MANAGER'S REPORT
05/08/2019
Budget Position Report
County reports did not arrive in time for this report. So the Budget Position Report is based on unreconciled information. I expect the numbers to vary only slightly.
Official revenues for April were $87,013.38. Expenditures were $34,420.55. So we took in $52,592.83 more than we spent. So we offset the previous deficit to some degree. We have contributed $44,645.02 to reserves so far this year.
Treasurer’s Report:
Cash receipts for April were $56,435.07. This is the number that will show up as revenue in the June report.
A full Treasurer’s Report will have to wait until I have the county reports.
USDA Fund Investment
As established at the last meeting, Scott has determined that we can invest those funds.
The County has stated that funds cannot be transferred without authorization from the District. As recently as February, money was invested on our behalf from the General Facilities Fund without, as far as I know, any request from the District.
Scott’s information is that the split into the State’s investment fund is made at the time we submit our monthly check to the County Treasurer. I am still not clear as to who makes that decision.
Be that as it may, if the District needs to make the requests, we need to track what we are requesting. Which involves setting up investment accounts in Bias. Which I have done and which was much easier than I anticipated.
Those accounts will now appear on the Treasurer’s Report on Page 2 headed “Investment Accounts”.
Scott has expressed the opinion that the transfers need to be approved by the commissioners. My suggestion is that we have a standard letter to the county that can be approved at each meeting. I will calculate how much we need in the Treasurer’s account to meet the current claims request and transfer the bulk of any surplus into the investment fund.
2020 Budget
We will need to start talking about next year’s budget in July. So I am working on those numbers now. I tend to work six years out, at least in outline, and refine the line items as the following year draws closer.
I have cobbled together a budget that includes just operational expenses. No revenue and no projects. I have penciled in revenue assuming a 6% and 10% rate increase and the resulting revenue above basic operational expenses available for projects and reserves. I have also included a copy of my list of known projects along with preliminary cost estimates for those projects.
Kenny has requested the establishment of a retirement benefit. The PEBB program is a defined benefit program. Last year the employer contribution was 13%, the employee contribution 7%. According to COBRA, we would have to include Mick in the program. I need a decision on this item.
Monthly Utility Totals
See the Monthly Utility Totals.
The May 1st billing for Section 1 was $76,991.63 with accounts with credit balances totaling $7,687.96. Total accounts receivable as of May 1st is $109,496.76.
Operational Issues
No new issues.
Highway 12 Cast Iron Pipe Replacement
The District (me) met with WSDOT and NWS to walk the site and make some preliminary determinations as to how to proceed.
This is going to be an interesting project. The word “interesting” is not necessarily a positive indication.
Due to the topography, some of the project will involve horizontal drilling. There are places the hill side comes right down to the ditch line. The topography is complicated by the 50-foot WSDOT right-of-way instead of the usual 60-foot. There simply is not very much room in which to work.
In one instance the 50-foot r-o-w benefits the District. The local WSDOT office was not aware of the narrowed r-o-w. There is one location where it makes sense for the new water main to cross a deeply buried surface water management facility. Not an easy undertaking. But that facility was installed outside the WSDOT 50-foot r-o-w and will need to be moved. WSDOT will work with us to make that crossing a lot easier.
A development checklist was required by the County. I don’t know why. That has been completed and submitted.
I expect engineered documents fairly soon, which need to be submitted to WSDOT for approval. Once that is done, we can go out to bid. My preference is simply to pitch the job to Brumfield, but I think it is involved enough, and will be expensive enough, that we need to solicit bids.
Reynvaan Reservoir
Repairs are awaiting dryer weather.
Consumer Confidence Report/Newsletter
The draft newsletter/CCR is in your packets. Final formatting will be accomplished by DataBar.
Maintenance Activity:
Usual daily/weekly/monthly maintenance activity. See attached report.
Contractor Repairs
None in April.
Well #5 VFD
Replaced and back in operation. American Pump is shipping our old unit back to ABB. Shipping is estimated at $130. The cost of the evaluation will probably run about $200.
As-Builts
I have yet to set up a meeting with JWM&A. Berglund-Schmidt has also expressed interest. I need to get the current projects off my plate before diving into this one.
We can’t establish a valve exercise program until we have accurate as-built information.
Hill Road Water Main
I am putting this project on hold. I just don’t see where we can squeeze out the money. It will remain in the report as a place holder.
Well Site Fence
The usual difficulty in getting someone out to prepare an estimate.
Highway 12 Meters
Installation is complete. Starting on the next phase...training and integration into Bias. Some progress has been made on this, but we have had difficulty getting everybody lined up at once. Kamstrup and Bias are talking to each other, so that is progress. It appears that we will transfer Highway 12 readings into Bias electronically. It may be advantageous to split Highway 12 into its own section.
New Connections
No new connections in April.
Shop Organization
We keep looking for a window to get this job done. I am going to have to personally supervise this job if there is any hope of it getting completed.
Training/Certifications.
I have signed up for the Asbestos Pipe class. Kenny is signed up for a two day class on organizing daily certified operator responsibilities.
I was signed up for a class at the end of April, but it got canceled. It is getting increasingly more difficult to find classes that I have not taken.
Safety
We have a mini safety meeting every morning.
Vehicles
Service Truck: No issues
F-150: Apparent fuel pump problem. We will troubleshoot and repair in-house.
S-10: No issues. Have not followed up on searching for a used seat.
Pickup Truck: No Issues
Shop Site South Fence
The fire district has abandoned the idea of acquiring the right of way for the radii at the west end of our flag lot. I am advising that we not pursue easements for radii.
