MANAGER’S REPORT

01/09/2019

Budget Position Report

County reports did not arrive in time for a reconciled report. However, I expect the reconciled report to vary from the unreconciled report only slightly. There will be some additional interest income (about $700) and some additional payroll expense, about $1,000.

The official income from rate payers for December is $75,000. Unreconciled expenditures for December were $35,836.25. So we took in $39,610.74 more than we spent. The actual cash revenues were slightly over $90,000. However, due to the vagaries of when money goes into and out of the clearing account, we have not been able to transfer the additional funds to the County. Therefore, the official income is $75,000.

For the year we took in $711,377, which is $30,377 more than projected. We expended $574,836, which is $59,407 over budget. But we still managed to contribute $136,541 to reserves. That is short of our projected $165,571 by $29,030.

Considering how expensive 2018 has been, I am of the opinion that it was a good year. We got some necessary projects completed, kept aging infrastructure operational, and managed to spend less than we brought in.

Treasurer’s Report:

County reports did not arrive in time.

Operational Issues

I have moved Operational Issues to a separate sheet. There is no need to wander through these at every meeting.

When new ones come up I will introduce them in the Manager’s Report. Once introduced they will get moved to the Operational Issues sheet.

Highway 12 Cast Iron Pipe Replacement

Some survey work has been done. We have seen the stakes. But no report yet.

Billing System

The first cycles of the new billing system have been very stressful. As I expected.

A major aspect is getting used to how the program is configured. It involves a certain amount of getting into the programmer’s head to understand how things work.

This is a much more capable billing system than our previous system and, therefore, is more complex. There is also a great deal of “personalization” in that several aspects of the program can be tailored specifically for our district. Working through these issues has been stressful and time consuming. It will get easier as time goes along.

Water Usage

Please see the Production Summary included in your packets. For the 12 months ended 12/31/18 we averaged 11,960,716 gallons per month. For the 12 months ended 12/31/17 we averaged 11,054,100 gallons per month.

This is about an 8% increase. In view of our Water Use Efficiency Plan objective of reducing usage, this could develop into a problem. Skewing the results is the large leak we experienced, and were unable to locate for quite awhile, in November.

The statistics indicate that the leak broke loose on November 12th. We repaired it on December 4th, a total of 23 days. The stats further indicate that it was flowing about 150,000 gallons per day. So we lost a total of about 3,450,000 gallons. So that one leak accounts for about 1/3 of our increased withdrawal.

Some of the rest of the increase can be attributed to changing demographics. The 2010 US Census indicated that about half of Central Park’s population was 55+ years old. While we don’t have new numbers, the sense here, judging by who is moving in and who is moving out, is that there are more younger people, particularly families, in the community than in the past.

Big Leak 2

We detected a second substantial leak (about 80,000 gpd) on 12/29. Kenny found it on 12/30 and it was repaired on 12/31.

It was in the middle of Solki Road about half way between Karjala and Central Park Drive. It was a water main break, not a service lateral.

The water main is in the middle of the north bound lane of traffic. So we had to do substantial excavation in the lane of traffic. It is currently cold patched. We will need to have the contractor back to repair the pavement properly once we can get our hands on hot melt.

The water main is AC pipe and, except for the point of the leak, is in excellent condition. The leak was a single radial crack. There was no sign of additional cracking.

My conclusion is that the crack was the result of decades of vibration from the road. In view of the condition of the pipe and its length of service, I am not thinking that we have an indication of general water main failure in this area.

Reynvaan Reservoir

Repairs are awaiting dryer weather.

Maintenance Activity:

Usual daily/weekly/monthly maintenance activity. See attached report.

Contractor Repairs

The Solki leak was the only contractor repair in December, other than the Highway 12 leak. The Highway 12 repair cost was $23,515 plus District staff time.

We haven’t seen the invoice for the Solki Road repair.

Isolation Valves

The Solki Road repair was another one of those that highlighted the problems we have with as-built records, specifically as it relates to isolation valves.

