WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.000 - Okay, it's 9.09 and now we do have a quorum. 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:11.060 So I'll call to order the public utilities board meeting 00:00:11.060 --> 00:00:15.240 for the city of Denton on Monday, September 11th, 2023. 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:17.520 The first item is presentations from the public 00:00:17.520 --> 00:00:19.280 and no one has registered to comment. 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:22.640 So we'll move past that. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:24.880 The next item is consent agenda. 00:00:24.880 --> 00:00:28.720 Does any board member wish to pull on item A through E? 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:33.080 - I'll save you guys. 00:00:33.080 --> 00:00:36.720 I'd like to drill some stuff, but I'm not going to. 00:00:36.720 --> 00:00:38.040 (laughing) 00:00:38.040 --> 00:00:39.000 - So you're not gonna pull on it? 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:39.960 - No, I'm not gonna pull on it. 00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:41.920 - All right, so do we have a motion 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:44.940 to approve the consent agenda items A through E? 00:00:44.940 --> 00:00:46.960 - So moved. 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:50.000 - Mr. A, okay, and Barbara second. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:51.440 All in favor say aye. 00:00:51.440 --> 00:00:52.280 - Aye. - Aye. 00:00:52.280 --> 00:00:55.640 - All right, next item is approval 00:00:55.640 --> 00:00:59.560 of the August 28th, 2023 minutes. 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:01.500 Were there any changes or corrections? 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:03.880 - See you guys. 00:01:03.880 --> 00:01:05.040 - See you guys. 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:06.340 - You owe me one, okay? 00:01:06.340 --> 00:01:08.480 (laughing) 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:12.020 - Seeing none, do we have a motion to approve the minutes? 00:01:12.020 --> 00:01:16.400 - So moved. 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:17.240 - And a second? 00:01:17.240 --> 00:01:18.060 - Second. 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:18.900 - All in favor say aye. 00:01:18.900 --> 00:01:20.560 - Aye. - Aye. 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:21.900 - Management reports. 00:01:21.900 --> 00:01:26.740 - Madam Chair, members of PB, we have three memos 00:01:26.740 --> 00:01:30.320 that we've provided to the board follow-ups 00:01:30.320 --> 00:01:31.440 to questions that we had. 00:01:31.440 --> 00:01:35.920 One was related to the Gibbons Creek power station. 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:40.920 The other one was information on solar for commercial. 00:01:40.920 --> 00:01:44.120 And then the last one was some telecom issues 00:01:44.120 --> 00:01:45.120 that we've tried to address. 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:47.920 So if anyone has any questions on any of those three, 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:50.260 happy to try to respond. 00:01:50.260 --> 00:01:54.320 Mr. Ryback. 00:01:54.320 --> 00:01:58.000 - I had a question on the large rooftop PPA memo. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:01:58.840 - Yes, sir. 00:01:58.840 --> 00:02:03.000 - It's more of a question of how the system operates 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:05.300 and how DME interacts with it. 00:02:05.300 --> 00:02:07.160 I thought you guys brought up a really good point 00:02:07.160 --> 00:02:10.840 about what happens when this building is, you know, 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:15.080 abandoned or sold or the stops being occupied 00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:16.480 for some period of time. 00:02:16.480 --> 00:02:18.520 The solar is still there, it's still working, 00:02:18.520 --> 00:02:20.280 it's still feeding into the system. 00:02:20.280 --> 00:02:25.280 Is there any way that DME has to control that flow of power 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:29.960 or regulate it or does the system have to be decommissioned 00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:31.200 for that to stop happening? 00:02:31.200 --> 00:02:32.200 How does that work? 00:02:32.200 --> 00:02:34.680 - Yeah, so generally speaking, 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:39.580 if the business goes out of business and it shuts down, 00:02:39.580 --> 00:02:42.320 all the utilities are cut off and we remove the meter. 00:02:42.320 --> 00:02:44.200 So that disables the system. 00:02:44.200 --> 00:02:46.260 Again, just like with residential, 00:02:46.260 --> 00:02:48.320 it is a net metering process. 00:02:48.320 --> 00:02:50.760 So we don't have two separate meters. 00:02:50.760 --> 00:02:53.800 So the system doesn't maintain. 