I am proposing that we pursue fence replacement unilaterally. With your blessing I will contact the owner of the mobile home park. And I will solicit a bid from RC Fencing.
Alder Glen & Etc.
No news in February. Work orders are still out for the dead end lines that have not been examined.
Carl Way/Ridgeview: Not an issue
Hemlock Park
Lois Lane Not an issue
Waverly Court Not an issue
Garden Road: Not an issue
Walthom Lane: Not an issue
Greenbriar Court
Reynvaan Court
Madow Court
Reed Lane Not an issue
Blaine Road (End) Not an issue
Larson Lane Not an issue
Fremont Drive
Silkey Court
Lake Road
Hemlock Park
Fairway Park
River Road: Replaced
Alder Glen: Will need replacement.
Fairway Terrace: Will need replacement.
Filing System
On going.
Armory
We just need to get the docs signed and notarized. The word is that the documents are circulating somewhere in the military administration.
There has been some back-and-forth between Scott and their attorney regarding easement and the bill of sale.
LeMay Project
Booster station startup is scheduled for May 7th. Communications issues have been resolved. The station does not yet appear on our screens. That will require some additional work by Infinite Automation. Cost for that will be born by LeMay.
Unless anyone has an objection, I am identifying this facility as Clemons Booster Station.
Fire Station
This project is actually moving along. One change is that they would like to run their water service through our shop site in order to avoid tearing up a bunch of asphalt. This approach removes the need for a retention pond.
I have no problem with that.
A major advantage is that we could install a fire hydrant close to our buildings. That would be a major benefit for minimal cost. We would provide the hydrant.
Reynvaan Lower Pump House
This building continues to deteriorate. I need to start the process of planning a replacement.
Basic Specifications:
Large enough to include pump controls (8 X 10)
Conform to the WAC 246-290 pump house requirements
Concrete Floor
Floor Drain
Insulation
Moisture Resistant Paneling
Generator Transfer Switch
Thermostatically Controlled Heater
Roof Hatch
I am thinking that one of the ready-built sheds would serve with some minor modification.
City of Shelton
I have decided NOT to run for City Council.
I need to devote time and energy to this District and water district issues in general. The time I might have spent devoted to the City of Shelton will be applied to working on the issue of water main replacement funding.
If the City of Shelton can get street beautification projects funded by grants, small water districts ought to be able to get grants for the replacement of critical infrastructure. This district is not the only small district facing aging water mains without the means of replacement. Individually we have little political weight. But collectively, and with the aid of WASWD, we should be able to get the legislature’s attention.
The only way this District is going to get water mains replaced, and it will become critical, we must partner with other small districts.
The WASWD Small Districts committee has apparently died. With your blessing I am going to see if I can resurrect it around the issue of grant funding for major infrastructure replacement. Without any effort on my part, so far, I already have one ally in the General Manager of the Hartstene Point Water and Sewer District.
All of this is actually very timely. The State has established an inter-agency program, called Sync, to investigate ways and means of addressing failing infrastructure. I have included a copy of an article about that program from the DOH newsletter. Strike while the iron is hot.
Big Ridge Lodge
No actions in February.
Disaster Management Planning
No action on the plan outline in February. I have received a call from someone in the community regarding grant funding for this planning. I haven’t had the chance to call back. But I will. Probably before the meeting.
I have yet to follow up on this.
Cyber Security
This issue has risen to the surface for small government agencies. Recently a water district was targeted with ransomware. Which is a cyber attack in which the attacker demands money to release the victim’s files. The district was able to rescue their files without having to pay off the “ransom”, but it took an extended period of time.
We have basic security on our computers, but I am not confident that we could rapidly recover from such an attack. We need to have our vulnerability assessed and take steps to help prevent an attack and to ensure that we can quickly recover from such an attack should one be successful.
One big major step resulting from the LeMay project is that our SCADA communications have changed from a typical wi-fi/internet network to a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPN’s are, by their nature, far more secure than your typical wi-fi network.
Only devices whose Internet Protocol (IP) addresses are registered with the VPN can gain access to the VPN. That is a major attraction. A second attraction is that the location of a registered device is immaterial. As an example, our SCADA VPN has the two SCADA computers, the HQ telemetry panel, the Clemons Booster Station telemetry panel, and one computer at Infinite Automation registered.
I am adding, to my to-do list, exploring the possibility of making our in-office network a VPN.
Isolation Valve Exercise Program
This is another Sanitary Survey item. It has been on my to-do list since 2012.
See discussion on as-builts.
Future and/or On-Hold Programs
Email Bills
Online Bill Pay
Installation of additional isolation valves
Unfunded "Dream" Projects
Include Reynvaan Pump Station in SCADA
Probably will require new controls, which are getting due anyway
Include Hirschbeck Pump Station in SCADA
Convert SCADA Communications to Cellular, or whatever.
Pump Stations on SCADA
This is an item that needs to be moved from “dream” to figuring out how it can be done. The power outage on 2/5 blew one of the controllers on the Hirschbeck Heights booster station. We didn’t know about it until after a high demand period resulted in overdrawing the one operating pump and tripping its circuit breaker. With the attendant out of water calls.
With Century Link communications being installed for the LeMay booster station, this integration may be a lot easier and less expensive. We already have the Comcast connection at the office.
I have also learned that Infinite Automation has integrated internet modems with Programmable Logic Controllers, making the installations much simpler and less expensive.
I am not going to get excited about exploring this issue until we have some history with the internet connection to the Clemons Booster Station.
Long Distance Service Laterals
Any thoughts would be welcome.
Respectfully Submitted:
Reg Hearn
General Manager