NEW ULM — The New Ulm Public Utilities Commission tabled action on several properties within the city not connected to the city’s sewer system.

In 2010, the PUC Commission planned to notify all property owners presently hooked to an individual sewage treatment system that they must hook up to the city sewer if the are within 200 feet of an existing sewer line.

All non-conforming properties were required to connect to the city sewer within 60 days of receiving the notice. Nine years later, PUC cannot confirm if all customers affected by this regulation were notified.

Utility Director Kris Manderfeld said some of the property owners were notified in 2010, but no documentation exists that all were notified. In a desire to be fair, the PUC is looking to once again notify all customers of the regulation. The new notification would give an additional five-year extension to comply with the regulation. It is believed a 60-day compliance notification would impose too great a hardship or a residence.

The property owner is required to hire an outside contractor to complete the connection. The Utility Department does not perform the connection.

Commission President Linda Heine felt it was generous to let the compliance go for nine years and then add five years. She asked if there were penalties for non-compliance.

Wastewater Supervisor Dan O’Connor said there was no penalty for it.

The reason for the regulation was for wellhead protection. By taking these properties off septic tanks it prevents wastewater from discharging to wellheads. It is a public health and environmental concern.

Commissioner Shannon Hillesheim asked if there was a program for these customers to pay off over time in case of hardships.

Commission William Swanson suggested a similar program to sidewalk assessments. The necessary work is done on the property and the property owner pays off the experience on taxes over a set period. However, the sewer connection is not done by the city. The owner must hire a contractor for the service. It is unknown what a plumber will charge for the service.

Manderfeld said a water service loan program does exist for customers needing to repair water service. The cost is assessed to the customers, but this program does not exist for sewer connections.

The commission decided to table the issue until next month to work out the details.

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Staff was authorized to advertise for and hire an Electric Project Engineer for the New Ulm Public Utilities. Utilities Director Kris Manderfeld said with larger electrical projects on the horizon it would be advantageous to have electrical engineering experience. The range of pay would be $33.13 to $40.30 per hour. Manderfeld said this could reduce some consulting fees on electrical projects.

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The 2020 PUC Schedule of fees was approved. There were only four changes made from 2019. Gas and Electric disconnect meter increased from $20 to $25.

The water infrastructure fee was raised from $4.75 to $5.25. The sewer infrastructure fee also went from $4.75 to $5.25.

The language and associated fees changed for solar generation installation and applications. A resident asking for a distribution generation alternative, typically solar generation, requires a new meter for the residents. A $500 fee covers the administration fee for this service.

Commissioner Swanson was concerned this $500 fee was hindering people who wished to switch to a solar panel option.

Energy Service Representative Derek Nelson said it is a standard fee for this service and other cooperatives charge and would no likely deter residents who want solar power from pursuing it.

“The people who are going to be installing solar can afford to put solar up,” he said.

Manderfeld, they wanted to be sure people choosing to install solar that they are paying for it and other ratepayers on the system are not subsidizing it.

A mandated increase from the Minnesota Legislature was also approved. The mandate requires the PUC to increase the Service Connection Fee on the utility bills from $6.36 per year to $9.72 a year. This fee is used to cover inspections to ensure Minnesotans have clean drinking water.

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The commission approved a bid from Energy Insight Inc. for customer steam audits. The commission received two bids and selected Energy Insight Inc. for the audit.

Energy Insight was quoted at $45 per trap with a $600 minimum per location audited, which is estimated at $6,000. The competing bid from Southern High-Pressure Piping was quoted at $3,120.

Staff recommending selecting Energy Insight Inc. despite the higher cost. Nelson said the audit will be going to customers as well as commissioners and Energy Insight met the most objectives of the audit.

Energy Insight will provide customers with the condition of their steam traps and which traps are non-functioning, estimated energy savings if the repairs are made, estimated repair costs and payback on investment. The lower-cost bid supplied less information in the bid and had no employee resume information.

This extra cost would be paid by the PUC and not the customers. The commission unanimously accepted the Energy Insight bid.