Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors last week discussed potentially stopping a notice of a rate increase at Camanche, while a rate study on agency-wide consolidation is continuing.

Director Robert Manssero said this has got to come back to us, and Director Art Toy added: “Sooner, rather than later.” President Don Cooper’s absence caused a 2-2 split on the decision.

Critics urged the AWA board, under Vice President Gary Thomas, to entertain a motion to send a rate increase notice to Camanche. The notice was authorized by the AWA board in a June 21 vote, but the direction to staff did not include a date on which to send the notice. After the 2-2 vote, Thomas said “the way I’m getting it is we’re tabling it until the next meeting.”

AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said the agency-wide rate study of a consolidated agency, would cost about $15,000, and is being undertaken by the Reed Group. Mancebo said if it failed then “we would go immediately and adjust the rate at Camanche,” and the agency “can move pretty quickly with that.”

Toy asked if they could do back-to-back rate increases, first county-wide, and then if it fails, another at Camanche. Mancebo said it needs a 45-day notice.

Thomas said the 45-day notice gave it a flaw because they were trying to get a new rate in place by July 1, 2012. He said if they miss that, they will have to go through another summer without a rate increase. He said it seemed “bizarre to do back-to-back rate increase notices.”

Mancebo said there would certainly be duplication, but the AWA attorney recommended doing the country-wide rate study and increase first, to give people certainty on what they would be approving or disapproving.

Thomas said a $150,000 Amador County Water Development Fund grant was tied to the rate increase by Supervisors, and another, $533,000 grant was used to drive down the cost of the rate increase to 10 percent, by helping eliminate a surcharge. He also asked about hydrant replacement at Camanche.

Mancebo said the $533,000 grant can be used to fix leaks in the Camanche system as they are found. An agency program to repair and replace hydrants was stopped when the system ran out of money, but depending on excess funds, after lining storage tanks, and replacing service lines, it may also go toward hydrants.

Thomas said a list had been given to the county on work, including hydrants, Well 14’s rehabilitation, and a variety of issues. He asked Mancebo if the agency has the “manpower to fix the hydrants.”

Mancebo said “our construction crew will be very busy the next six months or so,” but it is certainly important for the system and customers.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.