Meeting Called to Order
John Thom called the meeting to order at 7:12 am
Present: Allen Lamm, Katie McCain (AWWA), Myron Volker, Ben Mason (invited), Troy Hall, Yasser Abouaish, Gerry Mahon, Bernie Bullert, Kelly Lange-Haider, Bill Spain, Glen Gerads, Jon Eaton, Ed Sorensen, Scott Anderson, John Thom
Absent: Not sure
Appointments
John Thom stated that Ed Sorensen had been appointed (and agreed) to follow
Dave Allen as secretary/treasurer. Motion by Allen Lamm to accept appointment, seconded by Scott Anderson. Passed with 9-yes, o-no. Ed did not vote.
John Thom motioned that the FULLER AWARD and the L.N. Thompson awardees be approved. Yasser Abouaish made the motion, seconded by Glen Gerads. Passed with a 10-yes, 0-no.
John Thom announced new appointments:
Training Council-Stew Thornley
Small Systems-Don Christianson
Administration-John Lapointe
Public Affairs-Kelly Lange-Haider
Technical/Professional-Doug Rovang (finalize at January meeting)
Water Utility Council-Bob Cockriel.
Allen Lamm made the motion to approve, seconded by Myron Volker. Passed with 10-yes, 0-no.
Gerry Mahon said he was remiss in not mentioning that Dave Peterson (Brooklyn Center) would also be joining the Finance Committee. This will be finalized in January, also.
Unfinished Business
None
New Business
John Thom thought that we (section) should at least send a message to Denver (AWWA) about e-commerce. Ben Mason stated: there were no small or medium size utilities represented at the national AWWA Board Meeting, there is no enthusiasm anywhere for this web site, manufacturers and distributors feel disenfranchised and they need to be reenfranchised by the Board, the goal of this section should be to take a position (utility people), ACIPCO should convene a meeting to create a committee to establish software standards. Katie McCain asked by rephrasing Ben's comments if by doing this we (AWWA) could avoid this problem in the future? Ben stated that AWWA has set up a monopoly with this software and there needs to be some kind of standards setting process. Bernie Bullert said that when he was on the Standards Committee (AWWA) they expected that as part of a streamlining process, software would be included, although it has not yet happened.
John Thom asked what we should do as a section? Allen Lamm quoted the five points from the New England Section letter of concern to the AWWA. We agreed as a group with numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5. Yasser Abouaish said we should link what went wrong along with what can be done. Yasser's points are: 1) the impact was not fully assessed 2) small and medium utilities were not represented, we need to look into means to remedy this 3) encourage AWWA to explore options including canceling contract with ENI 4) software packages go through some rigorous review process. Allen Lamm stated as Director I cannot kill this, we need to hear from the rest of the section membership, what is best for the majority of the membership. Give this a try first.
Ben Mason said that AWWA should take a positive backward step to indicate that they are looking into this issue. John Thom asked Yasser to draft his comments into a letter from the section. Glen Gerads supported this request. John Thom stated that the AWWA should have this fairly quickly. Katie McCain said that the AWWA Executive Committee meets December 8, 2001 before the January Board Meeting. Some of the board members are out of the country so this letter could be done by the end of October, 2001. John Thom asked that this draft be e-mailed to section board for approval and/or comments. Katie McCain said that it should be addressed tot he AWWA president and copied to board members.
John Thom and Ben Mason asked that the section board approve a new council, our own MAC (Manufacturer Associate Council) Council, involve commercial members and have them choose their own chair. This would be acted on at the January 4, 2002 Board Meeting. Ben Mason will be expediting this with the commercial group. Yasser Abouaish read his draft letter and was met with approval.
Allen Lamm asked the Bernie Bullert join him at the January board meeting in Arizona so that he will be up to speed when he begins as section Director. Allen Lamm made the motion to approve travel expenses for Bernie, seconded by Scott Anderson. Passed with 10-yes, 0-no.
John Thom said it is time for a RFP for administrative services in the following areas: 1) legislative 2) communications 3) administration 4) conference. Scott Anderson asked what it is that we want Ewald to do? John Thom said it is time to align committees with councils and consolidate if possible. It was time to set a date for a board workshop and discuss paid staff needs. Yasser Abouaish said that council chairs should be involved to discuss what their needs are with a paid staff. Workshop to be held in late October 2001.
Association Representative
AWWA representative Katie McCain thought we were a well organized section with a well run program. The committees are also well run and out handling of the EfficientUtilities.com was very good--with a good outcome.
Next Meeting
Next meeting is scheduled for January 2002.
Adjournment
John Thom motioned to close at 8:55 a.m., seconded by everyone.