00:02:53.800 --> 00:02:58.800 I think what Bill really intended was if there's a holiday 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:02.500 or there's some type of shutdown in the business, 00:03:02.500 --> 00:03:04.020 the business is not out of business, 00:03:04.020 --> 00:03:05.940 they've just shut down for a few hours, 00:03:05.940 --> 00:03:08.720 the system continues to produce electricity. 00:03:08.720 --> 00:03:10.080 And in that situation, 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:12.280 we could end up with a net positive, right? 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:15.160 So we could end up with more power coming 00:03:15.160 --> 00:03:18.680 into our distribution system versus it being used up 00:03:18.680 --> 00:03:19.520 by the business. 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:21.360 I think that's what he intended to mean. 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:26.360 Not that the system remains after the business is closed. 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:28.920 - Okay, but even under those circumstances, 00:03:28.920 --> 00:03:33.920 whether it closed or shut down, the solar is active, right? 00:03:33.920 --> 00:03:36.860 It's still producing DC power. 00:03:36.860 --> 00:03:38.160 So what happens to that? 00:03:38.160 --> 00:03:40.920 - Yeah, I would imagine that the system is disabled 00:03:40.920 --> 00:03:44.000 at that point if the building is completely vacated 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:45.760 and there's no tenant there. 00:03:45.760 --> 00:03:48.240 But again, the fact that we removed the meter, 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:50.480 there won't be anything flowing back to us. 00:03:50.480 --> 00:03:52.740 - Okay, so it's no longer a risk for DME. 00:03:52.740 --> 00:03:53.580 - That's correct. 00:03:53.580 --> 00:03:55.120 - 'Cause that thought occurred to me reading your report 00:03:55.120 --> 00:03:57.840 and I was like, well, what happens to that power 00:03:57.840 --> 00:03:59.640 because the DC doesn't turn itself off. 00:03:59.640 --> 00:04:02.240 - Yeah, I would imagine that the business, 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:04.040 whoever vacated that property 00:04:04.040 --> 00:04:05.840 should have disconnected the system as well, 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:08.000 disabled the system so that it's not producing 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:09.040 any more power. 00:04:09.040 --> 00:04:09.880 - Okay, thank you. 00:04:09.880 --> 00:04:10.880 - Yes, sir. 00:04:10.880 --> 00:04:14.760 - So back up, the Gibbons Creek item, 00:04:14.760 --> 00:04:16.800 did anybody have any questions about that at all? 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:17.640 I'm sorry. 00:04:17.640 --> 00:04:22.320 - The question that came from Ms. Russell 00:04:22.320 --> 00:04:25.720 and she just wanted an update on where things were. 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:27.640 We tried to put in some pictures 00:04:27.640 --> 00:04:30.620 to kind of show the story of where things are. 00:04:30.620 --> 00:04:32.160 I think generally speaking, 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:35.920 and Billy, you can certainly say more if you need to, 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:38.640 but things are progressing well. 00:04:38.640 --> 00:04:40.500 Everything's been demolished. 00:04:40.500 --> 00:04:42.300 There's just some minor cleanup here and there. 00:04:42.300 --> 00:04:44.760 There's a lot of monitoring that needs to happen 00:04:44.760 --> 00:04:48.440 from here on out for probably the next 20 or 30 years. 00:04:48.440 --> 00:04:52.540 All that rests on G-Serg who purchased the property. 00:04:52.540 --> 00:04:55.600 - Most of the property, 00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:57.160 there's still property out there for sale. 00:04:57.160 --> 00:04:59.800 I don't know if we can discuss that in open session or not. 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:00.640 Is that right? 00:05:00.640 --> 00:05:02.600 - Well, the property that you're talking about 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:04.200 is related to the mine. 00:05:04.200 --> 00:05:06.680 And the question here was specific to the generation only. 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:07.520 - Okay. 00:05:07.520 --> 00:05:08.340 - Yeah. 00:05:08.340 --> 00:05:11.200 - And that's why I said in the memo, I did state that 00:05:11.200 --> 00:05:14.520 that any mine property or transmission assets 00:05:14.520 --> 00:05:16.120 were not part of the memo. 00:05:16.120 --> 00:05:19.600 We just concentrated just on the generation component. 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:21.240 - Okay, I just wanna make sure that everybody knew 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:22.680 that there was an issue out there. 