By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
The Bryan BPA met on October 3, 2023 at 5 p.m. Their first action was approving the minutes of their September 19, 2023 meeting as presented, and shortly after they voted to bring back to the table, and then approve, a resolution establishing the annual payment of the 2024 lease agreement for the Electric Department’s fiber-coax lease.
The Board then voted to recognize changes in Ohio bid requirements through Ordinance No. 38 with Resolution No. 19-2023.
A resolution designating October 1-7 as Public Power Week to recognize BMU’s contributions to the community was approved next before Derek Schultz was promoted off of probationary status and promoted to full time regular status and congratulated on the great job he’s been doing thus far.
An Electric Department probationary line worker was then promoted to regular status, and the resignation of Clerk Office account clerk was accepted on the account of relocating to North Carolina.
A motion was then approved to make a posting for the Account Clerk II position this resignation is leaving vacant.
A motion was then made to pay the bills as presented before the Electric Department shared the details of six awards given to them for their exemplary service.
The six awards given were for the utility’s mutual aid efforts in assisting Pioneer, Hillsdale, Wapakoneta, and Springfield.
The other two awards were for their Transmission and Distribution Safety Award, and the Generation Award for safety.
Details were then discussed around the 2023 People’s Choice Tank of the Year Award, which Spangler Candy Company has submitted the Dumdum tank to. Voting ends on Friday, October 13 at 5 p.m., so be sure to act fast!
The People’s Choice Award winner will be announced on Monday, October 16, and the Tank of the Year Award will be announced on Friday, October 20. Links to vote are available on the BMU website and Facebook page, and voting can be done at www.tankoftheyear.com .
Schultz then discussed details on discussions held with the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, which highlighted the growth and the success of the Light of Navajo Project.
The Light of Navajo Project is an unique project that connects homes of Navajo families in the Arizona / Utah / Mexico area to the electric grid for the very first time.
Demand for electricity is expected to only increase, with data showing that while only 1% of homes in 1950 used electric heating, that rose to 30% in 2000, and today it’s up to 40%.
A “hats off to the Electric Department” was then given “for all their mutual aid efforts,” sharing that “those guys always do a fantastic job. They work a lot of hours, and I’ve never, ever heard one of those guys complain. Again, congratulations.”
After the Board gave their best wishes to the resignee and congratulated those promoted on having done so, they voted to adjourn the meeting, reminding everyone to go and vote for the Spangler Candy Company Dumdum tank for the 2023 People’s Choice Tank of the Year Award.
Anna can be reached at anna@thevillagereporter.com