PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES … Bryan BPA member Karen Ford (above) discusses the construction price change regarding the new electric warehouse project at its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 21.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The Bryan Board of Public Affairs held its meeting on Tuesday, October 21, at the Bryan Municipal Utilities building.
Vice Chairman Bob Eyre called the meeting to order with Dick Long, Jim Salsbury, and Karen Ford in attendance, along with Director of Utilities, Derek Schultz, Clerk-Treasurer John Lehner, and Mayor Carrie Schlade. Board member Annette Schreiner was absent.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the board approved the minutes of the September 30, 2025, meeting, the clerk-treasurer report, and paid the bills for September.
On the agenda was a resolution authorizing Schultz to approve modifications to the new electric warehouse project. This was recommended by Beilharz Architects, Inc. of Defiance.
It will add $4,750 to the total cost of the building project for the installation of a floor drain, thus bringing the final total to $1,301,292. This is within the approved 2025 electric department capital improvements budget of $1,400,000.
“This will provide a floor drain in the area that connects the existing electric warehouse and the new electric warehouse,” said Schultz. “This wasn’t included in the original plan of drawings. We would recommend doing that now to allow for proper cleaning and drainage of that area.”
He added that installing the floor drain now would be more cost-effective than waiting until after the work is completed, due to higher material and labor costs.
Ford made the motion to approve the modification costs, with Long seconding. It was approved by a 4-0 vote.
Eyre questioned Schultz about the usage of 406 kilowatt hours from the Auglaize Hydroelectric Plant, which was lower than normal.
Schultz attributed it to the recent dry weather the area had encountered this summer. He pointed out that from August 1 through September 17; it was the driest period on record since 1939. He added that only one-half inch of rain fell during August, and 1.38 inches of rain fell during September.
The board went into executive session and then later took the following action, authorizing Schultz to proceed with negotiating a purchase power agreement and interconnection agreement with Eitri Foundry.
They serve as the preferred developer for the Solar Array Project, and authorized Mayor Carrie Schlade to prepare an easement agreement between the City of Bryan and Eitri Foundry relative to the location of the proposed solar array.