Board Meeting Minutes- May 26, 2026

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM | 601 Cherokee Leavenworth, KS 66048-0576

Directors in Attendance

• Eric Peterson
• William Daniels
• Camalla Leonhard
• Eric Price
• Nick Poff

Directors Absent (Excused)

• None

Staff in Attendance

• Joel Mahnken, General 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 4:59 PM.

Director Peterson noted that a quorum was present.

None

Director Poff inquired about the Mt. Olivet tank and surrounding grass and expressed an interest in visiting the tank site.

Director Peterson raised concern about yard decorations obstructing fire hydrant access. Director Peterson expressed an interest in informing customers of the city code to maintain clearance around a fire hydrant. General Manager stated he would speak with the City Manager about what steps we could take to work with the Fire Chief and Code Enforcement relating to fire hydrant clearance.

Upon motion from Director Poff and seconded by Director Price, motion passed 5-0…

RESOLVED (No. 15676), that the Board approved the minutes from May 11, 2026 as presented.

After brief discussion and upon motion from Director Leonhard and seconded by Director Poff, motion passed 5-0…

RESOLVED (No. 15677), that the Board approved the consent agenda as presented.

After brief review and mention of new rate going into effect, and upon motion from Director Poff and seconded by Director Leonhard, motion passed 5-0…

RESOVLED (No. 15678), that the Board approved the April 2026 Financial Statements once sales line items are verified and corrected if necessary.

Administration

1. April reconciliations
2. Continue working on CPE for license renewal – due in June
3. Updating/documenting various policies and procedures – Britni is working to digitalize past minutes. Goals in doing this:
   1. FAQ section on website
   2. Customer policy section on website
   3. Policy manual for management reference
   4. Policy manual for CSR reference
4. Continue working with auditors – in the final wrap up stages
5. Safety meeting on Summer Heat and Other Safety Concerns
6. Changing over provider of our Section 125 plan from SASI to Ameriflex, through Aflac
   • A Section 125 Cafeteria Plan is an employer-sponsored benefits program governed by the IRS. It allows employees to pay for qualified benefits (such as health insurance premiums, FSAs, and HSAs) with pre-tax dollars. This reduces the employee’s taxable income while lowering the employer’s payroll tax liabilities.
   • Aflac representative has been onsite and met with all employees.
   • SASI had become unresponsive and noncommunicative with us.
   • Aflac is absorbing associated fees while SASI charged a minimal $5 each month to each participant, which was made up in federal tax and FICA savings.

January – 1,520 late notices sent and worked 261 shutoffs

February – 1,643 late notices sent and worked 209 shutoffs

March – 2,017 late notices sent and worked 173 shutoffs

April – 2,742 late notices sent and worked 194 shutoffs

Distribution

Water Distribution Projects

1. Lead & Copper Service Inventory
   • Total 19/37 for the year.
2. Lawrence Ave
   • Westland working on submittals

Water Distribution Operations

• All pipe in the ground on 16th and Kiowa Project
• Lead & Copper sampling plan completed and submitted to KDHE
• West 7th Street Project survey started

Water Treatment

Treatment Summary

1. C & B rebuilt HSP #1 and installed it on May 20th (CIP 2026)
2. Attended safety meeting: Hot Weather Work
3. Tre has been conducting a survey all week on the property
4. Usage 80,260,929 gallons         Daily Average Usage: 4,013,046 gallons

General Manager

• KMU Safety Training held May 18th on “Hot Weather Safety/Stress & Exhaustion”
• Water Tank Project
  • Still waiting for KDHE to issue a loan amendment for a revised repayment schedule to close out Project.
• South Treatment Plant Resiliency Project
  • Reviewing EPA Grant requirements for $1.25M CDS Grant
  • BRIC grant application to be resubmitted to KDEM this week.
• Finished reviewing Emergency Response Plan update.
• Sent a proposal to KDOT to change percentage paid and completion date in Utility Agreement.
• Worked on Performance Evaluation

Brief discussion on New Centennial Bridge project with response from KDOT indicating that percentage to be paid is non-negotiable and that we are still waiting on a response from R-O-W Acquisition.

Director Leonhard recused herself from the Executive Session.

At 5:35 PM, the Board moved to enter an Executive Session to discuss personal matters of nonelected personnel. The Board voted to enter Executive Session with the following individuals in attendance: General Manager Joel Mahnken.

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

RESOLVED (No. 15679), that the Board recess the regular meeting to enter Executive Session to discuss personal matters of nonelected personnel for fifteen minutes.

At 5:50 PM, the Board ended the Executive Session and resumed the regular meeting.

Upon motion from Director Daniels and seconded by Directo Poff, motion passed 4-0.

RESOLVED (No. 15680), that the Board end the Executive Session and resume the regular meeting.

No further action was taken.

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

Director Peterson adjourned the meeting at 5:52 PM.