Natural Gas Board Minutes

 

The Humboldt Natural Gas Board met in regular session on Thursday, August 4th, 2005.  The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jim Jarding at 7:10 p.m.  Members present were Harvey Shumaker, Kira Schmeichel and Ritchy Griepp.  Lynn Froke was absent.  Jeff McKinney was also present for NorthWestern Energy.

 

The minutes of the June meeting were reviewed.  A motion was made by Griepp and seconded by Schmeichel to approve the minutes.  The motion carried.

 

The financials for June and July were reviewed.  A motion was made by Schmeichel and seconded by Shumaker to approve the financials.  The motion carried.

 

Jeff McKinney was present to discuss the current rates for locking in for the winter.  The current price is $9.50 per dekatherm.  This does not include transportation. Historical data from 1997 thru 2005 was reviewed. Jeff indicated the market has increased substantially in the past week due to issues in Saudi Arabia and the weather.  He also indicated that now is not a good time to lock in.  After discussion a motion was made by Griepp and seconded by Schmeichel to table locking in for the winter until the next meeting.  The motion carried.

 

The stick on Calendars were reviewed on the internet.  A motion was made by Schmeichel and seconded by Griepp to order 300 stick on calendar from Goebel Printing in Sioux Falls with the out line of a phone on a red back round and include the finance office, utility manager and one call phone numbers.  The motion carried.

 

New service hook ups were discussed.  When the Natural Gas utility was established it was agreed upon that the Gas Utility would contribute $430.00 toward the installation of new services.  This did not include residents who were present for the initial and secondary hookups and declined the hookup.  The finance officer questioned how to handle the situation if the property is sold and the new person wants to hookup.  Jim suggested contacting other gas companies to see how they handle new hookups.  A motion was made by Schmeichel and seconded by Griepp to table the new service hook up issue until the September 8th, 2005 meeting.  The motion carried.  The finance officer will contact other gas utilities regarding new services.

 

The MMUA meeting on August 24th, 2005 at Missouri River Energy was discussed.  The finance officer and Ritchy Griepp will attend the meeting. 

 

With no further business, a motion was made by Shumaker and seconded by Schmeichel to adjourn the meeting at 7:40 p.m.  The motion carried.

 

ATTEST:         KRISTIE ELLIS

                        FINANCE OFFICER