RESULTS OF HDWD 12/16/09 BOARD MEETING

Hi-Desert Water District (HDWD) meeting was held on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at 6:00 pm to discuss raising our water fees for updated infrastructure. We brought up two points:

1) We will request the Board verify this money will not go towards the sewer treatment plant or sewer distribution lines. It's not fair to ask Yucca Mesa residents to pay for these facilities as determined in earlier HDWD meetings regarding Yucca Mesa being excused from paying for said facilities.

2) We will request a schedule of construction for the water distribution line replacements and new pumps due on Yucca Mesa, completed and proposed. The reason to view the completed schedule, along with the proposed, is to verify the HDWD is implementing the priority list as specified in the 2007 Water System Master Plan. It's only fair for the HDWD to share the construction schedule since they are asking us for more money.

Justification for Rate Reclassification - PDF

Dan Munsey, Vice President, HDWD, response:

Thank you for making your residents aware of water issues in our area. As you know a reliable water supply and protecting our ground water are the two most important issues facing our desert community.

I can address point number 1 on your list, and give you my comments on point number 2. Please share my comments as you see fit, and please remember that I am always available by email or phone at 760-365-0968.

1) HDWD cannot raise water rates and then give money to the waste-water treatment project. To do so would be illegal. HDWD has loaned money to the waste water treatment plant, but that money must be paid back to the water district. I was not on the board when the money was loaned, but fully support the decision by the previous board to loan the money. The money was utilized to start the waste water project, which is vital to protect the ground water found underneath the commercial area in Yucca Valley. The ground water, as you know, has been mandated by the state to be protected. It is money well loaned.

2) HDWD needs to be transparent to its customers, as such I support a proposed schedule being given publicly in an open meeting. It should be remembered that with the down-turned economy, HDWD is not raising the money as it once did for CRP (Capital Replacement Program). (Previous CRP money was raised by water meter sales, which has almost completely ceased.)

The good news is, that a plan is in motion to continue to pay for CRP without raising customers rates. This will be accomplished by paying off a loan and to utilize the money that was being collected for the loan, to fund the CRP. This cannot be accomplished without a water rate hearing. The end result will be that the customer does not see an increase on his/her water bill. But there is bad news with this plan, in that this plan does not completely offset the amount of money needed to continue the CRP at previous years paces. Despite the down turn economy, I am resolved to find the means to continue the CRP and provide our customers with reliable service and clean water. I am just as resolved to keep our water rates as low as possible as we accomplish this.

Dan Munsey