NEW ULM - The New Ulm Public Utility Commission (NUPUC) will receive notice Tuesday that two utility liens have been placed against the Marktplatz Mall for delinquent utilities, and more liens will be filed as needed due to delinquent utility bills.
In the Request for PUC action overview, City Finance Director Reggie Vorwerk wrote that mall owners owed the NUPUC $19,000 in delinquent utility bills from 2011 through April 2012, according to a bill sent out May 18.
"As you can see, amounts are racking up very quickly...$20,000 is quite large for the PUC to lose," read the request. "We have attempted to work something out with the (mall) owners including offering a payment agreement for 2011 arrearages. Mall owners want to stretch payments out to a very lengthy period past when they can again enter bankruptcy."
The request added that the City Finance and Attorney's Offices have been working with mall owners the past few months. Issues included a bankruptcy filed in December 2011, many letters and phone calls. The bankruptcy was later dismissed, allowing the City of New Ulm to pursue past due utility bills.
The request stated that accepting the mall owners' payment agreement takes on the risk of them declaring bankruptcy before most of the past due bills would be collected.
The PUC will also consider:
A City of New Ulm Water System Comprehensive Plan presentation for current and projected water use patterns through 2035, plus potential water system improvements to continue to provide high-quality service to all customers.
Declaring 83 70-watt, high-pressure, sodium street light fixtures in the electric distribution department and miscellaneous administration department computer equipment as surplus property and authorize disposition pursuant to City Code and Charter requirements.
The sodium street lights were removed from service during annual street construction projects. They will be replaced with more energy efficient fixtures.
Fees and charges schedules effective July 1, 2012. A water service line repair administration fee of $300 would cover NUPU work to arrange, advance payment, and bill for private water line repairs.
The meeting starts at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 22 in the City Hall Council Chambers.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).