Summer Conference

This event is intended for municipal utility leaders, city leaders, commissioners, council members, mayors, affiliate members, and associate members.

Monday, August 19      8:30 am to 11:30 am

Select from two topics. Separate registration is required.

OPTION 1:
Telling Your Public Power Story: Using Data and Unique Value-adds to Communicate and Enhance how Stakeholders View Your Utility
Dave Berg, Dave Berg Consulting
Public Power utilities have many unique attributes that benefit their customers and communities. During this session, we will focus on data-based measures of your utility's performance as well as less quantifiable but equally important advantages of a municipally owned utility. We will also address ideas for communicating these qualities to your stakeholders. This will be an interactive session including robust attendee participation.

This session will be held at the Holiday Inn.

OPTION 2:
Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise: Is your organization prepared for the worst?
Coordinated by Mike Willetts, MMUA and joined by a team of planning experts from DOC, CISA, and MNIT

MMUA is proud to collaborate with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Reliability and Security, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, MN Information Technology Services, and the Minnesota Department of Homeland Security to offer this comprehensive cybersecurity tabletop exercise.

Cyberattacks on cities and utilities across the country have resulted in significant financial losses, and the damage they can cause to an organization’s reputation can take an emotional toll.

Participating in this interactive activity will prepare you to better understand cyberattacks to make informed decisions and take proactive measures that can help protect your city/utility services and your customers’ personal information.

Exercise objectives:

• Responding to a significant cyber incident; are we ready?
• Discuss the importance of coordinated information sharing during a significant cyber incident
• Cyber incident response plan
• Addressing public affairs
• Explore processes for additional incident response resources once organizational resources are exhausted

NOTE: This session will be held at the Hjemkomst Center, 202 1st Ave N, Moorhead

9:00 am Roundtable Discussions (select two)
1. Pay Equity, Ethan Rundquist, Flaherty & Hood
2. HR Trends in 2024, Shelly Dau, MMUA
3. Showcasing Municipal Utility Careers for the Next Generation, Patty Hanson, Rochester Public Utilities
4. Infrastructure Investments: Managing Reliability and Affordability in a Capital Constrained World, Laurie Dunham, Gridliance/NextEra Transmission
5. Cybersecurity for Municipal Utilities, Chris Watkins, Energy Security Advisor, Minnesota Department of Commerce
6. Complying with the Davis Bacon Act, Kevin Pranis, LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota
7. Grant Issues/Updates for Municipal Utilities, Karleen Kos and Blaine Chaulklin, MMUA
8. Cold Weather Rule, Bill Black, MMUA
9. Electric Systems Resiliency, Christian Fenstermacher, Owatonna Public Utilities
10. Gas Systems Resiliency, Jeremy Carter, Hutchinson Utilities
11. Water and Wastewater Systems Resiliency, Kris Manderfeld, New Ulm Public Utilities
12. Utility Administration/Operations Resiliency, Harold Langowski, Ely Utilities Commission
13. Microgrids: Out with the New and In with the Old, Alexander Schmidt, HDR
14. Getting Ready for Renewables, Kyle Haemig, GDS Associates
15. Franchise Fees, Aimee Gourlay, League of Minnesota Cities
16. Changes Reviewed within the One Call Minnesota Statute 216D, Dennis Danielson, MMUA Gas Circuit Rider

8:00 am  Business meeting and MMUA update

9:00 am  Learning tracks
Electric: The Importance of Transmission Planning—MISO Long Range Planning, Terry Wolf, Missouri River Energy Services

The way we power our communities is shifting from fossil fuels to more renewables. Because the energy resources we use to serve our customers and members are changing, the regional power grid we use to deliver that energy needs to change too. To ensure we maintain a reliable, resilient, and flexible grid, Minnesota is investing in new transmission infrastructure to enhance its stability for the long term.

You will learn the latest news regarding transmission lines and substations planned for the 345 KV Big Stone/Alexandria line and the Northland Reliability Project by Minnesota Power and Great River Energy--an approximately 180-mile, double-circuit 345-kV transmission line from northern Minnesota to central Minnesota near Becker that will support grid reliability and resilience.

Water and Wastewater: Addressing Legionella in Grand Rapids: Case Study and Lessons Learned, Julie Kennedy, Grand Rapids Public Utilities and Chad Seidel, Corona Environmental Consulting

In 2023, Legionnaire’s disease—a severe form of pneumonia—struck members of the Grand Rapids community. The illnesses were clustered in one part of town and the city’s water supply was suspected. Mindful that friends and neighbors were at risk, the utility faced pressure on its operations, regulatory agencies trying to help, advice from consultants, daily public relations challenges, and mounting expenses. Join Grand Rapids on its journey through the fears and frustrations of dealing with an unfolding crisis and find out what they learned so you can apply it at home. In this session attendees will:

• Learn how the GRPU water system is structured
• Gain context for understanding GRPU’s Legionella crisis through a review of the MDH investigation
• Understand how results from the Legionella and related sampling can complicate problem-solving
• Identify lessons learned from GRPU’s implementation of disinfection tactics during a public health outbreak
• Consider how GRPU’s insights for customer communication and suggestions for other water utilities can be adapted to their community’s water system

Leadership: The Business Case for Utility-focused Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts in Municipal Utilities, Roger Warehime, Owatonna Public Utilities, and Whitney Harvey, Minnesota Chamber Foundation
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is getting a lot of attention these days—but what is it really all about? What relevance does it have for smaller towns and municipal utilities? Join Roger Warehime and Whitney Harvey as they explore the moral, economic, and business rationales for approaching your work through the DEI lens. The impact it can have on morale, retention, and financial performance may surprise you.

