KMUD board cancels May election
KINGSLAND — The Kingsland Municipal Utility District has canceled a May 8 election for three seats on the board because only three candidates are running.
Only incumbents filed to run, including Place 3 Director Chuck Henicke, Place 4 Director Larry Denney (also the board vice president) and Place 5 Director Lorean Sindelar.
The filing period ended March 15, according to Business/Office Manager Anita LaBier.
The board can choose to cancel an election under such conditions, officials have said.
“And you were all geared up for a contested election,” board President Mary Ann Hefner quipped during a recent meeting, speaking to Denney.
A notarized statement will be sent to the Llano County Elections Administration and the Texas Secretary to indicate the election is canceled, General Manager Paul D. O’Brian said.
The canceled election will save the district about $5,000, O’Brian added.
Also during the meeting Monday, the board amended its wastewater rates, fees and charge schedule to include payment from customers through credit cards, as well as a convenience fee of 5 percent on the amount of each bill.
Credit card payments can be accepted “in about three weeks” pending the release of an announcement in local newspapers, the KMUD newsletter and customer bills, O’Brian said.
“Overall plant performance has been good,” O’Brian said of the general manager’s monthly report.
KMUD total income was 33 percent above budget at $71,705, and total expenses were 25 percent below budget at $39,413 last month, O’Brian added.
Also last month, KMUD staff installed three new residential services and responded to 130 service calls, O’Brian added.
In other business, the board approved for about $2,000 an easement agreement between KMUD and the Edwards Open A Bar Cattle Co. The easement will help with repair and future upgrades to a 3-inch sewer line near RR 2545 in Llano County, O’Brian said.
Also, the board approved spending $1,800 for an easement agreement between the district and Seth and Laura Martin for 1.93 acres along RR 2342.
The easement will help extend the main sewer line to the Enclave subdivision, O’Brian said.
Also during the meeting, the board:
• Approved more than $16,089 for consulting, engineering and legal services last month.
• Declared phosphate levels collected from a single “grab sample” at car washes must remain below 40 milligrams per liter and removed the same phosphate rule for laundromats in the district.