January 13, 1991
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Chairman Douglas Mayer. The roll was called. Present were Trustees Mr. Maurice Betts, Ms. Cathie Hutcheson, Mr. Richard Jumps, Mr. Douglas Mayer, Mr. Richard Parrish, and Mrs. Frances Youngblood. Mr. Arthur Vincent came in a few minutes after the roll was called. Employees present were Mrs. Becky Roberts and Mr. Walter Butler.
People Attending: Lets Get Rid of Walter Members present were Mr. and Mrs. Danny Williams, Mr. Herbert Stearns, and Mr. Jerry Burton.
Minutes of the December 9, 1991 meeting were submitted for approval. There being no changes the minutes stand approved.
Customer Requests: There were no customer requests.
Secretary/Treasurer report was read and accepted. The water loss is down. The fluctuation was discussed and suggestions were made to possibly replace the master meter in the near future. The figures will be watched. The possibility of thefts contributing to the variations is apparent. Mr. Butler will check the hydrants in the near future to check for illegal tampering or use.
The financial report was read and accepted. Mr. Parrish commented on the ending budget amounts on the financial reports as being very close to what was budgeted. He commented on the extraordinary budgeting.
Mr. Parrish made a motion to put Depreciation 5 Certificate (which is to mature on 2/14/92) in the Depreciation Savings account until Depreciation 4 Certificate matures on 3/14/92 and combine them both into one certificate for 6 months. Ms. Hutcheson seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: Ms. Hutcheson – yes, Mrs. Youngblood – yes, Mr. Jumps – yes, Mr. Betts – yes, Mr. Vincent – yes, Mr. Parrish – yes, Mr. Mayer – yes. There being 7 yes votes and 0 no votes the motion passes.
Mr. Parrish made a motion to put Reserve 1 Certificate (which matures on 2/24/92), Reserve 4 Certificate (which matures on 2/28/92), and Reserve 5 Certificate (which matures on 2/14/92), in the Reserve Savings Account until Reserve 3 Certificate matures on 3/14/92 and combine all 4 into one Certificate for 6 months. Ms. Hutcheson seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: Ms. Hutcheson – yes, Mrs. Youngblood – yes, Mr. Jumps – yes, Mr. Betts – yes, Mr. Vincent – yes, Mr. Parrish – yes, Mr. Mayer – yes. There being 7 yes votes and 0 no votes, the motion passes.
Payment of the Bills: The bills were presented in the amount of $7,932.05. Ms. Eugenia Hunter’s retainer fee for 1992 was included in the bills for $1,200.00. Mr. Parrish made a motion to retain Ms. Eugenia Hunter as Buncombe Public Water District Attorney, and Mrs. Youngblood seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: Ms. Hutcheson – yes, Mrs. Youngblood – yes, Mr. Jumps – no, Mr. Betts – no, Mr. Vincent – no, Mr. Parrish – yes, Mr. Mayer – yes. There being 4 yes votes and 3 no votes, the motion passes.
The bill from JULIE was discussed. We have been charged $63.04 for 30 calls, only 9 calls were for BPWD. There is no itemization on the bill. Mr. Parrish suggested to withhold the entire payment until we contact JULEI for an itemized bill.
Mr. Parrish made a motion to pay all the bills with the exception of the JULIE bill for $63.04 and Ms. Hutcheson seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: Ms. Hutcheson – yes, Mrs. Youngblood – yes, Mr. Jumps – no, Mr. Betts – no, Mr. Vincent – yes, Mr. Parrish – yes, Mr. Mayer – yes. There being 5 yes votes and 2 no votes, the motion passes.
Water Supply Operator Report: Mr. Butler reported that due to the nice weather things have gone smooth with the exception of tap #96 which was shut off for non-payment. When meters were read on 12/31/91, the lock had been tampered with and they were still using water. The lock was changed and a note was left stating that if this continued the authorities would be notified, since then, no water has been used. The water usage was billed accordingly an a $50.00 tampering fine was added to the bill. Mr. Butler checked for leaks in the system on 1/8/92 and non were found. Mr. Betts asked about the work that was done on tap #110 on 8/27 and 11/9/91. The first time it was repaired the meter and it had to be dug out by hand and the second time it was dug up at the corp stop and shut off.
