HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-11-07 Min - Board November 7, 1972
The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Truckee-
Donner Public Utility District was called to order by Nelson
Stone at 7:30 in the conference room.
ROLL CALL: R. Waters, present; R. Anderson, present; D.
Anderson, present; H. Loehr, present; N. Stone,
present;
GUESTS PRESENT: Randy Russell, Lauren Russell, Jack Houlgate
SIERRA PACIFIC REPRESENTATIVES: Ralph Cromer, Richard Campbell,
John Sabini, Frank Giovannoni
EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Pete Silva, John Craig, Manuel Lopez, Ken
Kraj ewski
MINUTES OF OCTOBER 17, 1972
The President asked if there were any corrections, additions, or
omais s ions to minutes of October 17, 19 72. Henry Loehr moved that
the minutes be approved. It was seconded by Duane Anderson, that
the minutes be approved.
BILLS FOR APPROVAL
Stone: The minutes have been approved. Now lets go into the bills.
Loehr: I move that the bills be approved.
Waters: I second it.
Stone: Bills be approved. Now we have the representatives from Sierra Pacific
here tonight to speak to us. So we'll let them go ahead now.
THE TAPE RECORDER DID NOT PICK UP ANY OF THE CONMRSAT I ON, AND THE
MANAGER IS PRESENTING THE FOLLOWING FROM NOTES AND WHAT HE COULD
MEMORIZE:
Sabini: Mr. Merle Atcheson is unable to be here tonight as he has undergone
surgery today, and I would like to pass on his regrets for not being
here. He has designated me, along with Mr. Ralph Cromer, Mr. Dick
Campbell, and Mr. Frank Gi ovannoni to talk to you in general terms
about the possibility of entering into a lease agreement with your
District. First, I would like to pass out to you a copy of the state-
ment made by Merle Atcheson regarding previous lease agreements that we
have entered into, (copies attached).
I would like to tell you what we have to offer in the way of operation,
maintenance, and construction facilities. The others of us present wi l l
be glad to answer Questions in any of the other specific items that you
may have. We are not now, in a position to discuss specific items.
However, we would like to give you this general information.
1. Of the benefits that would be available to you from an operating and
maintenance standpoint, would be our complete facilities which include
some 30-line crews, complete meter tes t ng and transformer testing
facilities; emergency portable substations are available that could
be Quickly moved into areas where thy would be needed.
2. We have a complete Engineering Department at our Headquarters in Reno
with the capabilities of doing all our System Engineering.
3. We have a computer installation and a complete billing system that is
operative through computer billing.
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Sierra Pacific Power Co's Representatives Contract management. . . .Cont.
4. We have a full line of emergency equipment, such as over-snow
equipment and patrol contracts with aircraft and helicopter
companies.
S. We also have mutual assistance agreements with Pacific Gas &
Electric and Southern Cal Edison which will enable us to call
on them for any help that may be needed during emergencies.
6. In case of major outages from storms, we have the capability of
bringing men and equipment in from areas of our system that are
not affected at the time.
As a matter of general policy, we have in the past, purchased all
excess equipment and materials and absorbed all employees which
were made available as a a result of a lease.
We also propose that any studies that you may authorize would be
be made _at our expense and, in general, we have offered a fixed
amount for the lease plus a share in any increase of revenues.
Usually the lease calls for the Sierra Pacific Power Company to
take over all of the facilities and make necessary improvements
and extens ions. However, in order that the Board would maintain
control we could require Board approval of improvements over a cer-
tain amount. . .usually $5,000.
!" We normally would ask for a 30-year lease contract, However, we
could possibly negotiate an arrangement where the lease could be
reviewed on a more frequent basis.
As to your water system, we are not prepared to discuss this and
we would propose not to enter'into an agreement covering the lease
of your water system at -the present. However, we would be able
to offer you any engineering or managerial assistance that you would
require on a cost basis.
We are able to commence any study immediately upon receiving approval
from this Board.
It has been moved by Director Waters, and seconded by Director Rex
Anderson that the Manager contact Legal Counsel to draw up a Resolution
authorizing Sierra Pacific Power Company to present a feasibility of
a Management Contract for the operation of the electric system of
the Truckee-Donner Public Utility District.
The feasibility study will be made at Sierra Pacific Power Company's
expense and a presentation will be made to the Board next month on
December 19, 19 72.
ROLL CALL: Roy Waters, yes; Rex Anderson, yes; Duane Anderson, yes;
Henry Loehr, yes; Nelson Stone.., yes;
NOTE: Minutes continued from tape.
