Annual General Meeting
23rd June 2016 at Killeen Community Centre
23rd June 2016 at Killeen Community Centre
Minutes:
Minutes of the previous AGM dated 19/05/2015 were read to the meeting by Michael
O'Grady. They were proposed by John Tiernan and seconded by James O'Malley.
O'Grady. They were proposed by John Tiernan and seconded by James O'Malley.
Chairman's Address:
Sal O'Malley welcomed everyone to the meeting with a special welcome to Paul Connolly from the National Federation of Group Water Schemes. Sal expressed sympathy with Paul Connolly who was recently bereaved with the death of his father. Paul thanked Sal and the members present. Sal thanked the management team of Connie O'Driscoll and Austin Francis O'Malley for their continued hard work on behalf of its members and noted that the scheme is in a far better position this year when compared to 2015. She also thanked Johnny McGreal (Maintenance) and John O'Toole (Accountant, LAS).
AECOM are now being replaced by Glan Agua who have a contract for the operation of the water treatment plant for the next fifteen years.
Sal thanked all the members who have paid their bills and this will help enormously in keeping the scheme modern and up to date. The scheme is now in place for 41 years. Sal urged all present to feel free to participate fully in the meeting and to feel free in every way to ask questions. She requested that more people would consider becoming Board Members especially people of a younger age group.
AECOM are now being replaced by Glan Agua who have a contract for the operation of the water treatment plant for the next fifteen years.
Sal thanked all the members who have paid their bills and this will help enormously in keeping the scheme modern and up to date. The scheme is now in place for 41 years. Sal urged all present to feel free to participate fully in the meeting and to feel free in every way to ask questions. She requested that more people would consider becoming Board Members especially people of a younger age group.
Audited Accounts:
John O'Toole circulated a summary of the audited accounts for year ended 31/12/2015 with a copy of the financial statement given to each member present. Anyone wishing to receive a fully copy of the accounts could contact him directly. The independent Auditors Report was signed by David O'Sullivan.
Income was up on the previous year. There has been some items re-categorised and he explained the reasons for doing so. Net surplus for 2015 was €22,200. There was a lively discussion from the members with John O'Toole on all aspects of the accounts.
A new member Joe Liddane wished to thank Austin Francis and Johnny McGreal for their outstanding help in getting water to his house.
Accounts were adopted on the proposal of Christy Gibbons and seconded by John Tiernan.
Income was up on the previous year. There has been some items re-categorised and he explained the reasons for doing so. Net surplus for 2015 was €22,200. There was a lively discussion from the members with John O'Toole on all aspects of the accounts.
A new member Joe Liddane wished to thank Austin Francis and Johnny McGreal for their outstanding help in getting water to his house.
Accounts were adopted on the proposal of Christy Gibbons and seconded by John Tiernan.
Managers' Report:
Connie O'Driscoll presented the Managers' Report. All household meters have been replaced and it is hoped to move toward billing on meter usage in the future when all outstanding loans for upgrade works have been paid back to Mayo CoCo and IPL. A number of bulk meters are not working and need replacing but bulk meters are read at alternative locations in the field by Austin Francis O'Malley. The monitoring of these bulk meters is essential to keep on top of water usage and leaks around the scheme.
Water leakage has seen a very big reduction in the past year and continues to be monitored. Field meters need replacing but the Scheme does not get funding support for this and so it is proposed to wait until the scheme is in a stronger financial position before committing to this work.
The scheme connected up four new customers in the past year.
AECOM have been replaced by Glan Agua for the operation of the water treatment plant. This will result in a rise in the cost of water treated per m^3 from 0.06 c to 0.20 c.
Overall the collection of water charges has been very successful and some customers are on payment plans.
The network has been flushed in part, and the remainder will be flushed this year. There are three fully installed on-line chlorine monitors.
