GORE HILL COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
406-761-6528
Minutes of the Annual Public Board Meeting
July 11, 2017
Board Members present: David Schuler, Dennis Peppenger and Melissa Mahoney
Recording Secretary: Christy
Operator: Arnie Judd
Bookkeeper: Jan Jones
Guests: Merlin & Alice Christianson, Neil Boyd, Lori Eby, Royce Shipley, Gary Humble
The meeting began at 7:06 pm.
Resolution No. GHCWD 2018-001: This resolution will dissolve the Bond Repayment rate of $18.56 now that the Bond has been paid off. The current flat rate are $44.56 ($7 Admin $7 O&M $12 Const Sav $18.56 Bond Repayment) with a water usage rate of $3.15/1000 gallons. The new rates will be as follows: flat rate $28.00 ($9 Admin $7 O&M $12 Const Sav) with a water usage rate of $3.75/1000 gallons. This will reflect a 37% decrease in the flat rate and a 16% increase in usage rate.
Motion to accept Resolution No. GHCWD 2018-001: Mercy
Second: Dennis Passed
Resolution No. GHCWD 2018-002: This resolution will accept our budget for fiscal year 2018.
Motion to accept Resolution No. GHCWD 2018-002: Dennis
Second: Melissa Passed
Motion to accept minutes as posted June 27, 2017: Dennis
Second: Melissa Passed
Old Business:
Over the next year we will be working on the Asset Assessment. It was mentioned that we need to work on the long range plan. Tuesday 6/13/17 Dave, Melissa, Jerry did a walk thru of Pumphouse 1 and 2. The roofs on the cisterns and storage sheds need attention this year, no later than next year. 7/11/17 ~ Dennis has a contact that will come up and give us a bid to replace the cistern roofs.
We have really high annual water usage. A track chart was set up track water lost with the number of gallons billed for compared to the number of gallons pumped from the wells. Arnie and Royce is going to start doing daily checks on the meter to see if we can see a discrepancy.
We are waiting for AdEdge to respond to us about the above average calcium phosphate in our water. 6/6/17~ Mercy has left 3 messages and no response. Still following up on issue. 7/11/17 ~ Mercy has done some online research and there is an additive we can use to draw out the calcium phosphate. Mercy will visit with DEQ to see if that would be viable.
The Board will be looking to update By-Laws over the next year to reflect all amendments and current changes.
New Business:
Our main computer was hacked on 7/3/17. The system is completely locked up. We are backed up to June 30. We could pay the hackers $150.00 or we could replace the 10 year old tower that we have been considering updating. Dave and Mercy strongly suggest having Microsoft 360. Motion to purchase a new tower: Mercy
Second: Dennis Passed
Bookkeepers Report:
Jan would like to open a sub account at MT Federal Credit Union to cover Insurance and Audit funds. Need two board members to do this. 7/11/17 ~ Melissa and Dennis will go down on Thursday.
The following checks were read for approval:
# / 3490 / Gore Hill County Water / $ / 16,024.00 / Repayment to Savings fm Bond Repayment# / 3491 / Energy West / $ / 54.16 / PH #1 $21.52 PH #2 $32.64
# / 3492 / Northwest Pipe Fittings / $ / 619.26 / Curb Box & Stops
# / 3493 / Pro-Build / $ / 23.76 / Drill Bits & Misc
# / 3494 / Anderson Backhoe Service / $ / 892.50 / New curb stop 43rd St Sw
# / 3495 / Energy Lab Inc / $ / 20.00 / Inv # 87817
# / 3496 / Utilities Underground Location / $ / 9.42 / 6 June locates
$ / 17,643.10
Transfer from Bond Repayment to Checking: $16,024.00 Repayment to Embark Construction Service
Motion to pay the bills as read: Mercy
Second: Melissa Passed
Delinquents: Payments are due 7/10/17, termination will be 7/12/17 Tabled for a week because the computer problem.
# / 534 / $ / 86.86 / # / 546 / $ / 133.14 / # / 565 / $ / 116.07 / # / 624 / $ / 94.48 / # / 636 / $ / 112.63# / 673 / $ / 114.32 / # / 687 / $ / 89.12 / # / 691 / $ / 64.09 / # / 717 / 119.12 / # / 727 / $ / 96.05
Treasurers Report:
Nothing to report
Operator’s Report:
Arnie had Cascade Electric up here because the pumps were not turning on/off like they should be. Pumphouse # 1 does not have the distribution float. We have 2 bad floats at Pumphouse #2. We are looking at replacing the float system. We have a bottom float that shuts down the distribution pump. Arnie is suggesting using timers to get us thru the high water season, and then we could replace in the fall. Each system would need to be down up to 3-4 days. Dennis suggested that Arnie get ahold of Great West and have them contact Cascade Electric. We need to have the as-builts updated. Arnie will need to constantly monitor the cisterns to make sure the timers are working and that the pumps are working. Hopefully Arnie and Cascade can provide us with estimates for the float.
The Exhaust fan at Pumphouse #2 is not working. Arnie has pulled the motor to see if it can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced.
We have some miscellaneous carpentry issues that Royce is going to tackle. Jerry advised him to go ahead and get the necessary items and complete the necessary maintenance.
Normont has returned our gas detector because it cannot be calibrated. We can use the MT Rural Water detector.
#651 visited with Dave regarding low water pressure. The board asked Arnie to go check this out. We are wondering if there may be a leak in the area. 5/16/17 ~ we reminded Arnie to check on this. 7/11/17 Arnie will go over 7/12.
Arnie was able to hear water running at the cistern at PH # 1. We are going to need to repair the pipe coming into the cistern, water circulation is not happening the way we need it to. This will be repaired when we drain and clean the cistern.
The board asked Arnie to get a schedule together to do the Isolation valves exercised by the end of July. It was also suggested that Arnie and Royce need to spend some time on the generator maintenance and upkeep. 6/27/17 ten isolation valves remain to be serviced. There is one valve on 66th and 58th (#37) that is not closing properly. Arnie verified with Northwest Pipe they have the valve on hand. He will coordinate with Steve Anderson to get that installed. 6/6/17 ~ Steve is booked at this time. Jerry suggested that we complete the exercising of all of the valves, so that if we have other problems we can take care of them at once. Royce plans on getting these done while Arnie is gone.
Arnie started doing a manual meter reading and reading the electric meter and over 16 days we have a difference of 48,000 gallons. The electronic reading is less than the manual reading. We need to keep tracking this. 1/3/17 ~ Dennis talked to Randy (AdEdge) about the electric meter vs manual meter reading. Randy is looking into this.
4/23/13 Butch said it would not cost more than $3,000.00 with a 30-day window for a rebuild of PH#2 turbine pump. 1/26/16 ~Butch did a little bit of work on our turbine pump.
Arnie concerns on cistern cutoff switch when water level is low.
Motion to adjourn at 8:12 pm: Mercy
Second: Melissa Passed
Upcoming Absences:
Jerry 6/29-7/16 Arnie 7/14 – 7/21
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Jerry Ulmen Christy Walter
President Recording Secretary