PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN/ THE VILLAGE REPORTER
2026 BRYAN BOARD OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS … From left, Jeremy Suffel, Brian Davis, Annette Schreiner, Karen Ford and Debra Beevers. Suffel and Beevers were sworn in as new board members after being appointed earlier this month.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The Bryan Board of Public Affairs swore in two new members, Debra Beevers and Jeremy Suffel, to the board at its meeting held on Tuesday, January 20.
Both were appointed to the BPA board earlier this month and were sworn in by Bryan Mayor Carrie Schlade.
Appointed as BPA committee chairmen were as follows: Finance – Brian Davis, Electric – Karen Ford, Water – Debra Beevers, Communications – Jeremy Suffel, and Human Resources – Annette Schreiner.
Suffel was also appointed to the BIPAC committee (Bryan Industrial Park Advisory Committee). Beevers was appointed as an OMEA Board alternate.
A resolution authorizing Director of Utilities Derek Schultz to enter into a solar power purchase agreement through Eitri Foundry and establish MEI Bryan, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company that will provide energy-related services for the new 3.5-megawatt AC Solar Array project.
The BPA had selected Eitri Foundry on October 21, 2025, as the preferred developer for a new behind-the-meter solar project on property owned by the City of Bryan to be completed under the structure of the power purchase agreement.
Schultz said the concept for the project began in late 2024 when BMU began evaluating its renewable energy sources due to rising power costs.
“At that time, AMP had also proposed a power purchase agreement for a wind project,” said Schultz. “After having a conversation with John Courtney, we decided in our best interest to look at some additional local solar projects.”
Bryan Municipal Utilities received two proposals for the project.
They had evaluated the proposals with Courtney before deciding on Eitri Foundry, known as MEI Bryan LLC, to design, build, own, operate and maintain the 3.5-megawatt Solar Array System on City of Bryan property and sell the energy and capacity to BMU at a fixed rate of $.065576/kWh for up to 30 years according to the terms and conditions of the agreement.
“We’re making sure this project gets all our long-term needs,” said Schultz. “It’s not of any hindrance to any of the departments or locations where it is.
City Council also approved Ordinance No. 67, which granted Eitri Foundry unlimited access so they can do surveying and geotechnical work.”
Courtney, representing Courtney & Associates of Findlay, along with John Coyle, Duncan & Allen, LLP, as outside legal counsel, and Marc Fishel, Bryan City Attorney, have all been actively involved in the negotiation, preparation, and review of the power purchase agreement.
He also touched on some of the key provisions in the agreement.
“The term of the agreement is an initial term of 30 years from what we call it a commercial operation date, with a provision for two five-year extensions by mutual agreement,” said Courtney.
“We haven’t had any agreements we’ve made with these projects, and haven’t gotten to the very end yet with these extensions.
This could turn into a 40-year project. The key point is you don’t own the project; the third-party entity owns the project.
“To the extent the project fails, or needs replacements, or there is something that must be replaced that’s on them, it’s not on you. You are only going to pay for the energy that you receive from the project.
“If it can’t produce because of failure, you’ll get less energy, or they’ll make the improvements necessary to get it back up to full capacity.”
Regarding the target commercial operation date, which is a part of the agreement, Courtney said the provider shall cause the commercial operation date to occur no later than June 30, 2027.
“We don’t anticipate this project, or does Eitri Foundry anticipate this project taking that long to construct,” Courtney said.
“There are unknowns regarding the delivery of materials for the project. It gives them a little bit of comfort there to know they can get the project done, hopefully either by November or December this year. A lot of this will depend on supply issues.”
Two resolutions were approved, authorizing the transfer of funds.
The first involves the transfer of $2,200,000 from the 501 Electric Fund to the 515 Electric Capital Fund for future capital improvement purposes.
The other is the transfer of $225,000 from the 502 Water Fund to the 525 Water Capital Reserve Fund for capital improvement projects.
Schultz, along with Brock Beck (engineering department supervisor), Mike Lyons (communications department supervisor), and Jimmy Dunning (water department superintendent), presented a Year in Review highlighting their respective departments for 2025.
