New board member selected and pipeline project approved

The Fern Valley Water District board of directors selected a replacement at its regular November board of directors meeting for former Director James Rees, who resigned the same day the board interviewed the candidates to replace Trischa Clark, who resigned because she sold her house.

Walter Bonneau Jr. was selected to replace Clark. It is still unknown as to why Rees resigned.

The board selected Gary Erb over Armando Moran to fill the vacancy left by Rees. Erb owns the Fern Valley Inn. Robert Krieger was the only director to vote against the motion to appoint Erb. Both Erb and Moran had previously applied to fill the vacant position left by Clark.

Erb wrote on his application form, “My formal education is in chemistry/metallurgy but I have owned a retail/wholesale computer store, was [Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response] hazwoper certified general manager for a chemical storage warehouse and marketing manager in a paint recycling business before ‘retiring to Idyllwild.’” Erb served on the city of Industry’s HR committee for 12 years.

Moran is a member of IBEW Local 18 and wrote “As a powerline electrician, overseeing construction of sub-surface structures often involving water mains and services, has trained me in the importance of water distribution.”

At the special board of directors meeting Monday, Nov. 16, Bonneau asked to have Erb and Moran rank the top three of the following eight topics: ethics, safety, water quality, sourcing, maintenance, cost control, consumer awareness and staffing.”

Included with the November regular board meeting packet were the responses from Erb and Moran. Moran listed water quality, maintenance and cost control. Erb wrote that water quality, cost control and staffing were his top three.

Pipeline replacement project
The four-member board (Erb had not been installed as a board member yet.) unanimously approved an emergency pipeline replacement project that will occur on Rising Glen Road, Granite Springs, Shady View Drive and Sunset View Drive. The project will replace about 2,000 feet of pipeline.

General Manager Victor Jimenez wrote in the staff report: “On Aug. 6, 2020, we placed the three new pressure reducing stations in service and realized that the water mains on Rising Glen [Road], Granite Springs, Sunset View [Drive] and Shady View were severely compromised and in need of replacement. We have experienced over 30 leaks and unfortunately, they continue to pop up.

“The board inquired as to the urgency of the need to replace the mains, but due to the unpredictability of the mains, it is very difficult to render an opinion. The mains could continue to suffer major leaks, or they could possibly hold tight, it is impossible to offer an accurate prediction. If I had to offer an opinion, I would recommend replacement as soon as possible.”

El-Co Contractors, Inc. will complete the project. The company recently finished another pipeline replacement project in the district.

Jimenez also wrote, “This is the project that was going to be proposed for fiscal year 2021/22, but due to the consistent failures, staff is offering the option of undertaking the project as an emergency as soon as possible.”

The project will reduce the reserves by $571,000 by project completion. This includes paying for repaving the streets once the work is complete. “We estimate that the reserves could drop to below $500,000 before revenue starts to replenish the reserves,” Jimenez wrote. Currently, the reserves are $912,952.79.

Employee bonus
The board approved a $250 per employee bonus. The amount matches last year’s bonus.