PUD considers waiving water connection fee

During a brief meeting Tuesday, Wahkiakum Public Utility District Commissioners Dennis Reid and Gene Healy discussed reducing or waiving connection fees for the Western Wahkiakum Water Systems (WWWS) or the Puget Island Puget Island Water System (PIWS) in order to increase revenues.

Commissioner Bob Jungers was not present.

General Manager Dave Tramblie proposed waiving the fees for a year during 2012.

Reid said that during rate hearings on the Westend, people suggested adding customers to the system to increase revenue.

Tramblie said there were 92 electric customers on the county’s west side who do not have water services and who are living within or relatively close to the existing water main.

He said 67 of these are residences and 25 are other types of buildings such as shops or farms.

Tramblie said a few people have contacted the PUD in the past about connecting to the system. Twenty-one of these potential customers live outside the existing water mains by 300 feet to a mile, Tramblie said.

Tramblie suggested that customers who take advantage of the waived fee be required to stay connected for two years to recoup some of the costs.

There are 29 electric customers on Puget Island without water services. Fourteen are residences, Tramblie said, and 15 are shops or other structures.

“Three are new homes that haven’t connected; there are a couple of vacant homes,” he said.

Tramblie will present a plan to manage the costs of providing water to homes outside the water main area.

“If we got 10-15 new connections, at $50 per month, that would be very helpful,” he said.

Healy said, “I totally support the concept, we need more customers.” The PUD has been seeking ways to ensure the long-term financial stability of the WWWS.

In other business, Tramblie reported that during a recent sanitary survey, the Washington Department of Health requested a plan reflecting how the utility would handle losing its source of water to the Puget Island Water System.

The water is supplied to the Island through a pipe on the Puget Island bridge.

“They asked if we could truck the water, but if we lost the bridge… We might be able to use the ferry,” Tramblie said, noting the plan will bring up a lot of questions.

“Of course, in the worst case scenario--if the bridge collapsed because of an earthquake--we might not have any pipes on the Island left to put water in,” Tramblie said.

Reid said, “We need to develop an emergency plan for all areas, for electrical and water.” The state wants the plan by its next survey, which is due in five years.

Auditor Erin Wilson reported that the Public Utility Risk Management Services (PURMS) has decided to hire a lobbyist for $24,000, a cost to be shared by the 17-member group proportionately.

Wilson said PURMS’s liability pool was considering working with Agility Recovery, a “disaster response organization” which brings buildings and computer infrastructure to areas hit by catastrophic events.

“They would generally set up within 24-48 hours,” Wilson said.

The Washington State Auditor is beginning an audit of the PUD, which is conducted once every two years. Both commissioners Reid and Healy said they would sit in on the entrance interview scheduled for November 28.

Reid is coordinating the first evaluation of the general manager. Tramblie has prepared a self-evaluation; when the commissioners have had input, they will meet privately with him.

Reid suggested that the PUD adopt a mission statement, and begin to promote and display it. Wilson produced a mission statement that had been considered in 2009, and the board agreed to discuss the matter further at the next meeting.

The proposed mission statement read, “The mission of the Public Utility District No. 1 of Wahkiakum County is to provide reliable, low-cost electric and water sources with quality service to the residents of Wahkiakum County.”

Reid also told the board he would no longer accept per diem for travel to meetings. PUD Attorney Tim Hanigan suggested Reid write a note to that effect for the record. Reid said the matter was personal and he preferred not to discuss it further.