By KEN MILAM
POTEAU – A rate increase may be in the offing for customers of Poteau Valley Improvement Authority, which provides water for most of LeFlore County.
PVIA Secretary-Treasurer Ron Pelanconi said an increase of 10 cents per 1,000 gallons is being considered. Pelanconi said a Budget Committee meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 27 at the treatment plant at Lake Wister.
Chairman Mick LaFevers cited increases in electrical rates, chemical and other needs as reasons for the increase. He also said the board needs to consider pay raises for employees because there are so many other jobs open at higher pay rates.
The board voted to pay $9,551 for an archeological survey and $6,084 for an environmental assessment. LaFevers said the county would pay part of the latter with Covid relief funds.
Members also agreed to pay $3,950 to Steve Patterson of BioXDesign for work on the watershed study.
Morrison said he attended an Oklahoma Rural Water Association Conference where he got further information about the lead and copper revisions that will be done on water lines.
“I talked to one of the ORWA people about a mapping system,” Morrison said. “By October 2024, we will have to have our system mapped and inventoried for the new lead and copper regulations.”
He said PVIA will have to buy new mapping software for the project, and noted that some of the member districts already have the new software.
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