Meeting Minutes of December 11, 2012
Chairman Jospeh Burrow called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. A roll call was taken and present were: Chairman Joseph Burrow, Vice Chairman Robert Jacobini, Secretary/Treasurer Mike Williamsen, Water Supply Operator Ron Lada, District Secretary Karen Dunn; and Trustees Grace Brewer, Jenny Anderson, Charles Travelstead, and Robert Hughey.
Mr. Mike Twomey, Attorney with Barrett, Twomey, Broom, Hughes, and Hoke was also in attendance.
No visitor or customer requests were presented at this time.
Under the order of communications for December, no items were presented for discussion.
Under the order of new business, information related to a Water Leak Study to be performed by Mr. Nelson Matter similar to that which was performed for the Anna Water District was discussed and reviewed. A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jacobini to invite Mr. Matter to the January 8, 2013, meeting of the Board to discuss his services. Seconded by Mr. Travelstead and with (5) yes and (0) no votes, the motion carried.
Next presented was the Meeting of the Board of Trustees Schedule for 2013 for review and approval. A motion was made by Ms. Anderson to accept the meetings scheduled as presented. Seconded by Mr. Hughey and with (5) yes and (0) no votes, the schedule was approved.
Secretary/Treasurer Williamsen next presented the 2013 Operating Budget for the Buncombe Public Water District to members of the Board explaining income and expenditures in detail. Upon completion, his recommendation was not to raise customer water rates from 2012 for the 2013 year. After related discussion, a motion was made by Vice Chairman Jacobini to accept and implement the Budget for 2013 as presented. Seconded by Mr. Hughey and with (5) yes and (0) no votes, the Budget was approved.
Under the topic of employee Christmas bonuses for 2012, the Water Supply Operator and District Secretary were excused from the room as the Board exchanged suggestions. A motion was made by Mr. Hughey to extend to each employee a Christmas for 2012 in the amount of $350.00; seconded by Mr. Travelstead and with (5) yes and (0) no votes, the gift was approved.
Under the order of old business, no new information was available related to a water supply connection to Carbondale.
Under the topic of the South Highway Water District, discussion pursued related to billing discrepancies from the SHWD as well as the status of contract renegotiations with this supplier. After extensive discussion, it was agreed and implemented in instructing Mr. Mike Twomey, District Legal Counsel, to compose a letter to the South Highway Water District under his personal signature opening renegotiations of the upcoming expiring water supply contract with the Buncombe Public Water District.
Financials for October 2012 were presented for review with related discussions.
The Edward Jones Investment Report for November 2012 was reviewed and with no related discussion.
The Secretary/Treasurer Report and the Accounts Payable Report for December 2012 was presented by the Secretary/Treasurer. A motion was made by Mr. Hughey to accept the report as presented and amended to reflect adjustments to the water purchase payment to SHWD as previously discussed, and to pay the bills. Seconded by Ms. Anderson and with (5) yes and (0) no votes, the motion carried.
The Water Supply Operator Report was presented by Ron Lada with no discrepancies.
No additional public questions or comments were presented at this time; however, the following action items were noted; 1) Mr. Twomey to compose a letter to the SHWD related to contract renegotiations; 2) Vice Chairman Jacobini to contact the IL Rural Water Association related to water purchase rates of other Water Districts; 3) Secretary/Treasurer Williamsen to arrange a visit from Mr. Nelson Matter to the January 2013 Meeting of the Board to discuss a water leak survey; 4) District Secretary Dunn to update the BPWD Project Matrix for discussion at the January 2013 Board Meeting.
At this time, Mr. Twomey requested from Board Members an understanding of their anticipated expectations of his legal services. After discussion of the District needs related to current and upcoming legal developments, it was agreed to utilize the legal services of Mr. Twomey in the form of a retainer for the upcoming year. A motion was made by Mr. Travelstead to obtain the legal services of Mr. Twomey for the calendar year of 2013 under retainer, seconded by Mr. Hughey and with (5) yes and (0) no votes, the motion carried.
In conclusion, Chairman Burrow presented the suggestion to Board Members pertaining to compensation for any Board Member who is unable to attend a Regular Scheduled Meeting for the sole reason of being either hospitalized or under a doctor’s care. After brief discussion, Mr. Twomey indicated he would investigate guidelines that may already exist pertaining to this type of situation. No action related to this matter was taken at this time.
There was no move for an executive session.
There being no further business, a motion was made to adjourn, seconded, with (5) yes and (0) no votes, the meeting adjourned.