February Minutes

Monday, February 17, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.

APPROVED MINUTES

ROLL CALL:

Present: Chairman Sam Shapiro, Directors Kay Oring, Ron Rebell and Tom Spanton. There is now one vacancy on the Board. Also present were Fire Chief Ron Cromer and General Manager Martin Balding and Secretary Sandy Jansen.  We have a quorum. 

CLOSED SESSION for Personnel:  Closed session opened at 6:05 pm and closed at 6:15 pm.  Regular session was opened at 6:16 pm. 

            The result of closed session was announced.  The Secretary’s hours will be 10 hours per week with a minimum of 6 hours per week in the office, the remaining to be done on her time.  The wages will be $20 per hour.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY AGENDA

APPROVAL OF JANUARY MINUTES

APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF BILLS for JANUARY; FIRE $9,004.20; SEWER $2,145.91.

APPROVAL OF TREASURER'S REPORT, by Kay Oring for JANUARY.  Director Oring explained information received from the county Treasurer’s office regarding fees on our accounts and interest earned.  More information and explanation is needed.

A motion was made by Director Spanton with a second by Director ReBell  to accept the February Agenda , approval of minutes for January as amended and approval of  the payment of January bills: Fire $9,004.20; Sewer $2,145.91, and Treasurer’s report for January. Motion carried.

           

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Fire Chief Cromer:  Chief reported that there had been three calls this month and they were in Spalding.  The calls were one medical, one flu fire, and one down powerline.  Chief reported that a power line was also down at the Stone’s residence and that Chief had the power turned off to prevent fire hazard.  Owners and family were notified. A letter was written to the landowner stating that the line was a potential fire hazard and that the power had been turned off until the situation was safe.

The Sheriff’s Department has received digital radios for the county.  Stones-Bengard had requested six, but at this time have received two since we also were awarded radios on the CAL FIRE grant.  If there are any remaining radios from the Sheriff’s Department we may take possession of one or two more.  There is no cost for the radios from the Sheriff’s Department.  These radios are for use in Lassen County and are worth about $2000 each.  The CAL FIRE grant radios are for use in a much larger area.

            Water Manager Balding report is attached.  There was a spill at a location near the Whittle property on Juniper Lane.  It has been repaired and a water sample was sent in for testing.  The results were clean. 

Martin is looking into a possible Weed Abatement policy and a policy or ordinance regarding the liability of accessing private property to treat or inspect sewer and water lines.

Martin is continuing to check into the interest we earn and don’t earn at the County Treasurer’s office.  This issue will be ongoing.

            Secretary’s report:   There were 83 web hits.  Only a few properties have made zero payments for waste water this year.  Three have a lien on them.  Two have a new address and were sent additional notices.  One has already paid.  Another notice will be sent out.

            Sandy prepared an estimate of the yearly revenue that should be received from waste water fees, not including the resort fees.

Board Member Items:  none

PUBLIC COMMENT:   none.

CORRESPONDENCE:  The new insurance booklet from Alteris Water Plus was received. 

             

OLD BUSINESS:

New Computer:  A new computer has been purchased for approximately $600 and the computer being set up.  We will receive it by April.

CALFIRE 2013 Grant:   Chief has ordered most of the items on the grant.  With remaining funds he will outfit the utility trailer.  The trailer itself does not qualify for CAL FIRE funding but the tank and plumbing do.  The funds will be received after invoices and proof of payment are sent to CAL FIRE. Some invoices have already been sent in for payment. 

Utility Trailer for fire Department:  Chief has purchased a trailer for $1,100 and he will have it licensed to Stones Bengard Volunteer Fire Department.  The CAL FIRE grant will pay for the set up.

911 Address Signs Status.  Martin is working on them.

IRS and form 941 Payroll Tax, 2^nd quarter 2012:  Sandy has been working with IRS and the county on this matter but it is not resolved yet.  The bill has been paid while the issue is being resolved.

NEW BUSINESS:

Green Waste Pile for Community:  Martin is working on a green waste pile for local landowners to use and the Fire Department would burn it for a training burn. 

Work Crew for Roadway:  Martin is working on acquiring the Inmate Crew from Antelope Camp to do roadway cleanup this spring.

           

ADJOURNMENT:   The next meeting will be held on March 17, 2014, 6:00 pm.   With no further business to conduct, the meeting was dismissed at 7:00 p.m.

BOARD MEMBERS SIGNING OF BILLS:  Bills were signed. 

Respectfully Submitted,

_____________________________

Sandy Jansen, Secretary     Note: There is a voice recorded transcript of these minutes.

 February 2014 Treasurer’s Report for January 2014 activity

Balances as of January 31, 2014

Accounts at Lassen Co.

                                                                                   

Fire District:      Balance                        $   91,968.86  

Sewer District:   Balance                       $ 130,484.42

Capital Improvement Fund: Balance      $ 262,244.97

Other accounts:

 Petty cash        (Checking)                   $     2785.68

Kay Oring, Treasurer

           

Monday, February 17, 2014 at 6pm

Martin Balding, General Manager

NO SPILL REPORT: This month there was a spill which was shut off then quickly reported to the State Water Board, to the Lahontan Regional Board and to the Lassen County Health Department. The spill occurred near the Whittle property in an unoccupied area beyond Juniper Lane. It was the result of a frozen check valve attached to a shutoff valve on a branch of the District Wastewater collection line. Repairs were reported to Robert Tucker, our representative at Lahontan.

WATER TESTING: A sample of the above spill was sent to Sierra Environmental Monitoring Inc. for testing and the results were sent to Rob Tucker at Lahontan.

LASSEN COUNTY ACCOUNT ADMINISTRATIVE FEES:As a result of our request Richard Egan has sent us information regarding the fees charged for handling our account. Kay is reviewing the statement.

LIFTS STATIONS AND PONDS: The lift stations and ponds have been working well with an average flow of 4,382 gallons per day and an annual total of 1,693,950 gallons going to the ponds.

PRECIPITATION/SUBLIMATION: This past week we received 1.6 inches of precipitation. Good!

LAKE EVEL: 5,093.68' down 17 inches since the high point last spring

HOMEOWNER SYSTEMS: This month has been quiet except for a couple alarms.

LATE PAYMENT COLLECTIONS:Sandy has been following up on accounts due with excellent results with only about five overdue. Liens will be made against the uncollected accounts. The new RV park owners are among the unpaid, and were contacted today. They promised payment next month.

ROAD WORK: Cal Fire and Lassen County Public works have been contacted with positive responses regarding brush removal along Stone Road. We have an encroachment permit from Lassen County and forms to be completed from Cal Fire so that inmates can work along the roadside.

PUBLIC GREEN WASTE PILE: I believe the CSD can seerve the community, and promote fire safety, by allowing green waste to be deposited in a suitable area where it can be burned by the Fire Department for training purposes. This process can begin when the work crews start clearing Stone Road and we have a need for brush disposal.

911 SIGNS: Work in progress.

STAND BY GENERATOR: The generator was serviced and runs well now.

POSSIBLE ORDINANCES: The District may need ordinances for weed abatement on private property and also for certain work and access to wastewater control systems and overflows