Ellinger Sewer And Water Supply Discuss Insuring New Water Well
The Ellinger Sewer and Water Supply Corporation held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 9 at the Ellinger Fire Station. Greg Hunger, president, called the meeting to order at 7:11 p.m.
Directors in attendance included Roy Moore, Bradley Dunk, Michael Schlabach, and Hunger. Ruth Horndt submitted her resignation from the board, and Walter Reynolds was appointed to fulfill Laura Brugger’s term at the Special Meeting held on July 26. The minutes from the July 12 meeting and the July 26 Special Meeting were presented and approved.
Herbert Lyons of Inframark presented the manager’s report. He noted that 991,000 gallons of water were produced from May 21-June 22, and 697,000 were billed. The monthly water accountability rate was 88%. The discharge flow at the WWTP was at an all time high due to excessive rainfall during this time period, and a water quality noncompliance notification was sent to TCEQ. The manager’s report was also approved.
Next Bradley Loehr of BEFCO presented the Engineer’s report. He reported to the board that he and Mayor Matt Mikulenka-Ellinger SWSC project manager, had met on July 16. Additionally, Loehr requested a retainage pay request of $28,703.20 for Russell Drilling since the drilling firm has provided all required closeout documents.
He suggested the board get insurance on the new well; he proposed two options: full coverage for $375,000 or coverage for just mechanical equipment only for $65,000. He also noted that the board accumulated $85,000 for short-lived assets to fund mechanical equipment/ short term life items, and accumulate $28,195 for debt reserve account for “rainy day” fund to pay monthly payments. The two funds should be put in special accounts for better tracking and for auditing purposes. Loehr and Mikulenka will get with USDA to discuss options for the remaining funds not spent on the new well project. Currently the Corporation is paying 1.375% interest on the $863,000 USDA loan.
Loehr also suggested the board consider finalizing a contract for $57,500 with BEFCO in regard to the Ground Storage Tank project. This amount would be for preparation of the PIF/formal TWDB Application - $5,000; design - $15,000 which includes $5,000 for Soils report to Terracon; Engineering Feasibility Report - $12,500; Environmental report by Langford - $10,000; Project Management and monitoring by BEFCO during construction - $5,000; and DBE/David Bacon Project Administration by Langford - $10,000. Loehr and Mikulena will complete a conference call with TWDB to get authorization to move forward with the storage tank project. However, TWDB wants confirmation of funding on the arsenic treatment/filtration plant before making such authorization.
Mikulenka and Loehl noted that the City of Ellinger will most likely be funded $350,000 from the TxCDBG grant application submitted in May. The City of Ellinger scored third in line for funding in the first TX CDBG cycle. The project will cost more than this to complete, but the Corporation can get the project started. Motion was made and approved to accept the engineer’s report.
Michael Schlabach presented the financial report prepared by Schneider, Frazee & Matocha, P.C. At the special meeting Schlabach made a motion to change the late fee from a $50 flat fee to 20% of the past due amount. The due date for the bill remains by the 15th of the month. Dunk seconded the motion and it passed. Schlabach also motioned to give authorization to Inframark to mail a delinquent payment letter on the 30th of the month at a cost of $15 from Inframark and $5 from the EWS Corporation that would be billed to the customer. If no payment is received after 15 days of late payment notice, disconnection will be done by discretion of the board of directors. This change to the tariff was seconded by Dunk and carried.
Additionally, new appointed director Reynolds made a motion to bill water and sewer by gallons per thousand instead of gallons by the hundreds in the new billing system. Roy Moore seconded the motion and it passed.
The apartment complex representatives have not submitted an application, and no action was taken at the meeting. The Board did suggest that the representatives engage the services of BEFCO to work out the logistics of the application at no cost to the Corporation. Finally, Dunk noted the Capital Outlays committee would be meeting later this month. The Board is planning another special meeting to discuss amending the tariff and future contracts with BEFCO.
The next regular meeting will be Monday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.
St. Mary’s Church Feast
St. Mary Catholic Church will be hosting a scaled down version of its 71st Annual Feast and Bazaar The event will consist of an online auction, a raffle, and a drive-thru meal.
The online auction starts on Friday, Aug. 13 and runs 9 days, ending at 3 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 21. You can access the auction by going to stmaryellinger. com and clicking on the bazaar link.
The meal drive-thru will start the next day on Sunday, Aug. 22 at 10:30 a.m. Plates will consist of fried chicken, sausage, buttered potatoes, sauerkraut, and green beans with bacon and onion. Cost is $12 each. Desserts will also be available for purchase.
The grand prize for the raffle is a $5,000 VISA gift card, and there are 30 other prizes for various gift cards ranging in value from $1,000 to $100. Raffle tickets cost $5 each or $20 for five tickets. You can get tickets from any parishioner, from the parish office, or from Fayetteville Bank.
Shared Lutheran Ministry
The Shared Lutheran Ministry has scheduled some special worship dates: On Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. a joint polka worship has been planned at the SPJST hall in Fayetteville. This will be the 20th Anniversary celebration of the SLM, and a farewell gathering for Pastor Marcia Kifer. On October 3 Ellinger and Rutersville will be having breakfast church at regular worship times.
Additionally, SLM Fun Nights with potluck have been scheduled. They will be held the fourth Wednesday of each month, rotating between the four churches. Gathering and social time will be from 5:30-6 p.m., the meal at 6 p.m., and games, social time, a special focus or craft, etc. at about 6:30 p.m.
The first fun night is scheduled for Aug. 25 at Warrenton. The special focus will be back to school donations for teachers. Suggested items to donate include: pencils, pens, Lysol wipes, loose leaf paper, folders, sticky notes, Expo dry erase markers, Sharpies, crayons, and markers.
St. John Rutersville-WELCA
St. John Rutersville WELCA is once again announcing the following summer food list for AMEN. Items recommended for August include cereal, boxed or canned milk, canned fruit or fruit juice, ramen noodles, bath soap (bar or liquid,) toothpaste or laundry soap. For more information you may contact Lorali Schultz at (979) 249-3958. All SLM churches are invited to participate.
Fayetteville Brethren Church
Fayetteville Brethren Church has services the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 10 a.m. Other services are at Industry Brethren on the second, third and fourth Saturdays at 5 p.m., Wesley Brethren on Sundays at 9 a.m. and Nelsonville Brethren on Sundays at 10:15 a.m. Rev. Mike Groseclose leads all the services.
Ellinger C of C Bingo
Ellinger Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Bingo on Saturday, Aug. 28. The regular monthly meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Dining Hall.
Birthdays
Birthday wishes are extended to the following August celebrants: Clayton Fritsch-Aug. 20; Ryan Polasek and Margaret Michalsky-22; Jack Kifer-23; Mike Braswell-24; Madison Krenek-25; Douglas Minar-27; Patsy Hess-27, Matt Karisch and Pastor Marcia Kifer-29, and Bradley Klesel-30.
Have News?
If you have news for the Ellinger News column, call Carolyn Bartosh at (979) 966-3275 or email bartoshcarolyn@gmail.com by Mondays at noon.