2025 Notices/Agendas
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
LAKE DURANGO WATER AUTHORITY
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors of the Lake Durango Water Authority will hold its monthly meeting open to the public on Thursday, January 16th, 2025 at 5:15 pm. The meeting will be held in person at the Lake Durango Water Authority located at 667 S. Lakeside Dr., Hesperus, Colorado.
The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
Call to order.
Approval of the Agenda.
Approval of 12/19/2024 Meeting Minutes.
General Managers Report: Administration, Rate Relief, Source, Treatment.
Approve Rates Resolution 25-4.
Raftelis Cost of Service Update/ Site Visit.
Approval of Bills.
Public Comments or Questions.
Adjourn.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
LAKE DURANGO WATER AUTHORITY
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors of the Lake Durango Water Authority will hold its monthly meeting open to the public on Thursday, February 20th, 2025 at 5:15 pm. The meeting will be held in person at the Lake Durango Water Authority located at 667 S. Lakeside Dr., Hesperus, Colorado.
The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
Call to order.
Approval of the Agenda.
Approval of 1/16/2024 Meeting Minutes.
General Managers Report: Administration, Rate Relief, Source, Treatment.
Raftelis Cost of Service Update/ Allocations.
Approval of Bills.
Public Comments or Questions.
Adjourn.
2025 Minutes
Minutes 1/16/2025
Call to Order. 5:18pm
Board present: Ward Holmes, Mike Roussin, Jeff Wagner and John Gallup. Staff Present: Matt Nesbitt and Tim Graham. Visitors: Beverly Lawrence( D West 2 resident) and Mike Wasson (Rafter J Resident).
Approval of the Agenda. Mike motioned to amend and approve agenda, Jeff2nd approved.
Approval of 12/19/2024 Meeting Minutes. Mike motioned to approve the 12-19 minutes, Jeff 2nd, approved.
General Managers Report: Administration, Rate Relief, Source, Treatment Water System.
Approve Rate Resolutions 25-4
Raftelis Cost of Service Update/Site Visit.
Approval of Bills.
Public Comment.
Easement Termination
Adjourn. 7pm
5. Financials, Billing, Insurance, etc.
Year end bottom line net income was $259,000 which is $72,000 short of budget mostly being under on premium retail sales and being under $25,000 on LPWWA. For year end we were under on operating expenses by $78,000 even though we fixed four leaks and paid the rising costs for asphalt. The $72,000 net income shortfall was because we had budgeted $100,000 in grants but ended up going a different route and asking CDPHE for 27 million in grants and loans. It turns out when you ask for that much you have many pre -qualification meetings and environmental surveys which cannot be executed in a year. Where we stand is the project needs assessment review section with CDPHE before we can move to engineering.
Water production for December was 4,153,159 million gallons and we estimate the lake is at 813 acre feet.
Rate Relief Request:
Shawn Carden of 900 Spring Road is asking for rate relief after discovering a broken water filter under the sink in the rental property(30,000 gallons). Shawn arranged for the plumber immediately after discovering the leak while visiting his fathers estate getting it ready for winter. Shawn had the plumber make the repairs immediately and fully winterized the rental so they have less issues until they can be on site next summer. Mike made a motion for Tier 1 rate relief, Jeff 2nd, approved.
Source and Supply:
We turned in our pumping estimates for next years ALP pumping season. We estimated on both the low estimate and high estimate needs for next year depending on snow accumulations and spring runoff conditions. This helps ALP OM&R understand the needs for the next year so they can negotiate electric costs with WAPA to refill Lake Nighthorse.
Tim and Chris work Performed list-
Christmas/New years led to short weeks – no major projects
Thawed out multiple frozen meters and continue to do so
Installed Two new doors in the treatment plant – main entrance and electric room (improved security)
Ordered PAC (coagulant)
Ordered Tank Scan tank level monitoring system for the Morning Star tank
High Winds relocated the solar bee – will have it returned to its original location after the lake thaws
Old Chlorine Regulator failed – ordered replacement
Filter # 2 Re-coat contract signed, waiting for a start date (January 20th??)
Durango West 2 gave us access to their SCADA
Submitted Chlorine Dioxide/Chlorite quarterly report
January Bacteriological samples
Installed sample station at Shenandoah pump house
Spoke with Browns hill about PLC programming
Power went out at LD pump house, tripped LD tank sprayer/blower
Fort Lewis Mesa Fire Department pulled water from our CR125/Old Snag fire hydrant 1/11
Emailed Senator Cleave Simpson in support of HB 25-1077 (removes the license requirement to test backflow prevention devices)
Normal day to day operations
Treatment: This winter has been very cold so treatment has been very slow and steady. We are keeping up but it’s a balancing effect keeping the tanks full and flowing enough to keep the bulk customers topped off.
5. Approve Rate Resolutions 25-4
Mike made a motion to not approved rate resolution 25-4 (raises rates 5%) until the Cost of Service study is finished and distributed, no 2nd so motion dies. Jeff made a motion to approve Rate Resolution 25-4, John 2nd ,approved.
6. Raftelis Cost of Service Update/Site Visit.
Todd Cristiano and Nikki Bartrak will fly in Thursday January 16th for a site visit and tour the plant and distribution system. Todd and Nikki will attend the board meeting and run through a power point to explain the cost of service process and answer questions. Touring the plant and seeing the distribution system will help them understand the unique service area so costs can be divided equally. After a brief presentation by Todd the board asked a few questions on splitting up costs and no use fees for bulks that don’t consistently use water. The board also stated that La Plata West Water Authority needs to be examined as a growing bulk user who has increased usage each year and continues to do so.
