Board of Commissioners Minutes

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July 3, 2001

Following a Board workshop, the meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m., by President Daniel L. Peterson. 

The minutes of June 26, 2001, were approved.  Today’s agenda was approved.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Line extensions:  Casey Beechinor, Eugene Bishop, James Cook, James Marthaller, Dennis Riddle

Vouchers audited and certified by the auditing officer as required by RCW 42.24.080, and those expense reimbursement claims certified as required by RCW 42.24.090, have been recorded on a listing, which has been made available to the Board.  As of this date, July 3, 2001, the Board, upon motion by Kenneth Hirsch and second by Robert Johnson, by a unanimous vote, approves the following:

There was no business from the public.

COMMISSION REPORT:

Commissioner Hirsch reported on the Tri-County Economic Development District meeting he attended June 27.  Topics of discussion included the new incubator project in Colville and the grant to run fiber line from Northport to Boundary Dam.

At 10:10 a.m., an executive session on legal issues was called with District Counsel, Jerry Boyd.  Items of discussion were pending litigation or potential litigation to which the District is, or is likely to become, a party.  The session was closed at 11:15 a.m., with no action following.  Mr. Boyd left the meeting

Elaine Averyt, Treasurer/Manager, Customer Service; and Mark Cauchy, Director, Regulatory & Environmental Affairs, arrived.

MANAGEMENT REPORT:

Mark Cauchy, Director, Regulatory & Environmental Affairs

He reviewed the meeting he, the Board, and District staff had with Congressman George Nethercutt at the Metaline Falls Water System’s pilot Rapid Sand Filtration Plant site on July 2.  Mark Scott, Water Systems Manager, was commended for his demonstration of the project.

Marty Robinson, Energy Services Specialist

He assisted the Board in the drawing of two names, out of the 30 who applied, to receive the Residential Lighting Retrofit package. Celeste & Cyril Davaz and Steve Grey were the names drawn.

Elaine Averyt, Treasurer/Manager Customer Service

She has met with various District departments to brief employees on changes in PERS II deductions, 401A, and the federal withholding rate.  Staff will be notified via memorandum about changes in medical insurance premiums.

Dick Arkills, Director, Power Supply & Engineering

He discussed positive changes brought about by the installation of one new cooler at the Box Canyon Hydroelectric Project.  Other maintenance projects involve a pump impeller, preparation for overhaul, and the construction of restroom facilities at the Viewpoint. 

He briefed the Board on today’s river flow and the 46% Bonneville Power Administration rate increase.

Chuck Frandrup, Manager, Construction & Engineering

He reviewed the LeClerc Road project and a new commercial line extension in the Fertile Valley area.  The line construction to Cominco American’s property has begun, and he discussed the possible use of a helicopter to place some of the poles.

Robert Geddes, General Manager

He reviewed a proposal sent by the Rebekah Lodge in Ione for the District’s rental of a portion of their building for a satellite office in Ione. 

Nathan Jones has accepted the position of Manager of Production at the Box Canyon Hydroelectric Project, effective August 1, 2001.  Mr. Jones will replace Dick Arkills upon his retirement. 

District crews are installing the new face on the Pend Oreille County sign at the south county line.  The lighting will follow.

He and Joe Onley will accompany the Citizens Budget Committee on a tour of District facilities on Sunday, July 22. 

He discussed the preparation of a District property management plan relating to properties purchased under HEP provisions in the Settlement Agreement with the Kalispel Tribe.  This plan would be apart from other District properties.

ACTION ITEMS:

Motion was made by Kenneth Hirsch and seconded by Robert Johnson to authorize the General Manager to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the Port of Pend Oreille relating to the District’s payment of annual fees.  The motion was passed unanimously.

Motion was made by Robert Johnson and seconded by Kenneth Hirsch that based upon staff recommendation, the damage claim from Tim Layser be denied.  The motion was passed unanimously.

John Jordan, Director, Finance & Administrative Services arrived. He reviewed the membership status of NoaNet.

Bob Geddes reported that interviews of candidates for the Apprentice and Journeyman Linemen are being completed today.

There being no other business to come before the Board, the  meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.  

July 10, 2001

Following a Board workshop, the meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m., by President Daniel L. Peterson. 

The minutes of July 3, 2001, were approved.  Today’s agenda was approved.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Line extensions:  Garry Baun, Michael Coath, Randy Fisher, Donald Kendrick, and John H. Newman, Jr.

Vouchers audited and certified by the auditing officer as required by RCW 42.24.080, and those expense reimbursement claims certified as required by RCW 42.24.090, have been recorded on a listing, which has been made available to the Board.  As of this date, July 10, 2001, the Board, upon motion by Kenneth Hirsch and second by Robert Johnson, by a unanimous vote, approves the following:

There was no business from the public.

COMMISSION REPORT:

The Board met with Washington State Senator, Bob Morton, July 5 in Ione to discuss the 401 Water Quality Certification of the Box Canyon Hydroelectric Project. 

