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Proposed Amendement to SIRWA Bylaws

June 03, 2021

RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE BYLAWS OF

SOUTHERN IOWA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION,

STATE OF IOWA

 

            WHEREAS, the Bylaws of Southern Iowa Rural Water Association (hereinafter “District”) provide that such Bylaws may be amended by a vote of a majority of the participating members present at any regular meeting of the District.

            WHEREAS, Iowa Code Section 21.8(1) entitled “Electronic meetings” allows the District to conduct meetings by electronic means in circumstances where such a meetings in person are impossible or impractical provided the District complies with all of the following:

  1. The District provides public access to the conversation of the meeting to the extent reasonably possible.
  2. The District complies with Iowa Code Section 21.4 with the place of the meeting being the place from which the communication originates or where public access is provided to the conversation.
  3. Minutes are kept of the meeting. The minutes shall include a statement explaining why a meeting in person was impossible or impractical.

WHEREAS, Iowa Code Section 21.4 entitled “Public notice” sets forth specific requirements for giving notice of the time, date, place, and tentative agenda of a District meeting in a manner reasonably calculated to apprise the public of such information. Said Section also dictates requirements for the place of a District meeting as well as special access for persons with disabilities.

WHEREAS, Article VI of the Bylaws of the District entitled “Meetings of Members” is silent as to authorization for the holding of meetings electronically.

WHEREAS, the District’s service area now extends into at least 11 counties within southwest Iowa, making it impossible or impractical for many District members to attend member meetings in person. Further, in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021, the potential need to hold member meetings for the District by electronic means or by a hybrid of both in-person and electronic means has become clear.

WHEREAS, it is deemed necessary, desirable and in the best interests of the District to amend its Bylaws for the purpose of specifically authorizing the holding of member meetings by electronic means or by a hybrid of both in-person and electronic means, provided the District satisfies the requirements of Iowa Code Sections 21.8 and 21.4 referenced above.

Upon motion duly made and seconded, the members of the District resolved as follows:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Article VI of the Bylaws of the District is hereby amended to add the following:

“Section 6.  The District may conduct any meeting of the members by electronic means or by a hybrid of in-person and electronic means in circumstances where a strictly in-person meeting for members is impossible or impractical, provided the District complies with all requirements of Iowa Code Sections 21.8 and 21.4.