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The Mancelona Area Sewer and Water Authority approved a motion to allow engineers Gourdie/Fraser and Community Resource Development director Gary Knapp to continue in their roles until such time as the project is completed.

Board members ultimately agreed to extend the contracts of both CRD and Gourdie Fraser until completion and appointed to the transition committee were Mancelona village representative Robert Wilcox as chairman and board members William Koenig and Dan Kruger. Koenig is the newly-elected MAWSA chairman.

Mancelona Township representative George Ouvry had sought a quicker transition time, but following discussion amongst the board, he withdrew his motion in favor of the new proposal.

Koenig said he thought members needed to keep Knapp around, if nothing else for the fact that he had shepherded the grants for building the sewer and the fact he knew a lot about it.

Mancelona Village representative Kathy Altrock suggested members keep the current team in place until such time as the various projects were completed, perhaps in the winter of 2007, and then hire a new director.

"We really need to keep the current leadership we have got right now," said MAWSA vice chairman and Custer Township representative Robert Ricksgers.

"Then why are we going to hire a director then," Koenig asked.

Wilcox, who represents the village, said while the project is progressing with the current staff, the MAWSA board could be seeking alternative candidates.

"There is no doubt that the CRD has had a conflict with this board," Wilcox said, citing the often rocky relations which led to an earlier motion terminating KnappÕs contract.

"Why doesnÕt this board take the opportunity to set up and communicate and let the CRD board be the coordinator of the project and work out their problems," Wilcox said. "Maybe the problems can be worked out and then we wonÕt be paying two people. It is a waste of money."

Officials discussed possibly hiring someone to shadow the current staff, so when the transition took place it would be seamless.

In a letter to MAWSA from CRD President Tom Ross, he said the CRD members are proud of the accomplishments of MAWSA, but felt that progress has come at a tremendous cost.

"As we look at the current dynamics within the MAWSA board as they exist today we are dismayed that, despite all its accomplishments and hard work, the board appears to be divided and divisive," Ross wrote. "This at a time when this community and the region served by MAWSA is very possibly most in need of a board capable of completing two major pending projects, as well as operating and maintaining one of the largest regional water systems in the state. The CRD board is very clear about its long-standing commitment to do what is best for this community and region."

Ross wrote the purpose of the letter as to express their willingness to extend their current contract, or enter into a new contract, to complete the two projects and to create a transitional plan.

"Conversely, CRD is unwilling to continue its contractual relationship with MAWSA beyond the completion of these objectives. Our willingness to consider continuing our contractual relationship with MAWSA is grounded in our commitment to the betterment of the larger community and region, as well as our long-term investment in the creation and success of MAWSA. However, CRD is only willing to continue its contractual relationship with MAWSA if the MAWSA board makes every attempt to conduct itself in a civil, business-like and orderly manner."

Koenig said CRD staff do more than just handle the paperwork, adding they also are responsible for working with the state and other agencies on clearing the grant requirements.

"We would like to stay on for the completion of the two projects and the orientation of the new members," CRD treasurer and local banker Larry Murton said, "but it is not our intention to stay on long-term. We are all talking about the same thing, all we need to do is decide on the length." Representatives of Gourdie Fraser reminded the board they had previously held this discussion a year earlier and did not reach an agreement then.

"It has always been our intent to transition out," Gourdie Fraser engineer Joe Elliot said, who has been working with the project since inception.