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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.02.2023 telecommunications minutesTELECOMMUNICATIONS UTILITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Harold E. Getty Council Chambers August 2, 2023 4:00 p.m. Members present: Van Fleet, Young, Batemon, and Wienands. Council Liaison Rob Nichols. Absent: Kurtenbach. Approval of Agenda. Moved by Young seconded by Wienands that the Agenda, as presented, be approved. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. Approval of Minutes. Moved by Young seconded by Van Fleet that the minutes of July 19, 2023, as proposed, be approved. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. Motion terminating Marketing Engagement Agreement with Full Scale Marketing. Moved by Young seconded by Wienands. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. Mr. Van Fleet provided an overview of the decision to terminate the agreement. He explained that it was always the intention to eventually go forward with a local marketing agency. The initial engagement with Full Scale Marketing was to do a temporary website, a door hanger and a couple of other things. He commented that the quality of the deliverables did not meet the vision we have for the service we will be providing. He explained that he would like to terminate the agreement effective immediately and move forward with our local agency, Amperage Marketing. Amperage has been involved from the beginning with the survey and some of the early marketing materials, the bond referendum of last fall, etc. Ms. Wienands commented that she thinks Amperage will be great. Motion approving Marketing Services Agreement with Amperage Marketing. Moved by Wienands seconded by Bateman. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. Eric Lage, General Manager, provided an overview of the agreement. Motion creating Accounting Manager, Sales and Marketing Manager, Network Engineer, Customer Support Manager, Technical Support Manager, NOC Technician, Technical Service Representative Level 1, and Technical Service Representative Level 2 positions within Waterloo Fiber Internet. Moved by Van Fleet seconded by Young. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. Eric Lage, General Manager, provided an overview of the need for the positions. He shared that these positions are based on Magellan Advisor's staffing plan and that these hires will take us into quarter one of 2024. He explained there will be additional staff needed further into 2024. Tonight is looking for the board's approval to create the positions and if anyone has feedback on the job descriptions, he has notes available. Kelley Felche, Board Secretary, questioned if the job descriptions that were emailed out included salary ranges. Eric Lage commented they were not included. He explained that Magellan budgeted a salary for each position but the incentive pay portion throws a bit of a wrench into it. He proposed that 50 percent of the incentive pay be taken away from the budgeted salary which brings it to the low end of the budgeted salary, with the top end being the full budgeted salary provided. Page 2 Mr. Van Fleet commented that the numbers have not yet been solidified by Aaron Hilligas So the model would show the range of $47,500 - $52,500 and the compensation piece of this might be an extra $5,000. Kelley Felchle questioned if there was a salary line established in the budget. Eric Lage commented there was not. General update from consultants, city staff, and board member comments. Eric Lage explained that he has assembled a thirty to ninety day plan of action. He shared that he will post the positions as soon as possible and have early October start dates for the staff members. A full marketing plan will be assembled in eight weeks and groundbreaking will be on August 9th at 4:00 p.m. at Prairie Grove Park, 4th Street and Shaulis Road. Construction will begin late August with the hope of getting the first customer up by November 1. He provided an overview and status update of ongoing projects, including billing, policies, and agreements with Public Works. Maggie Burger, Speer Financial, explained that they are looking to send participant packets to the banks this week. This is for the utility revenue capital loan note. This will be taxable which means you will be able to invest those proceeds. She stated that they will be proposing the banks give a rate for draw down loan and a loan where we receive all of the funds at one time. They are hoping to have bid proposals back at 1:00 p.m. on August 24th. A meeting has been scheduled for August 30th where it is hoped the bid would be awarded, with authorizing and issuance at the September 6th meeting. Access to funds should be by about September 20th. She shared that they anticipate doing these as a short term or "interim anticipation note" and explained the meaning and benefit of that. A bank account will need to be established in August so that monies can be wired into the bank on the day of closing. Tara Thomas-Gettman, Director of Strategic Communication for Waterloo, shared that this is a huge win for Waterloo. This project is getting a lot of great buzz on social media and it should grow from there. Chris Wendland, legal counsel, reviewed agreements with city for providing office space and vehicle maintenance. He shared that he has also begun to work on trademarking for the utility name and logo. Kelley Felchle, Board Secretary shared that she is working to help finalize the employment agreement and policies and is working with PDCM for insurance, an OSHA safety manual and employee handbook. Steve Nadel, Ahlers and Cooney, explained the steps his office will take once the bid packets have been received from the banks. He stated that the goal is to have documents available to the board about a week ahead of the award meeting. Andy Van Fleet questioned who the auditors would be. Maggie Burger commented that she believes Bridgett Wood has acquired an auditor for the utility for a two or three year term. Warren Lyon, Magellan Advisors, commented that he is looking forward to the next phase of the project as well as the groundbreaking. Page 3 Mr. Van Fleet commented on the lack of communication from ITG, having been awarded a $77 million dollar contract, and suggested someone from Magellan reach out and request representation at our board meetings. With no further business before the board, it was moved by Van Fleet seconded by Young that the meeting be adjourned at 4:37 p.m. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. ?(etTey rFefhCe Kelley Felchle Board Secretary