Minutes of CONA Meeting

7:00 p.m., September 17, 2008

City Hall Building

Bloomington, Indiana

Board Members Present:
6th & Ritter - David Walter
Old Northeast - Jerry Stasny
Elm Heights - Kathie Holland
Southampton - Richard Carr
Eastside - Molly O'Donnell

Program

Erica Amt (erica@wittmanhydro.com) and Sherry Mitchell-Bruker (sherry@wittmanhydro.com) from Wittman Hydro Planning Associates gave a presentation on water conservation the previous night and Molly O'Donnell invited them to give another presentation to the CONA Board.

The City of Bloomington Utilities Board hired WHPA to meet with focus groups to obtain views and to set goals for water conservation in the community. They will be meeting with other groups and commissions including IU and the water companies that purchase water from Lake Monroe. Among their activities are:

1. Water System Audit - This is where all of the water is accounted for that is pumped from Lake Monroe - what is sold, what is used and what is lost due to leaks, maintenance and unbilled.
2. Analysis of Demand - Looking at billings to wholesale buyers, residential, commercial, and IU among others. They will look at the "ups and downs" - what drives demand and when is it important to conserve water.
3. Goals - for water conservation - what are the types of goals and the issues involved with setting these goals.
4. Conservation - What measures should be adopted, how to present these to the community and how do you increase the community awareness of the need to conserve water.

The existing water supply from Lake Monroe is the only water available for the community, the county and some of the adjoining counties. Demand for water is approaching the maximum limit that can be pumped at times. A new water line is necessary for redundancy and also to provide additional water at peak demand. Along with this is a need to improve the Dillman Road water treatment plant to handle the waste flow. If water conservation measures are adopted, the water treatment plant expansion might be postponed. WHPA needs your thoughts, ideas, suggestions and questions about water conservation to include in their report to the City of Bloomington Utilities Board. The CONA Board discussed several ideas and made comments about how the impact of IU and the community's growth has affected water use.

Business Meeting

1. The minutes from the August 20, 2008 meeting were approved.
2. David Walter reported treasury balances as follows: Checking: $411.41 and Savings: $8,313.30. One check in the amount of $45.07 was written for Green Acres Neighborhood Association's summer party.
3. The September meeting is the annual election to the Executive Committee. The by-laws require "willing" nominations to the committee with a maximum of five members. The nominees are: David Walter, Molly O'Donnell, Greg Alexander and Jerry Stasny. Richard Carr made a motion to elect the slate of nominees. The motion was seconded by Kathy Holland and the motion passed on a voice vote.
4. Under Neighborhood News the Board discussed the Sunday storm from the Hurricane Ike which damaged trees, caused power outages and disrupted the community. Several areas are still without power.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.