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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995/02/21 !3 TOTTEN/LITTLE SKOOKUM CLEAN WATER DISTRICT FEBRUARY 21, 1995 ATTENDANCE: Mary L. Faughender, Commissioner William O. Hunter, Commissioner Mary Jo Cady, Chairperson Laurel Willis, Chamber of Commerce Jutta Riediger, Advisory Board Member Joan Renn, League of Women Voters The meeting was called to order at 10:03 a.m. by Chairperson Mary Jo Cady. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Cmmr. Hunter/Faughender moved and seconded to approve the meeting minutes dated December 19, 1994 as written. Motion carried unanimously. C-abstained; H-aye; P-aye. CORRESPONDENCE STATE AUDITOR lone Siegler, Director of Administrative Services, acknowledged receipt of an invoice in the amount of$942 for 20 hours of audit work. This bill was due to citizen questions concerning Totten/Little Skookum Clean Water District. The Totten/Little Skookum Clean Water District Fund will be billed for this audit since one fund cannot benefit another. It would be improper for Current Expense to pay for the audit. The Board asked if there was a report issued. Ms. Siegler responded she was not aware of a report unless there is a problem where they discovered something wrong. The State Auditors legally are required to look into any letter received from any citizen and they would bill for the work performed. Chairperson Cady asked if there is anything in the general budget for audit expenses. Ms. Siegler noted there is a non-departmental budget line for the general audit. Each one of the special funds is billed for their portion of the audit. There was a question if the County received a bill for when the special meeting when the State Auditor came back after the original audit. Ms. Siegler responded she was not aware, this bill is for the total hours which were spent regarding citizen questions. Because of the confidential nature of this type of audit she is unable to relate the details of why and who, etc. Chairperson Cady recalled the meeting was a general meeting regarding watersheds in the present or future which would require committees. Ms. Siegler commented the bill lists the detail of what the audit was for,who performed the audit and how many hours were spent: Frank Bishop asked when a report would be made. ,- TOTTEN/LITTLE SKOOKUM CLEAN WATER DISTRICT FEBRUARY 21, 1995- PAGE 2 He was informed the State Auditor may not issue a report, as indicated previously. They are required to follow up on any written request. This is all confidential unless it gets into a significant issue. She commented it is a lot like a whistleblower. CLEAN WATER DISTRICT BOUNDARY ESTABLISHMENT APPEAL Letter from Sam Bagley to Cmmr. Faughender appealing the boundary line of the clean water district. Water Quality to send an appeal form. BUDGET Memo from Ms. Siegler to Mr. Banner discussing problems with Totten/Little Skookum revenue. Also, a follow up from Mr. Banner;to the Commissioners discussing the same issue. Chairperson Cady explained there was an internal problem with bills arriving which need to be paid at the end of the year. They arrive in December and are paid in the 13th month billing in January. By the time they can be referred back to Totten/Little Skookum they are in a situation where they are spending money for expenses incurred in one year and writing them out of the next year's budget. It is an unusual way to do this. A question was raised if there is an extra pocket of funds. Warren Dawes asked if there was money in the 1994 budget to pay the expenses incurred. Chairperson Cady responded she understood the expense exceeded the budget. She added this is the first Clean Water District of this type and there have been a number of gliches. The State Auditor is not unhappy with the way it has been handled. CONSERVATION DISTRICT Letter from Harold Fitzwater requesting information on authorization of funds directed to Conservation District out of the Clean Water District funds. Chairperson Cady interjected it was agreed upon when the Commissioners signed the memorandum of agreement with the Conservation District. Mr. Fitzwater still had questions on funds used for 25% grant match. Chairperson Cady invited Mr. Fitzwater to attend a meeting with the Conservation District which might help clarify some of the questions he has. BUSINESS CONCURRENCE WITHICOUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION 12/30/94 - Hearing -$10,200 Supplemental Appropriation -Approved Cmmr. Hunter/Faughender moved and seconded to concur with the 1994 action taken by the Board of County Commissioners. Motion carried unanimously. C-abstained; H-aye; P-aye. TOTTEN/LITTLE SKOOKUM CLEAN WATER DISTRICT � FEBRUARY 21, 1996- PAGE 3 1/3/95 -1995 Chair Appointment for Totten-Little Skookum Clean Water District-Mary Jo Cady Appointed 2/7/95 - Rescheduled regular February 20 meeting to February 21, 1995 2/14/95-Advisory Board Reappointments-Charlene Poste, Mark Drain, Frank Bishop;Appointments-Dick Reller& Norman Dornblaser. Cmmr. Hunter/Faughender moved and seconded to concur with the 1995 action taken by the Board of County Commissioners pertaining to the Totten/Little Skookum Clean Water District. Motion carried unanimously. C-aye; H-aye; P-aye. SURVEY STATUS REPORT Mark Tompkins, Water Quality, presented the survey status report through January 1995. Completed Inspections in January-58 Cumulative Inspections through January-856 Failures Identified in January- 10 Cumulative Failures Identified - 75 Repairs Completed in January-2 Cumulative Repairs Completed -37 Cmmr. Faughender commented it appears repairs are backing up. He questioned if there will be a big burst of completing them. Mr.Tompkins