Board Meeting Minutes- March 24, 2025

Monday, March 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM | 601 Cherokee Leavenworth, KS 66048-0576

Directors in Attendance

• Richard Gervasini (arrived at 5:04)
• William Daniels (on phone)
• Eric Peterson
• Nick Poff

Directors Absent (Excused)

• Chad Lough

Staff in Attendance

• Joel Mahnken, General Manager
• Dana Splichal, Finance Manager
• John Hodgden, Distribution Manager
• Neil Seichepine, Treatment Manager
• Britni Huff, Staff Engineer

Others in Attendance

• None

Director Peterson called the meeting to order at 5:02 PM.

Director Peterson noted that a quorum was present.

None

(Director Gervasini arrived at this time and assumed the chair.)

None

Upon motion from Director Poff and seconded by Director Peterson, motion passed 4-0…

RESOLVED (No. 15568), that the Board approved minutes from March 10, 2025.

Upon motion from Director Peterson and seconded by Director Poff, motion passed 4-0…

RESOLVED (No. 15569), that the Board approved the consent agenda as presented.

Upon motion from Director Peterson, seconded by Director Poff, motion passed 4-0…

RESOLVED (No. 15570), that the Board approved the February 2025 Financial
Statements.

Administration

1. February financial statements
2. BS&A Software - go live date July 28th
   • Continuing to work with the conversion team
     1. Bi-weekly meeting to discuss status and questions
3. Auditor team onsite week of March 10th – audit is ongoing

Distribution

Water Distribution Projects

1. Lead & Copper Service Inventory
   • 1 Customer has replaced their galvanized services since last meeting. Total 9/37 for the year.
2. Lecompton Water Main Replacement (2023)
   • Planned start mid-April, brush clearing will be done first.
3. Mount Olivet Project
   • Lines in service, Linaweaver on site for dirt work.

Water Distribution Operations

Between February 21st, 2025, and March 6th, 2025, the following water-distribution activities have occurred:

Tariffs Surcharges

On March 13th, 2025, the Distribution Manager received an email from Tony Jaurez, our Neptune meter vendor. Attached to the email was a document titled the “Neptune Tariff Letter,” which outlined an 8% price increase on all meters, effective immediately. This increase is a direct result of tariffs placed on China and Mexico.

To better understand the broader impact, he reached out to other vendors, and several have confirmed that price adjustments are forthcoming. While specific surcharge rates have not yet been finalized, we should anticipate additional cost increases.

For context, in 2024, we spent $203,329 on meters alone.

Water Treatment

Ohio Street Booster Station

1. Nothing new to report.

North Plant Summary

1. Annual hoist inspection done by Kone Cranes.

South Plant Summary

1. C & B pulled both pumps and grinder to test from the lagoon pump station
2. McGuire Electric tested all electricity at the lagoon pump station.
3. Annual hoist inspection done by Kone Cranes.
4. Shared PowerPoint presentation on the damage that occurred in the lagoon pump station, estimated cost to repair is $11,000

General Manager

• KMU Safety Training held March 10th on “Slips. Trips, & Falls/Back Safety” at both the South Plant and the Office. The Safety Committee met thereafter.
• Water Tank Project
• Contract #1 Pipeline: Hettinger Excavating reached Substantial Completion March 5th. The only major item left is to install the permanent erosion control mat in the drainage swale.
• Contract #2 Tank: DN Tanks’ sitework subcontractor, Linaweaver Construction, has started working on the site. Prime contractor to start in April. They continue with submittals.
• South Treatment Plant Resiliency Project
  • Submitted BRIC grant application to KDEM on March 10th and have received their comments back. We need to make corrections by April 1st for KDEM to make the Federal submission by April 18th.
  • The Kansas Infrastructure Hub has approved Build Kansas Funds for 95 percent of the required 25 percent local match, $11,328,750. It was recommended that a local investment be included in the BKF application, 5 percent. This comes to $596,250 that the Waterworks will have to obligate (1.25% of the project total).
  • Tenpenny Law continues to work on the CDS Grant option.
• The Lecompton Road WMR project: MCON has provided materials submittals and a revised schedule. Expected start date is still in mid-April.
• North Plant “D main” project: McClure has scheduled a site visit to verify utility locations on March 21st. They should be near the 30% design point for discussions with KDOT.

Director Gervasini requested that past board member Paul Hund attend a meeting to discuss fluoridation from the viewpoint of a dentist.

Upon motion from Director Peterson, seconded by Director Poff, motion passed 4-0.

Director Gervasini adjourned the meeting at 5:32 PM.