Gasparilla Island Water Association elects directors Scott, Hollis and Johnston
At the January 16 annual meeting of the Gasparilla Island Water Association, the utility elected three new directors. They are Ashley Scott, Jack Hollis and Dennis Johnston.
They were to replace the expiring terms of Susan Spurgeon, Tom Courtney and outgoing President R. W. “Bill” Caldwell III. The following officers were elected including Jerry Edgerton as president, Andy Duncan as vice president, Phil Elbert as treasurer and Shelly Patenaude as secretary.
The meeting included 12 voting members present in person and 517 by proxy, with a total of 529. The utility reported operating expenses increasing four percent, and $700,000 under budget. There is a capital reserve of $1.9 million.
In a December letter to members, outgoing President Caldwell had reported that Phase 2B of the rehab of their water reclamation facility on The Gasparilla Inn Golf Course was constructed. It has three membrane bioreactors for ultrafiltration. The last phase is the removal of old steel tanks.
At the meeting, Caldwell commended the ingenuity of GIWA staff after the hurricane, which prevented further damage. Caldwell also reiterated the “difficult nature” of the reclamation facility project.
