Prompted by a board member's question, the Sulphur River Basin Authority decided to begin compensation for board members at their meeting on Tuesday [June 15] at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center. Executive Director Michael Burke explained that the enabling act for the organization allows for a $25 per day reimbursement for attending meetings and "other business of the Authority". In addition, the SRBA bylaws allow for board member compensation, "as allowed by law". The enabling act states that board members cannot receive compensation for more than 50 days per year.
"I think $25 per meeting wouldn't be out of line," Burke said. "I think it is pretty similar to other boards like this."
Since the section on compensation is in both the enabling act and the bylaws, no motion or action was required.
In other business, the board decided to send a list of SRBA's investments to banks within the Basin for bids on rates. SRBA currently has four certificates of deposit located in Regions Bank in Texarkana totaling $411,755. Two of the CDs mature in July and August, and one matures in November. All of the SRBA's investments are short-term.
"I would like to see a fair playing field," said board member Jim Thompson. "I'd like an analysis of our CDs, their maturity date and the longevity of our deposits. We send it to all banks for bid, and they contact us with an offer. That way, everyone gets the same notice." Burke noted that the organization needs to protect its principle to get the best rate possible but also stay liquid enough to cover the cost of operations. "The money from our partnership contract goes in one year," he said. "If we have less than that, we won't have enough for the bills."
Board member Mike Kennedy, who is president of Century Bank in Texarkana, said, "It's pretty easy to put together a rate for a three-month CD. I think you'll get good participation and the best rate." Burke said he has compiled a list of banks in several cities in the Basin, including Texarkana, Sulphur Springs, Paris, Mount Pleasant, Cooper, New Boston and De Kalb.
In other business, Burke gave an update on the Clean Rivers Program, including a basin summary report. "This is the draft we'll send to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality," he explained. "It takes five years of water quality assessment into one chart. It's a snapshot of the Basin for the last five years."
During the section on the third-quarter review, Burke noted that SRBA has been dropped from a high-risk organization designation to low-risk by TCEQ. "They've reviewed our operations, and we've met their contract requirements," he said.
The electro-fish equipment training sponsored by SRBA is scheduled for June 23-24 at Texarkana College, with 12 participants currently enrolled. In addition the Authority's steering committee will meet July 15 at 1:30 p.m. at Texarkana College to discuss items related to the basin. Also at Tuesday's meeting board members tabled action until the July meeting on an evaluation of Executive Director Burke following a 45-minute executive session.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas -The Sulphur River Basin Authority has realized they should be getting compensated for their trips to meetings and other authority business.
After a board member brought up the subject, executive director Michael Burke looked through the enabling act and found that board members can be compensated $25 per day when they attend a meeting. The compensation also can be applied to attending to other business of the SRBA for not more than 50 days out of a calendar year.
He said to get the compensation wouldn't be "out of line."
"I think that is pretty similar to other boards like this," said Burke.
Because the compensation issue is already part of the board's by-laws, no motion or action was needed for the board members to begin receiving compensation.
In other business, Burke gave members an update on Clean Rivers Program. He said they have finished the draft of their five-year water quality assessment report, which Burke said is a "snapshot of what's been going on for five years."
The final report will be submitted in the next few weeks and will be on the SRBA's website for viewing at that time.
Burke also said the Clean Rivers steering committee will be meeting at 1:30 on July 15th at Texarkana College for their annual meeting to discuss water quality testing. He said he sent out 100 questionnaires to those who may be attending the meeting to see what they would like to discuss. Some of those sent back mentioned topics such as environmental flow and how it relates to the Clean Rivers Program and acid study in East Texas.
Burke said there will also be Electro-fish equipment training on June 23 and 24 at Texarkana College for anyone who has a background in water quality testing. He said there are about 12 participants so far.
The SRBA also decided to send out bids to banks to get the biggest bang for their investment buck. Burke compiled a list of banks in surrounding cities such as Texarkana, Sulphur Springs and Mount Pleasant and wanted board's direction on what to do next.
Board member Jim Thompson said he would like to see an analysis of all the authority's certificates of deposits when they mature and what they anticipate to be the longevity of the investment. He suggested the board send out the bids with that information and go with whoever offers to pay the highest rate on the investment.
Board member Mike Kennedy, who is the banking business, said it would be worth the SRBA's time to do that.
"I think you'll get good participation," he said.
The SRBA will next meet at 1:30 on July 20th at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center.