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Sick Leave
Stone: We will now carry on with the Agenda for tonight.
�... Paulus: There has been a lot of sick leave. Resolution 7218 explains
it all. It reads: Nothing in the foregoing title shall be
interpreted to entitle the employee to sick leave while on
vacations, temporarily laid off by the District, upon severance
of employment, or while receiving compensation. The following
point to be added: Employees who leave their employment with the
District either by retirement or termination shall receive com-
pensation for all sick leave, except, However, that an employee
who voluntarily terminates his employment with the District must
give the District two weeks notice of such voluntary termination
in order to receive compensation for accumulated sick leave. It
will come effective November 7, 1972.
D. Anderson: This form was approved?
Paulus: It's a pretty common thing. It's done down in the Bay Area. All
around down there for sometime.
Loehr: Does the Board have the right to waive it?
R. Anders on: It's on an individual basis. It is not a cause for anyone to
question. No one wants to lose 10 years of sick leave that
they have accumulated. Just suppose a person had to report for
a new job in one week, and couldn't give the required two week
notice in order to collect his sick leave pay. No doubt he
could make some agreement with a new employer where he could
give a two week notice to the District in order to collect. So
I see no problem there.
D. Anderson: Is vacation now paid? Is there a limit?-
Paulus: Yes vacation is now paid. There is no- limit.
Loehr: Well I move that the Resolution 7218 be adopted.
R. Anderson: I second the move for the Resolution.
Stone: The Resolution has been moved by Director Loehr, and seconded by
Director R. Anderson, that Resolution 7218 dealing with sick leave
be adopted.
ROLL CALL: R. Waters, yes; R. Anderson, yes; D. Anderson, no;
H. Loehr, yes; N. Stone, yes;
Stone: We will now go on with the Manager's Report. George, do you want
to go ahead with your Report now?
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Manager's Report
Cattan: All Underground at Lakeworld is completed. The Substation at Tahoe-
Donner work has s topped .for 3 weeks. Lakeworld raised the level of
the road making it unsafe for our line truck to pass under their 60KV
line. The 60KV has been raised today, and weather permitting we will
continue with the work at the Substation. The 10" water line, Safeway
..., to Donner Creek is complete except for 2 entries and the 2 exits. The
Division of Highways would not let us cut highways.
D. Anderson: Which 60KV line is this?
Cattan: At the Substation.
D. Anderson: Who raised it?
Cattan: Tahoe-Donner. They raised it 14' . It was so close-that--.our line truck
could not pass. It was unsafe.
R. Anderson: Why did they raise the road?
Loehr: Probably in their contract.
R. Anderson: Is there shooting at the end of it?
Cattan: Yes. I passed you a copy of land at highway 89. The School District
is cons i de ring selling us an additional 2 4' . We can make a deal with
them, maybe 30,000 square feet. There will be a special meeting to-
morrow. Duane and Rex can make i t. Otherwise we wouldn't have anyone _
representing the District. The School District will decide on the
buying of the 36 acres , and then they have problems to solve before
final purchase, due to the proximeter of the Airport.
R. Anderson: It will take the school awhile. We are going to put a school there.
Stone: Anything else George? We have got a policy decision to make on a power
line. Mr. Lauren Russel, would you like to go ahead and speak to us?
L. Russell: No. I think Jack Houlgate can bring it out better.
J. Houlgate: Thank you. In the past all power lines of Prosser Lake back property
lines.When we first started the Development out there one thought we
had in mind was to provide a Subdivision that was pleasing to the eye.
As a result to this we have contacted several Engineers who we thought
were capable of providing us with this Subdivision. We had them draw
up a master plan. Then we took this plan to the FHA in San Francisco.
We also took it to several companies. And to the Truckee Public Utility
District so that we could explain the situation to them. We thought
the power lines would be better Underground, so we checked on the
cost and noted that it wa3 rather exorbatant. So we agreed with the
Utility District`.;.that the location would be on the-back- property,line.
The Utility District also suggested the use of ground poles. , in all
the units that we put in, Unit #1. The Utility District & Telephone
Company had a joint agreement. The Utility District said the
Telephone Company would be responsible for directing the poles. So
much for the proper layout.
J. Houlgate: So our Engineer worked with Jack Ferris of the Telephone Company.
-Unit #2 has resulted in putting the power poles on the back property
line. It became obvious that these lines should be cleared. Unit #2,
when the construction plans were drawn the Utility District provided
layouts of the pole lines. And they run these in back of the property
line. So that was cleared with the contract. The construction maps
were okayed by the Department of Public Works out of Nevada City.