Lets GROW request for copies of all financial records status: Mr. Brockton Lockwood, BPWD’s Attorney in the Burton v BPWD lawsuit, has filed for an involuntary dismissal. This has not been acted on at this date. Mr. Betts asked why Ms. Hunter was paid $248.44 if Mr. Lockwood was BPWD attorney for this case. This was for Ms. Hunter to review and help Mr. Lockwood become familiar with the case.
Board Manuals: A response was received from Aspen Publishers allowing BPWD to pay for the 1 Board Manual that has not been returned. After the 7 manuals are returned, they will bill BPWD for 1. Mr. Parrish made a motion to pay for the lost manual and Mr. Jumps seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: Ms. Hutcheson – yes, Mrs. Youngblood – yes, Mr. Jumps – yes, Mr. Betts – yes, Mr. Vincent – yes, Mr. Parrish – yes, Mr. Mayer – yes. There being 7 yes votes and 0 no votes, the motion passes.
Additional Master Meter Installations: A committee needs to be formed to get prices for vault size, construction costs, and where to place them. It was agreed that Mr. Butler should be on the committee. It was discussed that 2 new master meters would be sufficient for now, one going South on Old 51 towards Cobden and one near McGuire Road. Mr. Butler mentioned that the new pressure station #3 is already set up for a master meter. Mr. Parrish stated that this cost would come out of the Reserve Account because it is a budgeted item. It was discussed whether to get a precut vault and disrupt service for 1 or 2 days, or pour the vault and not have to disrupt service for a short length of time. It was discussed to involve an engineer on the placement of one and the completion of the one that would be in the pressure station. Mr. Parrish would like to ask the engineer if BPWD could set up as many as 5 floating master meters to be used as needed. Mr. Butler stated that if this was done, every time you moved a meter, a boil order would have to be put out each time. Mr. Mayer recommended to use Mr. David Biggs with JT Blankenship. Ms. Hutcheson made a motion to authorize Mr. Mayer to contact Mr. David Biggs for initial recommendations for the master meters and Mr. Jumps seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: Ms. Hutcheson – yes, Mrs. Youngblood – yes, Mr. Jumps – yes, Mr. Betts – yes, Mr. Vincent – yes, Mr. Parrish – yes, Mr. Mayer – yes. There being 7 yes votes and 0 no votes, the motion passes.
Budget Manager: Mr. Mayer suggested that someone needs to volunteer to work on the Budget a little each month so when the end of the year comes it would be easier to complete the Budget. Mr. Parrish was given a copy of the form to review. This was tabled until next meeting.
Mr. Betts reviewed the budget amounts with the board members. He stated that if the 1st thousand gallon rate was lowered from $16.2525 to $10.00 this would amount to $74.00 per tap per year, and the budget is showing an over budget of $88.22 per tap per year and that is not including the 17 new meters that has been installed since this budget was completed. Mr. Mayer agreed that the budget looks good right now, but another water rate increase from SHWD is expected in 1992 and he foresees that the rates would need to be raised again. Mr. Danny Williams stated that as a customer, he would appreciate the decrease now and he would understand if the rates would have need to be raised back. Mr. Vincent stated he was for the decrease and if need be, raise them back later. Mr. Parrish stated that he was for a decrease in a form of no rate increase even though SHWD raises BPWD’s rates. He also suggested a possible compromise in the decrease to now lower the rate as much.
Mr. Betts made a motion to revise Chapter 5 to lower the 1st thousand gallons from $16.2525 to $10.00, and leave the amount over the 1st thousand gallons the same at $7.2025. Mr. Vincent seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: Ms. Hutcheson – yes, Mrs. Youngblood – no, Mr. Jumps – yes, Mr. Betts – yes, Mr. Vincent – yes, Mr. Parrish – no, Mr. Mayer – no. There being 4 yes and 3 no votes, the motion passes. Another ordinance and budget will need to be written and there will have to be time to meet with Mr. David Biby to change the billing program.. The new rate will be effective February 1, 1992 for the March bill.
The monthly meeting adjourned by motion of Ms. Hutcheson and seconded by Mrs. Youngblood. Voice vote – all yes. Meeting adjourned at 8:11pm