15 May 2025 Dearborn County Regional Sewer District Meeting Notes
Steve Renihan - President, Brett Fehrman - Vice President, Russell Beiersdorfer, Doug Baer, Steward Cline, and Jeff Bittner (new member, just approved at Council tonight, replacing Bill Shelton)
ABSENT: Jeff Stenger
Board Attorney - Frank Kramer
Also present: Mike Hrezo of Hrezo Engineering
Renihan read the Public Access Statement as legally required.
Minutes: Approved May 1, 2025 minutes.
Treasurer’s Report- No bills yet from Lake Dildear project. So far this year- $10,000 less in expenses than revenue. This is better cash flow than last year at this time. Approved.
Public Comment: none
Going over Rate Study that was received from Steve Brock. Steward Cline presented: He is available at 5:15 via phone. Steve Renihan and Stew Cline met with Brock after ;last meeting and communicated further this week. Page 14 shows the recommended new tariff. Flat 3% increase. Tap fee constant. Availability constant. This is for as they operate today with no supervisor etc.
Minimum rate is at 1000 gallons.
Page 26 - looking at column C where they want to be. $67.81 with that rate. $53.72 is no supt. So $14 is the cost of adding a supt. They played with different scenarios in the columns showing cost changes in rates.
A public notice will be required for the Public Hearing. Hearing in June and put rate in effect in July. Rates may have to be tuned up in 2026 after they see how costs go. There is a concern about the new customers keeping up with costs. Maintenance on p26 has a 2% maintenance rate - but it may be necessary to increase that rate.
They will talk about an asset management plan- and where will the money come to improve that.
The 2 current projects in Guilford and Dildear add over 100 customers. Renihan said that is helping this rate.
Phone call to Steve Brock at 5:30 PM for questions from the board.
$69.42/ 3000gallons - the Column A is what the Board is leaning toward.
Cline was telling Brock about the return on maintenance.
Brock-This is something to put toward replacements and unknown problems. Rate increase every 3-5 years from here on out. Need to update revenues too. Sewer board had same rate since 2009. There was a $60,000 stipend from Council that stopped in 2013.
Cline- This suggests a 22% rate increase that will suffice.
Brock said to be careful not to spend down your fund balances. You have a funding cycle with OCRA to be sure to get this by an April 1 deadline etc next year. That’s the state revolving loan fund.
Renihan- If they could expand High Ridge then it would help fund due to having more customers. Could probably meet those income limits out near there too. Need to think about this.
Brock pushed several different grant opportunities that depend on income. He wanted the engineer to help them pursue these. He also helps with this.
Brett Fehrman showed the rate of inflation on this as 23%. Brock said- he’s seeing construction inflation in the 40% range.
Signed off at 5:45 PM
Discussion:
32.84% is column B. Fehrman is worried about infiltration problems in these new areas. There is a built in cost to Dillsboro to cover some of that issue they think.
Baer noted that the cost of living since 2010 matches this 22.3% rate increase. (It’s defensible)
Availability fee goes from $15-$18.
Cline made a motion- 22.37% rate increase on 1000 gallons. (See page 14.) Minimum rate based on 1000 gallons. Minimum rate is $16.42 for house and others for different uses. Tap fee waved for Guilford and Lake Dildear projects. Re-evaluate in 2026. Ordinance will be created for review at the next board meeting on June 5th. Public Meeting will be July 3rd. Effective date is August 1. 2nded by Baer. Approved
Project Updates:
Guilford- Mike Hrezo- said they have not crossed SR 1 and are in Guilford at Bonnell. No real problems to report. Meet monthly at a minimum and more frequent. Meinders is on schedule for completion. Tanks should be coming in within month or 2.
High Ridge WWTP -
High Ridge west Expansion - Mike and Christy worked on this chart. The Pine Run Lift Station at the mobile home park. They were trending with rainfall at one point, but changed and he thinks the flow meter needs to calibrated. It has never been calibrated. Not sure of what that costs. We could clear this up if we could get water readings. Mike Noel as owner should be able to get this readings. Noel is responsible for his collection system until after the lift station. Meter is 15 ft from the lift station on the DCRSD side of that lift station. This needs to be looked at. It’s a 2 inch meter. It’s about 10 years old.
Fehrman - Motioned for Doug and Mike Hrezo investigate options of buy a new meter or calibrate the old one. Bring numbers back to the next meeting. Approved.
Mike Hrezo- This is affecting the High Ridge Plant. So there is max demand of 43,026 gal per day. Operating on 180,000 gal per actual water readings. 310,000 gals was IDEM???? There are issues there as there is a high variability in rates. Fixed some of this and then starting to see trends again that are not as good. Sump pumps have to be looked at. 20,000 and seeing 16,000gal and allows adding 17 new customers. ( Based on 180,000 gal) BOTTOM LINE - they have to put together a game plan as to how to attack the problem out there. Discussion about metering to get data etc.
Dillsboro- Kramer has deeds recorded.
Cline asked if they need to distribute rate study to the customers who ask for it. They can also give it to them electronically. He is getting a letter together for the customers with the suggested change of putting the responsibilities into bullets. He will have it sent out then.
New Business: Need a salary ordinance- Frank Kramer can create that for them. SBOA says they need it for the Gateway. It should have Kelly, Doug and Steve on it and the board’s per diems. He will get that done.
Renihan- Secretary is only making $15/hour. They think she needs a raise. Max is $18 from Auditor’s office. Approved for Kelly to make $18/hour. Make it effective next effective pay period.
Office Update: Brought up Bobby and Suzanne Higgins. Not paid for a long time. Jan 25, 2023. He installed his own pump- so he did his own tap. They plan to send him a bill for everything owed. Pump remainder is $4,000- and it has not been inspected. Baer thinks it was looked at maybe. Baer will work with Kelly and get a letter to him for the full bill. Kramer said they own their real estate so DCRSD can handle this legally should they need to. On US 50- 10796 US 50 is the address. They also will send Christy or Mike out to inspect.
Baer- Ashcraft’s bill for his Liberty Pump needs to be sent with a letter from Frank Kramer. This is reflected on previous meeting minutes. This pump is working well as he has not been in since November, 2024- Agreed.
Claims: Guilford claims - $1275.89 plus Lake Dildear claims- $19,080 plus Operating expenses $5,802.20- all approved.
Discretion of the Board: Renihan thanked the board for all their work.
Jeff Bittner - said he will come in to get by laws etc. to get oriented to procedures. Renihan said they can send email out to him with all their emails etc. so they can all be on same emails.
Adjourn: 6:55 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
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