Kaleb Mackey

The board reviewed recommendations from the Capital Improvement Committee regarding system upgrades. Approvals were granted for new Benefit Unit applications and Benefit Unit Transfers. The board also approved Leak Relief requests and voted to upgrade all meters in the New Harmony, Bison, and Oglesby areas to Neptune smart meters. Additionally, the board approved upgrading endpoints for check meters, adding new check meter registers, and installing new valves. A new Disconnect Policy was approved, along with a rate increase for water rates. The board voted to pay several bills, including those for UMCCO Management & Maintenance, City of Bartlesville, VVEC, and Accurate Environmental. Other agenda items were reviewed without requiring action.

The Board discussed issuing Commercial Taps as a lease instead of a Benefit Unit and whether grandfathering existing agricultural or commercial users is legal. The Board also approved the Service Disconnect polity with language substitutions. The Board discussed leak detection assistance from ORWA and the necessity of maintaining the BOK account. The Board also voted to approve six Benefit Unit Transfers. The Board voted to Table Leak Relief requests. The Board instructed Management to charge the construction company for damaging the line on Hwy 60 and voted to pay the bills.

The board discussed issuing commercial taps as a lease instead of a Benefit Unit and whether grandfathering existing agricultural or commercial users is legal. They also discussed adding language to the proposed Disconnect Policy to charge disconnection and reconnection costs to disconnected customers, including a report on the district's contribution to local Fire Departments, and including results from periodic water sampling. The board approved one new Benefit Unit application and tabled another due to ownership concerns. Six Benefit Unit Transfers and seven Leak Relief requests were approved. The board also tabled the proposed Disconnect Policy pending changes. A new rate structure for Agricultural and Commercial customers was approved, effective November 1st, and the board voted to absorb the Minnesota Water District, requiring new customers to pay a special minimum rate. The board approved payment of several bills.

The board addressed benefit unit transfers, leak relief, and customer accounts. They directed management to send a rescission letter, add outstanding balances on benefit unit payments to customer accounts, and include a new shut-off policy on the next month's agenda. The board also instructed management to contact Bartlesville regarding new water rates and requested the application date be added to benefit unit transfers. Additionally, the board approved the payment of several bills.

The Board addressed several key items, including the approval of minutes from the previous meeting and the approval of one Benefit Unit transfer. A new Benefit Unit was approved for David Foster, contingent on payment for necessary upgrades. The Board also approved four leak relief requests. Management was directed to implement a call log and increase Facebook activity to improve customer communication. The new Benefit Unit application was amended to include a 60-day waiting period for feasibility studies. Additionally, the Board discussed adding a Transfer Fee rate increase to the next meeting's agenda and approved the payment of several bills.