Board Meeting Minutes- September 8, 2025

Monday, September 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM | 601 Cherokee Leavenworth, KS 66048-0576

Directors in Attendance

• Richard Gervasini
• Eric Peterson
• William Daniels
• Chad Lough

Directors Absent (Excused)

• Nick Poff

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

• Camalla Leonhard (2025 Board Candidate)
• Ronald Grossman (2025 Board Candidate)

Director Gervasini called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM.

Director Gervasini noted that a quorum was present.

None

None

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

RESOLVED (No. 15608), that the Board approved minutes from August 25, 2025.

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

RESOLVED (No. 15609), that the Board approved the consent agenda as presented.

Upon motion from Director Daniels and seconded by Director Lough, motion passed 4-0…

RESOLVED (No. 15610), that the Board approved the July Financial Statements.

The General Manager made the recommendation to hire the grant writer, Western Consultants, dba Governmental Assistance Services, to prepare an application for the EPA’s Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Grant Program. He noted that this work would replace the WaterSMART Grant Program application we had previously contracted with GAS for. Cost is $6,900 with fifty percent paid at start of work and fifty percent paid at submission. The due date for submission is October 6th.

Board consensus was to contract with Western Consultants, dba Governmental Assistance Services to prepare the grant application.

The General Manager presented, in accordance with the Board policy, the final pay estimate for Hettinger Excavating on the Tank Project transmission main contract for approval. The final payment is based on the actual units installed and the Liquidated Damages incurred.

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

RESOLVED (No. 15611), that the Board approved the final payment of $443,306.48 to Hettinger Excavating for SRF Project 3102, Contract No. 1.

Administration

1. Software conversions:
   • BS&A Software
     • implementation team will be back with us for the week of September 15th as a post go-live for questions and follow-ups.
2. Continue working on reconciling data transferred from old software to new.
3. July financial statements
4. 2026 budget prep
5. Attended KsAWWA conference for one day
   1. KsAWWA board members asked that I get involved with the organization so currently waiting on my committee assignment

Distribution

Water Distribution Projects

1. Lead & Copper Service Inventory
   • Total 24/37 for the year.
2. Lecompton Water Main Replacement (2023)
   • Finishing the 2” on Lecompton Rd near the S Curve.
3. Mount Olivet Project
   • Scheduled a walk through for those interested in seeing the interior of the tank for 9.11.25 12:00 noon.
4. Lawrence Ave
   • Britni has finished the 1st Draft of our first in-house AUTOCad drawings, working on revisions.
5. Annual Free Chlorine burnout scheduled, started.

Water Distribution Operations

1. No breaks since the last meeting.
2. I hosted our wholesale water districts for lunch, discussed their upcoming projects, our ongoing projects, and the Annual Free CL2 Burnout.

Water Treatment

Ohio Street Booster Station

1. Nothing new to report.

North Plant Summary

1. The free chlorine burnout started on September 2nd.

South Plant Summary

1. The free chlorine burnout started on September 2nd.
2. Work on the Lagoon sludge line started.

General Manager

• Water Tank Project
  • Contract #1 Pipeline: Ready for final payment.
  • Contract #2 Tank: DN Tank has agreed to open the tank site for Waterworks employees and Board members on Sept 11th between Noon and 1 pm
• South Treatment Plant Resiliency Project
  • Working with our Grant Writer about the NOFO for a potential grant through EPA, specifically for midsize and large water utilities.
• Working on the 2026 budget preparation.
• Will be attended the Governor’s Water Conference in Manhattan on Nov. 11th to 13th. Invited board members and candidates to attend as well.

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

Director Gervasini adjourned the meeting at 5:30 PM.