PUD manager reports on water pact talks

Wahkiakum County PUD commissioners met December 18 for a brief meeting.

PUD manager Dave Tramblie apprised the commissioners of the current status of water contract negotiations with the Town of Cathlamet.

Tramblie said he had received data he had requested from the town about the current contract and would review the information shortly. Discussions about amending the contract or entering into an agreement about meter reading are on hold until work on the current contract is completed, he said. The PUD purchases the water that supplies its Puget Island system from the town.

Over the weekend, PUD crews dealt with a West Valley Road power outage due to a fallen tree and a West Little Island road water outage due to a cracked pipe.

Tramblie said crews patrolling the system prevented further outages by repairing two open cutouts on Flandersville Road and removing a branch from a power line along East Birnie Slough Road.

Energization of the PUD’s new transformer has been pushed back several weeks, Tramblie told the board.

An engineer’s inspection turned up potential wiring issues in the transformer installed at the under-construction Wahkiakum Substation along Jacobson Road.

Tramblie said the transformer’s manufacturer is scheduling the necessary corrections. He anticipates energization in mid-January.