Buckeye Water District Finance Committee Meeting

In preparation for the regular monthly meeting the BWD Finance Committee met yesterday, July 14, at the Water Treatment Plant. Part of the meeting was to compare the three submitted bids for determining who will be the depository for their banking business in the future. Present at the meeting were Board members Gene McGaffick & Bob Wines, District Manager Al DeAngelis and BWD Financial Officer Sara Crouch.

The Committee reviewed receipts & expenditures for the month of June. Operational income for June was $304,690.91 while expenses totaled $576,032.51. Expenses were up for June mostly due to a major loan payment that had to be made. Although I didn't get a figure for a balance of the funds on hand the district is in good financial shape.

It was noted that receipts for June were up and that trend should continue for the next couple of summer months. Customers are watering lawns & gardens, filling swimming pools and if this dry spell continues the demand for water will increase that much more.

Also noted was that the cost of making potable water is up. That was mostly attributed to the costs involved in taking over supplying water to the Village of Salineville and additional testing required by the EPA for the new Water Treatment Plant. Salineville is still using their old Water Treatment Plant. That means that, at the least, there are two BWD treatment plant operators on duty at all times. That doubles everything from the cost of wages, holiday pay and benefits. That will continue until the Salineville project is complete and they go on line with water supplied from the new plant. The increased frequency of testing being required by the EPA will eventually get back to a normal schedule once they determine the new plant is doing the job. With a new water source and plant the extra testing is standard operating procedure demanded by the EPA.

The decision on recommending a future depository for banking was tabled by the Committee. After drawing up a comparison table of the three bids it was decided there was insufficient information submitted to make that determination. Once the blanks are filled in it will be rescheduled for a future meeting.

Bids for Phase I of the Salineville project are going out this Friday. Bid opening for that will be 10/7/09. Tentative plans are being made to have a Public Open House at the new Water Treatment Plant for August 12. We'll let you know when those plans are solidified. Next regular meeting is tomorrow, July 16, at 9 A.M., at the Wellsville Village Hall Council Chamber.

ole nib