Meeting goals:
Addressing inflation by increasing “small purchases” from $1,000 to $2,000. Tab 3
Approve the preselection contract for Cottonwoods Connection Welded Steel Pipe
Approve FEMA BRIC grant application submission
Acknowledge and approve fiscal year 2023 financial audit.
The Scene: The meeting began with giggles and chatting from the board members. There was a light mood in the room. Throughout the meeting, board members were making sure that there were limited disruptions to the public.
Notes:
In a letter that was released, Annalee Munsey addressed Robert Warther’s concerns presented in the September 18th meeting. Warther was worried about potential leakage resulting from a well that was near his house. The letter explained that there was a pilot study to be performed in 2024 to understand the performance and create new infrastructure. This study is directly related to the plant’s surface infiltration basins and aquifer storage and recovery. Additionally, the district agreed to use language that was understood by the broader public. This letter can be found at the link: Robert Warther response.
An independent audit performed by Squire presented that the district acted “fairly” and “in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.” The main goal of the audit was to confirm that there was no fraud or errors that occurred with the financial statements of the department.
There was an engineering report for additional funds needing approval. This included the replacement of steel piping, easements valued over $10,000, and an adjustment of division 00 documents to meet the Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee documents. This all totaled $174,348. This was all part of the engineering committee report for Amendment No. 4 to SLAR-CC Project. Additionally, there was a multi-hazard mitigation plan because “District sees the need to identify and mitigate potential hazards”. The funding for potential mitigators would come from a prospective FEMA grant. Tab 4
The first speaker was an employee who had worked at the water treatment plant for 4 years. While his presentation was mostly focused on engineering aspects that were on the agenda, he also gave a unique perspective on the community. He explained that community members actually take interest in what is going on at the treatment plant, some even asking for tours. He brought this up after concerns that the treatment plant was causing disturbances to neighboring community members.
One of the key items to pass was part of what consisted as a “small purchase”. Previously, small purchases were valued under $1,000. Although, things are more expensive now than they were before. The previous limit had been set for 15 years, so to keep up with rising costs, it was raised to $2,000. Tab 3
One final thing to note is that the water district had a $587,699 increase in revenue. The explanation given was that there was a 3% increase of water rates. This revenue came as a result of water sales.
Finally, there was an approval of the minutes for the previous meeting on September 18th. The board absences were Donald Y. Milne (Trustee) and John S. Kirkham (Vice Chair). The members present at this meeting were Tom Godfrey (Chair), Patricia Comarell (Secretary), Cindy Cromer (Trustee), Joan Degiorgio (Trustee), and John H. Mabey, Jr. (Trustee).
What was passed:
Approval of Fiscal year 2023 financial audit. Tab 2
Approval of proposed changes to Policies and Procedures Chapter 6
Approve Amendment No. 4 to Hazen and Sawyer for the Salt Lake Aqueduct Replacement – Cottonwoods Connection Project (SLAR-CC). Tab 4
Approval of multi-hazard mitigation plan Tab 4
Authorization to submit section 408 application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on behalf of Salt Lake County Tab 4
Approval of minutes for the 9/18 meeting. Tab 5
Water Documenters is a collaboration between The Salt Lake Tribune and City Bureau and funded through grants from the Great Salt Lake Collaborative and the Rita Allen Foundation. College student journalists from all over Utah are hired to attend and take notes at public water meetings in Utah. These notes are then published for anyone to read or use. The project is aimed at providing better public access to meetings where major decisions are made about a limited Utah resource. For more meeting notes, click here. For more information, click here.