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Brainerd utilities commission approves consent calendar, personnel reclassification and customer wastewater credit
Summary
At its March 25 meeting the Brainerd City Public Utilities Commission approved the consent calendar, several personnel committee recommendations including reclassification and hiring steps, and granted a customer credit for wastewater treatment and collection charges after a leak; motions passed by voice vote or roll call as noted.
The Brainerd City Public Utilities Commission on March 25 approved its consent calendar, accepted multiple personnel committee recommendations and granted an adjustment to a customer’s wastewater treatment and collection charges.
The consent calendar — presented as routine items to be adopted by a single motion — included approval of minutes, approval of bills, and a final payment to Magni Construction Incorporated for the 2,000,000‑gallon reservoir project in the amount of $5,369.83; the consent calendar was adopted by roll call with Commissioners Higgins, Matten and Chair O'Day recorded as voting yes.
The commission’s personnel committee recommended several staffing actions and each was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The motions recorded in the meeting minutes and carried by voice vote were: - Hire a second laborer position (personnel committee motion). - Backfill the meter service worker position (personnel committee motion). - Recommend to council the reclassification of Mitch Latchell to the journeyman line worker position and to place him at step 6 based on qualifications; the record shows Latchell previously held a supervisory role and requested a return to a non‑supervisory journeyman role. - Advertise internally for Mitch Latchell’s current position, electric distribution supervisor, with a commitment to post externally if no qualified internal candidates apply. - Direct staff to begin creation of a job description and wage scale for a water distribution supervisor position for council approval.
Commissioners discussed the implications of backfilling and reclassification on ongoing hiring: staff reported there were 12 applicants for the journeyman/apprentice opening, four were qualified and Latchell was among the most qualified applicants. The motions carried by voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the public minutes for these specific personnel motions.
Under new business, staff brought a request from a customer seeking credit for wastewater treatment and collection charges after an interior leak. Staff reported two customers requested adjustments; one account in the packet requested an adjustment just over $3,000 for water that leaked into a dirt‑floor basement and did not enter the sanitary sewer system. Staff recommended waiving the wastewater treatment and collection charges where leak water did not enter the wastewater system in keeping with past practice. The commission voted to grant the requested adjustment; the motion carried by voice vote.
The commission also received staff reports: the city administrator noted the city council approved conduit debt for the Country Manor project and BlockMetrics had submitted a building permit for a separate project; the city administrator and staff outlined next steps on hiring an interim or permanent public utilities director following the departure of the utility director. Public utilities staff reported a preliminary five‑year rate study scope and discussed pending state legislative activity affecting net‑metering and renewable generation compensation.
Votes at a glance - Approve agenda: passed (voice vote). - Approve consent calendar (minutes, bills, final payment to Magni Construction Inc. $5,369.83, training and 2025 cogeneration/small power production rate schedule): passed (roll call: Higgins — yes; Matten — yes; O'Day — yes). - Personnel committee recommendation — hire second laborer: passed (voice vote). - Personnel committee recommendation — backfill meter service worker: passed (voice vote). - Personnel committee recommendation — reclassify Mitch Latchell to journeyman and place at step 6, and related personnel actions (internal posting, job description and wage scale development): passed (voice votes; details recorded in meeting discussion). - Customer credit for wastewater treatment/collection charges (one request just over $3,000): passed (voice vote).
The meeting adjourned after staff reports and short commission updates.
