REQUEST FOR NEW TRANSFORMER … Power Plant Supervisor Jim Coressel asks the board to approve a new transformer for the power plant substation. (PHOTO BY DANIEL COOLEY / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Daniel Cooley
The Bryan Board of Public Affairs meeting, held on May 16, began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the call to order.
All five board members, Dick Long, Jim Salsbury, Annette Schreiner, Karen Ford and Tom Sprow, were in attendance.
In the first order of business, the board approved the previous meeting minutes from the April 26 meeting.
That was followed by the board approving the clerk-treasurer’s report, for the month ending April 30.
Next, Sean Rupp of the Williams County Port Authority asked for a waiver of fees for a house going up on South Main Street.
The request was for the Bryan Municipal Utilities to donate the hook up. The board approved the request.
Rupp stated that the house on South Main Street is the third house that the Port Authority has been responsible for in the county and said that the Port Authority is on its way to securing 10 houses in the county.
The board then approved the request for the installation of a new streetlight, by petition. The light, a 10-foot pole with an arm, will be going up on Circle Drive.
Currently, Circle Drive does not have any streetlights. The cost should be under $300.
Next, the board approved Resolution 8-2023, to award a bid from Pennsylvania Transformer Technology.
The bid, which includes a five-year warranty, is for a new transformer for the power plant substation.
The total estimated cost is $952,930. The transformer is expected to arrive by September 2024. Jim Coressel, power plant supervisor, said that the transformer will be craned into position.
The board then approved the request to reclassify engineering department employee Suzan Hensley.
Hensley will be reclassified from utilities engineering assistant III to probationary utilities engineering assistant/GIS Coordinator.
Hensley brings more than 27 years of experience to the job. According to Human Resources Director Jackie Schlachter, Hensley said that she is looking at skills that will increase her abilities to do the job.
Next, the board approved the request to hire Ethan Dunson as probationary utilities engineering assistant I.
Dunson has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering technology and currently serves in the National Guard, 945th Engineering Company.

The board then approved the motion to pay the bills. Next, Utilities Director Derek Schultz thanked Rupp of the Williams County Port Authority and congratulated employees Hensley and Dunson.
Sprow welcomed Hensley and Dunson and said that it is a good thing to have the Port Authority in the county, to help bring in much needed housing.
Schreiner welcomed new Clerk-Treasurer John Lehner and thanked the Port Authority.
The board then moved into executive session.
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com