FiberNet Advisory Board Minutes 06-14-2011MINUTES
FIBERNET MONTICELLO ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, June 14, 2011— 6 p.m.
FiberNet Customer Service Office
Voting: Clint Herbst, Glen Posusta, Jon Morphew, Dennis Sullivan
Non-voting: Jeff O'Neill, Jerry Olson (HBC)
Absent: Wayne Mayer (arrived later in meeting)
Guests: Ben Ranft, finalist for General Manager; Michele Hertwig, marketing consultant
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Herbst at 6:01 p.m.
2. Additions to Agenda
• None
3. Consideration of Approval of Meeting Minutes — May 10, 2011
DENNIS SULLIVAN MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES FROM THE MAY 10,
2011 BOARD MEETING. GLEN POSUSTA SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION
CARRIED 4-0. (Wayne Mayer not present at this time.)
4. Introduction of General Manager Finalist — Ben Ranft
• Noon luncheon — was held today with various staff and Advisory Board meetings
• Welcome and Interview by Board: - Jerry Olson introduced Ben to the Board and
provided a short summary of his background.
a) Resume provided for your review - Jeff O'Neill noted that he had
forwarded Ben's resume to all Council members explaining the process
and intention to bring a recommendation to Council for approval on June
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• Jeff O'Neill presented some of the questions that he wrote up for Ben
Ranft to answer. In addition, Advisory Board members asked questions of
Ben Ranft. The Advisory Board will make a decision later in the meeting
prior to adjourning.
5. Marketing Report (Michele Hertwig, Majirs)
• Marketing update — "Dress a Duck" contest; "We'll come to you" campaign kicks
off at Walk & Roll; putting up TV's at MCC — will have banner indicating
sponsorship by FNM; will be doing promotions at MCC; Michelle is working on
video shoots with local residents for promoting; may consider another promotion
similar to Bluestone Grille; discussed other ways to get the word out about FNM;
plan to adjust office hours in a while
• Website update (no report)
• Department Head Meeting at FNM Headend building on June 15th
FiberNet Advisory Board Minutes —June 14, 2011
6. Operations/Financial Report — General Manager
• Cash Flow update: Jerry Olson provided copies of reports and Jeff O'Neill
explained cash flow status. By the Board meeting in July, will have report
showing projections for the coming year.
• Update on past due accounts: Jerry Olson reviewed the current status of past due
accounts; this month 7 disconnects with approximately $1500 in delinquencies.
• Residential installation status: Jon Morphew asked about progress on contacting
possible customers. Jerry Olson explained that a PT seasonal person has been
making some contacts; they are looking at offering her a regular position as Sales
Assistant and would set goals for making contacts and signing up customers. Ben
Ranft suggested that they may consider adjusting the time that contacts and
installs are made.
• Update on organization structure realignments: Jerry Olson outlined a proposal
for realigning the structure to better accommodate business phone customers.
Would like to see field staff under Field Operations and technical staff under Tech
Operations. Current supervisors would continue to be in charge of the technical
staff. They are working on a job description for supervisory duties for the Plant
Manager, who oversees Field Operations; would not have an impact on salaries.
This should free up some time for Matt Henning to assist with business sales
configurations, especially with Hosted PBX services. This plan is to be presented
to the Personnel Committee next week.
7. Outreach
• League of MN Cities Policy Development Efforts — Jerry Olson explained the
discussion that the League of MN Cities generated with the Association of
Minnesota Counties regarding broadband use by cities and counties. Statute 237
dictates the process for cities and counties to deliver broadband services — this is
the statute that requires the 65% to implement a phone switch.
• Request for Monticello to host Governor Dayton — The group meeting with
League of MN Cities feels it would be worthwhile for Monticello to send an
invite to the Governor's office to see the FiberNet operations. Jerry Olson also
pointed out that Cargill is in the process for bringing a new business to town,
which could serve as a good example to show off the business services offered by
FiberNet.
8. Project Reports
• Apartment Units — Wiring Policy discussion: Jeff O'Neill explained the issues
with bringing apartments up to standards to connect them to FiberNet services.
Many of the buildings need to be rewired, which would be a huge cost to absorb.
Jeff O'Neill suggested that an option may be to come up with some incentives to
offset cost of wiring.
DENNIS SULLIVAN MOVED TO ALLOW FIBERNET MONTICELLO TO
OFFER WHOLESALE CONTRACTS TO APARTMENT OWNERS FOR
FIBERNET SERVICES. GLEN POSUSTA SECONDED THE MOTION.
21 FiberNet Advisory Board Minutes —June 14, 2011
MOTION CARRIED 3-0. (Wayne Mayer abstained from voting and Clint Herbst
had left the meeting.)
• Pre -Budget Workshop: a preliminary draft list of "mandatory" and "optional"
projects for FiberNet in 2012 was provided by Jeff O'Neill. He outlined the
purpose for reviewing the list of projects to utilize in preparation of budget and
future CIP. Jeff O'Neill went through the list with the Advisory Board.
9. Future Items
• Governance Ordinance - establish bylaws for Advisory Board (August)
10. Added Items
• None
11. Continue Discussion regarding appointment of Ben Ranft as General Manager
Advisory Board members asked questions and provided comments regarding the hiring
of Ben Ranft as General Manager for FiberNet Monticello.
GLEN POSUSTA MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT HBC HIRE BEN RANFT FOR
THE FIBERNET GENERAL MANAGER POSITION. DENNIS SULLIVAN
SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 3-2 WITH WAYNE MAYER AND
JON MORPHEW VOTING IN OPPOSITION.
Jon Morphew asked what would happen to Ben Ranft should this not work out for him.
Jerry Olson stated that HBC had been considering him for management and would have a
spot for him.
12. Adjourn
CLINT HERBST MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:28 P.M. DENNIS
SULLIVAN SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Recorder: Catherine M. Shuman 60td
Approved: July 12, 2011
r
Attest:
CO inistrator
FiberNet Advisory Board Minutes —June 14, 2011