At the Pine Cove Water District (PCWD) directors’ Wednesday, March 8, meeting, General Manager Jeremy Potter told the board PCWD is returning to Stage 1 water conservation Saturday, April 1, from Stage 2 following recent heavy precipitation.

Potter said production was at 2,461,990 gallons, up from around 14% over last year. Static Well #10 is at 134.45 feet, down 1.75. “We should start to see that come back up” with the winter’s rain and snow, he said. With recent low temperatures many leaks occurred, all on the “customer side” of meters.

He noted that the Stage 2 signs were presently out of sight beneath the snow. That will not change the cost of water at each tier and customers are expected to continue with the conservation to which they have become accustomed.

Office Manager Becky Smith presented February’s financial statement including receipts totaling $79,390.03. Disbursements were $66,587 plus $60,000 deposited in the Local Area Investment Fund. Liquid assets were at $754,041.

Under old business, the government capital loan and purchase of smart meters from Smart Earth Technologies (SET) was discussed. Potter said the loan is now funded in an escrow account. Smith noted that the first load of meters, which are destined for the wells, will be paid for as soon as the office receives an invoice. There will be three; one for the SET valves, one for well meters and one for residential meters. That first invoice should arrive this week, with the meters delivered soon after. Potter explained that the well meters can be installed immediately, but that residential meters will be easier when more snow has melted. The replacement process should be easy as the new valve/meter combination takes up the same or less space than the old meters.

Smith added that as soon as installation starts, SET will send out a trainer to work with the office staff.

This brought up the matter of Smith’s retirement; Nov. 30 will be her last day on the job.

Vice President Diana Luther asked about clearing snow from hydrants. Potter told the board there was no responsibility to do so but that the crew intended to keep doing it. “We do it every year. This year, obviously, it needed way more.”

Under new business the board voted to approve the new Employee Policies and Procedures Manual. The one change offered was that the newly included category of bereavement leave, up to five days, should be paid. This was accepted.

Potter asked the board’s permission to begin shopping for a snow blower attachment for the district’s skid steerer. (Skid steerers are small heavy equipment vehicles used for digging trenching or plowing, so named because the wheels do not have steering mechanisms and steering is achieved by changing the speed of the left vs. right wheels.) This would allow the crew to clear a road by driving down it and blowing the snow up and out of the way instead of having to push, scoop and lift, creating berms. An attachment might cost $15,000 to $20,000.

The purchase would not be for this winter, but a budget item to prepare for next winter. The board authorized him to begin the research and come back with a cost analysis by this summer.

The next meeting is 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 12. President Robert Hewitt will be on vacation. Luther will chair the meeting.

Correction: This headline originally and mistakenly read “PCWD returns to Stage 2 water conservation.” Also, the general manager made this decision. The board did not need to approve it, as was stated in the original story.