Buckeye Water District Board of Trustees

The BWD Board of Trustees held their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, October 21, at Wellsville Village Hall. Present at the meeting was Board President Mike Ryan and Trustees Bob Wines, Dave Lloyd, Rick Williams, Cal Carney, Jack Call, Gene McGaffick, Chuck Bibbee & Tim O'Hara. Also present was District Manager Al DeAngelis, Legal Advisor Fred Emmerling, Office Manager Tracy Allen & Fiscal Officer Tony D'Angelo.

There was no public comment, executive sessions or new resolutions.

Chuck Bibbee reported the District is in the process of making changes in the monthly Treasurer's Report going to a total cash accounting system. With the separation of the Fiscal Officer's & the Office Manager's jobs Tony D'Angelo is able to devote more time to an accounting format used for the report. Bibbee noted he has been working with D'Angelo to establish a fund accounting, drawing on his State Auditor experience. As a result of those efforts the report appears different to what the Board members are accustomed to seeing. Bibbee cautioned they do not want to overdo it with setting up separate funds. Cash can be put in different funds from any source but there are restrictions on the expenditures. Once deposited in a specific fund, money can only be spent on that specific designation. If a fund is established to replace trucks, cash in that fund can only be spent for replacements.
Trustee Bob Wines commented that, although only part-time, D'Angelo has been putting in "many, many hours" uncompensated to set up the new accounting format. "It's a
smaller, more concise report" that offers daily reconciliation available in moments according to Wines & D'Angelo.

Bibbee concluded his report refuting an October 8th comment in The Review's weekly Spanks & Thanks column. The writer gave a Spanks to the BWD for separating Sara Crouch's former job, claiming it costs the district more. Crouch resign last month to accept a new job in the State of Washington. The writer of the comment incorrectly concluded that rate hikes won't be far behind. "Not true" claimed Bibbee stating that the separation of the jobs is only part of the story. The Office Manager job was given to an employee already working for the district with an appropriate salary increase. The Fiscal Officer's job was made a part-time position with no benefits. Crouch's wages & benefits cost the district $60,816 annually.

What the writer of that comment did not mention was that another employee resigned recently and it was decided not to replace him. With the closing of Salineville's Water Treatment Plant it proved unnecessary to replace him. With what the district is saving by not paying a benefit package for the Fiscal Officer and the cost of the other resigned employee, the district will realize a savings of $71,505 annually. Bibbee wrapped it up saying rate increases are not being considered for any time in the foreseeable future.

For the Operations Report, District Manager DeAngelis reported that September sales was 946,000 gallons, basically the same. There were 51 hours of overtime paid in September. A couple of waterline breaks accounted for 31 of those hours.

For the District Manager's Report, DeAngelis advised RCAP is currently conducting an energy audit on the district. It will be finalized at a November 10th meeting. Also, AEP wants to meet with the district regarding a possible electricity rate reduction. DeAngelis said he is trying to have them present at that same meeting.

The new road required for the Salineville water tank was quoted at $50,559. The price was given by Tucson Inc., the contractor for Part B of the new waterline. DeAngelis is waiting for a decision from the funding agencies on whether it has to be put up for bid or not. It was hoped to make it part of the second phase of the new line. Consequently it was decided to schedule the separation of the Salineville Water Treatment plant from the the new system. The district's engineering firm is setting up a date with the EPA presently.

DeAngelis also said they are looking a three different computer programs for upgrades for billing and finance reporting. Bibbee reported they are considering the states Uniform Accounting System too. Once a decision is made on which way to go it will be turned over to the Finance Committee.

The expansion of the water system to Frederick Heights is now in the USDA hands. Two required reports have been submitted with a decision expected in November.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:25. Next scheduled meeting is set for Thursday, November 18 at 9 A.M. at Wellsville Village Hall.

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