Archive for category: General Information

Last week, November 5-6, member cities attended the 2015 KMEA Annual Conference in Wichita and according to feedback from many conference goers, it was a successful event. The number of attendees was markedly up from last year, filling the meeting room to capacity. The format of this year’s conference was a departure from the past, bookended by the KMGA and KMEA Board of Directors meetings on day one and a tour of the Siemens Energy Wind turbine assembly facility on day two.

Keynote speaker, Lt. Colonel, Kevin Sweeney, a combat pilot in both Vietnam and Desert Storm, and the recipient of the United States Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, a medal awarded to fewer than 1% of pilots, kicked off the Conference.   Kevin captivated the audience with his Dessert Storm night combat mission account when he successfully landed a plane with 2 engines ripped off the right wing. Following Kevin was Dennis Grennan, Vice President of HDR, with his presentation “Factors to consider for Owning Generation.” Next up was Paul Zummo, Manager of Policy Research & Analytics with APPA, who presented “Integrating Solar Technology.” Click here to go to the KMEA events site where you can view or download these two presentations. Kansas Municipal Utilities Executive Director, Colin Hansen, concluded the session with a legislative and regulatory update. The day was capped off with a Member appreciation reception and Awards banquet. Look for the Gil Hanson and the Max Embree Award recipients in our next feature. . .

Wes Keely, Gas Systems operator for the City of Winfield, recently received an award for 40 years of dedicated public service from the League of Kansas Municipalities at an awards luncheon.

Wes’ career in public service is an interesting one to be sure, beginning in Winfield as a policeman in 1975 and then a fireman in 1979 where he spent the next five years. In 1984, Wes started working in the Winfield Gas Distribution Department. Wes continued to progress in the department and was promoted to his current title of gas system operator specialist in 1992.

Wes’ daughter Ray Ann and wife Debbie were on hand to celebrate this momentous occasion with him. Please join us in congratulating Wes on receiving this distinguished award and for his many years of public service. Congratulations Wes!

The City of Kiowa is the newest member city of KMEA as well as the EMP3 group. Kiowa was first accepted as a member of the EMP3 group at the September 4^th EMP3 meeting and then became an official member of KMEA on October 9^th.

Kiowa has a population of 1,026 and is located in Barber County, Kansas in the south-central part of the state, about 90 miles southwest of Wichita. Please join us in congratulating and welcoming the City of Kiowa to KMEA and the EMP3 group.

The future looks bright for Osawatomie’s electric utility with the city council’s recent approval to issue $6.8 million in electric utility revenue bonds. The bonds will be used to finance upgrades to the energy generation and distribution system.

The upgrades will really strengthen Osawatomie’s electric utility. The improvements include the purchase of seven two-megawatt diesel-engine generators, construction of a substation as well as a shop building, and repairing and overhauling generators. These improvements will increase Osawatomie’s generation capabilities, generate surplus energy and is expected to bring in additional revenue to the tune of $100,000 to $200,000. It’s always good to see cities like Osawatomie investing in their electric utility.

Every month KMEA participates in the Energy Management Project Group meetings for EMP 1, EMP 2, and EMP 3, however, last week KMEA hosted a Joint EMP meeting, bringing all three EMPs together in Kansas City. The joint meeting was well attended and included a full agenda.

KMEA kicked off the meeting with market report presentations, followed by a congestion and transmission hedging activity presentation. KMEA went on to share the status of several projects that are in progress for the EMPs. The meeting also included a KMEA website demonstration of the recently launched Sharfile system, which provides a virtual file cabinet to all KMEA member cities.

The joint meeting concluded with status updates from EMP 1 Chairman, Bob Mills, EMP 2 Chairman, Jeff Scott, and EMP 3 Chairman, Matt Rehder. The Joint EMP meeting offered a great opportunity to provide topical demonstrations and presentations and allowed for information exchange between the EMPs. We would like to thank everyone who took time out to attend the joint meeting, particularly those who drove a great distance to attend.