19366_Authority_August

Relationships with PMAA Associate Members By William Ross, Administrator, Lower Saucon Authority A s Administrator of the Lower Saucon Authority (LSA), I often come into contact with PMAA members – both from other municipal authorities and from associate members. It would be easy to take the associate members for granted, but in reality they are crucial to me being able to do my job, and our authority being able to do its job. Every year, LSA schedules a pipe replacement project, which we put out to bid. And for the last 10 years, the winner of the bid has been either LB Water or Ferguson Waterworks. And based upon our history with them, I have no problem if they are the winning bidder. Having a solid relationship with a supplier only reinforces whatever confidence I have in them as a bidder, as does knowing that if we have a problem, our sales representatives (how I hate that term) will do whatever they can to solve a problem. For many years Bob Schwalm was our contact at LB Water. Both I and Bill Reccek, our Operations Manager, knew that if we had a problem and needed something that we did not have in stock during the night or over a weekend, Bob would find a way to get it to us – even if it meant picking it up himself and personally delivering it to us. This actually happened on more than one occasion. Similarly, Tim Trout and later Luke Heist of Ferguson Waterworks could also be relied upon to go above and beyond the call of duty when needed. Knowing that a supplier will not leave you hanging during an emergency repair or in the middle of a job is more than comforting. It allows you to line up work with the confidence that schedules will be met, even if the unexpected happens (as it often does.) Time marches on and sales representatives (who have now become trusted friends) retire. Otto Schaefer has been our Continued on page 64. T HE BOTTOM LINE IS TO RECOGNIZE HOW VALUABLE OUR ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ARE TO US AS AUTHORITY MANAGERS AND TO OUR A SSOCIATION .