City discusses switch to utility commission

CLINTONVILLE – After discussing the possibility of switching the Clintonville Utility Committee to a commission, the Clintonville Common Council took no action at its Aug. 11 meeting on making the change.

Even though the council took no action, the city could make the change in the future. But in the meantime, the city will seek more information about the ramifications of making such a change.

At the meeting, Ald. Jim Supanich, who is in favor of switching from a utility committee to a utility commission, told the council that Clintonville Utilities has is own source of revenue, pays all of its own expenses, and has its own capital plan and budget.

“They’re pretty much governed by the PSC (Public Service Commission) regarding the budget and the ability to build or change rates, so for the most part the utility is pretty much an operation on its own,” Supanich said.

Supanich acknowledged the concerns of how the Clintonville Common Council would be kept informed by a utility commission versus a utility committee. He said that is something that would need to be worked out.

Richard Heinemann, who serves as outside general counsel for Great Lakes Utilities and is an attorney with the Boardman Clark law firm, addressed the council and explained the differences between a utility committee and a utility commission. He said a utility commission would be a separate governing body, but would still be part of the city. The city would still be able to exercise oversight over the commission.

A predetermined number of council members could be part of a utility commission board, Heinemann said.

Jay Bessette, general manager of New London Utilities and a member of the New London Utilities Commission, told the council that having a Utilities Commission in New London has created better communication between the city and utilities.

“I am spending a lot of time with the city administrator, director of public works,” Bessette said. “We’re very involved as a utility together.”

The New London Common Council controls any borrowing of funds by New London Utilities, Bessette said.

Supanich asked Bessette how often he attends New London Common Council meetings.

Bessette said he attends the monthly council meeting and provides a utility report at each meeting he attends.

Council President Greg Rose said commissions do have weaknesses.

“Our ambulance (service is a commission), we are well aware as a commission it’s got its share of problems right now,” Rose said.

The Clintonville Area Waste Services is a commission with local townships, which Rose said is on its “last legs” also has issues.

“We might be in the dark on what’s going on in the utility world if we make this switch,” Rose said.

Supanich said in addition to oversight from the city, oversight of the commission would also be done by the PSC.

“There’s no doubt that the communication situation is a concern,” Supanich said. “…But it’s not like the utility is flying on their own.”

Clintonville Utilities Manager Dave Tichinel said the idea that Clintonville Utilities does not work with the city of Clintonville is false and comes from a previous administration in Clintonville. He added that he has already communicated with new Clintonville City Administrator Craig Moser.

“Whether he’s my boss legally, by paperwork, whether he’s my boss or not, we’re going to have that communication because we have to,” Tichinel said.

Rose told the council that earlier in the day he participated in a League of Municipalities roundtable and brought this matter up to other participants. He said the participants recommended the city leave it as a utility committee. He said those comments came from city administrators.

“It comes down to power and authority,” Rose said.

Rose asked Moser for his opinion on the matter.

Moser responded, “I stepped into a situation where we have a lot of other things that are front and center for the city to deal with, so I have not had the time to do the due diligence, the research that I think is required before we would make this kind of a change. I feel that my job is to do that research and bring that information to council.”

Moser said he is not opposed to the change, but said such a change requires more time, information, and discussion.

Supanich asked Moser how much time he would need to do the research on the matter.

Moser said this type of decision should correspond with the implementation of the city’s budget, so research for the next year, with potential implementation of a utility commission in 2028.

“That’s just my initial reaction,” Moser said.

Rose said he’d like the city to continue to research the possibility of switching to a utility commission and it is too soon to make a final decision.

Supanich agreed there is no reason to rush a decision.

“You need to be fully informed and fully comfortable with this before you do it,” Supanich said.