CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE … Beautiful fresh poinsettias tastefully decked the BPA room as they met for their meeting during the week before Christmas. Present around the table for the December 20, 2022 meeting were board members Tom Sprow, Karen Ford, Dick Long, Annette Schreiner (vice-chair), Jim Salsbury (chairman), Bryan Mayor Carrie Schlade, Attorney Rhonda Fisher and Clerk Treasurer Laura Rode. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
The Bryan BPA board met on December 20, 2022, but their final meeting of the year is scheduled for December 29, 2022 at noon.
During the December 20 meeting, the board approved the minutes of the December 6, 2022 meeting, the clerk treasurer’s report, payment of the bills and a few resolutions.
The first was Resolution 51, authorizing wage adjustments for non-bargaining unit hourly and salaried staff and declaring an emergency and the second, Resolution 52, authorizing the sale of OMEGA JV5 – Belleville Hydroelectric RECs.
Director of Utilities, Nathan Gardner, explained that authorizing the sale of their Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) is something they do every couple of years to let AMP (American Municipal Power), who represents the City of Bryan in the world of energy, sell their RECs that are generated by the Belleville, West Virginia Hydroelectric Plant.
A motion was approved to accept BMU’s Strategic Plan for 2023-2026, which Operations Manager Derek Schultz took a few moments to share.
“We have been evaluating the strategic plan for the past several months. A big focus was on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and the business goals or projects.”
“It is for 2023-26 but it is a living document that can be edited over time.” He asked that if they had no further comments or changes that they would approve it.
Board member Dick Long said that he thought it was a very good plan with a lot of thought put into it.
HR Director Jackie Perry presented a request to take water department employee Adrian Juarez off probationary Water Treatment Plant Operator Trainee and place him at regular employment status. The board voted to approve her recommendation.
The BPA and staff all took time to congratulate Adrian Juarez on his promotion, Kevin Vollmer on getting to move into retirement, and Stuart Martin on his graduation from NSCC with a degree in Project Management.
They also thanked the team for their effort on the strategic plan, and all the employees for a great year of safety and good work.
Wishes for a Merry Christmas were exchanged and then the board went into executive session to consider the appointment or employment of a public official.
With no action taken, the meeting adjourned.
Rebecca may be reached at rebecca@thevillagereporter.com