Tamara L. Westhart

The meeting included a presentation by Bennett's Fire Protection regarding fire extinguisher and AED inspection and maintenance services, for which no action was taken. The City Administrator provided an update on the Westgate Addition plat map, noting projected timelines for bids, excavation, and infrastructure work, including the requirement for 18-20 electrical transformers. The Board agreed with the City of Auburn's request to reimburse overpaid franchise fees over twelve months by reducing future receivables. The Board authorized advertising for bids for a new pressure washer due to the obsolescence of parts for the old unit. Approval was granted for a five-year agreement with Subsurface Technologies for well cleaning services at a cost of $119,610.00. Authorization was given to move forward with electrical, water, and wastewater rate studies by JK Energy Consulting for $18,000.00. A three-year agreement was approved with Green Care Lawn Services for mowing electric properties based on the low bid. Updates were provided on ongoing mowing bids and Skid Loader bids deadlines. The Board received a positive update regarding the NPPD Cooper Nuclear Power Plant Tour and the successful water pumping to the City of Peru, with minor chemical feed adjustments ongoing. The employee service award policy was tabled for review. Following a closed session regarding potential litigation concerning a contract dispute with the Village of Brownville, the Board voted to terminate water and wastewater billing and meter reading services for the Village of Brownville effective June 25, 2024, withdrawing the previously submitted proposal. Standard financial reports were accepted, and the General Consent Items, including the transfer of $397,000.00 for routine interdepartmental transfers, were approved.

The Auburn Drinking Water Protection Management Plan aims to ensure a long-term, safe, and reliable drinking water supply for the Auburn community. The plan focuses on five key goals: recognizing the interconnectedness of surface and groundwater for sustainable supply, establishing comprehensive monitoring to assess water quality and quantity, actively reversing nitrate contamination trends to maintain levels below the USEPA MCL of 10 ppm, building drought resilience through enhanced groundwater recharge and responsible water usage, and implementing Best Management Practices in collaboration with agencies like NNRD and NRCS.