Board Meeting Minutes – October 24, 2024

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MONTHLY BOARD MEETING OF L. A. WATER COOPERATIVE HELD October 24, 2024, AT THE GASTON FIRE HALL.

Board Members Present: Amber Morgan, Dave McAdams, Linda Fountain, Terry Wymore, Ted Leach, Joel Mulkey, Tom Gunn and Joe Kuran.

Board Members Absent: Don Wicks (joined meeting in progress via telephone)

Staff Present: Kylie McDermott, Jason Bayne, Garrett McCune

Guest Present:

This meeting of the L. A. Water Cooperative was called to order at 5:57 PM by Terry Wymore, Vice President.

Regular Business

Secretary’s Report: The minutes of the September 2024 meeting were presented in writing.
Motion to approve by Tom Gunn. Seconded by Joel Mulkey. Voted and passed.

Treasurer’s Report: September financials were presented.
Motion to approve by Linda Fountain. Seconded by Tom Gunn. Voted and passed.

Business Manager’s Report presented in writing.
Motion to approve by Linda Fountain. Seconded by Amber Morgan. Voted and passed.

Operation Manager’s Reports presented in writing.
Motion to approve by Dave McAdams. Seconded by Joel Mulkey. Voted and passed.

Old Business

1. Construction Updates The tank relining will be scheduled for the Spring of 2025.

2. Employee Handbook Update Business manager to make updates then resend at the November board meeting.

3. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Update

Motion to write off bankruptcy amount by Dave McAdams. Seconded by Terry Wymore. Voted and approved.

4. Shut off past due account update

First letter sent by the Business Manager.  Second letter will be sent if there is no response.

5. Airbnb update

6. Easement update
Motion to reimburse member’s estate for payment of 2023-2024 property taxes. Seconded by Amber Morgan. Voted and passed. Title checks will be done regarding the property occupied by the reservoirs. Jason Bayne to fine out status of easements associated with the reservoirs. Jason Bayne to contract Estate Manager to obtain contacts for the properties. Amber Morgan and Kylie McDermott to draft a letter for board signature.

7. Audit update Business Manager to complete the legwork of getting the financials ready for an audit.
Once Pedro approves of the work completed by the business manager, then the business manager will seek out an auditor to complete the official audit.
The official audit time frame is beginning January of 2026.

New Business

1. Budget Review

Motion to have 2025 budget ready for November board meeting with intent to finalize at December 2024 meeting by Dave McAdams. Seconded by Linda Fountian. Voted and passed.
Don Wicks requested staff prioritize what projects have to be done and which projects can wait.
Business Manager to create two water rate increase proposals.
Business Manager to create a gross margin comparison of 2023 and 2024 report.
Business Manager to create a draft of the 2025 budget to review at the November board meeting with intention of finalizing at the December board meeting.

2. Treasurer’s Proposal See Appendix A for Current Resources & Capital Expenditures.
Motion to move $200,000 from Cetera Flex Insured account to T-Bill or CD due March 2025 by Dave McAdams. Seconded by Linda Fountain. Voted and passed.
Motion to have Linda Fountain move 100,000 from Heritage checking account to Umpqua bank account to maintain under 250,000 FDIC coverage by Amber Morgan. Seconded by Tom Gunn. Voted and passed.

3. Repairs Reimbursement
Operations manager to do more research and bring more information to the next board meeting.

4. Bald Peak Utilization Proposed Project
Create proposal for the 2025 budget.

5.Leak Credit
Motion to approve by Ted Leach. Seconded by Dave McAdams. Voted and passed.

6.. New Certificate Application
Motion to approve by Amber Morgan. Seconded by Joel Mulkey. Voted and passed.

MOTION to adjourn by Linda Fountain. Seconded by Dave McAdams. Voted and passed. Meeting Adjourned at 8:30 PM