Unlike a good bottle of wine, your website doesn’t get better with age. Most companies benefit from a website redesign every 3-5 years. Upon a launch, most companies would send out website redesign announcements to their raving fans or share updates of their significant improvements. Let me share with you the latest happenings with RCH WS.
If you are new to my blog, welcome and thank you for reading to be informed and how you can be part of the solution for RCH Water Supply Corporation to get their act together to provide a quality water service. Simply click yes if asked, “Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates?” Or visit the Politics category in the menu to read all my local Rockwall County political articles.
In a previous article, “Are RCH Water Supply Board Directors Acting In Good Faith?” I wrote three things to be on the look out for that included a presentation from RCH WS at the McLendon-Chisholm City Council meeting and RCH website updates.
RCH WS Website Updates and Announcements
RCH WS uses a web hosting service Rural Water Impact and could have easily contacted customer support instead of relying on an insubordinate service provider Robin Baley, H20 Services to perform changes. Do you believe that Ms. Baley has turned a new leaf from weeks after being MIA and being complicit in allowing this situation to reach this point?
Here is a list of the 8 website updates on Monday, August 15, 2022:
1. RCH WS website template went from a green spring forest theme to a simple blue gradient theme.
2. The header and footer includes a new Main Number (214) 771-4325 [View Figure 2] instead of (972) 722-3203 [View Figure 1].
3. The RCH Board of Directors page returned and is listed in the News & Notices drop down menu.
4. The Contact Us page has a new contact form with a drop down menu to select the following items: Customer Support, Billing Department, Request or Complaint to Address Board [View Figure 2].
5. The All Forms & Reports page now has six (6) additional forms and instructions with the following support email: help@rchwater.com
• F04-New Service
• NEW! F01-ACH Authorization
• NEW! F02-ACH Termination
• NEW! F05-Utility Locates
• NEW! F03-Disconnect/Service Termination
• NEW! F06-Fire Hydrant Contract
• New Meter Service Agreement
• Water Line Specs & Requirements
• Right of Way Easement Form
• Board of Directors Application
• NEW! F07-Complaint/Board Meeting Request
6. The Location page has been updated with the new main number of (214) 771-4325 along with the weekday hours of operation Monday-Friday 8am to 4:30pm.
7. Board Meeting & Minutes page included a new blurb notification announcing the Wednesday, September 7, 2022 Board Meeting. The social distance and masks requirement charade is still there and is not applicable. However, new instructions and a new link to the Contact Us Form added for anyone wishing to address the board; they must complete the Board Meeting Request Form. The February, April, June and August agendas or minutes have been added under the heading Relevant Documents.
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE…
On August 17, 2022, RCH WS customer Laurie Lehmberg shared that she contacted RCH WS to provide a copy or a link to the By-Laws. She shared, “I just received a response, and they are now on the website.”
9. The Articles of Incorporation & By-Laws page has been added to the Forms & Reports drop down menu. The relevant documents listed are:
Did RCH WS send out any notices?
RCH WS did not use their text alert or newsletter to share with subscribers of the website updates this week.
Is RCH WS trying to rewrite history?
Many are on the RCH WS Watch and it’s going to be pretty tough to get through the rock solid evidence that is being produced almost weekly. If you have been reading my blog, showing up to meetings and reviewing public content you know already that we the people have a goal to have better water management. RCH WS customers/members are awake and many are with me to end the bad management.
The current RCH WS Board appears to be proactive to address the basic Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code. As far as what was recently uploaded, the RCH WS Agendas and Minutes were certainly not posted appropriately, there were no reasonable accommodations provided and the notifications have been print outs on the window near the utility payment sign. The RCH Board Meeting held on August 3, 2022 was not even close to the agenda posted in the window and certainly it was a surprise to many of us who physically attended when president Mr. Jackie Pullen opened up the floor for comments. Of course, we should give RCH WS Board Directors credit that they are trying to turn around this hot mess that they are in. I’m sure it is not easy friends and they are probably overwhelmed with how much administrative work has not been kept up with.
Speaking of the 2 Meetings Minutes in 7 months
Board Meeting Minutes – February 2, 2022
• Discussion with Dwight Lindop the operator/water technician regarding maintenance issues. He stated that the generators had recently been serviced along with the cla-valves.
• The construction estimates were reviewed for the NTMWD take-point and the proposed 16″ and 12″ water lines.
• The financial statement was reviewed.
Looking forward to seeing those “financial statements” on the RCH WS website. Although, one could do an open records request since RCH WS are required to comply with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code.
Here is a pretty good video with Bobby the Valve Guy who talks about cla-valves. He talks about the importance of pump control valves in piping systems and the best way to prevent water hammer. Altitude valves can be configured for one-way or two-way flow depending on system requirements and can be furnished with auxiliary controls for multiple functions such as pressure sustaining, pressure reduction, rate-of-flow control, solenoid override or other parameters as needed.
Board Meeting Minutes – April 20, 2022
• Engineer Eddy Daniel discussed the City of Rockwall contract and the Trilogy subdivision.
• A motion was made to increase the meter costs by $3,875 starting June 1, 2022.
• The financial statement was reviewed.
Eddy Daniel the contracted engineer has been the main point person that communicates with the City of Rockwall and their public works department on behalf of RCH WS. This is not a standard way of conducting business. Usually the board directs the administrative officer to manage on their behalf [View Exhibit 1 & 2].
