Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board will return to its budget at a regular meeting Thursday (July 8th). The board last week agreed to 4 layoffs, and faces either 2-4 more layoffs or a 4% increase in rates in the Amador Water System. Staff recommended increase, approved but not implemented last year, or face the layoffs of 2 to 4 additional “full time equivalent” employees. Last week, Vice President Debbie Dunn urged waiting a month while staff looks to see if there is leeway in bond payments for the Amador Transmission Pipeline. Director Terence Moore said if they wait a month, it will have an impact, especially in the hottest month of the year. President Bill Condrashoff said “rates are a tax, and when economies go bad, you don’t tax people.” Director Gary Thomas made a “motion to explore options,” which he said should “explore all options, and that included the 4% increase.” Budget discussion also touched on the Gravity Supply Line (GSL), alluded to by audience member David Evitt, who said “the expansion and creation of a water kingdom has got to stop.” Condrashoff said the $5 million USDA grant came with a loan that included $6 million in interest for the GSL. He said the GSL is not a good idea. Moore said “some of us do not agree with you.” Evitt, speaking from the audience then said: “Some of you are idiots.” Director Don Cooper said “we are in a huge price squeeze” he had been in before in the farming business. He said the finance committee has talked about the cost for basic service, maintenance & operations, labor, and risk management. Cooper said they must “come back and concentrate on basic service.” If the agency got a straight USDA grant without a loan attached, it would be different for the GSL. But if they get a grant with a requirement for a long-term loan, the AWA might have to reexamine the GSL. He said they need to look at long-term gains in projects, such as the Tanner plant analysis. Moore said the study was part of the “one project that would bring money.” He said a recent prediction was that U.S. water costs would double or quadruple, and he wondered why they were wasting time “talking about a 4% increase.” Discussion turned to furloughs, and operations manager Chris McKeage said the AWA is a public agency that cannot compare to other organizations. Operations manager Barry Birge said Jackson’s wastewater uses them but “they are calling the furloughs off.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.-
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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board will return to its budget at a regular meeting Thursday (July 8th). The board last week agreed to 4 layoffs, and faces either 2-4 more layoffs or a 4% increase in rates in the Amador Water System. Staff recommended increase, approved but not implemented last year, or face the layoffs of 2 to 4 additional “full time equivalent” employees. Last week, Vice President Debbie Dunn urged waiting a month while staff looks to see if there is leeway in bond payments for the Amador Transmission Pipeline. Director Terence Moore said if they wait a month, it will have an impact, especially in the hottest month of the year. President Bill Condrashoff said “rates are a tax, and when economies go bad, you don’t tax people.” Director Gary Thomas made a “motion to explore options,” which he said should “explore all options, and that included the 4% increase.” Budget discussion also touched on the Gravity Supply Line (GSL), alluded to by audience member David Evitt, who said “the expansion and creation of a water kingdom has got to stop.” Condrashoff said the $5 million USDA grant came with a loan that included $6 million in interest for the GSL. He said the GSL is not a good idea. Moore said “some of us do not agree with you.” Evitt, speaking from the audience then said: “Some of you are idiots.” Director Don Cooper said “we are in a huge price squeeze” he had been in before in the farming business. He said the finance committee has talked about the cost for basic service, maintenance & operations, labor, and risk management. Cooper said they must “come back and concentrate on basic service.” If the agency got a straight USDA grant without a loan attached, it would be different for the GSL. But if they get a grant with a requirement for a long-term loan, the AWA might have to reexamine the GSL. He said they need to look at long-term gains in projects, such as the Tanner plant analysis. Moore said the study was part of the “one project that would bring money.” He said a recent prediction was that U.S. water costs would double or quadruple, and he wondered why they were wasting time “talking about a 4% increase.” Discussion turned to furloughs, and operations manager Chris McKeage said the AWA is a public agency that cannot compare to other organizations. Operations manager Barry Birge said Jackson’s wastewater uses them but “they are calling the furloughs off.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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