The Pine Cove Water District (PCWD) Board of Directors’ Wednesday, Nov. 8 focused on the annual audit for the financial year ending June 2023 and also was Office Manager Becky Smith’s last meeting as she is retiring at the end of this month.
Jeff McKennan of Rogers, Anderson, Malody & Scott presented the audit. He complimented Smith for a “great job” in providing the information the audit team needed. He explained that the “objective of this audit is to express an opinion as to whether management’s financial statements are fairly presented in all material respects and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.” The audit expressed an “unmodified, or clean opinion, which is the highest level of assurance that we can provide.” In response to a question from Director Lou Padula, McKennan said they had found “no significant abnormalities.”
During the discussion of the monthly financial report, Padula noted a decrease in liquid assets, $780,000 versus around $800,000, the month before. Smith attributed this mostly to a single item, the purchase of 10 steamer hydrants for $58,000. These replace older, lower-volume hydrants as part of an ongoing project and will Riverside County Service Area 38 will reimburse the money. The new hydrants have three nozzles instead of one, allowing a faster connection and delivering more gallons per minute.
In response to a question from Director Vicki Jacubac, General Manager Jeremy Potter said at least 100 of the older hydrants still are in place, so the program will continue for some time.
Other items Padula asked about included $700 for an “engine pull.” Potter explained that this is a used lift for vehicle maintenance, and will also be useful when putting on chains. Another purchase, for nearly $2,000, was an Axial Blower. This is a portable fume extraction system that keeps the air safe when the crew is working in vaults or other confined places. “Highly recommended by OSHA,” added Smith.
Potter’s operations report noted production as lower than last year. Wells are being run at a minimum to keep the tanks full. The 15 active wells are being run just three hours a day. Static well #10 has plateaued and fell a half inch this month to 69 feet. He noted that in 2005, the same well was at 83 feet in March, and by August had risen to 54 feet. This was the highest static level he had seen recorded. Anticipating a wet winter, Potter hazarded an estimate for next year as slightly higher than that.
The installation of the SET smart meters continues: “We are about done with route three of seven routes. This will continue, weather permitting. He admitted this was taking a lot longer than expected, with crews having to deal with roots, and adapt the plumbing individually for each meter.
The escrow of Pine Cove Park is scheduled to complete in January. Smith has been trying to talk with the county about expediting this; the request for a 30-day escrow must come from the county. Employee Richard Archer has competed two certifications, Distribution II and Treatment II. These certifications follow online courses with American Water College and will result in a pay raise.
Fern Valley Water District (FVWD) President Jon Brown joined the meeting as part of an effort to better understand the issues the different local water districts share. He is a Saunders Meadow resident, but also owns a rental property and workshop in Pine Cove. He briefly discussed the issues FVWD is having with its electronic meters: batteries failing within the warranty period and problems with the cellular service that allows reading.
The directors also met the district’s new Office Assistant Kaley Rainbolt. Present Assistant Jennifer Hayes will assume office manager and district secretary. The next meeting will be Wednesday, Dec. 13.