7. Approval of the Bills – Bill.com report to follow
Mike made a motion to approve bills, Jeff 2nd, approved.
8. Public Comment or Questions.
9. Easement Termination.
In 2004 and easement was established for road access to a water tank for potential Lake Durango Water Company service area growth. Mike made a motion to approve terminating the easement, Jeff 2nd , approved.
10.Adjourn. 7pm.
Minutes 2/20/2025
Call to Order. 5:16PM
Board present: Ward Holmes, Jeff Wagner, Mike Roussin, Henry Bruckner. Excused John Gallup. Staff Present: Matt, Tim, Chris.
Visitors: Beverly Lawrence (D west 2).
Approval of the Agenda. Mike R motioned to approved the agenda, Jeff 2nd approved.
Approval of 1/16/2024 Meeting Minutes. Mike R motioned to approve the minutes, Jeff 2nd, approved.
General Managers Report: Administration, Rate Relief, Source, Treatment Water System.
Raftelis Cost of Service Update/Allocations.
Approve Bills.
Public Comment.
Adjourn. 6:45 PM
4. Financials, Billing, Insurance, etc.
You will see in the financials that we have spread out the monthlies to give a better prediction on sales and expenses based on recent years averages. This will help give a better view of how we stand each month on expenses and forecasting larger sales months during summer. For January we are $10,000 over on the labor because of all the frozen meters and the emergency line extension replacement on county road 125. Everyone had lots of over time due to all the emergencies. We are ahead on net income so all is well but the cold January was extremely hard on our infrastructure and staff(75 frozen meters).
Water production for January was 5,561,377 million gallons and we estimate the lake is at 793 acre feet. Board welcomed new retail board member Henry Bruckner to his first meeting. A tour will be set up to show Mr. Bruckner the distribution system and service areas.
Rate Relief:
Mr. Skyhorse at 565 South Lakeside Drive had a yard spigot leak causing low water pressure. Once the leak was discovered a backhoe was hired and they repaired the line and fitting within 2 days. Even though the leak was repaired quickly they are asking for rate relief since they lost 30,000 gallons. Mike motioned for Tier 1 rate relief based on good account history, Jeff2nd ,approved.
Joanna Ford at 100 Tomahawk Ridge Lane had a service line freeze up and break running to their garage. M&R Plumbing arrived on scene to shutoff the line and cap it until further modifications can be made this summer. Ms. Ford is asking for rate relief since she tried to get the issue fixed immediately during the very cold January. Jeff motioned for Tier 1 Rate relief, Mike 2nd approved.
David Lottie at 510 Deer Trail is asking for rate relief since their shower head, sink and in floor heating valves froze and burst flooding their house with 75,000 gallons. The house is used as a VRBO and the last renters/ cleaner left the thermostat at 40 degrees. The side door to the living room on the south side of the house was also left open which staff reported to the lotties when inspecting the property (Jan 29th). Lotties are requesting rate relief since they have extensive damage to the house and are facing $100,000 in repairs. Mike motioned for Tier 1 Rate relief if the Lotties could pay before the March meeting, if not they pay the full amount for the leak. Ward 2nd , approved.
Source and Supply:
Since the winter has been very cold and dry we decided to pump leftover Nighthorse water before we start the 2025 pumping year in April. We are concerned with the lack of snow pack the pine ridge ditch will not run this spring so we must rely on our purchased Nighthorse water. We have 104 acre feet of leftover 2024 water and have pumped 28AF in the last 9 days.
Tim and Chris work Performed list:
Work Performed since 1/16/25
Thawed 75+ meters
Started to run out of meters and meter freeze plates, purchased 20 meters from DW2
Attempted to thaw/jet rod frozen water line
Replaced 900′ of 1.5″ water line CR 125
Discovered (2) significant customer leaks affecting Morningstar Tank
Installed Tank Scan in the Morningstar Pump Station
Re-Plumbed Rafter J pumphouse – fittings came loose and caused a significant leak
Installed new pneumatic cylinder on the filter #1 wastegate
Sampled for distribution by-products : TTHM, HAA5s and Chlorite
Bac – T sample
Filter # 1 re-coat is scheduled to begin 2/24
PAC delivery
Evoqua site visit – performed maintenance on the chlorine dioxide generator
DW1 installed VFDs, giving them the ability to control their flow rate
Pumped 28 Acre feet from nighthourse, will pump more before 4/25
Dave Henry is working on potential ways to increase contact time/disinfection – UV, Clearwell baffle blankets and Contact field
Sampled finished water for Iron and Manganese – high levels can interfere with UV disinfection
Plowed snow for the first time this winter
Several customer service lines are currently frozen. 1 customer replaced their water line
Normal day to day operations
Treatment:
Tim passed his A Treatment exam at the End of January and took over as ORC (Operator in Reasonable Charge) after Chris Kramer retired. This is a huge accomplishment for a very unique manually operated treatment plant. Congrats Tim!! Board agreed on allocating ORC pay.
5. Raftelis Cost of Servcie Update/Allocation
Todd and Nicki from Raftelis will be giving me their first iteration of cost allocations this Wednesday afternoon which I will pass along. I suggest we look over the allocations with their notes and then the following week have a zoom call to ask them questions and discuss the allocations. A discussion was had over the initial start to the study and the board looks forward to a zoom call to view the up to date cost allocations.
6. Approval of the Bills – Bill.com report to follow.
7. Public Comment or Questions. Beverly passed out a spreadsheet showing the districts usage over the years and asked that we keep watching our data usage logging in to view D west 2 tanks levels. Staff informed her that instead of multiple viewers we changed to one so hopefully the data usage is less.
8. Adjourn.
6:45PM