MANAGEMENT REPORT:

Robert Geddes, General Manager

Dick Arkills, Director, Power Supply & Engineering

Chuck Frandrup, Manager, Construction & Engineering

On July 11, poles will be set via helicopter for the service extension to Cominco American.  He discussed other service extensions requested by Cominco, along with a commercial service request in the south county.  Work is being coordinated on the East Branch of LeClerc Road, and a change was made in the resistance level at the Metaline Falls Substation.  He briefed the Board on the circumstances that caused the power outage in south Pend Oreille County on July 7.

Mark Cauchy, Director, Regulatory & Environmental Affairs

As a result of the meeting in Ione with Senator Morton, he met with Tony Grove, Regional Director, Department of Ecology, in Spokane on July 9 to discuss the Clean Water Act.  A further meeting is planned that will include the interested parties. 

John Jordan, Director, Finance & Administrative Services

There are several changes occurring that will affect employee deductions for health insurance, federal withholding and retirement rates.

He briefed the Board on a possible District bond re-rating by Standard & Poors due to that company’s concern about the Northwest power market.

The District will do any net billing required on a manual basis at this time.

He gave a briefing on NoaNet procedures and policies.  He will attend a NoaNet board meeting this week. 

Staff is working on a web page for the benefit of customer information and payment of bills. 

Since Bob Geddes will be on personal leave the week of July 16, Joe Onley, Community Network System Manager, will represent the District at the telecommunications portion of the Washington State P.U.D. Association meeting on July 19.

COMMISSION BUSINESS:

Commissioner Peterson will participate in the conference call on telecommunications July 12.  He will attend a Washington P.U.D. Association meeting July 13 relating to the W2A contract.

Commissioners Peterson and Hirsch will travel to Richland next week for the Washington P.U.D. Association meeting.

There being no other business to come before the Board, the  meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m.

Following a Board workshop, the meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m., by President Daniel L. Peterson.

July 17, 2001

The minutes of July 10, 2001, were approved.  Today’s agenda was approved.

Robert Geddes, General Manager, is on personal leave.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Line extensions:  Howard Hall, Eric Sari, Robert Scartozzi, Yuimusa Smith, Dianne Williams, and Roy Wood.

Vouchers audited and certified by the auditing officer as required by RCW 42.24.080, and those expense reimbursement claims certified as required by RCW 42.24.090, have been recorded on a listing, which has been made available to the Board.  As of this date, July 17, 2001, the Board, upon motion by Kenneth Hirsch and second by Robert Johnson, by a unanimous vote, approves the following:

line extensions listed above

payment of those vouchers included in the list referred to above and further described as follows: Electric System Voucher No. 40198 thorough 40261 in the total amount of $724,818.58; Box Canyon System Voucher No. 17358 through 17374 in the total amount of $93,432.50; Wire Transfer No. 200129 in the total amount of $47,203.47.

BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC:

Questions were asked about the on-going line extension project being done by the District’s contractor to serve Cominco American.

We are negotiating for office space in the Town of Ione for the establishment of a satellite District office. 

COMMISSION REPORT:

The July meeting of the Pend Oreille County Economic Development Council has been canceled.

The Board noted the receipt of the Records Management Guidelines and General Records Retention Schedules from the State of Washington.

STAFF REPORTS:

Jim Scheel presented a picture of the Box Canyon spillway showing where repairs need to be made.  He briefed the Board on the dewatering schedule for the units and discussed the operating level of the submersible pump recently purchased.  The new coolers have been installed in unit 4, and he gave a schedule for the replacement in the other units.  Overhaul activity at the project will begin at the end of July.

The water flow is 9,000 cfs today, down from 15,000 cfs one week ago.  It is expected to drop to 7,000 cfs a week from now.  He discussed water levels at Hungry Horse, Pend Oreille Lake and Flathead Lake.  The water level in the entire Columbia River Basin is 51% of average, indicating potential concern if the northwest has a cold winter.

Mark Scott reported that the pilot plant at the Metaline Falls Water System will be here until July 23, and it has given very good results.  Our consulting engineers will issue reports on both the rapid and slow sand filter systems.

The District has been awarded the federal retroactive funding for the Metaline Falls Water System, which is in conjunction with the funding for the system upgrade now on-going. 

All of the Riverbend customers responding to date to a survey indicate they do not wish to explore water source options other than a sand filter for that water system.  If the trend continues, the District will re-bid the project.

ACTION ITEMS:

Based on staff recommendation, motion was made by Kenneth Hirsch and seconded by Robert Johnson to approve the damage claim of Richard Rawlings in the amount of $300.00.  The motion was passed unanimously.

Based on staff recommendation, motion was made by Kenneth Hirsch and seconded by Robert Johnson to approve the damage claim of Arlene Wilks in the amount of $354.50.  The motion was passed unanimously.

COMMISSION BUSINESS:

Commissioners Peterson and Hirsch will attend Washington P.U.D. Association meetings this week.

The joint meeting of the three county boards of commissioners has been tentatively set for October 3 at the P.U.D. conference room.

There will be a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission status teleconference at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 24, 2001, relating to the District’s relicensing of the Box Canyon Hydroelectric Project.

Following the Board’s return to Newport, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.

July 24, 2001

Following a Board workshop, the meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m., by President Daniel L. Peterson. 

