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Meeting Minutes

The Nevada Board of Certification for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators is operated for the State of Nevada by the Nevada Water Environment Association (NWEA). We post our Meeting Minutes for your convenience.

01/24/2008
Meeting Minutes January 2008

Nevada Board of Certification Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators
January 24, 2008 - Meeting Minutes - CCWRD Conference Room

Meeting was called to order at approximately 09:30 AM.

Attendees: Joe Crim, Jennifer McMartin, Bill Shepherd, John Solvie, Starlin Jones, Kelvin Ikehara, Adrian Edwards, and Harvey Johnson.

Absent: None

  1. Item #1: Introduction of new the Board members:
    • Kelvin Ikehara, Douglas County Sewer Improvement District
    • Adrian Edwards, City of Henderson Water Reclamation Facility
  2. Item #2: Approval of minutes of November 9, 2007 meeting:
    • The minutes were approved as presented.
  3. Item #3: Certification Program Update:
    • The election of Board officers was moved to after the website update on the agenda.
    • The certification contract was forwarded to the NDEP. The Assistant Program Administrator (APA) will follow up with Val King from the NDEP.
    • The new members of the Board were updated on the certification contract process.
    • Election/re-election of Board members results:
      • Chairman – Bill Shepherd
      • Program Administrator – Harvey Johnson
      • Vice Chairman – Joe Crim
  4. Item #4: Program Administrator Report:
    • The PAR was distributed to the Board.
    • The number of collection system certifications increased considerably over the past year.
    • The pass/fail report is included in the report.
    • Computerized exam update:
      • ABC is preparing a new two party agreement with the AMP Testing Service for standardized exams.
      • ABC will set up the program for our use absorbing the $1000 fee.
      • Exams can be taken at AMP centers throughout the USA.
      • The cost is $68 per exam in addition to the standard exam fee.
      • A 30 day waiting period is required before retaking an exam.
  5. Item #5: Assistant Program Administrator Items
    • The NVRWA Conference is scheduled for March 11-14, 2008 at Harvey’s Resort in South Lake Tahoe.
    • The NWEA Conference is scheduled for May 13-16, 2008 at John Ascuaga’s Nugget.
    • The APA is giving a presentation regarding the changes to the wastewater certification program at the NVRWA Conference. The APA will also be proctoring an exam at the NVRWA Conference.
    • OCT agreed to teach operator classes at the NWEA Conference. The Board stipulated that OCT needs to teach to ABC need-to-know criteria. The APA will ask OCT if they can change their format to accommodate the ABC criteria.
    • WE&T magazine has approved questions that can be used as subject material.
    • The Board asked if higher grade (III & IV) level training can be done at the NWEA Conference.
    • The Board voted to add an exam to the NWEA conference. The APA will have increased time commitment with the extra test at the NWEA Conference.
    • The Board discussed and passed that an operator with a certification suspension period noted in the certification database will be cleared of the suspension upon the next certification renewal.
    • The APA will develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for her position as time is available. The APA will develop a list of SOPs by February 2008 including an SOP project estimate of completion.
  6. Item #6: CEUs for Certification Renewals:
    • Nevada is one of two states that do not require CEUs.
    • Not requiring CEUs is an issue for reciprocity to states that require CEUs.
    • A round table discussion will be held at the NWEA Conference on CEUs.
    • An NDEP representative will attend the round table.
    • The NWEA Executive Board is sponsoring the round table with cooperation of the Certification Board.
  7. Item #7: Policies & Procedures Manual:
    • Draft revisions of the Policies and Procedures manual were presented to the Board. These included the computerized testing policy, renewal policy, invoice approval policy, and the exam proctor policy.
  8. Item #8: Training Update: There is no update since the last meeting. Higher level training is possible at the NWEA conference.
  9. Item #9: Water Operator Certification Advisory Board Update: The Board was informed of Darrin Price leaving the Water Certification Board.
  10. Item #10: ABC update:
    • Fees have not increased since 2002.
    • The ABC Board is discussing fee increases.
    • The ABC conference in January went very well.
    • Nevada may partner with Ohio and Georgia to produce an Industrial Waste Inspector exam.
    • There is discussion of proctor and certified trainer certifications.
    • The ABC has a new Executive Director.
    • John Solvie started his new position on the ABC Board.
    • Workforce issues were discussed at the ABC conference. The certification program of the State of New York is to send the APA CEU materials from their program. Their CEU program is an accredited training program.
  11. Item #11: Website update: Steve Cottrell is training the APA on maintenance of the Website.
  12. Item #12: New Business:Possible meeting date change to the months of February (Las Vegas), May (NWEA Conference), August (Reno), and November (Las Vegas).
  13. Item #13: Schedule next Board Meeting: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 1:30 PM.