Monday, 21 March 2011 06:25

Amador Water Agency deflected criticism from its past board president

slide3-amador_water_agency_deflected_criticism_from_its_past_board_president.pngAmador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors deflected criticism from its immediate past board president about information requests related to the Gravity Supply Line, at its last meeting.

Former board President Bill Condrashoff, who lost re-election to his seat in District 1 in November, said he had made a request for information related to a staff meeting with Pacific Gas & Electric, including an agenda and a list of attendees. He said he felt mistreated as a former AWA board president, because he was made to wait 10 days for the information request, and then was notified on the 10th day that he would have to wait seven more days for the information. He said he made two information requests in one day, and one was answered quickly, while the other was delayed.

Condrashoff said he finally received the information in an e-mail from AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo, and Condrashoff said the e-mail contained “embarrassing information about the GSL.” He said it was a requirement for AWA to take over ownership and operation of a water treatment plant at Tiger Creek.

Mancebo said the board could not discuss the issue until it was agendized, and the board had not heard about the request until that meeting. He also said he thought the agency has a “decent track record in turning around information that is requested.”

Mancebo said last week that PG&E in the e-mail “indicated their desire for the agency to take over a small water treatment plant on Tiger Creek.” He said “AWA has been operating and maintaining that for a number of years.”

The water plant is located at the Tiger Creek facility, and AWA operates the plant for PG&E’s use at the facility. Mancebo said: “We charge them exactly what our costs are.”

Mancebo said the Amador Water Agency “has been under contract with PG&E for operation and maintenance of the Tiger Creek water treatment plant (owned by PG&E) since 1996.” He said the board still needs to meet and discuss the latest request, and “this is nothing new,” because probably a couple of years ago, PG&E brought up the issue that they would like the AWA to take over ownership as well as the operation of the water treatment plant there.

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