The minutes of July 17, 2001, were approved.  Today’s agenda was approved with the addition of an action item and an executive session on real estate and personnel issues.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Line extensions:  George McGahuey, Owen Moody and Norman Noggle.

Vouchers audited and certified by the auditing officer as required by RCW 42.24.080, and those expense reimbursement claims certified as required by RCW 42.24.090, have been recorded on a listing, which has been made available to the Board.  As of this date, July 24, 2001, the Board, upon motion by Robert Johnson and second by Kenneth Hirsch, by a unanimous vote, approves the following:

BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC:

Gary Driver asked the District to consider constructing a 3-phase service at the Pend Oreille County Fairgrounds to facilitate more services during the annual Pend Oreille County Fair.  This would be a donation in whole or in part.  A study of the existing service and an estimate of costs will be made, and the matter will be considered.

COMMISSION REPORT:

Commissioner Hirsch reported on the Washington P.U.D. Association meetings he and Commissioner Peterson attended in Richland on July 19 & 20.  Mr. Hirsch reviewed conservation/energy issues being employed by various public utilities within the state.

Commissioner Hirsch has been appointed to the budget committee of the Washington State P.U.D. Association.  Will Purser has been appointed to the vacant position on the Clallam County P.U.D. Board of Commissioners.

There will be a water committee meeting in Leavenworth, Washington on September 28.

MANAGEMENT REPORT:

Robert Geddes, General Manager

The Sullivan Creek Hearing has been scheduled for September 25, 2001, in Walla Walla, Washington.  He recommended that the Board change its regular meeting for that date and attend the hearing.

The hearing on the arbitration with N.W. Boiler, Inc., will be held October 29 and 30 in Spokane. Mark Cauchy is participating in a teleconference this morning, at the request of the Department of Interior, with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the other parties involved with the relicensing of Box Canyon Dam.

He and Elaine Averyt, Manager, Customer Services, will examine a building in Ione for a possible satellite office site for the District.

The focus of a Public Generating Pool conference call last week was direct service industries and the decline of preference.

Patrick Buckley has thanked Congressman George Nethercutt for his work in obtaining the retroactive grant funds to assist the Metaline Falls Water System.

The Port of Pend Oreille has signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the District combining the payment of fees for the 115kV transmission line lease and the Crossing Agreement into one annual payment.

He was unable to attend CWPU and Washington P.U.D. Association meetings last week, so staff members Elaine Averyt and Joe Onley, respectively, represented the District.

STAFF REPORTS:

Dick Arkills, Director, Power Supply & Engineering

He discussed the progress on the restroom construction at the Viewpoint; water levels in the Pend Oreille River and Pend Oreille and Sullivan Lakes; progress in overhaul at the Box Canyon Project, general maintenance, and the new lock system developed to improve safety for operators at the project.

He reminded the Board that a new District representative to the  Pacific N.W. Coordination Agreement must be appointed when he retires.

ACTION ITEMS:

The Board directed Mr. Arkills to authorize N.W. Contractors to proceed, under the Small Works Roster, in repairing erosion damage in the Bay 1 spillway at the Box Canyon Project.

Motion was made by Kenneth Hirsch and seconded by Robert Johnson to authorize Dick Arkills to sign the annual Operating Procedures to the Coordination Agreement.  The motion was passed unanimously.

Jim Scheel, Manager, Power Supply

He briefed the Board on the current power market and Ponderay Newsprint Company’s use of diesel generators.

Elaine Averyt, Treasurer/Mgr., Customer Services

Effective August 1, 2001, members of public utility boards who have served at least one term, will be eligible for insurance coverage after they retire. 

Rhonda Funge, Manager, Information Systems

She discussed new switches being installed and how they will increase the speed of our network traffic.  Mike Chantry, District Information Systems Support Analyst, was able to retrieve data from the water filtration test project, which helped make that project a success. Staff is working on bill presentment and payment, which will be implemented at the appropriate time.

Staff Report - Finances

John Jordan reviewed the District’s history of bond ratings since 1996.  He briefed the Board on the reasons the District should question the recent drop in the District’s bond rating by Standard & Poors.  The Board recommended he express his concerns in writing to Standard & Poors.

Staff Report – Bill presentment and payment on the Internet

Rhonda Funge demonstrated how payment via Internet would be conducted, its costs, and how this would benefit both customers and the District.  The system is in its final testing stage.

Staff Report – Telecommunications

Joe Onley demonstrated the surveillance camera at the Cusick Pumping Station.

John Jordan discussed NoaNet’s marketing practices, relating fees, and the impact of recent NoaNet decisions on our membership in that organization.  Staff will prepare a talking points paper, and we have invited Greg Marney of NoaNet to attend a Board meeting in the near future.

Mr. Onley briefed the Board on progress made in teleconferencing  and recent area subscribers to the District’s services.  The District will welcome Senator Tim Sheldon who wants to visit our facilities.

COMMISSION BUSINESS:

Commissioner Peterson will be absent from the August 7 meeting but will participate via telephone. 

At 2:00 p.m., an executive session was called on real estate and personnel matters.  The session was closed at 2:30 p.m., with no action following.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

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