STONES-BENGARD COMMUNITY SERVICE DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING

509-695 Stone Road, District Office, Eagle Lake, Susanville, CA 96130

Phone & Fax: (530) 825-3350

E-mail stonesb@frontiernet.net

Monday, January 21, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.

APPROVED MINUTES

ROLL CALL:

Meeting was opened by Chairman Shapiro at 6:05 pm.  Present: Chairman Sam Shapiro, Directors Kay Oring, and Ron Rebell. There are two vacancies on the Board. Also present were Fire Chief Ron Cromer, General Manager Martin Balding and secretary Sandy Jansen.  We have a quorum.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

ADDITIONS/DELETIONS/APPROVAL of January 21, 2013, agenda items.

APPROVAL OF December minutes.

APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF BILLS for December 2012: Sewer $1,692.46: Fire $4,693.23. This includes Sierra Electronics for radios on CALFIRE grant.

APPROVAL OF TREASURER'S REPORT, by Kay Oring:

For December 31, 2012: Fire District $89,014.92. Sewer District $128,093.64. Capital Improvement Fund $247,212.58. Checking account petty cash $2,667.92. 

A motion was made by Director Rebel with a second by Director Oring  to accept the January Agenda, approve Minutes for December and to approve the payment of December bills, Sewer $1,692.46;  Fire $4,693.23 and the Treasurer's Report.  Motion Carried.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Fire Chief Cromer reported one structure fire in Spalding.  The structure burned to the ground.  SBVFD stayed and did mop-up.  Training is going well. 

Chief Cromer said that he plans on retiring at the end of 2013.

General Manager Balding’s report was read and is attached. 

Discussion was held on the RV Park and their delinquencies.  Martin will give them their past-due bill again.  Martin may file a lien on the property and a 30-day notice.  At this time they are paid only through October 31, 2012.

About 20 hours were put on the snow plow this month.

There will be a hydrology class on wells and groundwater in Susanville this month and Martin plans on attending.  The District will reimburse if any of the class is helpful to the district.

Secretaries Report:  There were 86 web hits last month.  It was not possible to install Carbonite due to a permission error.  Martin’s grandson, Levi, will help us with it.  Several who were behind on payments have since sent payment this month.

Board Member Report:   none

PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment.

CORRESPONDENCE:

OLD BUSINESS:

The Cal Fire Grant:  Stones- Bengard Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded a 50-50 matching grant from Cal Fire. Four radios were purchased from Sierra Electronics and will be programmed soon.  The other radios will be reprogrammed.  The radios will have our name or initials engraved on them before they leave the buildings.

Carbonite Installation:  We will get some help to override the program and enable the installation of the Carbonite installation.  Carbonite will not start the subscription until it is installed.

NEW BUSINESS:

Form 700, Fair Political Practices.  The Form 700 is due into the office by April 2013.  Blank forms will be made available for the Board Members.

 Resolution to Purchase Local First Policy:   Members of the Board thought that this was already approved and signed.  Sandy will look for the signed resolution.

List of Tax Defaulted Property:  The list was received from the County and will be monitored for properties in this district.

SBVFD T-shirts:  Chief discussed ordering t-shirts with the SBVFD logo on the back and FF names on the front.  It was decided to order extras of medium, large, and extra large for others to purchase or obtain.  Chief will bring in an estimate of a cost.  The first-time screening for the logo will be a one-time charge.  Permission for others to order using the logo would be required from the chief or board.

ADJOURNMENT: The next meeting will be held on February 18, 2013, 6:00 pm.  With no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.

BOARD MEMBERS SIGNING OF BILLS: Approved in the Consent Calendar.

Respectfully Submitted,

_____________________________

Sandy Jansen, Secretary

Note: There is a voice recorded transcript of these minutes.

General Manager Notes

STONES-BENGARD COMMUNITY SERVICE DISTRICT

 BOARD MEETING

 509-695 Stone Road, Eagle Lake, Susanville, CA 96130

Monday, January, 21 2013 6pm

Phone & Fax: 530-825-3350

Martin Balding, General Manager

NO SPILL REPORT: The no spill report to the state was made for the month of December.

LIFTS STATIONS AND PONDS:  The lift stations and ponds have been working well with an average flow of 6,454 gallons per day, 33% lower than October a year ago. The frozen ponds are snow covered so levels can’t be recorded.  There is some overflow into pond three, just as it should be.   Power failed for ten hours but the generator was not needed.  Our call-out phones worked to perfection telling us that the power was off, and also gave the level of effluent in the pump vault.

 About twenty inches of dry snow is in the area around the ponds.  Many animal signs, including lion tracks, have been seen.

ELECTRIC HEAT: The heaters in the lift stations have been on.  Bills will be higher!

ANNUAL WASTEWATER FLOWS:

Annual records were checked for flows in gallons as follows:

2012 2,890,130

2011 3,124,190 

2110 3,260,710

2009 3,649,450

Our mandated annual limit is 4,038,000 gallons and this past year we were at only 66% of that.

A lake level reading is not available at this time because of snow and ice.  The total precipitation for the season since July first is 8.25 inches.

HOMEOWNER SYSTEMS:  Good news, no calls at this time.  The bad news for homeowners is frozen pipes but so far no reports of wastewater stopping.  The snow coverage has been a blessing with the continued cold weather.

LATE PAYMENT COLLECTIONS:

Sandy can give a report on receivables.  The RV Park is behind at this time and I'll report on what is next.

SNOW AND COLD: The snow plow has been operated for about 20 hours this season by volunteer operators.  A block heater has been used to keep the engine ready for easy starts.  The water for the office has been kept running and the restroom door left open to prevent freezing.  The fuel oil level is at the half way point and being watched. 

HYDROLOGY CLASS:  I will attend a groundwater and hydrology class on Thursday, 1/24/13 in Susanville.  Six units of credit will be gained.