Edited and summarized by the
Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Live reporting byAmber Umscheid
GLWA reported strong financial results, staff promotions and awards. Board members approved contracts, projects, and a salary increase for the CEO. A settlement strategy regarding litigation between DWSD, GLWA and Highland Park was discussed in closed session.
Meeting is called to order at 2:05pm. -Today's agenda has been approved. -There is currently nobody in-person or on Zoom to make public comment. -No Communications moves us to Old Business.
FY 2024 Second Quarter Budget Amendments - reflects potential member partner credit related to the resolution of the highland park matter. It increased investment earning to offset cost along with a few other increases due to conservative budget on vacancies and erosion concerns.
EGLE held a public hearing on March 20th per requirements and June 1st deadline was extended. Seeking GLWA to adopt this DWSD Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Improvement Plan for FY2025. Approved.
WRAP Service Delivery Partner Funding Authorization with Wayne Metro, Macomb Community Action and United Way to insert budget amount for each year which includes half percent of charge reviews and other miscellaneous charges.
Discussion around the amounts received by Flint and Detroit and how the money is determined and handled. It was mentioned that Flint doesn't get much, and Detroit recently increased their amount with their own dollars.
Agenda item F - Seeking $2,500,000.00 in additional funds for the renewal of nine sections of pipe found during the LSIP condition assessment of the 36-inch water transmission main on 24 Mile Road. Approved.
Agenda item H - The current contractual and final completion dates of the contract are March 30, 2023, and July 16, 2024, respectively. Currently, correction work is ongoing to restart the previously failed 30-day performance test. Seeking a no cost increase extension. Approved.
Agenda item J - Seeking provisional allowance to negotiate remainder for the HAZMAT Rehabilitation Building and any balance will be refunded to general fund. Approved.
The Freud SPS Improvement Project is pending award. The city council is requesting more community engagement. There is an event today for a design review, key concerns heard have been size of facility.
Agenda item N - Collective Bargaining Agreement 2024-2027 with Senior Water Systems Chemists Association for 61 members of the union including a shift premium, adjusting time off to match shifts, and a signing bonus. Approved.
No reports or chairperson remarks. Board Member Remarks from John included that he found a conference in Anaheim to be interesting and learned a few things.
CEO Report - *Favorable outcomes received from recent bond transactions including affirmation of strong credit ratings and improved cash flow savings $130.4 million.
*Bill Wolfson received promotion from Chief Administrative and Compliance Officer to Deputy Chief Executive Officer. He received 2024 Frank J. Kelley Distinguished Public Service Award at the State Bar’s September 2024 meeting.
*Recent storms caused unusually high number of momentary pressure fluctuations within the regional water transmission system. *Cheryl Porter, COO, was elevated to President of American Water Works Assoc. The first woman of color to achieve this position in the 143-year history.
*At the recent AWWA conference, our Lake Huron Water Treatment Plant received the Partnership for Safe Water’s Presidents Award for Water Treatment, and our Water Works Park Water Treatment Plant received the five-year Directors Award for Water Treatment.
*Organizational Development Group (OD) recently was selected by Crain’s Detroit Business as its HR Team of the Year and National Association for Business Resources (NABR) selected GLWA as one of its first round of Michigan’s Best and Brightest in Wellness winning companies.
*The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Michigan Chapter has presented GLWA’s Public Affairs team with its second consecutive Emmy Award! GLWA won the Branded Content category for the “TAP IN” recruitment campaign. https://twitter.com/glwatermi/status/1720145413825552764
This board will move to a closed session to discuss pending litigation, they will return after -- DWSD v HIGHLAND PARK, WCCC No. 14-001974-CK; GLWA V HIGHLAND PARK, WCCC No. 20-011589-CB
Seeking authorization to apply member partner bad debt recovery credits totaling $20,026,500 applied to June 2024 services and authorize staff to withhold above credit to any community with past due balance related to Highland Park matter until amount is paid full. Approved.
GLWA reported strong financial results, staff promotions and awards. Board members approved contracts, projects, and a salary increase for the CEO. A settlement strategy regarding litigation between DWSD, GLWA and Highland Park was discussed in closed session.
The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) is a regional water and sewer authority that services nearly 40 percent of the water customers in Michigan. Currently GLWA provides wholesale water and waste water services to 127 municipalities in eight Southeastern Michigan counties, which is equivalent to approximately 3.9 million customers.
