Large Crowd Attends Meeting of Flo Water Supply Corp.

By Mac Shadix

Proclaiming himself a ‘lame duck’ because he is not seeking reelection, the Vice President of Flo Community Water Supply Corporation, Bobby Pittman presided over the Feb. 8 meeting of the Flo WSC in his own unique style. One of the largest crowds in Flo WSC history was present, estimated at between ninety and one hundred and twenty persons, to witness Pittman tell Director Hollis Bradshaw “Now you sit down and wait” when Bradshaw made a suggestion. Pittman also called the judge in the bankruptcy case, “about half senile.” He also called on Buffalo Press Photojournalist Mac Shadix to apologize to the board for having written that the system which governed the water corp. problems last summer was a “failed experiment in contract management.”

The meeting began with Pittman opening the floor to member’s comments and questions. “Only ask questions and make comments about today’s agenda items.” Pittman directed the audience.

First to ask a question was Member John Dearing. “Wait a minute, I have a question. …..I would like to know what happened to all the money that came in for these thirteen years?” Dearing said as Pittman canvassed the room for those who would like to speak.

Pittman described previous law suits against Flo WSC in a long reply to Dearing. He said in part; that the Board told the driller of a previous disappointing well to, “Move on down the road.” But Pittman added that, “He had a legitimate contract with us and he filed a lawsuit.”

“I am not a candidate for reelection so I can say what I think. Whoever takes over running this board, they got a tough time finding the money for making the repairs that are going to have to be made over the next year or two.” Pittman said.

The arbitration judge in Austin, “…was probably in his ninety’s and about half senile and he wound up ruling that we owed Palestine Water a million dollars.” Pittman continued.

The Flo WSC Vice President continued to talk for several minutes when a voice from the audience called out, “three minute rule.”

“I have all day if I want to talk.” Pittman replied. “Man asked a question and I want him to understand.”

The next questioner was Mike Foucheux. “I would like to know what steps are being taken to improve our water situation?” he asked.

General Manager Jim Martin was directed by Pittman to answer the question and Martin told the audience that the Flo well was supplying most of the system, that the Highway 75 well was offline and that there were ongoing efforts to flush the lines.

Next, a voice from the room said, “I take exception”

“What was your name? Pittman asks.

“Doris Pittman, not your wife.” Doris Pittman replies.

“You are sure right about that.” Vice President Bobby Pittman answered.

“I take exception to some of the facts that you are handing out about decisions that the board made on the lawsuit. I think the lawsuit should have been settled. I don’t think you should have spent $100,000 a year on attorney’s fees and …put us into bankruptcy.” Doris Pittman said.

“I appreciate your comments. Next” Bobby Pittman said.

“My name is Ken Brashears, and I notice reading the paper that you all say that we were not bankrupt, that we filed Ch. 11. I would like you to explain to me what the difference between Ch. 11 and bankruptcy is?” said the next member to address the meeting.

“Well, Ch. 11 in court is recognized as reorganization……If we had gone into bankruptcy we would have said that we owed them a million dollars and walked off from it. As it is we negotiated it down to a half a million dollars, and a payment plan to pay it out.” Pittman told Brashears.

A member in the audience said. “But that cost us $600,000 in lawyer’s fees.”

“Stand up and tell your name and ask your question right.” Pittman told her.

“Well, my name is Vonda Nicholson and I don’t have a question, I have a comment.” She said.

“Well, we are taking questions right now.” Pittman responded.

“Ok, I can make it a question. How much money in the last five years have you paid out in lawyers fees to settle a million dollar lawsuit down to $500,000?” Nicholson asked.

“I don’t know.” Pittman admitted.

“Approximately $600,000.” Nicholson interjected.

The Water Board then moved on to the agenda and approved the minutes of the last meeting and the January Financial, Expense and New member requests without incident.

There was a discussion of item seven which was to discuss and take action on request of a copy of the operating accounts and check and deposit register be provided at each meeting with both Bradshaw and Pittman explaining that it wasn’t needed at the meeting and then General Manager Jim Martin told the group that he planned to include it in Directors packets available to them before meetings so they could have time to study it if need arose.

Item eight was a discussion on procedures used to receive process and secure ballots in the upcoming election. Pittman had Office Manager Delores Bynum describe a process where she opened the ballots and then put them in a locked box.

Vonda Nicholson asked, “Are they sealed or unsealed at that time. Are they in the sealed envelope that we return back to you at that time or are they open?”

The answer was that they were opened.

At that point Director Hollis Bradshaw asked. “Can we let Ann (Boykin) respond to that because she is the Chairman of the Credentials Committee?”

“No. I want Delores to tell how it has been done in the past and then Ann can respond to anything that she wants to. Now you sit down and wait.” Pittman told Bradshaw.

Director Richard Moran pointed out that the Bylaws require that the credentials committee be appointed by the board after the board was told that President Gary Bell had appointed Director Bradshaw, Jim Martin, and Ann Boykin to the committee.

Pittman then called for nominations for the committee and Moran nominated Boykin. Terry Bradshaw volunteered and then Director Bradshaw told Pittman that she was his wife and they sought another volunteer. Mrs. Bradshaw seemed offended that she was not put on the committee. Member John Dearing was then selected to make up the third member of the committee along with Jim Martin and Ann Boykin. They did not address the issue of whether Jim Martin is a member of the Corp. as called for in the Bylaws, Article VI, Section 3.

Vice President Pittman then turned his attention to the press, with which he seemed unhappy.

“Now, before I turn it over to Jim to make his systems report, Mr. Shadix, I feel like you owe the Flo Water and the board an apology. Last month in the paper you came out with an article that said that we had a failed attempt at a contract manager and I am here to dispute that and say that the man did an excellent job, did exactly what we hired him to do. At the time we hired him, you couldn’t hire a licensed man anywhere in the State of Texas to work for Flo Water. Vice President of Flo WSC Pittman said.

Rising to his feet, Shadix, Photojournalist for the Buffalo Press, replied; “I fail to find this on the agenda, Mr. Vice President.”

“Well, I just put it on the agenda. I make the agenda.” Pittman said.

“That is what you do about every meeting isn’t it?” Shadix responded.

“Yeah, if I want to.” Pittman said.

“Yeah, that’s right.” Shadix added.

“You keep a ringing the Enquirer up.” Pittman concluded.

After that exchange, Pittman turned the meeting over to General Manager Jim Martin for the Systems report. Moran said that there had been a payment drop established at Robinsons Ace Hardware in Buffalo to make check or money order payments. Anything left there after noon on the twelfth of each month will be considered late.

Martin reported that they had locked out 21 meters for non payment. There was over $13,000 due the cash strapped utility from non paying members.

He also reported that there was a Flo Water web site up, flocommunitywater.org where notices and information would be posted for the use of members.

Questions were then taken from the floor for some time with more people asking question and contributing opinions.

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