MINUTES
Board Meeting December 10, 2008
1. Meeting was called to order at 0900 by Chair E. Tretten.
2. Board elections for Chair and Vice Chair for 2009.
Motion to nominate Elmer Tretten for Chair. Motion – L. Walker Second – R. Machado All in favor – Aye.
Motion to nominate Larry Walker for Vice Chair.
Motion – R. Machado Second – V. Wiemeyer All in favor – Aye.
3. Report on Closed Session Nothing to report
4. Motion to approve November Minutes.
Motion – R. Machado Second – L. Walker All in favor – Aye.
5. Chief’s Report – given by General Manager F. Motzkus Calls 11/16 at 2411 hours – Propane leak – Mojave Trail, Graeagle 11/25 at 0834 hours – Vehicle fire – Mohawk Vista Drive
We are currently at 50 calls for the year, this almost ties with the same number as last year at this time.
Personnel Firefighter/Engineer Craig Fox will be leaving for the winter within the next week or so.
Grant Update We were notified by FEMA on November 28th that we have been awarded the 2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grant for brand new SCBA’s (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) for which we had applied for. The total dollar amount awarded for this Grant is $63,675.00 our cost share is $3,184.00 or 2% of the total. The firefighters along with myself are very excited to learn this news. Assistant Chief Tom Forster and I will be working to gather the necessary quotes and bids from the various vendors. I will keep the Board informed of our progress.
Miscellaneous Nothing to report.
6. LAFCo update There are no new developments with regard to providing personnel services to the Feather River Inn. However, there will be a hearing held this month in Quincy to discuss and possibly accept the Environmental Impact Report for the Inn. - - - - -
At the recent Plumas County Special Districts Association meeting, the subject of LAFCo was briefly discussed. The item has been added to the next meeting agenda for discussion on the merits of Special District representation on the LAFCo Board.
7. Office Space The General Manager directed the Board’s attention to the board behind the Chairperson, where the 2nd set of drawings was displayed showing the new and larger main office and the other changes that will be made to the building.
The General Manager had a discussion with Swann Engineering about the additional storage area and Mr. Swann felt that he could design a storage area about ten feet by 16 feet, to be located next to the wall at the lower driveway. This additional set of plans would cost $800 to prepare. The General Manager requested permission from the Board to approve the additional expenditure.
Motion to approve the $800 to draw the storage area plans.
Motion – V. Wiemeyer Second – R. Machado All in favor – Aye.
8. Wells and Arsenic update Eco:Logic has provided data on the flows on Well 1B and Well 2 for the last calendar year, they also provided graphs showing when the iron, manganese and arsenic levels are at their highest and lowest. They have provided an outline listing the duties that they will be performing in this study (copies are available upon request).
9. Resolution 2008-73 In order to engage the services of Sierra Receivables for collection purposes, the Board must pass a resolution.
Discussion – in review of the language of the resolution boilerplate supplied by Sierra Receivables, it is apparent that their primary expertise is in health care collection issues. Conclusion – have the General Manager contact them and ascertain further information on what duties they will be able to perform with regard to collection of Fire Department Response Fee invoices. The matter was continued to the January agenda.
10. Fire Department Recruitment This item was continued to the January agenda.
11. Expenditure Requests This item was discussed under item #7.
12. Fire Corps Nothing to report at this time.
13. Goals and Objectives E. Tretten advised that he had received some information from the Plumas Sierra Rural Electric Co-Op on their solar energy program. He is gleaning more information and scouting out possible locations for installation of the solar equipment.
14. Committee Reports Personnel – nothing to report Recreation – the General Manager advised that the Plumas Eureka Ski Hill is looking at the water and septic systems on the Hill and he may be called on to do some consulting. Insurance – nothing to report
15. Future Agenda Items and New Business The clerk reviewed the items for the January Board Meeting Agenda.
New Business None
16. General Manager’s Report The Board reviewed the November Financial Reports.
Motion to accept the Reports.
Motion – L. Walker Second – V. Wiemeyer All in favor – Aye.
CSD Vehicle The Board and General Manager continued discussion on new vs used, Ford Ranger vs F 150 (size), lots of stopping and starting in course of daily use (stress on vehicle), another possible source may be used rental agency used vehicles. The General Manager will continue to gather information and will advise the individual Board Members on his progress, if he finds something within the approved purchase amount range, he will act on it (because this prolonged delay on the vehicle purchase is putting stress on the individual duties of Lew and Shane by them having to share one truck between them).
Rate Study Letters requesting bids were sent to 16 engineering firms, we received two no thank you, 12 were no response and two bids were received, one for $50,000 and one for $15,000. In the interim we have received information that there are firms that specialize in rate studies, the General Manager is going to pursue that avenue and report back to the Board.
Miscellaneous It has recently been discovered that the Bank of America, where the CSD does its banking, does not have on record that when a Board Member changes or the General Manager changes that a new signature card for the accounts is submitted to the Branch to update the approved signers on the accounts. This said “record” must be in the form of CSD Board Meeting Minutes and be submitted to the Bank. Therefore, upon approval of these minutes at the January Board Meeting, a copy of said minutes will be delivered to the Bank of America for their records.
Private Septic Systems – the General Manager attended a meeting in Susanville sponsored by the State Water Resources Control Board, who is setting up public meetings all over the State to hear comments on new legislation rules regarding private septic systems, private leach fields, treatment systems, etc. These rules propose inspections of septic systems every five years and private wells tested every five years. At issue is how this is to be implemented, who does the inspecting, who oversees these rules, how is this to be paid for, etc. The General Manager will keep the Board informed as he receives updates on these public meetings and legislation.
17. Written Correspondence to the Board Nothing received
18. Opportunity for the Public to address the Board T. Thomas, a property owner and local accountant informed the Board that he had requested and received a copy of the recent audit. He voiced his concern on the CSD service rates, the District’s debt and wonders where we will be in ten years? There was discussion on the financial troubles that some cities are facing in the State and how they came about. Board Member Walker, who used to work for the City of Fairfield was able to address Mr. Thomas’ questions and provide viable information on that subject.
He further informed Mr. Thomas that the CSD Board gives serious consideration to all matters brought before them and that we welcome the public’s input. He invited Mr. Thomas to become part of our Budget/Finance Committee that meets along with the Board in March, April and May for discussion on the proposed fiscal year budget. He will be contacted when they are scheduled to meet and invited to attend.
Mr. Thomas also had questions about the current arsenic problem facing the District and the General Manager gave him an historical review on the problem and the proposed solutions being currently sought.
19. Motion to adjourn. Motion – L. Walker Second – R. Machado All in favor – Aye.
The meeting adjourned at 1052 hours.
In attendance – E. Tretten, L. Walker, V. Wiemeyer, R. Machado
Absent – F. Shepard
Respectfully submitted,
TERESA L. CUNNINGHAM
Teresa L. Cunningham, Clerk to the PECSD Board