WATER MAIN EXTENSION REQUEST … In Resolution 15, Utilities Director Nate Gardner stated that Airmate Company had requested a water main extension from Bryan’s water line, to help give Airmate adequate fire protection. The Bryan Board of Public Affairs passed the Resolution. (PHOTO BY DANIEL COOLEY, STAFF)
By: Daniel Cooley
The Bryan Board of Public Affairs (BPA) meeting on March 1 began with the Pledge of Allegiance. All five board members, Jim Salsbury, Annette Schreiner, Karen Ford, Dick Long and Tom Sprow, were present.
First, the Bryan BPA approved of the minutes from the February 1 meeting.
Next, the BPA approved of Resolution 12, declaring Juneteenth a paid holiday and adding it to the Bryan City Handbook.
The BPA then approved of Resolution 13, declaring Juneteenth a paid holiday for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union number 245.
That was followed by the BPA approving of Resolution 14, to advertise for bids for the water treatment plant’s South High-Pressure filter rehab project.
According to Bryan Water Superintendent Derek Schultz, the “filter removes iron and manganese, but it wasn’t filtering as well as it should. We budgeted for it this year and we will make any necessary repairs.”
Next, the BPA approved of Resolution 15. According to the agenda sheet, an extension of the “water line at East Wilson Street and County Road D…has been requested by Airmate Company to serve and ensure adequate fire protection for the expansion of said business.”
Airmate has requested that Bryan Municipal Utilities (BMU) to advertise for bids for the project. Airmate will be responsible for all costs involving the project.
The BPA then approved of the BMU’s business hours request for 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
A presentation of the year in review for the Bryan Water Department was then conducted. The ending fund balance for the 502 water fund was $2,708,102, the 525 Water Capital Reserve Fund was $714, 580 and the combined funds for the two was $3,422,682.
Utilities director Nate Gardner explained that much of the combined funds was because of the AMI (utilities) project.
Almost one-half of the water sales by rate class for 2021’s total of $1,369,090 came from residential customers.
In December of 2019, the BMU started a three-year rate plan and Gardner stated that the rate plan helped them during the slow times. Gardner stated that “we will continue to make use of our skilled work force to save in cost over the year.”
In the water treatment area, the water treatment laboratory analyzed 446 bacterial samples and that that the operators were recertified by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for bacteria analysis.
The good news of it all, according to Schultz, was that all Ohio EPA requirements were met and that there were no water quality issues.
In 2021, August was the highest month of usage, with 46,603,000 gallons pumped and February was the slowest month, with 34,104,000 gallons pumped.
The Bryan Water Treatment then had to certify with the EPA that the following three areas were conducted: U.S. EPA Risk and resilience assessment, U.S. EPA Emergency Response Plan and third, the Ohio EPA Wellhead Protection Plan.
There was plenty of repair work accomplished, with three water distribution main replacements conducted, including 1,410 feet of eight-inch PVC water main.
There were also 40 water meter pit upgrades, 17 new services installed, 14 water services repaired and four water main valves replaced.
In addition, there were several miscellaneous water department projects, including exterior upgrades to the water treatment plant.
There are several upcoming projects for 2022, including street main replacement of the 00-600 blocks of East Bryan Street and water tower paintings.
The communications department year in review will be conducted at the next Bryan BPA meeting.
In other news, Gardner stated that the AMI project is coming along well, as eight of 10 gatekeepers, which go to work when the meters are plugged in.
The Eaton System’s training for the new software, will take place on March 7-8.
With National Appreciation Day coming on March 4, Gardner thanked the communications and engineering departments and the BMU office staff, “because we couldn’t do it without them.”
After comments from the board members, the BPA voted to adjourn the meeting.
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com