HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-11-03 Regular Meeting of the La Porte Area Water Authority Minutes
LA PORTE AREA WATER AUTHORITY
MINUTES
FEBRUARY 11,2003
l. The meeting was called to order at 6:31 PM by Secretary Chester Pool.
Members Present: Secretary Chester Pool and Members Paul Berner and Robert
T. Herrera.
Members Absent: Vice President Robert Roy
Others Present: Acting City Manager John Joerns, Director of Public Works
Steve Gillett, Finance Director Cynthia Alexander, Assistant Finance Director
Michael Dolby and Chris Breaux, CPA of Null Lairson.
2. The minutes from the meeting held September 17, 2002 were reviewed. Motion
by Paul Berner, seconded by Robert Herrera to accept the minutes as presented.
Motion was unanimous.
3. The Oath of Office was administered before the meeting to Robert T. Herrera by
Notary Genitha Smith.
4. John Joerns explained the need for new officers, due to the resignations of Board
President Rodney Etchberger and Member Albert Fields. Motion by Paul Berner,
seconded by Robert Herrera to elect Robert Roy as President. Motion was
unanimous. Motion by Chester Pool, seconded by Robert Herrera to elect Paul
Berner as Vice President. Motion was unanimous.
5. Chris Breaux of Null Lairson reviewed the audit process, and stated that they
were issuing an unqualified opinion of the Authority's financial reports. He
presented the Annual Financial Report for Fiscal Year Ending September 30,
2001. . Cynthia Alexander and Chris Breaux answered questions from the Board.
Robert Herrera questioned the feasibility of refinancing the outstanding bonds,
due to the low current interest rates. Cynthia Alexander stated that staff was
investigating this and was comparing refinancing costs to projected savings.
Robert Herrera requested a special purpose board meeting to review staffs
findings when completed. Robert Herrera made the suggestion that Note lOon
Page 13 be changed to say "In addition, the Authority contracts with the City of
La Porte to provide administrative oversight and operate the Authority
Transmission System". Finally, the Board suggested that the Finance and Public
Works Department meet on a regular basis to discuss the billings from the City of
Houston to ensure that the costs billed to customer cities are the same as costs
billed to the Authority by Houston. Motion by Robert Herrera, seconded by Paul
Berner to accept the Annual Financial Report for Fiscal Year Ending September
30, 2002 as amended. Motion was unanimous.
6. Acting City Manager John Joerns reported that the City of Houston, in
conjunction with the upcoming 80 MGD expansion of the SEWPP (LP A W A not
participating in expansion), was planning capital improvements to the Plant that
were associated with new regulatory and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure.
These costs would be chargeable to the Authority. Estimated cost to the
Authority is $669,059, and would be payable in the first quarter of 2004. He
reported that sufficient funds would be available from retained earnings to cover
these expenses. John Joerns and Steve Gillett answered questions from the Board
regarding these expenses.
7. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:12 PM.
G1 L- T: l-t-~ ftJ R.
Chester Pool, Secretary
cY ,2003.
Robert Roy,