Paul Melby/Brookings

Volume 7 Issue 7 June, 2017

This month we are celebrating a to 115KV, converting from overhead distribution retirement as well as giving you a little insight to total underground, looping substations, into Brookings Municipal Utilities. First off, I transitioning from hand read meters to AMR want to discuss a man who I thought was a great (which will be 75% completed at the end of this person from the first time I met him. Having said year). Paul’s team also organized a joint that, the first time I met Paul Melby was at my construction crew which took over the interview for the position of the Director of construction of the telecommunication circuits as Electric Services for the SDMEA. I walked in well as electric underground conductors which fifteen minutes early to my interview and were previously two separate departments. BMU expected to see my interviewers within minutes. uses voltage reduction rather than load When Paul and Todd Chambers (Watertown) management for load control. BMU uses their walked in 45 minutes later, Mr. Melby said, and I SCADA to guide how much they can regulate, quote, “Sorry we are late, I had to bail my wife which takes extensive time to know your out of jail”. Now, like I said, this was the first customers’ requirements and being aware of time that I had met Paul and I wasn’t 100% sure which loads to regulate at what times. how to read him at this point. I know now he was Paul’s team makes sure to research all checking his wife out of the hotel in Pierre which equipment and products before integrating them caused the delay. into the electric system in Brookings. They are I have had several conversations with currently in a 4-year investigation of LED lighting Paul since then and I hope to contact him with and are transitioning to make the conversion. questions that I will have even after he retires. They also take pride in analyzing every aspect of However, I will respect his time and let him travel a product before making any purchases for the and enjoy his retirement rather than hassling him utility. They emphasize having reliable with my lack of experience. Paul has assembled a equipment that has been utilized by other utility close knit team of Dale Henderschiedt, companies and in making sure that they are Construction Supervisor, and Tim Reuter, getting the best equipment that has been time Maintenance Supervisor, that have implemented tested and shown to be the best. Brookings is not several great things in his 16-year career at BMU, the leading edge, but they make sure that what including an upgrade of the transmission system they purchase is going to benefit their utility to ensure that their employees have good equipment and to make sure it is of sufficient quality to get the job done when they need it done. Paul also started an educational program in which he visited the Brookings Middle School 8th grade science classes to educate the class on how electricity is generated and gets to Brookings. Brookings has been lucky to have a person as forward thinking and progressive as Paul Melby in their community and working at BMU. His knowledge may be tough to replace, Some major projects include a plan to not only from Brookings Municipal Utilities, but expand to 8 substations. The 6th was completed from the SDMEA board as well. I personally last year and the final two will be completed in cannot thank Paul enough for giving me this the next two years. All of the substations are new opportunity to learn from him this past year and since 1990 and are looped together. Each I’m sure that there are many others who owe him substation is set up the same so that any crew can a debt of gratitude for sharing his knowledge work on any substation and be familiar with the throughout the years. system. The 15/25MVA rated substations are connected by looped transmission and distribution lines to neighboring substations. This design makes the recovery of the system fairly quick and productive process if a service interruption occurs.

Brookings Municipal Utilities has around 165 full time employees throughout the water, wastewater, electric, and telephone departments. BMU has had up to 30-40 part time summer employees to help out as well. The electrical department consists of 13 maintenance employees and 13 construction employees. Volume 7 Issue 7 June, 2017

Back Row Left to Right: Doug Mahanke- Foreman, Todd VanderWal-Lead lineman, Vance Vogel-Apprentice, Morgan Vrchota-Apprentice, Lance Dickey-Journeyman, Joshua Millard- Journeyman, Aaron Egeberg-Construction, Dale Henderschiedt-Supervisor, Front Row Left to Right: Scott Hinricher-Construction, Bryce Steffen-Apprentice, Nic Axtell-Journeyman, Brian Halvorson-Construction., Not pictured Jason Volkers-Journeyman.

Picture: Wood streetlight pole that was replaced, sliced to show how the pole deteriorates. Brookings is also in the process of repairing 6tih Street and has created a deep sewer system which will open up more of the town to gravity sewer and eliminate some lift stations. Another project is the changing out of street light poles. Brookings has about 3000 total street lights and about 2000 wood streetlight poles that will be replaced with aluminum poles. They Left to Right: Mike Collins, Journeyman, Curtis are also converting from high pressure sodium to Haakinson-Journeyman, Isaac Kruse-Apprentice, LED lights. Doug Eidsness-Journeyman. Not pictured Todd Swanson-Foreman, Tim Reuter-Supervisor. 34th Avenue substation-Energized in 2001

Mr. Paul Melby

Questions? Comments? Email me at [email protected] Call Chris: 605- 770-6299