The upgrade of the intake pipe from the lake is still at a standstill owing to the requirement for wayleave signatures from the Department prior to funding been given out. If this line can be finished and necessary repairs carried out on the t op section of intake pipe at the lake Mayo CoCo have committed to handing the responsibility over to Glan Agua and out of the hands of the Group Water Scheme. Connie O'Driscoll views this work essential and necessary to the future of the Scheme.
Water leakage has seen a very big reduction in the past year and continues to be monitored. Field meters need replacing but the Scheme does not get funding support for this and so it is proposed to wait until the scheme is in a stronger financial position before committing to this work.
The scheme connected up four new customers in the past year.
AECOM have been replaced by Glan Agua for the operation of the water treatment plant. This will result in a rise in the cost of water treated per m^3 from 0.06 c to 0.20 c.
Overall the collection of water charges has been very successful and some customers are on payment plans.
The network has been flushed in part, and the remainder will be flushed this year. There are three fully installed on-line chlorine monitors.
The upgrade of the intake pipe from the lake is still at a standstill owing to the requirement for wayleave signatures from the Department prior to funding been given out. If this line can be finished and necessary repairs carried out on the t op section of intake pipe at the lake Mayo CoCo have committed to handing the responsibility over to Glan Agua and out of the hands of the Group Water Scheme. Connie O'Driscoll views this work essential and necessary to the future of the Scheme.
Q&A:
There were some questions from the floor in relation to bill payments, standing orders and monitoring water quality which Connie addressed pointing out that the scheme is part of ISO 9001 assessed by BQAI. Paul Connolly expanded on this and said that Killeen Group Water Scheme is in the top 5 % of Private Group Water Schemes in Ireland for water quality owing to the excellent quality of the source water. Paul pointed out that the scheme is doing quite well overall but it is vital that the remaining section of the intake pipe is replaced.
Election of Officers:
Sal O'Malley and Johnny McGreal retired from the Board as required and offered themselves for re-election. They were proposed by John Tiernan and seconded by Austin Francis O'Malley and re-elected to the Board.
Water Charges:
The committee having considered the financial situation for 2015, budgets for 2016 and the changes in subsidy funding proposed a water charge for 2015 of €200 capital contribution cost with water usage in excess of 40 m^3 being billed at 0.65c per m^3. Sal sought advice from Paul Connolly in respect of giving a free allowance of water. Paul informed the meeting that he expects a full restoration of subsidies to water schemes from the 1st of April 2016 and mentioned that once the subsidy was restored there would be a requirement to give a free allowance. The 40 m^3 offered here satisfies this. There was a discussion on commercial customers and their value to the scheme. One member present who depends on the supply for his business gave his views and wished to state categorically that he appreciated the good supply of water.
The chairperson Sal O'Malley put the aforementioned fees to the meeting an d sought a proposal of €200 toward capital contribution and upgrade and a free allowance of 40 m^3 with water in excess of this being billed at 0.65c per m^3. This was proposed by Christy Gibbons and seconded by Richard Austin and Johnny McGreal.
The chairperson Sal O'Malley put the aforementioned fees to the meeting an d sought a proposal of €200 toward capital contribution and upgrade and a free allowance of 40 m^3 with water in excess of this being billed at 0.65c per m^3. This was proposed by Christy Gibbons and seconded by Richard Austin and Johnny McGreal.
A.O.B.
Margaret O'Malley asked that the new water bill would be more clear and informative. Connie told her that this is being addressed with the new bills.
Paul Connolly congratulated the members of the scheme's success and again expressed his hope that the issues of the intake line would soon be sorted out. Paul says there is 100 % funding secured for this up-grade thanks to the work in previous years of Austin Francis O'Malley. Paul thanked Connie, Austin Francis and the Board Members.
There being no further business the meeting was concluded
Paul Connolly congratulated the members of the scheme's success and again expressed his hope that the issues of the intake line would soon be sorted out. Paul says there is 100 % funding secured for this up-grade thanks to the work in previous years of Austin Francis O'Malley. Paul thanked Connie, Austin Francis and the Board Members.
There being no further business the meeting was concluded
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