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Home My WebLink About2000-06-20 WUCFD MINUTESWATER UTILITIES COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT (APACHE JUNCTION WATER COMPANY) CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA REGULAR MEETING JUNE 20,2000 The regular meeting of the District Board of the Water Utilities Community Facilities District (Apache Junction Water Company),City of Apache Junction,Arizona,was held on June 20,2000,at the Apache Junction City Council Chambers pursuant to the notice required by law. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Coleman called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. ROLL CALL Board Members Present:Chairperson Douglas Coleman Vice Chairperson Anne Surra Mr.Rick Dietz (arrived at 6:09 p.m.) Mr.R.E.Eck Mr.John Insalaco Ms.Carol Urich Staff Present: Mr.Joe Durbala was absent. Curtis Shook,District Manager Kathleen Connelly,District Clerk George Hoffman,Assistant City Manager Keith Lewis,District Finance Manager John White,District Accountant Others Present:None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 11,2000 )Ms.Urich MOVED THAT THE MINUTES OF APRIL 11,2000 BE APPROVED. Mr.Insalaco SECONDED THE MOTION. Water Utilities Community Facilities District Meeting Minutes of June 20,2000 Page 1 of 7 VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. RATIFICATION OF ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CONSENT DECREE )District Manager Curtis Shook briefed the board on the item.When Well #5 was being repaired,the district blended water with Arizona Water without receiving certification from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.The district received a notice of violation for that.The consent decree shows the findings of fact that Well #6 was used without having an appropriate blending plan and that a sample marginally exceeded the MCL for arsenic on one day.The penalty is stipulated with a fine of $1,600.All of the findings of fact have been completed to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's satisfaction.This completes the incident. Mr.Eck asked if they had agreed with the actual amount. District Manager Curtis Shook stated they were originally looking at a higher fine but because of the promptness by all parties involved to rectify the situation,getting certification,amending the operating procedures manual to reflect notifications and other actions, they were willing to reduce the fine. Vice Chairperson Surra stated she was surprised that those things that are necessary were not in place when the water district was taken over.She believes there may have been many infractions in the past where no notification took place.The district ends up paying a stiff penalty for being aboveboard,at least in public relations. Mr.Eck disagreed.He commented Consolidated was never out of compliance in the eight years he worked there. They knew what they were doing.They offered information to the city,but the city did not want the information. Vice Chairperson Surra asked if there were policies and procedures for notification. Water Utilities Community Facilities District Meeting Minutes of June 20,2000 Page 2 of 7 Mr.Eck stated there were,and they were followed exactly.I t might have been best if the general manager had been offered a position from the district. Vice Chairperson Surra stated the paperwork and the policies still should have been there. Mr.Eck commented there was information that was not asked for. Vice Chairperson Surra commented she had been a customer during that time and the water was not satisfactory.She believes they had to be out of compliance at some time.There were times the water ran brown out of her faucet. Mr.Eck commented he thinks the district has run the company into the ground during the last four years. Vice Chairperson Surra asked for his suggestions. Mr.Eck stated they need to get someone in there who is capable of telling them what they need to do.They will have to start all over. Vice Chairperson Surra asked if he believed the recent problems,such as the arsenic level,were due to staffing issues. Mr.Eck commented that had nothing to do with the arsenic level,but they could have controlled the arsenic going over the MCL.They had Arizona Water available and the extra funding:they should have stayed on Arizona Water and never turned on the other well. Vice Chairperson Surra asked what could be put in place when a break happens. Mr.Eck stated a line can be chlorinated during a break.The small staff is being run ragged,plus there are existing problems from older pipes and what the sewer district has Water Utilities Community Facilities District Meeting Minutes of June 20,2000 Page 3 of 7 disturbed.The district is now on the right track to getting someone with some expertise on the issue. Vice Chairperson Surra asked if there was a staffing issue,and if the district was putting additional staff in the budget. District Manager Curtis Shook stated they are. Chairperson Coleman commented he found item 2 and its conclusions very interesting. District Manager Curtis Shook stated they did not include names in consent decrees in the past,but they do now. He could not get them to change it to his name:they insisted it be the board chairman since that person is the chief policy maker. Vice Chairperson Surra commented their credibility and knowledge base is questionable as they referred to him as the mayor and the city as a town. Chairperson Coleman stated that has all been corrected. District Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it is the majority of the group that makes the decisions,not any one individual. Ms.Urich stated the district counsel told her the same thing today. Mr.Dietz asked how many days the arsenic went through the system;there was a question whether it was 3 or 5 days. District Manager Curtis Shook stated they consider it a full day even if it is only run for a few minutes. Water Utilities Community Facilities District Meeting Minutes of June 20,2000 Page 4 of 7 Chairperson Coleman closed the discussion and called for a motion. Mr.Dietz MOVED THAT WE RATIFY IT. Mr.Eck SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:5-1 (Vice Chairperson Surra voted in opposition.) The motion carried. DISTRICT WATER SUPERINTENDENT REPORT None. DISTRICT MANAGER REPORT District Manager Curtis Shook stated they are scheduling a customer -wide meeting for June 28 at the high school to answer any questions the customers may have on the provisions of service,the recent incidents or any other issues.They will attempt to let the public know what has been done and what will be done in the future.They have some good candidates for the superintendent position.A panel is being put together with expertise from other water utilities to assist in the interviewing process.This should occur within the next several weeks,with someone being hired within the next 6 to 8 weeks.During this time the City of Mesa has agreed to loan the district an executive for 2 days a week to oversee the system and give an opinion on the operating procedures. Mr.Dietz asked if the salary would have to be increased to get the most qualified individual. District Manager Curtis Shook stated they would do that if necessary. There was general discussion on the current salary and salary options the district has. Vice Chairperson Surra commented they could always be given an interim wage increase. Water Utilities Community Facilities District Meeting Minutes of June 20,2000 Page 5 of 7 DISTRICT TREASURER REPORT None. DISTRICT COUNSEL REPORT None. ADJOURNMENT meeting at 6:23 p.m. )Chairperson Coleman adjourned the ACCEPTED THIS 11TH DAY OF JULY 2000,BY THE CHAIRPERSON AND DISTRICT BOARD OF THE WATER UTILITIES COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT (APACHE JUNCTION WATER COMPANY),CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA . SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS 11TH ATTEST: Kathleen Connelly District Clerk DAY OF JULY Douglas Coleman Chairperson Water Utilities Community Facilities District Meeting Minutes of June 20,2000 Page 6 of 7 ,2000. WATER UTILITIES COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT MINUTES CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the regular meeting of the Water Utilities Community Facilities District of the City of Apache Junction,Arizona,held on the 20th day of June,2000.I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this 22nd day of June,2000. Kathleen Connelly District Clerk Water Utilities Community Facilities District Meeting Minutes of June 20,2000 Page 7 of 7