PINE-STRAWBERRY WATER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
Regular Meeting
Thursday August 29, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.
PSWID Administrative Office
6306 W Hardscrabble Rd.
Pine, AZ 85544
- 1. CALL TO ORDER
Cory Ellsworth called the meeting to order at 4:00p.m.
- 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Conducted by Cory Ellsworth
- 3. PRAYER
Offered by Cory Ellsworth.
- 4. ROLL CALL OF BOARD MEMBERS
Conducted by Cory Ellsworth: Board members present: Sharon Hillman, Cory Ellsworth, George Gorkowski, and Larry Bagshaw. Brent Pruett was present via Go to Meeting. A quorum was present. Paul Hendricks, EUSI, and Steve Bowen, operations manager, and Kristi Allen, accountant, were also present. Steve Wene and Brian Imbornoni, the district’s attorneys, were present via Go to Meeting. Roger Childers arrived at 4:25 p.m.
- 5. CALL FOR MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING MEETING(S):
July 25, 2024 –Regular Meeting. Sharon Hillman moved the minutes be approved. Cory Ellsworth seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
- 6. REPORTS TO THE BOARD
- a. WIFA/EUSI Program Manager’s Report– As posted to the website.
- b. Field Operations Report – There was one leak, lots of repair work. One field employee left and was replaced with a new hire.
- c. Treasurer’s Report – As posted to the website.
- d. Secretary’s report – None.
- e. Vice Chairman’s report – As posted to the website.
- f. District Attorney’s Report –Steve Wene reported that the Strawberry Hollow HOA had filed a complaint. They were seeking HOA fees from the district for its well site for the last 10 years. Another attorney in their office is working on it. Even though Nelson’s EOC state complaint was dismissed, she filed it with the federal government also, and that was also dismissed.
- 7. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC – none.
- 8. BUSINESS Discussion and possible action regarding the following items:
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- I. PROPOSALS FROM KP VENTURES FOR ADDITIONAL WORK ON THE MILK RANCH 2 WELL. Sharon Hillman. One of the capital projects from the last fiscal year was improving the Milk Ranch 2 well. We budgeted $75,000 for a well video, brush and bail as well as pump testing to see we could get more GPM. The video showed a split in the casing from 662.96’ to 664.78’ which was allowing sand into the pipe, which increased in volume during the pump test. We have already spent $61,4451.90 on the well and need to decide to either repair or replace the casing. The current one is 6” and we can insert a 5” casing and still use the same size pump. Replacing the casing is more expensive but is more likely to remedy the problem of the split. The repair would cost $31,140 and replacing the casing would cost $47,943.60. After a brief discussion, the board decided that replacing the casing would be the better option. George Gorkowski moved that the board authorize the use of district funds in the amount of $47,943.60 to replace the casing as per the estimate from KP Ventures and authorize the board chairman to sign the estimate proposal. Sharon Hillman seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
- II. FEES FOR PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS. Kristi Allen. Kristi had researched what several other entities charged for records requests. She had also discovered that we could not charge for the attorney’s fees for redacting records per AZ law. After some discussion, it was decided that we would charge $5 per request plus the cost of copies and time. (Copies at 25 cents a page, photos at $1 each for normal sized) and if they wanted the documentation electronically, there would be a $5 USB drive fee and the copy cost. Sharon Hillman moved that the district charge $5 plus the cost of copies and time for all records requests in which the documents leave the office. Larry Bagshaw seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
- 9. IDENTIFY POTENTIAL AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT SCHEDULED BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2024.
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- I. Water model study.
- II. Continuation of the moratorium and reviewing the meter release plan.
- III. Application for a two million dollar grant from WIFA for water tank replacement funds.
- 10. MOTION TO ADJOURN OPEN SESSION. George Gorkowski moved the meeting be adjourned. Sharon Hillman seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.