We spent ½ day trying to isolate Solki Road. The as-builts indicate a fairly simple arrangement, but they do not reflect reality. The problem is compounded by a lack of isolation valves, often in critical areas.

This is a two-pronged problem. First, the as-builts are inaccurate, incomplete or non-existant. Second, there are locations that should have isolation valves but do not.

The straightforward solutions are not inexpensive and we need to discuss.

The ideal solutions:

  • Retain a vendor to bring our as-builts up to date.
  • Install additional isolation valves in critical areas.

Hill Road Water Main

I am putting this project on hold. I just don’t see where we can squeeze out the money. It will remain in the report as a place holder.

Well Site Fence

I will solicit for estimates after the first of the year.

Highway 12 Meters

Further installation has been hindered by the weather, the leaks, and the holidays.

Night Drop

The new night drop has been installed and a separate mail drop has been added to the front door.

The work is acceptable. Not wonderful, but acceptable.

They currently have temporary labels, which will be replaced with permanent labels once I get past the new year work load.

Shop Organization

Ongoing, but slow at the moment due to other demands.

Training/Certifications.

I need to get Mick signed up for flagger training and we need to get Kenny certified for handling AC pipe. I will be getting these two items set up very soon.

Safety

We have a mini safety meeting every morning. We will be focusing on cold weather issues.

Vehicles

Service Truck: No issues.

F-150: No Issues

S-10: No issues. Have not followed up on searching for a used seat.

Pickup Truck: No Issues

Dump Trailer: I simply haven’t had the time to go shopping.

New Connections

Nothing new in December.

Old Shop Building Gutters & Downspouts

Complete

Shop Site South Fence

No progress in December. Since it is taking the Fire Station forever, I may approach the mobile home park owner independently. I will probably still try and negotiate for an easement for a turn radius. If nothing happens on the north side, nothing lost. I doubt that the mhp owner will be interested in kicking in any cash.

Alder Glen & Etc.

No news in December. Work orders are still out for the dead end lines that have not been examined.

Carl Way/Ridgeview: Not an issue

Hemlock Park

Lois Lane Not an issue

Waverly Court Not an issue

Garden Road: Not an issue

Walthom Lane: Not an issue

Greenbriar Court

Reynvaan Court

Madow Court

Reed Lane Not an issue

Blaine Road (End) Not an issue

Larson Lane Not an issue

Fremont Drive

Silkey Court

Lake Road

Hemlock Park

Fairway Park

River Road: Replaced

Alder Glen: Will need replacement.

Fairway Terrace: Will need replacement.

Filing System

No action in December.

Web Page

Our web page is up and running. Quotes from vendors were too expensive. So I looked into doing it in-house. It was much easier than I thought it would be.

Our website is now up and running. I am adding content to it as I have the time.

Armory

This project is complete with the exception of some paperwork. The owner needs to provide the easement assignment, as-built drawings, and the bill of sale.

LeMay Project

Progress has been steady despite the weather.

Fire Station

No apparent action in December.

Big Ridge Lodge

No actions in December.

Disaster Management Planning

No action on the plan outline in December.

Old Highway 12 Meters

I am proposing that we donate about 15 of the old Highway 12 meters to Gethsemane Ministries. They operate a small water system that is under DOH or install service meters, for which they don’t have the money.

Isolation Valve Exercise Program

This is another Sanitary Survey item. It has been on my to-do list since 2012.

Nothing new in December. See discussion on isolation valves.

Future and/or On-Hold Programs

Email Bills

Online Bill Pay

Unfunded “Dream” Projects

Include Reynvaan Pump Station in SCADA

Probably will require new controls, which are getting due anyway

Include Hirschbeck Pump Station in SCADA

Convert SCADA Communications to Cellular, or whatever.

Replace Office Carpet DEFERRED

Remove carpet and paint concrete?

Long Distance Service Laterals

Any thoughts would be welcome.

Respectfully Submitted:

Reg Hearn

General Manager