PUD receives FEMA funds, completes management raises

Wahkiakum PUD Manager Dave Tramblie this week told the board of commissioners the governmental entities in the county will receive funding for the damage sustained during last winter's flood event.

“We have been approved for a total of $32,393.41,” he said.

From Federal Emergency Management Administration, the amount is $27,765.78 and from the state, an additional $4,627.63.

Also, the long awaited permit for the SR 409 water main replacement project has arrived to the PUD, Tramblie said.

The paperwork was being processed during the PUD board's last meeting, Commissioner Esther Gregg said, adding that when she arrived home, there was a message from Congressman Brian Baird’s office. The loan from the Environmental Protection Agency for the pipe and engineering on the project has also come through, he said.

Excavation on the project began this week.

Tramblie said he has spoken with a representative with Mountain West Transformer regarding the back up transformer for the Grays River area. He expects delivery in late August or early September, “so we will have it for the winter,” he said.

In other business, the board approved a 3 percent raise in salary for management personnel.

In January, the board awarded a 3 percent raise for Tramblie and Auditor Erin Wilson to complete the full 5 percent budgeted at the beginning of the year. Because of the economic uncertainty of six months ago, the board voted a 2 percent raise and said the matter would be revisited in June.

The next PUD meeting is July 7 at 8:30 a.m., with a strategic planning meeting to follow the regular meeting.