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:24.520 - About 10,000 acres. 00:05:24.520 --> 00:05:25.640 - 730? 00:05:25.640 --> 00:05:26.480 - Yeah. 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:27.300 - 730. 00:05:27.300 --> 00:05:28.140 - Is that right? 00:05:28.140 --> 00:05:28.980 - Yeah, a majority of the mine property 00:05:28.980 --> 00:05:30.480 has also been sold already. 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:32.800 - Yeah, but it's just, it's the ugly property. 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:34.080 It's not the pretty property. 00:05:34.080 --> 00:05:36.040 Pretty property sold really quick. 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:37.760 (laughing) 00:05:37.760 --> 00:05:39.080 - I was just wondering, there's still, 00:05:39.080 --> 00:05:42.460 if I understood the memo correctly, there's still a bond 00:05:42.460 --> 00:05:45.040 which the DME still has participation in. 00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:46.920 So how does that work? 00:05:46.920 --> 00:05:49.520 And once the bond is depleted and used, 00:05:49.520 --> 00:05:51.800 is there any further obligation from the utility? 00:05:51.800 --> 00:05:55.400 - So the bond isn't for DME, it's for TMPA, 00:05:55.400 --> 00:05:57.520 which DME is a member, 21%. 00:05:57.520 --> 00:05:59.480 - So just our portion therefore. 00:05:59.480 --> 00:06:04.480 - So as they do the remediation work, 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:08.080 based on where they are, there is a release of that bond. 00:06:08.080 --> 00:06:11.160 And so it's a recognition that the risk 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:14.600 that was protected on the bond has now been relieved. 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:17.040 And so there's a sign-off to reduce that. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:21.040 At some point, all of it will be gone, 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:23.040 but that's likely gonna take some time. 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:26.720 - But there's no continuing liability 00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:30.000 for the utility in the city after the bond is depleted. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:31.360 - Our portion of it, yes. 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:33.480 - Yeah, so there is, and that's what I'm saying. 00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:35.680 So it won't all be released. 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:38.200 There's a 20 or 30 year worth of monitoring 00:06:38.200 --> 00:06:42.960 that has to happen that obviously GSERG is required 00:06:42.960 --> 00:06:46.120 to do that, but TMPA will continue to monitor 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:47.800 to protect our best interest. 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:48.640 - Okay, thank you. 00:06:48.640 --> 00:06:51.960 - It's, we've got a good, we have a good staff over there. 00:06:51.960 --> 00:06:54.360 We've got a good legal representation. 00:06:54.360 --> 00:06:56.800 We got Tony, who is on top of things, 00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:00.040 and he and his cohorts with the other cities. 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:03.720 They're on it, they're doing well, Lee. 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:06.320 So I feel very comfortable. 00:07:06.320 --> 00:07:11.120 And I want to hand over my presidency this week 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:13.160 to Tom Jeffries out of Garland. 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:17.160 And Tom is very capable and been around for 30 years 00:07:17.160 --> 00:07:19.360 and he's good dude. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:23.600 When I say good dude, usually that's my description 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:27.640 of a person of any type, woman or man. 00:07:29.520 --> 00:07:32.720 - So those were the three memos that we had for you. 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:34.960 And now going on to the new business action matrix, 00:07:34.960 --> 00:07:37.920 the items that we had outstanding. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:41.080 I think we've all, we have answered all of those already. 00:07:41.080 --> 00:07:41.920 Yes ma'am. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:46.480 - Could we go back to, I wanted to ask about the three 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:48.040 telecom use of right of way. 00:07:48.040 --> 00:07:48.880 - Yes ma'am. 00:07:48.880 --> 00:07:54.800 - How do you know, how do you know if wires are wrapped 00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:58.840 around a branch that's fallen and you call the city 00:07:58.840 --> 00:08:00.920 and they say, it's not us. 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:02.720 How do you know who to call? 