Meeting Minutes of July 9, 2025
Buncombe Public Water District Board of Trustees Regular Meeting to be held at district office
79 Wiley Lane, Makanda
The regular meeting of Buncombe Public Water District was called to order on July 9, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the District’s office located at 79 Wiley Ln, Makanda, Illinois.
Call to Order
Trustees Present: Hughey; Brewer; Dickson; Fiorino; Howell; Lamb
Trustees Absent: None
Also Present: Alex Heidbreder; Sage Lintner; Richard Howell; and Michael R. Twomey.
Chairman Hughey conducted the meeting.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD JUNE 11, 2025 made by Trustee Fiorino and seconded by Trustee Brewer. On voice vote, motion passed with all Trustees voting aye.
Visitor, Customer, and Public Comments
A. None
Old Business
A. ECWAG Update/Church Street:
Engineer Howell reported to the Board that the main has been installed and needs to be put into service. The District is still waiting on the operating permit from IEPA. Design changes were made resulting in a contract decrease of $2,520.00. Change order presented to the Board requesting a change in the total contract price reduction of $2,520.00. MOTION TO APPROVE CHANGE ORDER #1 DECREASING CONTRACT BY $2,520.00 made by Trustee Fiorino and seconded by Trustee Brewer. On roll call vote, motion passed with all Trustees voting aye.
There was a leak detection vault added to the project. Any money left over in the contract can be used to reimburse the District for water loss suffered on that main.
Pay order request submitted by Horner Shifrin to pay S&W Line Contracting the
sum of $56,145.00. MOTION TO PAY made by Trustee Brewer and seconded by Trustee Fiorino. On roll call vote, motion passed with all Trustees voting aye. MOTION TO PAY HORNER SHIFRIN ENGINEERING $2,190.00 FOR ENGINEERING WORK made by Trustee Brewer and seconded by Trustee Lamb. On roll call vote, motion passed with all Trustees voting aye.
B. Pump Station #2 Meter Update:
District Office Manager Lintner reported to the Board that pump station #2 meter quotes have been requested from three different sources. She is waiting on responses. At such time as the District receives a response the Board will choose one and replace the meter.
New Business
A. Rate Increase:
Board discussion held concerning rate increases. The Board feels very strongly that special meetings need to be set up with District customers to discuss so that the customers can be completely informed as to the reasons. Office Manager Lintner presented the following options: 1) a $2.00 per month postage charge to customers desiring to receive a paper bill. The District has informed customers that electronic bills are available and customers can make that choice and avoid the postage fee. 2) a flat rate fee increase of $5.00 per meter service charge to help cover increased district costs. 3) a water rate increase in the amount of 10% across the Board to help pay for District improvements. It was noted that the last increase was 26 months ago. MOTION TO INCREASE WATER RATES 10% ACROSS THE BOARD, THAT A $5.00 PER METER SERVICE CHARGE BE CHARGED TO EACH METER WITHIN THE DISTRICT, AND A CHARGE OF $2.00 FOR POSTAGE NEEDED TO OFFSET COSTS FOR PAPER BILLING made by Trustee Howell and seconded by Trustee Fiorino. On roll call vote, motion passed with all Trustees voting aye. The increases will be effective for September use and reflected in October billing.
B. Special Meeting Dates:
Public meetings will be held on August 21st at 6:00 p.m. and August 23rd at 1:00 p.m. at the Makanda Town Hall to discuss rate changes and other customer complaints. Notice of the meetings will be given to the customers.
City of Carbondale Water Supply
A. None
Monthly Staff and Board Group Reports
A. Office Manager Lintner Report:
Office Manager Lintner presented a written report to the Board and placed of record with the Minutes.
B. WSO Heidbreder Report:
Alex Heidbreder presented a written report to the Board and placed of record with the Minutes.
C. Work Group 1 Ordinances:
Nothing presented.
D. Work Group 2 District Improvement:
DIG meeting minutes from June 27, 2025 were presented to the Board. MOTION TO APPROVE DIG MEETING MINUTES FROM JUNE 27, 2025 made by Trustee Lamb and Seconded by Trustee Howell. On voice vote, motion passed with all Trustees voting aye.
E. ROINC Report:
Sage presented a written report to the Board and placed of record with the Minutes.
MOTION TO APPROVE MONTHLY STAFF AND BOARD GROUP REPORTS was made by Trustee Fiorino and seconded by Trustee Lamb. On voice vote, motion passed with all Trustees voting aye.
Monthly Treasurer/Accounting/Financial Reports
A. Spreadsheet of Bills to be Paid:
Office Manager Lintner reported to the Board that she is still waiting on the accountant to reconciliate the new and old bookkeeping systems. There is a QuickBooks issue that is causing the problem.
B. Amy Financial Report April, May, and June 2025:
No report was available to review due to Parrish and Lambin continued work to revise the QuickBooks to reflect Accounts Receivable appropriately.
C. 125% Report:
Nothing presented.
D. Change in Account Balances Month:
A written report was presented to the Board with the Office Manager reports and
placed of record with the Minutes.
E. Profit/Loss versus Actual:
A written report was presented to the Board with the Office Manager reports and placed of record with the Minutes.
F. Investments:
Sage reported to the Board that the investment account current balance is $249,222.86. There is $51,188.22 in cash and $198,654.64 in Treasury Bills. One of the T-Bills is currently earning 4.38% and is a 3-month T-Bill and the other is a 6-month T-Bill earning 4.28%. Request made by Office Manager Lintner to move $50,000.00 from the First Mid account and put into investments. Board agreed to go with that and to stagger the investments. MOTION TO ALLOW REMOVAL OF $50,000.00 FROM THE FIRST MID BANK ACCOUNT AND MOVE TO INVESTMENTS WITH CHARLES SCHWAB was made by Trustee Howell and seconded by Trustee Fiorino. On roll call vote, motion passed with all Trustees voting aye.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE MONTHLY TREASURER REPORT AND FINANCIAL REPORT made by Trustee Fiorino and seconded by Trustee Howell. On roll call vote, motion passed with all Trustees voting aye.
Payment of Bills
A. A schedule of all bills was presented to the Board for review. MOTION TO PAY ALL BILLS made by Trustee Brewer and Seconded by Trustee Lamb. On roll call vote, motion passed with all Trustees voting aye.
Additional Trustee Comments or Questions
A. None
Executive Session
A. None.
Motion for Adjournment
MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING made by Trustee Lamb and seconded by Trustee Brewer. On voice vote, motion passed with all Trustees voting aye.
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.