POA board holds work session

The two newly-elected board members, Mary Sinkus and Jerold Hover, sat in on last week’s work session, although they don’t officially become members of the POA board of directors until June 1. The retiring members, both Ron Stratton and Josh Hart, missed their last work session.

One seat is still vacant. The board removed a director after the election process had begun and the governing documents say that the new board will appoint a member to fill that seat for one year, until the next annual election. When the board appoints a member, the documents say, it must collect resumes from anyone with interest in the seat and then conduct interviews. Former candidates who were not elected

are eligible for the appointment.

The board agreed to publish a notice right away soliciting resumes and assigned a deadline for the resumes of June 6. Former candidates can use

their candidate profile as a resume, general manager Tom Judson suggested. Interviews will take place before the next general manager’s meeting on June 12. The general managers meeting is a closed meeting scheduled one week before each monthly work session. The board can take action at that meeting if it declares it an executive session.

During the work session,

the board heard about state money that could help fund new water meters. Even though the POA Water Utility is a private corporation, it may be eligible for a low-interest loan from Arkansas Natural Resources Commission for an amount that could cover the entire project, Judson told the board. He asked for authorization to begin the application process. Another board vote

will be necessary before the POA can accept the funds.

The new meters were approved by the board as a capital expense in the 2018 budget and installation has already begun.

Since money for the meters is available, the state money could be used to pay off higher interest bonds, Judson said, but the application process is only the first step.