responded the repairs are not easy to complete because of the wet weather,there are designs submitted and individuals are getting ready for installations. He anticipate installations will go quickly. Frank Bishop noted the rate of inspections is higher than projection. He questioned if this is efficiency of the staff: Mr.Tompkins commented, in August, they have a second staff person dedicated to Totten/Little Skookum. The staff was split between the two water districts. Also,they have completed a lot of preparations for this. Ray Hanson questioned if it is reasonable to assume completion in August or September at this rate. Mr. Tompkins explained,they are striving to achieve it. The problem they are running into presently is individuals who are not working with the staff and offering information. Cmmr. Faughender asked if it is reasonable to expect the staff will complete 1158 inspections as listed on the report. i Mr. Tompkins said they may complete somewhat less depending on the cooperation of the citizens. PUBLIC COMMENTS Warren Dawes,Advisory Board Chair, expressed his appreciation for the professionalism of the water quality staff when they completed the inspection of his system. He wanted to inform the Commissioners the Advisory Board decided have the ongoing inspection program mandated by the new state regulations be privatized, that it be done by a method to be determined later by the County Health Department staff and that they participate in the decision. This was followed up at their January Advisory Board meeting with a motion that the Chairperson be made a member of the On-Site Committee which is completing operational maintenance planning for the County. TOTTEN/LITTLE SKOOKUM CLEAN WATER DISTRICT FEBRUARY 21, 1995- PAGE 4 Mr. Dawes attended both the On-Site Committee meeting and two of the sub-committee meetings on operational maintenance. He expressed a concern about receiving minutes of the meeting in a timely manner. They haven't had any volunteers and it has fallen into the responsibility of Wayne Clifford. The advisory board asked that a secretary be brought to the meeting to perform this role. The Commissioners explained the County is not in a position to provide secretarial service to advisory committees at this time. Wayne Clifford can continue to take notes and they can use a tape recorder during the meeting for a detailed back up. Harry Martin, Lower Hood Canal Clean Water District Chairperson,commented the Lower Hood Canal Clean Water District Advisory Board has a designated secretary who takes notes during the meeting and then they are forwarded to the Water Quality staff for typing. Mr. Martin added he has 'met with some of the Totten/Little Skookum Clean Water District Advisory Board members to discuss common issues which has been a good sharing time. Harold Fitzwater expressed there still are issues which are not clearly understood among the advisory board as a whole. 1) What is purpose of the clean water district. The chairperson has taken the position the purpose of the advisory board is far reaching. Mr. Fitzwater's position is when the grant is completed the obligations of the Clean Water District have been fulfilled and should cease to exist. They are in the final stages of the purpose of the district and still there is a mixed feeling of what they are there for. There is already talk of another assessment to take effect in July, Which he does not feel is necessary. In addition to the fund balance there is a possibility that some of the monies already expended may be drawn back. 2) He is asking for three items from the Water Quality which he is requesting in writing. a) How many people have actually been billed the$45,and how many have been billed the$35.00? b) Copy of legislation which authorizes the expenditure of clean water funds to water quality in excess of 25% match. c) Copy of legislation where Board approved payment to Conservation District to match their grant. Chairperson Cady responded she will follow up with this to the Health Services Director. Warren Dawes, Advisory' Committee, responded to the discussion on the purpose of the committee. The advisory board just recently adopt a mission statement which deals with the purpose of the committee. If there has been some discussion about an assessment for July it has not been done formally in the committee meetings. He believed an assessment could only be determined by looking at a budget and what the needs would be beyond July. Personally,the Clean Water District was formed as a result of the consent order. He understood the Consent Order calls for operation and maintenance as part of the compliance to the Order. He questioned where they fall in fulfilling that program. Chairperson Cady added the Clean Water District was formed voluntarily because of the consent order. The TOTTEN/LITTLE SKOOKUM CLEAN WATER DISTRICT FEBRUARY 21, 1995 - PAGE 5 Chairperson Cady added the Clean Water District was formed voluntarily because of the consent order. The Advisory Board was formed to give advise on implementing the grants. Jutta Reidiger, Advisory Board Member, presented a letter to the Board regarding the recent appointments to the Totten/Little Skookum Clean Water District and the non-reappointment of Emily Garlich and Lynda Links to the committee. She urged the Board to reconsider and extend the advisory board membership . from 13 - 15 as both individuals have contributed a great deal. Joan Renn concurred with Ms. Reidiger. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:58 a.m. due to no further business. Respectfully Submitted, Rebecca S. Rogers TOTTEN/LITTLE SKOOKUM CLEAN WATER DISTRICT ` Mary Jo Cddy Chairperso� William 0. Hunter, Commissioner M. L. Faughender, ommissioner