Lake Wenatchee Water District
Commissioner’s Meeting Minutes
Dec 14, 2023
Location: Fire Station #91
21696 Lake Wenatchee Hwy
Commissioners Present: Fred Guimond, Erin Colwell, John Colvard (quorum established)
Staff Present: Bruce Harris-Clerk, Charlie Cruikshank-Operator
Guests Present: Barbara Harris
Commissioner Guimond called the meeting to order at 9:31
Commissioner Colwell moved to accept the November 9, 2023 minutes as written, Commissioner Colvard moved to second, motion passed.
Administrative
Approve: O&M and Payroll Warrants
Monthly financial reports: As of Nov 30, 2023, Treasurer’s balance sheet shows $47,981.41 in the general operating fund and $ 116,267.50 in the reserve fund. Imprest balance is $945.96.
Customer aging status as of Dec, 08 2023 was:
60 days – 0 customers @ 60 days ($0)
90 days – 7 customers @ 90 days ($ 923.98)
Commissioner Colwell motioned to approve the O&M warrant for $8,137.34 Commissioner Guimond seconded, motion passed.
Commissioner Colwell motioned to approve payroll warrant for $1587.00, Commissioner Guimond seconded, motion passed.
Clerk Harris reviewed the estimated impact of using an additional rate tier in the QwikWater billing program to capture high water users in such a way as to discourage over consumption without initiating a whole new ‘business rate’ which would be difficult to enforce. The impact would be immediate (2024) while research was being done to obtain a new water source.
Commissioner Colwell moved to approve the 2024 budget resolution 2023-12-14A (with updated 2024 rates), Commissioner Guimond moved to second, motion passed.
A notice would be sent out to the LWWD customers explaining the rate increase.
Moratorium on new water connections
Commissioner Colwell moved to approve lifting the moratorium on new water connections, effective January 1, 2024, Commissioner Guimond seconded, motion passed. Resolution 2023-10-12A Moratorium on New Service Connections was withdrawn, effective Jan 1, 2024, until severe water shortages warrant revisiting the moratorium again.
New Water Service Form
Commissioner Colwell moved to approve the new Water Service Form to be effective December 14, 2023, Commissioner Guimond moved to second, motion passed. This new form fixes the new water service connection fee at a flat rate that would be reviewed annually or when conditions, such as inflation, warrant it. Under this change, the water district would provide the meter vault/meter and oversight by the operator during the planning and installation of the meter. The actual installation, supervised by the operator, would be scheduled, and billed to the customer by the contractor. This does not apply to water main extensions, if required.
Customer Status Report
Leak report
A large leak on the west end of Brown Road (1459 gallons per day) has been repaired.
The operator discussed water odors in Lester Addition area was mostly the result of extensive pumping affecting the chlorine absorption in the water as a result of the large leak on Brown Road.
Our main supplier of water meters and supporting equipment is no longer carrying Master Meter products. The operator agreed to locate another vendor for Master Meter products.
The SCADA laptop computer that controls the well pumping and balancing of the system had its hard drive go out in the last week. It had been repaired but the commissioners asked the operator to check with RH2 and bring a proposal to the January 11, 2024, commissioners meeting for its replacement since it is 10 years old.
The commissioners also discussed the possibility of purchasing existing wells or redeveloping the Whispering Pines spring source. The topic was tabled until the next meeting so that more information could be researched.
Adjourn at 11:30
Next meeting – Thursday, Jan 11, 2024
9:30 – 11:30 am