CCWD meets ‘a lot of anger’

Calaveras County Water District directors took a bashing at a town hall meeting in Arnold Monday night.

During the first year of a proposed five-year rate plan, the average residential water bill would increase about $11 per month and sewer would increase about $10 per month. But that’s just the start. Increases would continue to flow over the course of five years, boosting water and sewer bills by nearly 70 percent before they stop rising.

“Rates are our main source of revenues,” said Director of Financial Planning Jeff Meyer, who delivered a PowerPoint presentation explaining the proposed increases to the restive crowd. “I know you don’t like to hear this, but that’s the way it is.”

Water sales account for 52 percent of the district’s operational funding; sewer sales contribute 26 percent. Revenue from increased rates would be used for a capital program to repair and replace existing water lines, lift stations and wastewater plants, among other projects.

Major repairs taking place at lift stations are a result of corrosion from lack of use and sewer spills, Meyer said. The singular most costly project, $4.5 million, would take place at the Copper Cove Reclaimed Water Plant, due to its proximity to Lake Tulloch.

“Things corrode, things get old, things need maintenance,” Meyer said. “Ongoing maintenance extends life.”

Ken Duncan of Murphys was dissatisfied with this explanation.

“If you know what an asset is, and how long it’s going to last, create a reserve account,” he said. “I would’ve started it 20 years ago. … This place has been mismanaged for decades.”

General Manager Mitch Dion countered that the district is a collection of smaller systems that “couldn’t survive alone,” and to keep rates low, previous boards had used reserve funds to make repairs.

Dion added the 2013-14 budget does not include the increment rate increase.

“But I’ll tell you,” said he, if rates are not increased, “the capital plan won’t go through.”

Throughout the presentation, the public repeatedly interrupted with questions and comments. Notably, Dion was hounded for his salary amount – $165,000 a year – and for information about where he lived, which he declined to say.

And when citizens were given the floor to respond to the proposed increases and ask questions about the presentation, they didn’t hold back.

Ratepayers referred to Fly-In Acres, a small Arnold subdivision that had arranged to join the district earlier this year. Currently, as an assessment district, the 185 property owners are paying fees to replace the subdivision’s water distribution system. Though given notice that rates may increase in July, exact amounts were not issued, ratepayers said.

“That’s wrong, that is just flat out wrong,” said John Ellis of Arnold. “You add $30 to $40 to their monthly budget – they’re not making what CCWD is making.”

Mill Woods, another Arnold subdivision whose ratepayers contended the increases, was included in a previous list of repairs and replacements. However, these repairs were not made, and Bob Pollock, a Mill Woods Home Owners Association board member, questioned whether the same would happen with the new list of repairs.

Directors said they would “take out the wiggle room” from the capital plan to ensure funds are spent only on the listed projects.

A number of attendees requested information about de-annexation from the district. Dion said the subdivision would need to submit a formal request through the Local Agency Formation Commission of Calaveras County, which would determine whether it was best for the ratepayers of the overall district and of the subdivision.

Several members of the public approached the board with individual concerns.

Julie Hollars, a career military veteran and single mother to a 6-year-old girl, said she works 12 hours a day on her farm in Vallecito.

“There are other means,” she said to the directors, suggesting lining instead of entirely replacing the pipes, or using wastewater as irrigation.

Hollars said she is on a fixed income and asked if there may be a special rate for senior citizens and those who fall in the low-income bracket. Dion said there would not be.

In response to proposed increases, the public may submit protest letters. For a sample protest letter, go to ccwd.org.

As of Monday night, about 6,350 votes were needed to protest the water rate increases and about 2,400 votes for sewer rate increases. Dion cautioned, however, that this figure will change when new ratepayers are added over the next month. Board Clerk Mona Walker may be contacted for final numbers required for customer protests.

It was noted at the meeting that although renters pay a check to the district, only property owners are permitted to issue a protest letter.

If protests do not meet the 50 percent-plus-one vote in opposition, the board of directors will ultimately make the decision on whether to raise the rates at a public hearing held at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 10, at the district’s boardroom, 423 E. St. Charles St., San Andreas. If approved, rate changes will take effect Sunday, Sept. 1.

“The reality is, we can’t kick the can down the road anymore,” said Director Don Stump. “… This is a very responsible board. We’re looking at your interest and the interest of the county.”

Despite assurance that the directors were hearing their concerns, many ratepayers left Monday’s meeting unconvinced.

“When they tell me nothing can be done,” Hollars said after the meeting, “I can’t believe it. This is not the only answer.”

Paul Bertini of Avery called for a “grassroots effort” among ratepayers: canvassing the streets to add protest votes and providing information to fellow district customers. Several citizens said they already had; more said they planned to do the same.

There will be two additional town hall meetings. The next will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, at Black Creek Center, 920 Black Creek Drive, Copperopolis, and the final town hall meeting with be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at the Rancho Calaveras Club-house, 3995 S. Highway 26, Valley Springs.