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:09.000 - So generally we get notified at DME more often than not. 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:14.640 And so we roll a truck out and so our staff go out there 00:08:14.640 --> 00:08:17.160 and there's identification information on the cables 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:20.800 themselves that we're able to identify who the owner 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:22.200 of that cable is. 00:08:22.200 --> 00:08:25.840 And then our staff notify the company that there's an issue 00:08:25.840 --> 00:08:27.600 for them to come out. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:32.600 If it's a simple issue that our staff can handle safely, 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:37.240 we generally will do that purely because at the end of the 00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:39.280 day, they're attached to our cable. 00:08:39.280 --> 00:08:41.680 There are customers, it's our community. 00:08:41.680 --> 00:08:44.240 And so we do a lot of that work. 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:48.640 Unfortunately, that's created some bad behavior with some 00:08:48.640 --> 00:08:50.880 companies out there and that they expect that, right? 00:08:50.880 --> 00:08:53.600 And so that's something that we're working towards 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:56.560 is this enforcement that Jerry kind of mentioned 00:08:56.560 --> 00:09:00.560 and also looking at some of our ordinances so that when we 00:09:00.560 --> 00:09:03.720 expend those resources on behalf of someone else, 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:07.040 that we can turn around and bill them for that as well, 00:09:07.040 --> 00:09:08.520 if they're not gonna do it themselves. 00:09:08.520 --> 00:09:11.960 And so while they should be self policing, 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:13.320 we know that that's not happening. 00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:15.880 And so we're having to do that on their behalf. 00:09:15.880 --> 00:09:20.680 - So as a, I mean, this summer we've had so many live 00:09:20.680 --> 00:09:24.920 branches just fall unusual. 00:09:24.920 --> 00:09:29.280 And if we call and the city will take care of that, 00:09:29.280 --> 00:09:32.160 we don't have to hunt down the utility. 00:09:32.160 --> 00:09:33.000 - No, ma'am. 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:38.000 If they contact our dispatch center at 940-349-7000, 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:40.480 we generally will take care of all that. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:41.520 - Okay, all right. 00:09:41.520 --> 00:09:42.360 Thank you very much. 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:43.200 - Yes, ma'am. 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:48.800 The final item is just a feature agenda matrix. 00:09:48.800 --> 00:09:50.280 The one item that's down here, 00:09:50.280 --> 00:09:51.760 obviously there'll still be other items, 00:09:51.760 --> 00:09:55.160 but is the wastewater master plan 00:09:55.160 --> 00:09:58.160 that will be coming to you on October 9th. 00:09:58.160 --> 00:10:00.640 I don't believe that that's shifted out. 00:10:00.640 --> 00:10:03.680 I know that there was some movement on the council agenda, 00:10:03.680 --> 00:10:06.240 but I'll verify that, Kim, just to make sure. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:08.360 But it looks like October 9th is when they will be coming 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:11.480 back to you with the wastewater master plan. 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:13.080 So with that, that concludes my item, 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:14.640 but happy to answer any questions that you may have. 00:10:14.640 --> 00:10:15.840 - Why is Brian still here? 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:18.720 - Brian Borner. 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:20.400 - Sitting in your company listening to this. 00:10:20.400 --> 00:10:22.040 (all laughing) 00:10:22.040 --> 00:10:22.880 - Good answer. 00:10:22.880 --> 00:10:27.040 - I kept looking for solid waste. 00:10:27.040 --> 00:10:28.760 (all laughing) 00:10:28.760 --> 00:10:30.760 Did he get a promotion and he's over everything now 00:10:30.760 --> 00:10:31.600 or something? 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:34.680 He'd be good at it for sure. 00:10:34.680 --> 00:10:38.280 - All right, then that leads to concluding items. 00:10:38.280 --> 00:10:40.400 Does any board member wish to have something put 00:10:40.400 --> 00:10:43.920 on the agenda or have anything to say to the public? 00:10:43.920 --> 00:10:47.760 - I'd like to move from, we shut this thing down. 00:10:47.760 --> 00:10:49.560 - Okay, 920. 00:10:49.560 --> 00:10:50.400 - Where'd you turn? 00:10:50.400 --> 00:10:51.240 - Pretty good.