilsson checked on the progress of Karson Nilsson’s Eagle Scout project. It was noted that the railing has a channel on the spindles that is a catch-all for water and will rust. There was a discussion on possible solutions. Jerry Marsh might drill holes to release the water or get pipe like spindles to fill up the area with pipe or laying a strap to cover this area. The way it is now will be a maintenance problem. Councilmember Oldroyd and Devin will visit with Jerry to try to figure out a solution to this problem.

Councilmember Torgersen has asked an individual to look into building a BBQ for use by the city. He will bring further information to the council.

Approved this 14^th day of July, 2009

Emalee H. Curtis, City Recorder