BMWC 29th Annual Meeting Minutes – March 4, 2025Darren Apken, President, called the 29th Annual Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting opened with Randy Haukap leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attorney Jeffrey Mollet reported that the 1% quorum had been met with 59 contract holders in attendance.
Darren Apken then introduced members of the Board, Engineer, Legal Counsel, Contractor, and employees.After providing 27 years of service, Contractors, Kenny and Kelly Haller will no longer provide services after April ’25.Darren then turned the meeting over to Mike VonderHaar, Secretary of the Board, who provided proof of the Annual Meeting Notice and pointed out that the 2024 Annual Meeting minutes were included on the agenda. Darwin Kirsch made a motion to accept the minutes. Janet Waligorski 2nd. Motion carried.
Mike VonderHaar gave an update on the Bond/Madison’s Rounding up for your Community Program. The Program was implemented in February 2020. Currently having approximately 336 contributors for a total collected in the past yearof around $ 1865.70. Grand total collected from inception being $ 8377.73. The collected money was placed in a special savings account with a balance of $ 652.73 as of December 31, 2024. The Round Up committee met during the year and reviewed submitted applications. The following were approved recipients of a $ 250.00 award: Pocahontas School Library, Eden’s glory, Youth Core Ministries (Bond County Core Community), Pocahontas Little League, Bond County Senior Center, Pocahontas United Methodist Church Food Pantry, Sorento Food Pantry and Back to the Farm. The following were approved recipients of a $200.00 award: Leaps of Love, Lemual Rhodes Cancer Foundation, Bond County Humane Society, Immanuel Lutheran Church Food Pantry, Pleasant Mound Community Center and The Simple Room. The Board approved to make these award donations to each of the above-mentioned community organizations abiding by Bond/Madison’s Rounding up for your Community policy guidelines. Members were encouraged to donate to the Rounding Up for your Community Program by calling the office.
Mr. Eyman submitted the Treasurer’s Report directing the membership to review the Profit/Loss and Balance sheet printed on the agenda. Any questions can be answered at the meeting, or anytime at the office. With the financial reports being in good order, Mark Carpenter made a motion to approve them. Gary Kreutzberg 2nd. Motion carried.
Bob Massa of Juneau and Associates took the floor to give an update on the “Project” of water main looping, tower painting, telemetry system replacement, and water system improvements. “Project” is moving forward with bid opening.Bond & Madison County easements and township permits are being secured. BMWC to receive 80% loan forgiveness from IEPA saving the company just under $ 1.6 Million dollars on a 2-Million-dollar project amount. Water main construction would start late Summer 2025, tank painting in Fall 2025/Spring 2026 and SCADA in Fall 2025.
Attorney Jeffrey Mollet presented the slate of nominees and explained voting procedure. Incumbents Tom Eyman of Bond County and Bob Schrumpf of Madison County are each running for a three-year term. Rich Accornero has been nominated by the Village of Pocahontas for a 3-year term representing the bulk users-Only bulk users will vote.
All Bond County and Madison County candidates are running unopposed. Mollet asked for a motion to accept the slate as presented. Richard Suhre made a motion to accept. Jane Childerson 2nd motion. Motion carried.
Rich Accornero was presented as an unopposed nominee for bulk water representative. Mr. Mollet asked bulk representatives to accept the nomination of Rich Accornero. Mr. Mollet asked for a motion to accept the slate as presented.Laura Knackstedt (Grantfork representative) so moved. Darren Apken (Marine representative) 2nd. Motion carried.
President Darren Apken asked if there was any unfinished business. None stated. The President then asked if there was any new business for discussion. Marty Landmann, Manager/Operator, took the floor to inform the membership that regretfully the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) granted Illinois American Water (IAWC) a rate adjustment of an increase of 18%, effective with the January 2025 billing. In February 2024, IAWC submitted a request to the ICC for a 38% rate increase. In August 2024, BMWC increased rates $ .55/1000 gallons. A portion of this increase was in preparation for the impending IAWC increase. Currently, we are tracking our income and expenses closely to keep any possible future rate increases to a minimum. A Rural Development loan for $ 168,469 was paid off in February 2025 with income funds as well as a reserve savings CD. Total expenses for 2024 only went up around $ 5,000 from the previous year. Unbudgeted income for 2024 of earned interest and CoBank patronage will be used in future budget calculations. BMWC changed banking institutions in October 2024 generating an additional $ 600 per month of earned interest.
Doug Frank made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Linda Heimsath 2nd motion.
Meeting adjourned.
Each member submitting signed invitation card at the registration desk to receive a BMWC $ 10.00 bill credit. BMWC $ 50.00 bill credit winners were: Bernice Lurkins, Nancy Hanratty and Linda Heimsath of Bond County and Steve McClimans, Keith Haberer and
Doug Frank from Madison County. Applebee’s Dinner/AMC Movie Theater gift cards winners were Tina Tompkins and Janet Waligorski.
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