Billing, customer service, meter readers and other non-emergency workers at Rolla Municipal Utilities will get an extra day off beginning next year as Board of Public Works members on Monday unanimously agreed employees should observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday.

RMU employees whose job it is to restore services — whether it be electrical or water — will be called upon to do that job despite the holiday, said Acting General Manager Rodney Bourne.

When it came down to a decision, it was the board members’ decision that municipal utility workers should have the day off, like their city employee brethren.

“I don’t think it’s disrespectful (to not have the day off) to Martin Luther King,” said Board President Dr. James Stoffer. “We’re just serving our customers.”

However, Board Secretary Judge John Wiggins said it may seem that way to the public.

“I think we should honor it,” Wiggins said. “Even if a slight is not intended, it may seem that way.”

Vice Secretary Mark Rolufs, an educator, reminded board members Rolla schools were not in session on MLK Day, and Stoffer added Missouri S&T students also did not attend classes.

When it was determined city workers have that day off, Wiggins made the motion that RMU employees receive the day as a holiday, too.

“I move that we grant MLK Day as a holiday, to be consistent with other city workers,” Wiggins said.

Rolufs seconded the unanimous motion. Stoffer and Board member Nick Barrack concurred.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the third Monday of January, coming next year on Jan. 18.

The added holiday gives workers nine holidays during the calendar year. They include: New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; President’s Day; Independence Day (or another day preceding or after the holiday); Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving and Christmas, or a compensatory day.

City Administrator John Butz, asked about granting the holiday while attending a Tour of Missouri Support Luncheon on Tuesday, applauded the board’s decision.

“I think it’s terrific,” Butz said. “I know they’ll still have to provide services in emergencies. It’s a good move, to honor Martin Luther King, and it makes holidays consistent with the city calendar.”
In other action, the Board of Public Works ...:

• Heard a report from Finance Director Dennis Roberts who said the utility has written off $14,134.43 in uncollectable debt for the months of April and May, and for Fiscal Year 2009 that number has totaled $39,400, which is up slightly from the same period last year. While the number is greater, Roberts said it still is lower than the anticipated write-off for FY2009, for which the utility budgeted about $55,000. Roberts also reported electrical sales for the current year are running about $19,000 more than this time last year, at $219,259.94.

• Heard a report from Acting Operations Manager Tom Parker who said RMU’s ongoing project of encircling the city with 124V service is nearly 50 percent complete. The project, which has been ongoing since 1999, will make service more reliable and the city expands outward.

• Parker also reported the failed transformer at the Nagogami substation will be replaced by the manufacturer, Pacific Crest.

• Heard from Michele Broxton, who is Floyd Huffman’s daughter, who said both she and her father are please with RMU’s advice and handling of water meter’s in the Huffman Mobile Home Park. “Our goal is to educate our tenants about water resources,” Broxton said. “We want them to know water is a finite resource and RMU is helping us do that. Rodney (Bourne) was very helpful in doing that.” Huffman sought RMU’s assistance in monitoring water usage in the park. A total of 10 meters have been installed to aid in monitoring water usage.

• Because of scheduling conflicts, the Board will not meet in July. Instead, it will convene at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 4, at the RMU Board Room.