Governance: More Than Showing Up—How to Represent your Utility, Brian Morgan, Rochester Public Utilities Commissioner, and Dan Nath, City of Luverne Council Member
Being a board/commission member requires knowledge, relationships, and influence to be effective.  Brian Morgan and Dan Nath will cover common challenges facing municipal utilities from the perspective of a commission member, and how to face those challenges head on.  Building effective working relationships with staff and city council, understanding the technical, financial, and enterprise risks, and embracing the value of public power are just a few of the topics to be covered. Feel free to bring questions or challenges you’re facing to the session for discussion.

10:00 am  Learning tracks
Electric: Working Together: Aggregating Municipal Solar Projects for Federal Funding, Sam Wolfe, SolAmerica Energy

Water and Wastewater: Update on Minnesota's PFAS Blueprint for Wastewater, Stephanie Lyons, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Municipal Wastewater PFAS Coordinator

Leadership: Follow the Leader Worth Following, Jon Colby, Jon Colby Speaks
You're not a leader unless people are willing to follow you ... and every good leader has learned how to follow others. Sometimes that is a mentor or coach; often it is members of the team you lead who are subject matter experts. Learn how to make the most of everyone's skills without getting hung up on the wrong things. 

Governance: Legal Issues in Utility Crisis Communications: Calming your Lawyer as you Communicate to your Ratepayers, Mark Weaver, Communications Counsel
Here's a question for municipal utilities -- when a comment appears on one of your social media feeds that’s contrary to your utility’s values or ignites controversy with the public, can you delete that comment? If you get this question wrong, your utility -- and you personally -- might be sued in federal court for a civil rights violation.

Knowing how the First Amendment applies to your social media feeds, meetings, and visitors to your campus can protect you from a lawsuit, legal fees, and damages. Many utility personnel are confused about legal issues surrounding the comments and behaviors of ratepayers, and many attorneys don’t  keep up with the latest First Amendment cases in this area. This training provides practical tips from a social media expert who is also an experienced First Amendment attorney.

11:00 am  Closing keynote
"Yes, and ....." Improving Communication and Ratepayer Relationships Through Improv, Jon Colby, Jon Colby Speaks
The basic rules of improv deal with finding agreement, listening, leading by empowering others, making confident choices, and celebrating those choices. These same attributes can improve productivity, rate payer relations and networking skills, build stronger leaders and teams, boost creativity, and encourage employees and other stakeholders to feel more valued. This interactive keynote will give participants an entertaining opportunity to grow in a safe environment and walk away with valuable skills that can be put to use immediately.

12:00 pm  Conference concludes

Holiday Inn Fargo
3803 13th Ave S
Fargo, ND 58103
Phone: 701-282-2700

Reservations can be made online using our special link. Enter your arrival and departure dates and hit search to see room options. MMUA's room block rate is $134 per night. We suggest you make your reservations as soon as possible as availability cannot be guaranteed.

Cut-off date: July 26, 2024
Check-in: 3:00 pm
Check-out: 11:00 am

If your spouse or guest would like to attend the social events held during the Summer Conference, advanced ticket purchase is required. Select from the welcome reception, awards luncheon, or the trade show. Purchase all three for a discounted rate over individual tickets.

MMUA's golf tournament will be played on The Meadows Golf Course in Moorhead. Check-in will begin at noon with a shotgun start at 1:00 pm. Preregistration is required. Walk-ons will not be allowed. Prizes awarded to registered players only. At registration, enter the names of your teammates who will be registering on their own. Individuals without a team will be assigned to one. Location: 401 34th St S, Moorhead.

The trail hike proved to be a popular option last year so we're doing it again. Join Mike Willetts for a hike at Fargo Mickelson/Tricom bike path. Meet at the trailhead for a 1:00 pm departure. Location: 100 2nd St S, Fargo.

The trade show will be held on Tuesday, August 20, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Your table purchase will include one attendee. Additional tickets can be purchased if you will have more than one attendee. Setup begins at 2:00 pm. Tables will be preassigned—no early arrivals allowed. Use door 11 or 12 for best entry to the Sterling/Crowne ballroom. Use the blue "Register Now" button for trade show items available for purchase. 

MMUA has several opportunities to sponsor events such as a speaker, a refreshment break, the trade show reception, advertise in the program, or the golf tournament. Increase your exposure among MMUA regular members and support the organization and municipal utilities. See our product page for options to purchase.

Annual Sponsors—please contact Rita Kelly to select items you wish to use for your sponsor credits.

Cancellations are subject to a $50 cancellation fee per person if received by 5:00 pm on August 5, 2024. Refunds issued to a credit card will be subject to a 3% fee. No refunds issued after August 5.

By registering for this event I/we authorize Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) to photograph me at this event and use such photographs in MMUA marketing materials (both electronic and print). I/we understand that I/we will not be paid for giving this consent.