Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission directs staff to present KMEA contract after review of Sunflower and Prairie Land proposals
Summary
After reviewing two power-supply proposals and discussion about whether to commission an additional consultant, commissioners said they did not want another report and asked staff to prepare a presentation of the KMEA contract for consideration; staff will confirm any material changes and may seek buyout options for the final year of the Sunflower contract.
The commission discussed competing power-supply contract proposals and gave staff direction to prepare a recommendation on the KMEA contract.
Staff reviewed last meeting’s report and summarized that Sunflower offered to pay for an additional consultant study if KMEA and Sunflower agreed on the consultant. Several commissioners said a second consultant would prolong the decision and could muddy the process; others emphasized the need to ensure staff had complete information. City staff and the city manager noted both proposals contain gaps (for example, not every hourly charge is explained in the proposals) and emphasized governance and transparency of how bills are calculated.
Commissioners reached a consensus that they did not want another consultant study and directed staff to present the KMEA contract as the staff-preferred option. The mayor suggested staff ask KMEA whether they could assist with a contract buyout option for the final year of the current Sunflower contract to reduce potential backlash. Staff will confirm with Dustin Bedor, director of public power, whether recent communications from Prairie Land or Sunflower materially change staff recommendations.