So a motion was made to increase the meter costs by $3,875 starting June 1, 2022. It doesn’t appear any changes were made when reviewing 2021 rate increases, but there have been increases dating back since 2017.
Can RCH WS just add three more board members to be elected in January 2023?
Included in my article, I shared a quote by Jackie Pullen at the McLendon-Chisholm City Council Meeting, “We are going to add two more or three more board members to be elected in January 2023.”
Let’s do the math shall we?
Currently, there are five (5) board directors: Jackie Pullen, Warren Hodges, Lowell English, Gary Lovell and Steve Hatfield. There was no mention about resignations.
Let me build you up on details to be on the look out for in the By-Laws and Statutes:
- Bylaws, Article VII. There shall be a regular meeting of the members annually between January 1 and May 1 of each year to transact all business that may be properly [brought] before it. The Secretary-Treasurer shall give at least fifteen days’ written notice of the annual members’ meeting.
- Bylaws, Article VIII. Each member of the corporation shall be entitled to one vote in the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation. A member [may] own more than one membership, but each member shall only be entitled to one vote in any event.
- Bylaws, Article IX. Upon the issuance of the Charter and annually thereafter on the first Tuesday in January, the board of directors shall elect a president, vice-president, and secretary-treasurer.
- Articles of Incorporation (AOC), Article IX. The number of directors constituting the initial Board of Directors is five, and the names and addresses of the persons who are to serve as the initial directors are…
Despite the typos or missing words let’s agree to refer back to the Texas Statutes to confirm what RCH WS was ultimately trying to achieve in their bylaws (Adopted in 2000 and amended in 2009).
- Per the RCH WS Bylaws, Tuesday, January 3, 2023 will be an important date (Article IX).
- Members/Customers shall be given at least fifteen days written notice of the Annual Members Meeting (Article VII).
- Each member will be entitled to one vote in the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation (Sec. 67.0053. (b) (1)).
- The board shall adopt an official ballot form to be used in conducting the business of the corporation at any annual or special meeting (Sec. 67.007).
- The board shall elect a president, a vice president, and a secretary-treasurer following the issuance of a charter and after each annual meeting of the membership or shareholders. At the meeting, each member or stockholder may be allowed only one vote regardless of the number of memberships or stock certificates held by the person (Sec. 67.006. (a) OFFICERS).
- The number of directors constituting the initial Board of Directors is five (Articles of Incorporation (AOC), Article IX).
- Ballot Applicants to serve as Director on the RCH WS Board in the 2023 Election (Ballot Application).
RCH WS can’t just add THREE additional board of directors in a January election.
A charter amendment must happen to include that change which is done at the Annual Meeting which will go into effect for the next election. When they conduct the upcoming election…the election ballot would have to include “the number of directors to be elected” according to Sec. 67.0053. BALLOT. The board shall select an independent election auditor not later than the 30th day before the scheduled date of the annual meeting, along with adopting a ballot, otherwise the ballot would not be valid. 30 days before the election a notice of the election procedures must be sent out to the members. Board Director candidate applications must be filed with RCH WS not later than the 45th day before the date of the annual meeting. The corporation shall notify the members or shareholders of the application deadline not later than the 30th day before the deadline.
Nonetheless, a minimum of three (3) current board directors should do the right thing and submit a resignation letter. Of course, they most certainly can apply for director again and see how that goes when they have to get a minimum of 20 signatures.
Things to be on the look out for this week:
- Robin Baley, H20 Services should have the doors unlocked for public records to be available for public inspection during regular business hours.
- Memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the City of McLendon-Chisholm and the City of Terrell. 7.1 Discussion and Action of a Memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the City of McLendon-Chisholm and the City of Terrell – Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) examination, future exploration of water and wastewater and other common city-related issues. – McLendon-Chisholm City Council Meeting on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 6:30pm.
- Resolution by Trilogy Developer (Huffines). 7.2 Discuss and consider a resolution by Trilogy Developer (Huffines) approving a water Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) under certain conditions which CCN service area will include portions of the City’s corporate limits and portions of the City’s Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). – McLendon-Chisholm City Council Meeting on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 6:30pm.
- RCH WS Final Plat for the Elevated Water Tower (Edwards Rd and League Rd.). 7.9 Consider the request of RCH Water Supply Corporation for approval of a final plat on one acre of land to create a building site for a new RCH Water Supply Corporation water tower. – McLendon-Chisholm City Council Meeting on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 6:30pm.
- Actions taken from Executive Session regarding pending or contemplated litigation or settlement offer re: (i) City of Heath vs McLendon-Chisholm regarding Trilogy development in McLendon-Chisholm city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction, including McLendon-Chisholm land use and comprehensive plan; (ii) North Texas Municipal Water District vs. City of Heath, Cause No.1-22-0704, regarding tree preservation ordinance. – City of Heath City Council Meeting on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 6:30pm.
- RCH WS Website Updates calling for election/appointment information on an agenda, list proposed projects, current project updates, listing a job opportunity for a new administrative officer, posting annual certified audits, resignation letter from board director(s) and Robin Baley‘s resignation letter as an administrative officer.
Would any of these things be happening with RCH WS if it weren’t for your neighbors drawing a line in the sand and stepping up the accountability? As always I would love to hear some feedback please reach out to me and/or comment below. Simply click yes if asked, “Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates?”