Board Meeting Minutes- October 13, 2025

Monday, October 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM | 601 Cherokee Leavenworth, KS 66048-0576

Directors in Attendance

• Richard Gervasini
• Eric Peterson
• Nick Poff

Directors Absent (Excused)

• William Daniels
• Chad Lough

Staff in Attendance

• Joel Mahnken, General Manager
• Dana Splichal, Finance Manager
• John Hodgden, Distribution Manager

Others in Attendance

• Ron Grossman (2025 Board Candidate)
• Eric Price (2025 Board Candidate)

Director Gervasini called the meeting to order at 4:58 PM.

Director Gervasini noted that a quorum was present.

None

None

Upon motion from Director Poff and seconded by Director Peterson, motion passed 3-0…

RESOLVED (No. 15614), that the Board approved minutes from September 22, 2025.

Upon motion from Director Peterson and seconded by Director Poff, motion passed 3-0…

RESOLVED (No. 15615), that the Board approved the consent agenda as presented.

The General Manager reported that MCON has completed work on the Lecompton Watermain Replacement Project. Noted that MCON completed the project ahead of schedule and under budget.

Discussion was held. It was noted that MCON would be back in the spring to seed and John further noted that property owners were aware that this is occurring in the spring.

Upon motion from Director Poff and seconded by Director Peterson, motion passed 3-0…

RESOLVED (No. 15616), that the Board approve Authorize the General Manager to execute Change Order 2 with MCON, LLC to update final contract price to $842,482.50 (Eight hundred forty-two thousand four hundred eighty-two dollars and fifty cents) and approve Final Payment to MCON, LLC in the amount of $64,537.35.

As mentioned in previous meetings, the General Manager has been gathering data for a 2026 rate comparison of water utilities in the region. A Power Point presentation was shared documenting the findings and recommendations.

Discussion was held. Director Gervasini requested a summary of energy costs from 1/2024 to current for Evergy.

No action was taken.

Administration

1. September reconciliations
2. 2026 budget prep
3. Rate discussions with Joel
4. KMU Business Development class “Business Process Management”
5. Held interviews for CSR position. Offer was made and accepted with anticipated start date of 10/27/25.
6. Have agreed to serve on the audit committee for KsAWWA

Distribution

Water Distribution Projects

1. Lead & Copper Service Inventory
   • Total 29/37 for the year.
2. Lecompton Water Main Replacement (2023)
   • Final pay app
3. Mount Olivet Project
   • Awaiting KDHE for Disinfection Approval.
4. Lawrence Ave
   • 2nd Draft complete, in review
5. Attended KMU Water Summit-Direct Potable Reuse/KDHE Regulation and Funding Update.

Water Distribution Operations

1. Main breaks since our last meeting.

Water Treatment

Ohio Street Booster Station

1. C & B replaced the seals and did maintenance on pump #2.

North Plant Summary

1. Fall maintenance is finished
2. A filter valve was replaced during the shutdown.

South Plant Summary

1. Blaser is working on the lagoons.
2. R.E. Pedrotti has started on the SCADA upgrade.

General Manager

• KMU Professional Development Training held on October 6th on “Process Management”
• Water Tank Project
  • Contract #1 Pipeline: Gave final check to Contractor Oct. 8th.
  • Contract #2 Tank: DN Tank waiting on Chlorination Method approval by
  • KDHE to fill the tank. Their Subcontractor to finish the site by the end of October or mid-November.
• South Treatment Plant Resiliency Project
  • Waiting on the Federal Appropriations process/Government shutdown.
  • Worked with our Grant Writer on the grant application through EPA, specifically for midsize and large water utilities.
  • Plan to issue Request for Qualifications for engineering services in the next month.
• Worked on review of 2026 Rate Schedules.
• Working on the 2026 budget preparation.
• Participated in a panel discussion about the water industry at the LCDC Fourth Quarter Luncheon meeting on October 9th.

Added that we were notified that we did not receive any funding from the Google grant we had applied for.

Upon motion from Director Peterson, seconded by Director Poff, motion passed 3-0.

Director Gervasini adjourned the meeting at 5:37 PM.