Delaware County Regional Wastewater board reviews finances, approves Delville lift station upgrades and moves salary, hardship ordinances forward

The Delaware County Regional Wastewater board met Dec. 3, 2025, approved routine financial business and approved upgrades to the Delville lift station using remaining bond funds while introducing and advancing personnel and customer-protection ordinances.

The board accepted claims from Oct. 31 through Nov. 26, 2025 totaling $564,909.64 and heard account balances, including a cash operating balance of $420,000 and an improvement fund balance of $2,448,137.13. "Claims from October 31 through 11/26/2025, totaling $564,909.64," staff reported. A motion to accept the financial report was moved, seconded and approved by roll call.

In new business, staff presented a closeout and change order for the Rorton Sewer Improvement Project that decreases the Brackney contract by $36,940.22 to reflect unspent allowances for utility movement; staff said retainage and payout procedures remain the same. The board moved and approved the change order for contract accounting purposes.

The board reviewed two quotes for a failing meter installed in 2003 and accepted a recommendation to award the meter-replacement work to Integrity Control, citing the firm's prior work on the DeSoto project and ongoing maintenance experience. Motion to accept the Integrity Control bid was moved and seconded and approved by roll call.

Members discussed and advanced a 2026 salary ordinance that was distributed with the budget packet. The ordinance incorporates recommended changes from the approved budget. Board members also moved to suspend rules so salary changes can take effect in January; Danielle clarified that virtual participants cannot vote on budget items absent proper authority, prompting members to confirm the procedure before voting. The board recorded votes to introduce/advance the salary ordinance.

The meeting also introduced Ordinance 2025-04, a hardship/shutoff procedure that would add an exception process for extreme situations (for example, when no water service is connected or during a long-term hospital, nursing home or rehab stay). Under the proposed procedure, customers may approach the board prior to a disconnection if a shutoff cap is in place and an inspection confirms there is no running water. Pete moved to introduce the ordinance; the motion was seconded and approved for introduction.

For capital work, staff recommended using remaining bond funds from the Rorton project (reported at about $120,005) to pay for Delville Lift Station upgrades. Two contractors were recommended: Jay Weatherly for concrete and hatch work and Quality Repair Pumps for pumps, base elbows and a new control panel. Staff reported a combined cost of about $62,083 for the recommended scope. The board voted to approve the Delville upgrades and to fund the project from the available improvement/bond funds.

The board also approved three Commonwealth (CAMAC) invoices totaling roughly $9,007.66 and approved a holiday schedule for 2026. An opt-out health insurance supplement included in the salary ordinance packet was approved; staff said employees who opt out of district coverage would receive $150 per month as compensation for declining the district plan.

Operational reports noted that meters ordered through MSD are expected to be installed by the end of the week and that a builder has inquired about 17 additional taps in the Backcountry Village area. Collections improved in the reporting period, from about $2,003.92 to $4,095.38, and letters to delinquent accounts were being mailed. Staff also reported that an attorney preparing paperwork in a pending matter will provide documents as soon as possible.

Communications staff member Ashley briefed the board on outreach analytics for a recent Thanksgiving video and described a Mailchimp domain-authentication problem that was hampering email deliverability. As a workaround, staff set up a dcrwd.com address for Jason so the county-aligned messages can be authenticated and avoid junk folders.

With no public comments, the board adjourned and set its next meeting for Jan. 7. Votes recorded during the meeting were taken by roll call when required by virtual participation rules.

The meeting transcript records specific motions and roll-call votes for minutes approval, financial acceptance, Rorton project change order, meter replacement award, introduction/advancement of the salary ordinance, introduction of the hardship/shutoff ordinance, Commonwealth invoice approval, Delville Lift Station funding and upgrades, opt-out benefit approval, and adjournment.