WIFA Program Manager Report – 2023-10-26

PINE-STRAWBERRY WATER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: USDA PROGRAM(S) & OTHER INITIATIVES

USDA Capital Program:

Phase 1-

Waterline Replacement Projects:

• • Each new WIFA/USDA funded project will be posted with an overall status on a one-page public Dashboard Report.

Construction Activities:

• • Woodland Heights: The Contractor has commenced work with construction scheduled to be completed in early February 2024.
  • Whispering Pines: The Contractor has completed the project and has reached substantial completion. USDA will conduct a site visit inspection on 10-26-23 to sign off on the project.
  • White Oak/Cedar Meadows:  Construction is scheduled to start April 8, 2024.

Deep Well Project

• The driller for the Deep Well has advised that the drill rig will now expect to be on-site around November 1. The USDA preconstruction meeting was held on October 12. The drilling permit application has been sent to the County and then on to ADWR. District staff installed 4 temporary tanks to provide construction water needed during drilling. Project staff will provide follow-up information with a draft site plan within 30 days.

Portals 1 & 2- Water Line Replacement

• A Bid opening was held for the waterline replacement project on October 19, 2023. Five bids were received with the lowest apparent bidder being Mountain High Excavation with a bid below the Engineer’s estimate.

• The Engineers estimate for the project is now $4,900,000 to install 17,100 LF of 6” PVC pipe.
• 210 days of construction is scheduled to commence in January 2024.

USDA Capital Program

• Interim Financing from WIFA for USDA Projects
  • The District continues to process WIFA construction loan funds for disbursements requests on active construction projects.
  • Sunrise Engineering continues to provide the USDA required, full time Resident Project Representative (RPR) construction observation services.

Non-USDA/WIFA Project Initiatives:

• Well and Water Production Infrastructure–
  • District Staff continue work related to the inspection, repair, and improvement of existing wells and booster stations to maintain water system reliability to meet summer water demands.
  • Well Status Logs are reviewed and updated.
  • District Staff continue working on leak response and detection activities.
  • The refurbishment of the intermediate booster pump in Portals 1&2 is under consideration and will be designed to be completed in parallel to the waterline replacement project.

WIFA Project Meeting Items Review and Action:

• Review the USDA project list and procurement issues.
• WIFA Disbursements are reviewed and processed.
• Project Issues are addressed.
• EUSI personnel make construction project site visits to observe construction activities.
• EUSI personnel accompany District Staff as needed on field site visits and discuss water system and project issues.
• EUSI staff check on the status of the WIFA Labor Boards on active projects.