Schultz reported on the annual fund activity in which the ending fund balance in the Communications 509 fund was $1,714,049.00. The 535 Capital Reserve Fund was $71,072.00.
The 501 Electric Fund Consolidation included a transfer of the year-end balance from 509 O&M Fund to 501 O&M Fund, a transfer of the year-end fund balance from 535 Communications Capital Fund to 515 Electric Capital Fund.
All revenues and expenses are now recorded in the Electric Fund. The 509 O&M Fund will be dissolved in 2026.
In communications, several fiber optic projects were completed, including the Water Treatment Plant Fiber, Power Plant Substation Breaker Fiber, Daggett Substation Decommission, Fountain City Water Tower (Mulberry Street) SCADA Fiber, Center Street AMI Gatekeeper Addition, Wastewater Treatment Plant Fiber, Edgerton Fiber Route, and Senior Center Fiber.
The BMU Network completed several upgrades, including City of Bryan Wireless upgrade, Voice Upgrades to include Daupler Call Center, Barracuda Upgrade, Water Tower and Well Network Upgrade, Power Plant/Bryan Street Hub (Cisco Core Network Upgrade), Police/Fire Department (Cisco Network Upgrade), VPN Changes for Secure Remote Access, and Water Treatment Plant Ruggedcom Upgrade.
Upcoming projects in the communications department include complete fiber construction on East Wilson Street to bypass the old Daggett Substation, new headend fiber termination for the main 288 fiber ring, engineering and design for future BMU electric projects, complete wastewater treatment plant fiber network, Rays Drive fiber relocation project, and Microsoft Exchange project for BMU and city departments.
In water utilities, the 402 Water Fund had an ending fund balance of $3,158,953. The 525 Water Capital Reserve Fund had $930,492 as its ending fund balance.
This also includes an Ohio EPA Generator Grant ($41,581), South Lynn Street Grant ($275.000), and GovDeal Sales ($3,370).
A year-end report on water sales and usage was presented. Residential use totaled 136,492,292 gallons for a total cost of $1,438,781.
Industrial use totaled 127,685,096 gallons at a cost of $543,626. Commercial use totaled 72,977,872 gallons at a cost of $761,378, and for free water service, 24,947,785 gallons were used. Water usage for 2025 totaled 362,105,045 gallons in all four categories.
The Water Treatment Plant analyzed 402 bacteria samples in 2025 and conducted an Ohio EPA Sanitary Survey and performed Ohio EPA annual monitoring of the plant, which met all Ohio EPA requirements.
Last year, the Water Treatment Plant pumped 472,635,000 gallons of water. The highest total occurred in June with 44,612,000 million gallons pumped.
The lowest total occurred in November with 34,480,000 million gallons pumped.
Dunning also updated board members regarding the water system improvement plan for this year.
This will involve the engineering services of Jones & Henry for a water distribution system model, along with a water treatment plant system improvement study and engineering report in Phase I.
The second phase includes general plan development and concept review.
Using the services of Bennett and Williams Environmental Consultants, a preliminary evaluation of groundwater resources and initial exploration evaluations will take place.
Distribution system services and upgrades include installing new water services, fire hydrant flushing, inspection and winterization, valve exercise program, AMI water meter installation, increasing firefighting capabilities, and improving water service reliability.
Water Department projects for 2026 include system-wide leak detection survey, WTP Header & Control Valve Installation, Red Sand Filter Cleaning, water main replacements on the 700-900 block of East Mulberry Street, the 300-500 block of West Bryan Street, the 100 block of Bement Street, and the 300 block of Emmet Street. Phase II of the water system improvement plan, hydrogeological study, and water rate study.
In the engineering department, projects from 2025 included the Ohio EPA Plan Approval involving waterline projects on East Mulberry Street and East Bement Street, and the Well I vertical turbine to the submersible conversion project.
Other projects included the easement and utility relocation project on Rays Drive, electric and water inspection involving Phase IV in Autumn Chase, and Electric Department boring projects in Deerfield Subdivision, Eastland Woods, and Eastland Estates.
The next board meeting will be on Tuesday, February 3, at 5 p.m.