WILLMAR -- The Willmar Utilities Commission received a report Monday on recent action by the City Council on the Utilities Commission's request for compensation.
Commission President Bob Bonawitz reported on the Nov. 6 council meeting at which council members defeated a motion to convene the Charter Commission to study the Utilities Commission's request for compensation.
The Utilities Commission had voted to request compensation for members attending official meetings.
The re-quest was made after the commission discussed and looked at compensation rates paid to utility commissions in other cities, Bonawitz said.
In order to receive compensation, an amendment to the city charter would be required because the Utilities Commission is a chartered governing body and commission members now serve without compensation, according to City Attorney Richard Ronning.
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The Charter Commission must be convened and asked for input.
Once the input is received by the council, an ordinance to amend the charter is prepared and a hearing on the ordinance is scheduled.
Approval of the ordinance amending the charter re-quires an 8-0 unanimous vote by the council.
According to Ronning, the Charter Commission can review the compensation issue and decide to do nothing. However, he said the council can do what the council wants to do by ordinance, as long as the council refers it to the Charter Commission.
In other business, the Utilities Commission approved bids to buy three types of underground conductors and approved bids to buy two types of pad-mount transformers, all for 2007.
