(PHOTO BY BRIANNA BALOGH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
EVALUATION … Board member Bob Eyre expresses the importance of Resolution No. 22-2024 to evaluate the water treatment plant.
By: Brianna Balogh
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Bryan Board of Public Affairs held their rescheduled meeting on October 3rd. This meeting was rescheduled from the normal time to allow for Utilities Director Dereck Shultz to attend the annual AMP conference.
The meeting was called to order at 5pm with the pledge of allegiance followed by roll call. All members were in attendance as well as Mayor Carrie Schlade, Director of Utilities Derek Schultz and Clerk- Treasurer John Lehner.
The minutes from the previous meeting were quickly approved, being motioned by Bob Eyre and seconded by Dick Long.
Three resolutions were on the agenda for this meeting. The first resolution, no. 22-2024, was to authorize the director of utilities to execute an agreement for professional evaluation on the water treatment plant.
This resolution would allow Jones and Henry engineering to evaluate the current water treatment process. Depending on the findings, recommendations will be provided on life expectancy, updates or a new plant. The water treatment plant has been in operation since 1973.
Currently the process presents various safety concerns as well as having experienced several critical failures in the last few years. Multiple board members addressed the vital importance of this evaluation.
The evaluation would cost $43,510 with an estimated completion date being the first of 2025. The motion was approved by all members.
The second resolution presented, no. 23-2024, would authorize an agreement with Kronos Saashr INC, a UKG Company, for cloud based HR services and time keeping. Human Resources Director Tricia Lyons provided more information, stating that the current system is obsolete and cannot be upgraded.
Online requests would be easier for employees and reduce paperwork with the new service as well as provide scheduling and reporting features. The service would be shared between city wide employees and MCU employees with a cost of $23,100, the percentage of cost would depend on the number of employees within each department.
The contract would be for 3 years and then would require renewal with an 8% upcharge. All members approved the motion.
The final resolution, no 24-2024, will designate October 6-12 as public power week. This week is designated to recognize the people behind public power. Chair Ford commented on the fact that Bryan has had community owned public power for 128 years, since 1896.
The motion was approved and public power week will be advertised via various methods including social media.
All members approved the semi-monthly disbursements which moved business along to comments from staff.
Schultz started with an update on a mutual aid request. Two utility workers, Brandon Suffel and Noah Landel, traveled to Tallahassee, Florida to provide aid.
After being released on Saturday, they were reassigned to Newberry, South Carolina. Several AMP communities have sent line workers to assist with hurricane relief.
Schultz continued with a summary of the AMP annual conference. The city of Bryan was elected to retain its seat as an AMP trustee for the next 3 years, which brings the total number of years close to 40.
Several awards were received including 2 Hard Hat Safety Awards to be presented at a later date. The power plant received the Generation Safety award and the electric distribution department received an award for having less than 1% time lost due to recordable accidents. The Bryan Municipal Utilities was awarded 2 mutual aid awards for assistance that was provided in 2023.
Mayor Schlade was happy to report that Tom Sprow was awarded an honorary membership on OMEA (Ohio Municipal Electric Association). Mayor Schlade went over several highlights from Sprow’s time with the Bryan Board of Public Affairs where he served for 8 years.
He served on several committees, served as both chairman and vice chairman, and authorized several improvement projects including multiple substations and the Bryan solar field. Mayor Schlade expressed gratitude for Sprow’s many years of service and dedication.
Prior to adjourning, the board members had an opportunity to comment. Multiple board members took this opportunity to congratulate all the awards winners and to thank the aid workers, Brandon and Noah. The meeting adjourned at 5:29pm.