by Neil Richard
The King George County Service Authority Board of Directors began their meeting at 2:00pm on July 11, 2018. Unlike normal meetings, this meeting stood out in several ways. The smallest difference was the new seating arrangement with Chris Werle, Chairman, sitting in the middle of the dais instead of his usual seat at the far left side. Larger differences were no Pledge of Allegiance, no invocation, and no Public Comment period. There was also no Consent Agenda, no report from the Board members, nor a report from the County Attorney. Instead, Werle opened the meeting, stated there should be no amendments, that the Agenda items listed were merely there for formatting purposes, and then promptly called for a motion to go into Closed Session.
Mike Bennett read the motion and invited Eric Gregory, County Attorney, and Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator, to the meeting. Ruby Brabo interrupted before there could be a second and asked if the motion could be amended to include the new Interim General Manager, Daniel Hingley. Bennett amended his motion and it was approved.
Within a minute of opening the meeting, the Board had moved to Closed Session.
The Board returned from Closed Session at 2:44pm.
A motion was made to approve of the consent order proposed with Werle signing on behalf of the Service Authority. It was approved.
Werle then gave a brief statement to the four members of the public in the audience. He said the public is aware of the negotiations with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and that the Service Authority has done so cooperatively. He said the proposed consent order would provide a resolution to the waste water issues as well as a way forward. Werle said the Service Authority was grateful for the DEQ support but cautioned that the state's Water Control Board still has to approve the consent order. Werle also added that the consent order will include a civil penalty. He said the original penalty proposed by DEQ was $204,000 but the Service Authority was able to successfully present a case for a reduced penalty of $82,250. Werle said there is funding available to pay this amount so there is no need to increase customer's rates. He also said he will keep everyone apprised of any updates.
Werle then introduced the new Interim General Manager, Dan Hingley, saying he would get a proper introduction at the next regular meeting. Werle said he had a lot of experience and staff that can support him.
Based on some early research and a few questions posed after the meeting, Mr. Hingley graduated from VMI and earned a Master's Degree from Virginia Tech in Environmental Engineering. He is currently the Director of Operations for the Fredericksburg region for AQUA Virginia.
The meeting adjourned at 2:45pm.
Meeting Attendees:
Dan Hingley (Interim General Manager of Service Authority)
Michael Bennett (Citizen)
Richard Granger (Board of Supervisors)
Christopher Werle (Chairman, Board of Directors)
Ruby Brabo (Board of Supervisors)
Neiman Young (County Administrator)
Eric Gregory (County Attorney)
Absent:
Cathy Binder (Board of Supervisors)
Meeting Agenda
[no Agenda was posted online, however one was available at the meeting]
Next Meeting:
The Service Authority will next meet on August 7, 2018 at 6:30 pm at the Revercomb Building.
Previous Meeting:
Read about the previous Service Authority Meeting.
The King George County Service Authority Board of Directors began their meeting at 2:00pm on July 11, 2018. Unlike normal meetings, this meeting stood out in several ways. The smallest difference was the new seating arrangement with Chris Werle, Chairman, sitting in the middle of the dais instead of his usual seat at the far left side. Larger differences were no Pledge of Allegiance, no invocation, and no Public Comment period. There was also no Consent Agenda, no report from the Board members, nor a report from the County Attorney. Instead, Werle opened the meeting, stated there should be no amendments, that the Agenda items listed were merely there for formatting purposes, and then promptly called for a motion to go into Closed Session.
Mike Bennett read the motion and invited Eric Gregory, County Attorney, and Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator, to the meeting. Ruby Brabo interrupted before there could be a second and asked if the motion could be amended to include the new Interim General Manager, Daniel Hingley. Bennett amended his motion and it was approved.
Within a minute of opening the meeting, the Board had moved to Closed Session.
The Board returned from Closed Session at 2:44pm.
A motion was made to approve of the consent order proposed with Werle signing on behalf of the Service Authority. It was approved.
Werle then gave a brief statement to the four members of the public in the audience. He said the public is aware of the negotiations with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and that the Service Authority has done so cooperatively. He said the proposed consent order would provide a resolution to the waste water issues as well as a way forward. Werle said the Service Authority was grateful for the DEQ support but cautioned that the state's Water Control Board still has to approve the consent order. Werle also added that the consent order will include a civil penalty. He said the original penalty proposed by DEQ was $204,000 but the Service Authority was able to successfully present a case for a reduced penalty of $82,250. Werle said there is funding available to pay this amount so there is no need to increase customer's rates. He also said he will keep everyone apprised of any updates.
Werle then introduced the new Interim General Manager, Dan Hingley, saying he would get a proper introduction at the next regular meeting. Werle said he had a lot of experience and staff that can support him.
Based on some early research and a few questions posed after the meeting, Mr. Hingley graduated from VMI and earned a Master's Degree from Virginia Tech in Environmental Engineering. He is currently the Director of Operations for the Fredericksburg region for AQUA Virginia.
The meeting adjourned at 2:45pm.
Meeting Attendees:
Dan Hingley (Interim General Manager of Service Authority)
Michael Bennett (Citizen)
Richard Granger (Board of Supervisors)
Christopher Werle (Chairman, Board of Directors)
Ruby Brabo (Board of Supervisors)
Neiman Young (County Administrator)
Eric Gregory (County Attorney)
Absent:
Cathy Binder (Board of Supervisors)
Meeting Agenda
[no Agenda was posted online, however one was available at the meeting]
Next Meeting:
The Service Authority will next meet on August 7, 2018 at 6:30 pm at the Revercomb Building.
Previous Meeting:
Read about the previous Service Authority Meeting.
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