Special Public Meeting Minutes – Thursday March 31, 2022

by | Apr 1, 2022 | Special Session Minutes

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PINE-STRAWBERRY WATER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING

Thursday March 31, 2022, at 9:00 a.m.

at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,

4140 N. Hwy 87. Pine, AZ 85544

  • CALL TO ORDER
    • Raymond Headings called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
  • PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
    • was led by Raymond Headings
  • PRAYER
    • Offered by Larry Bagshaw
  • ROLL CALL OF BOARD MEMBERS:
    • Larry Bagshaw, Raymond Headings, Roger Childers, Tammy Albright, George Gorkowski, and Tom Reski were present. A quorum was present.  David Dickinson, district manager, and Paul Hendrix, EUSI, were also present.
  • DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF SECURING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PSWID INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND WATER FOR THE PINE AND STRAWBERRY RESIDENTS CONSIDERING THE PROBABILITY THAT THE MORATORIUM WILL BE CONTINUED INDEFINITELY DUE TO THE DROUGHT. THIS DISCUSSION MAY ALSO INVOLVE THE WHOLE PROBLEM OF NORTHERN GILA COUNTY WATER AVAILABILITY.
    • Chris Ray provided a Power Point Presentation along with Victoria Hermosilla, hydrologist for the Gila County Cobre Watershed Program, and David Dickinson, PSWID. This is posted to the PSWID website. Victoria Russell talked about attaining water resiliency and sustainability through setting up a Watershed Management Program for the Pine Strawberry area like the one she helped establish for the Cobre Basin around Globe.
    • Joe Russell, Senator Mark Kelly’s Senior Policy Analyst to provide an overview regarding water infrastructure monies in the overall larger bill. Mr. Russell reported that Arizona was earmarked to receive $109,000,000 for water systems of which 49.5% was to be given out as grants over the next five years. There is an additional $10,000,000 per year for small water systems which have less than 10,000 customers. These funds will be administered through ADEQ and the Bureau of Reclamation. In addition, there is $650,000,000 for the Department of Agriculture to administer.
  • Comments and questions from the public:
    • Comments are in black and district feedback is in blue.
      • Gino DeSanto – Complained about Las Vegas and California getting more than their fair share of Colorado River water and not conserving. Concerned about the development of multi housing units in the area. Asked about CC Cragin water. Wanted to know about how many deep wells we needed and the costs. We will be looking into getting some the CC Cragin water, but we need to sign a non-disclosure agreement with SRP to get any information about the costs. We will be doing so after this meeting. We need 4 deep wells at $2 million each.
      • Man from Go to Meeting – Wanted to know about drilling deep wells causing shallow aquifers to drain and the deep aquifers to collapse. Dual rotary drilling should not drain the shallow wells. District is concerned and working with engineers to prevent this.
      • Sherra Kissee – She wanted to know where the property tax money is going and the need for grants. Tax money is going to the general fund for costs. Budget information is available on the website. We are looking for help to get grants. (Secretary’s note: The tax money was specifically earmarked for loan repayments by the PSWID Board several years ago – the loan to buy the district, and now the WIFA, and USDA loans. Some of the USDA loan money will pay off the loan that was obtained to buy the district.)
      • Richard James – was concerned about how the district is going to let part-timers know about conservation and water restrictions. He suggested targeting high consumption users first. Also was concerned about the deep wells causing shallow wells to go dry. The office staff is working on documents, as is the water enhancement committee. The office staff is also watching high water users. If drilling a well, impacts a shallow well, drilling stops, and the well site is relocated.  Put conservation information in the water bills.  Also concerned about the amount of chlorine in the water. This is monitored 3 times a week, and there is no excess chlorine.  Water share people are unhappy with the district.
      • Candi Asmussen – was concerned about stopping growth until we have the resources to provide more water. Wanted to know what the next step is other than contacting elected officials, which did no good in trying to keep the county from approving developments in Pine. Keep contacting the elected officials or replace them at the next election. We cannot control what the county approves, but we can deny connections for water.
      • Rick Clarke – He says there are 600 short term rentals in Pine and Strawberry. He wanted to know how we were going to make them reduce their usage. How can we get the county to require low water use fixtures in new buildings and building to water wise standards, especially if they are being built for an STR.? Good question. Contact the county and express your concerns.
      • Cindy Condit – she owns an STR and its water bill is always for just the minimum. She doesn’t think they should be charged more. She thinks we should also charge every home business a surcharge if we charge the STRs a surcharge.
      • Ruth Newton – how can we stop developers from doing multiunit builds and can we charge high users more for their water. She wanted to know if the Dude Ranch developer is going to drill a well or how he will get his water. We do not know how he will get water. How are people get building permits and not getting water? Some may have gotten will serve letters before the moratorium. There have been none issued since the moratorium began. People can build without having a water connection.  She has water wised her property and has a large garden that she waters with gray water and rainwater. Their bill is always for the minimum.
      • Anonymous – Why isn’t there a moratorium for Portals IV, Strawberry Hollow, and Solitude Trails. They are not part of PSWID, have their own wells, and can run their districts any way they want.
      • Anonymous – Can you charge a surcharge for short term rental properties. It is being considered.
      • Christy Mikesell –She encouraged people to attend the water board meetings and the water enhancement committee meetings and give their input. Meetings are posted on the website and there will be a water enhancement meeting coming soon.
    • Remarks from John Riggins -ADWR. He offered resources to help the district with conservation and to set up an area watershed management program.
    • Remarks from Coral Evans – Senator Mark Kelly’s Northern Arizona Director – Senator Kelly has been concerned about water for Arizona. The infrastructure bill added $55 billion for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and $8.3 billion for the Western drought, along with additional funds for water for fire management and other western water issues.
  • Meeting adjourned by Raymond Headings. Note: Over 90 people attended the meeting and over 70 people were on Go to Meeting.