IWD board hears of more delay on WTP

The Board of Directors of Idyllwild Water District met on Wednesday
August 21. The board heard that the initial engineering for the
Wastewater Treatment Plant replacement has been delayed until September,
with GM Bill Rojas saying he is working on an alternative to the present
firm. At a public hearing, the board voted to raise the stipend for
directors from $50 to $75, the amount the other two local districts pay.

Rojas’ Operations Report outlined projects in progress and completed,
and legacy problems discovered. Two large pumps at the core of the
Wastewater Treatment Plant, one for sludge and one for aeration, were
finally returned to service. EL-CO has completed the Strawberry Creek
raw water diversion line up to Jameson Drive and Pine Crest Avenue and
will begin the section to Fern Valley Road in a “couple of weeks.” The
filter material that removes the trace amounts of Uranium found in
Foster Lake well 1A is being replaced, at a cost of almost $55,000.
Several of the district’s generators were discovered to be non-operable.
Rojas will get a quote to start a program of regular inspections.

Rojas noted that the Strawberry Creek Diversion has been offline for “a
very long time.” He worked with staff, showing them how to operate and
shut the system down. It is now online and pumping water into Foster
Lake. Directors asked him to find out what limits may exist on IWD’s
claim to water from the diversion, and whether there are seasonal
restrictions. Rojas has also met with Victor Jimenez of Fern Valley
Water District to get their help preparing for the eventual replacement
of the Diversion; FVW will begin marking their own lines in the area
around Tahquitz and Fern Valley Road before the geotechnical work
begins. Rojas had a series of Zoom meetings with the firm doing the CEQA
for the project, Terra Nova, and the engineer who is competing the
drawings.

Rojas said the crew is providing data for the new state-required Lead
and Copper Service Line Inventory. He explained that it is not practical
to dig up all the service lines, which are on private property, but the
state is not expecting that the process will be completed by the October
deadline.

The directors expressed exasperation at the news that the initial 30% of
engineering for the WWTP replacement project has been delayed again. In
May we heard that the firm, Specialized Utility Services, “expected”
they would be able to provide these initial drawings and documents by
June 28. In July this was pushed back to the end of that month or the
beginning of August. The new date is September 6, and the board members
and GM expressed the desire to hire a different firm to complete the
project, Rojas saying that “they have proved themselves unworthy.”
Before leaving, interim GM Curt Sauer hired Dudek to review the initial
report when it arrives, and they might also be contracted to finish the
engineering.

In response to questions about whether there was any legal remedy for
these delays, or a deadline in the original contract, Vice President
Peter Szabadi noted that Covid created delays, and Schelly noted that
original deadlines were rendered moot by the District’s delays in
obtaining title for the land, something the former GM did not finish.
The sale complete, the deed had to be submitted several times to the
county this year due to small errors.

The meeting included a public hearing on an ordinance to increase their
compensation from $50 per meeting to $75. The stipend had once been
$100, and the manual still contains that number. Director Steve Kunkle
asked President Charles Schelly to explain why he had added the item to
the agenda. Schelly said that the other local water districts pay their
directors $75, and he would like to, as a “token,” follow their lead. He
added that preparing for meetings takes time, and although he
appreciates the volunteer spirit, and volunteers himself with various
groups, this is an elected position, and as a paid position it has a
higher level of accountability by law than a volunteer position. Schelly
floated the idea that if any director does not wish to receive all or
part of their stipend, CFO Shouman might create a fund or “pool” into
which they may donate their checks. The money might then be used for
district needs or public charity, at the board’s discretion, as it would
not be public money. Kunkle said that he was against the raise, although
he understood that the president and vice president had more duties.
(The president is required to meet with the GM before each regular
meeting to create an agenda and is paid for that meeting.) Kunkle also
said that the plan for a donation fund would have to be presented to
legal counsel, and other directors agreed. The motion to raise the
stipend passed 3-2, with Schelly, Szabadi and Davis voting for, and
Kunkle and Steve Olson against.

The next meeting will be September 18.