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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.20.2023.telecommunications minutesTELECOMMUNICATIONS UTILITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Harold E. Getty Council Chambers September 20, 2023 4:00 p.m. 1. Roll Call Members present: Van Fleet, Batemon, Kurtenbach and Young. Ms. Wienands was absent. 2. Approval of Agenda. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young that the Agenda, as amended, by removing Item 5, be approved. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. 3. Approval of Minutes. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Batemon that the minutes of September 6, 2023 Regular Session and September 14, 2023 Special Session, as proposed, be approved. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. 4. Public Hearing: Prefabricated Shelter at 3233 Ansborough Avenue Project, Contract No. 1087. 4.1. Motion to receive and file proof of publication of notice of public hearing. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. This being the time and place for the public hearing, the board chair called for public comments and there were none. 4.2. Motion to close the hearing and receive and file oral and written comments if received. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Batemon. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. 4.3. Resolution confirming approval of specifications, bid documents, form of contract, etc., and authorizing to proceed. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young. Roll call -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. Resolution No. 2023-023. 4.4. Motion to receive, file, and direct the reading of bids. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. Prefabricated Shelter, Contract No. 1087 September 14, 2023 Bid Tab Bidder Bid Security Bid Amount CellSite Solutions Cedar Rapids, IA o 5 /0 Base Bid: $121,500.00 Alt A: No Bid Eric Lage, General Manager, explained that the pad would be a separate bid. 4.5. Resolution approving award of bid to CellSite Solutions, LLC, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa in the amount of $121,500.00, and approving the contract, bonds, and certificate of insurance, in conjunction with the Prefabricated Shelter at 3233 Ansborough Avenue Project, Contract No. 1087, and authorizing the Board Chair and Board Secretary to execute said document. Page 2 Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young. Roll call -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. Resolution No. 2023-024. 5. Resolution approving an Employment Agreement with Eric Lage, General Manager of Telecommunications and authorizing the Board Chair and Board Secretary to execute said document. 6. Motion approving appointment of Erica Christiansen to the position of Customer Service Manager, effective October 16, 2023, subject to the approval of an employment agreement. Moved by Young seconded by Batemon. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. Eric Lage provided an overview of the position and introduced Erica Christiansen to the Board. Erica Christiansen shared her years of experience with the City of Waterloo and People's Community Hospital and said she is very happy to be joining the team. 7. Motion approving appointment of Calli Boeckmann to the position of Accounting Manager, effective October 16, 2023, subject to the approval of an employment agreement. Moved by Young seconded by Batemon. Voice -vote Ayes: Three (Mr. Kurtenbach abstained for personal reasons). Motion carried. Eric Lage provided an overview of the position and introduced Calli Boeckmann to the Board. Calli Boeckmann shared her background and she too is happy to be joining the team. 8. Motion establishing the position of Field Locate and Construction Technician and approving the general form of a job description and compensation package for said position. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. Eric Lage provided an overview of this position and noted that it would ultimately require a separate vehicle assignment by approval from the board. 9. Motion approving payment to the City of Waterloo for the purchase of two 2023 Chevy Silverado trucks from Karl Chevrolet, in the amount of $42,731.70 for each vehicle, and accepting title of said vehicles from City of Waterloo. Moved by Young seconded by Batemon. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. Eric Lage explained the need for the vehicles, noting that one vehicle would be for him and the other for Ian Crowther -Green, OSP/Engineering Supervisor. He further explained that the vehicles were purchased with government pricing. 10. Motion approving a new logo for Waterloo Fiber. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young to table this item to later in the meeting. Voice - vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. 11. General comments from staff, consultants, and board members. Warren Lyon, Magellan Advisors, provided an update on status of construction. Eric Lage provided the board with a dashboard, which shows the progress on various areas of the project that Magellan has been providing in their weekly meetings. He shared that interviews will be held next week for the Sales and Marketing Manager and they will soon begin scheduling interviews for a Head End Network Engineer. He reported that the first deposit of $150,000 was received today. Work continues on the Employee Handbook with Page 3 PDCM and he is also working through the details of incentive pay with Andy, and hopes to have these in front of the board at the next meeting. He stated that he will be meeting with Amperage next week to work on the marketing plan and website. Steve Nadel, Ahlers and Cooney, provided a brief update on the financing of the $2,000,000 Taxable Communication Utility Revenue Capital Loan Notes. He explained that this is for working capital and is for payment of staff wages and marketing and things of that nature. Non-taxable funds for larger capital projects will be financed separately. Chris Wendland, legal counsel, provided an update on the development of an incentive program. 10. Motion approving a new logo for Waterloo Fiber. Moved by Young seconded by Van Fleet to approve a new logo for Waterloo Fiber. Voice - vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried Mr. Van Fleet provided background on the new logo. The board shared their thoughts on the new logo vs. the original. 12. Closed session pursuant to Iowa Code Section 388.9(1) to discuss marketing and pricing strategies or proprietary information if its competitive position would be harmed by public disclosure not required of potential or actual competitors, and if no public purpose would be served by such disclosure. Moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young to adjourn to Closed Session pursuant to Iowa Code Section 388.9(1). Roll call -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. 13. Adjourn. With no further business before the board, it was moved by Kurtenbach seconded by Young that the meeting be adjourned at 5:02 p.m. Voice -vote Ayes: Four. Motion carried. ReCCey FeCcICe Kelley Felchle Board Secretary