FVWD director raises questions about outfitting new vehicles

The Sept. 18 meeting of the Fern Valley Water District Board of
Directors was longer than the agenda implied. Director Mike LaFata
raised several questions during the discussion of the July and August
District checks and payments.

His principal concern related to the service contracts which General
Manager Victor Jimenez purchased for the recently acquired new vehicles
and one of its older vehicles.

LaFata argued that the original factory warranty was sufficient and
satisfactory. Furthermore, modifying the vehicles to use larger tires
because of frequent use on unpaved roads (e.g., to access wells) and in
snow likely voided these warranties.

The total cost of the four service contracts is about $10,500. Board
Vice Chair Kevin Scott asked Jimenez to explore the cost of canceling
these contracts and to put the issue on the October meeting’s agenda.

LaFata also raised questions about other modifications to the vehicles
and several expenditures for employees. He also suggested that the Board
approve the cost of these modifications in the future before they are
completed.

In response to the employee expenditures, Jimenez explained that several
occurred the day he and two other staff traveled to Santa Monica to pick
up these vehicles. The trip took more than ten hours, and he felt it was
appropriate to pay for their lunches.

Nevertheless, LaFata felt these were perhaps unauthorized and suggested
criteria for future decisions of this nature.

“I think whenever making a charge, it should pass these tests: Is the
expense essential to District business and would you be comfortable
explaining it in a public presentation,” LaFata recommended.

Both agreed that perhaps the employee policies should be reviewed.

As of Sept. 17, FVWD had nearly $855,000 in cash and certificates of
deposit.

The preliminary end of fiscal year 2023-24 budget had a deficit of about
540,000; but this was less than the original estimated deficit of
$870,000 when the budget was approved in June 2023. The higher expenses
were needed to complete pipeline in the Howland, Cougar, and Silver Tip
street neighborhoods.

Revenues also were about $190,000 (11 percent) higher than anticipated.

The Board adjourned the regular meeting and called a special meeting in
order to approve the sale of their three older vehicles to the Idyllwild
Fire Protection District.

“Before we can dispose of this type of equipment we have to offer it to
other public agencies nearby,” Jimenez told the Board. “The Fire
Department expressed an interest. Mark [LaMont, Idyllwild Fire Chief]
and I agreed to settle at the middle of the high and low blue book
values for these vehicles.”

As a result of this agreement, IFPD will pay FVWD $113,000 for two Ford
F-250s and a 2021 Chevy Tahoe.

The Board approved the transaction 4-0, with Board Chair Jon Brown
absent. The IFPD Board had the acquisition on the agenda of their Sept.
24 meeting.

During the July and August billing period, water production was 1.5
million gallons (22 %) more than the same period last year. It has
increased during this period in both 2023 and 2020. Overall, water
production is down 1.3 % since January compared to the same period in
2023.

When asked about the larger increase, Jimenez replied, “I’m not sure,
things have been irregular since COVID and hard to tell what goes on
with occupancy. I think we were back to a more normal pattern with the
higher usage for July/Aug.”

Well levels were down some but he expects them to be replenished after
the first rain this fall. But stream flow has been more than adequate
for water supplies, Jimenez added.