BWD Board of Trustees

Thursday - February 18: The Buckeye Water District Board of Trustees met in their regular monthly meeting Thursday morning at Wellsville Village Hall. Present at the meeting was Board President Mike Ryan, Trustees Dave Lloyd, Bob Wines, Cal Carney, Jack Call and Tim O'Hara. Also present was District Manager Al DeAngelis, BWD Attorney Fred Emmerling, Fiscal Administrator Sara Crouch and Administration Asst. Tracy Allen.

In the Public Comment Period, yours truly, speaking as a Wellsville resident, asked the Board to seriously consider some sort of notification system be installed in regards to water shut offs or rumored shut offs. Noting a water line break on Commerce last week word spread like wild fire that water was going to be shut off. It was after regular business hours. There was no way to verify whether it was true or not. We asked that consideration be given to some sort of up-dated recorded message customers can call or a contact number be established.

District Manager DeAngelis explained that unless there is a break in the main water line coming into town most shut offs can be isolated in the immediate area of any other break. In the case of the Commerce Street break last week the line was able to be repaired without shutting off the water. DeAngelis added if it had been necessary to shut off the water supply in that break BWD personnel would have notified residents in the area effected, by going around knocking on doors. In the case of a major break the Fire Dept. is notified immediately so they can make alternate plans in case of a fire. Businesses are also advised along with the media. The Administration Officer noted that an automatic customer notification system had been considered in the past but it was cost prohibitive for the district.

A resolution was passed rescinding the contract BWD had with Tucson Inc. for Part B of the Salineville Water Line project. BWD Attorney Emmerling remarked that this was a formality. The actual contract with Tucson has to be awarded by the Village of Salineville since the Village acquired the loans for Part B. Salineville borrowed $1 million for the project. Half of that is an OPWC loan and the other half is a CDBG grant. DeAngelis added that BWD will oversee the project and make sure everything is right. Emmerling further commented there is a management agreement with Salineville for Part B. Paying the bills will be through Salineville's banking account and Salineville has to sign off when installation is completed. Once the line is installed and Salineville goes on-line the lines become property of BWD. Installation of Part B has been delayed due to the snow. They have to start on Route 39.

Three "then & now" invoices for a total of $12,315 were approved for payment in the Treasurer's Report. See our post dated February 17. A motion to submit the FY 2009 Financial Report for the State Audit was approved.

Ryan noted that over-time will be coming down with the completion of Part A on the Salineville Water Line.

Chairman of the Service Committee, Cal Carney, reported payment arrangements had been made with two water customers that had extra high bills for water line breaks on their property. Personnel Chairman Tim O'Hara reported that a 30 year employee has plans to retire at the end of the month. The district has decided to rehire that employee on a part-time basis after he retires. O'Hara remarked that his experience was too valuable to lose. Attorney Emmerling remarked a new position will be created for this. The Board went into a 28 minute executive session to consider this.

O'Hara also reported that the Engineering Committee has signed off on five change orders for Part 1 of the Salinevill Water Line. See our post dated February 13.

District Manager Al DeAngelis reported that agents from the Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP) will be doing environmental studies next week for replacing the water main into Wellsville and assessing the Frederick Heights area proposed project. The EPA requires the studies to be done. RCAP is funded by the EPA. DeAngelis also reported that he was meeting with members of U.S. Congressman Wilson's staff to brief them on replacing the water main line from Hibbetts Mill into Wellsville. The annual inventory count on all district equipment is currently being conducted.

The meeting was adjourned at 0950 hours. Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 18 at 9 A.M. at Wellsville Village Hall.

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