And they were also signed. The power poles were put on the back
property line. It wasn't until then that they start putting them
down the front. When we started negotiating for Units #4 & #5 we
showed the situation to George. He told us he was aware of the poles
on the property line. However, he felt there was a possibility that
without some type of written agreement that perhaps even though the
District had the final say on the construction plan because the
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Policy Decision to be made on a power line. . . . . . . . . .Cont.
J. Houlgate: construction plan required a signature that the clearing of
these property lines were not done properly. So on Units #4 & #5
on George's behalf, the contract was agreed by Truckee-Tahoe Lake
and the Utility District putting in writing that the property line
would be cleared. Our purpose for coming tonight is to ask the
Board if we could hear any agreement with you.
Waters: This has all been cleared? The property lines have all been
cleared?
Cattan: Well, I told Mr. Russel that I was not prepared tonight. No
clearing was done in Unit #1. The Telephone Company doesn't do any
clearing. We do all the clearing.
J. Houlgate: We paid part of that bill. The clearing was done by Mr. Knapp who
is a contractor for Truckee-Tahoe.
Cattan: Unit #1 was done by us. Somebody complained to Mr. Nelson Stone.
Get the Board to see the clearing, and see how much money was in-
volved and present the whole thing at the next Board meeting.
J. Houlgate: I don't know what you are referring to George. But I know that on
Unit #2 & Unit #3 as I said are part of the contract. When Mr.
Knapp was unable to finish the burning of the debris for the
Telephone Company, he hired Mr. Merrier who was the contractor for_
the clearing on Unit #2. And he paid him and the Telephone
Company paid Merrier the same sum we had paid Merrier. The
Telephone Company was unable to burn slash themselves. At that
time they were involved in a strike. I don't know abcut 89 but
as far as Unit #2 & #3 these were the units made for the clearing.
The clearing was done. And what we're discussing is unit #3. Had
we been requested to clear the lines this would have been done
under Unit #1. Because we have done everything that we have been
requested to do. At that particular time apparently it was not a
policy. And tinder that particular contract the Telephone Company
was apparently the prime director of the poles.
Cattan: Could we have a report of all the clearing we done on the poles?
J." Houlgate: It was probably because it was the policy at the time, George,
because on Unit #2 it became obvious that clearing would be a
problem for you or the Telephone Company.
Cattan: I have a meeting Friday with our attorney to discuss this whole
matter, that what you are saying.
J. Houlgate: I don't know what there is to do George other than make some kind
of determi.nati on.
Cattan: Yes, but I have to present something to the Board. You know and
I know, but they don't know. I have to show them the clearing
we-'-done, how much we spent, and we need to complete the rear lot.
Lines are already installed.
J. Houlgate: Thats right. Other than those on Heather are on the rear lot.
Cattan: The only place we got off the road is to reach Unit #4 and Unit 5.
I wrote a letter to Mr. Russell. In the letter it reads, this is
to confirm my telephone conversation with Mr. Russel, that the
Truckee-Donner P.U.D. has placed you on the Agenda for Tues day,
November 21, 19 72. This will give me time to prepare everything.
D. Anderson: Is there an immediate problem?
Cattan: No. There is no problem.
J. Houlgate: At least one house in our area that is still without power. And he
asked for power in September.
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Policy Decision to be made on power line. . . . . . . .Cont.
Cattan: I just got a note that the Telephone Company-are coming on
Thurs day
Waters: Well have you waited since September for this power from the
Telephone Company?
�°- Cattan: No. You see we have an arrangement with the Telephone Company.
They install some poles, but that is their share.
Waters: In Septemner he had power going into the construction of the
home, is that correct?
J. Houlgate: He built the home without any power.
Waters: Is it normal for the District to furnish temporary power in
the construction of the home?
Cattan: If we are able to. The Telephone people took their time. We
have an arrangement with them it was a part of their agreement that
they would install these poles.
D. Anderson: If the telephone company is slow in responding, isn't it our
obligation to provide service?
Cattan: Well you see they always come and use our poles once they are up.
Waters: I think we better tell them that we don't want them to use our
poles. Can't we tell them that?
Krajewski: Okay this is Prosser Dam Road (drawing on chalk board) Division
to Unit #3 and #S occurs right here. This hous here, Lot 202
on Iris Road, Unit #S request of power, has been made. Our
original idea was to come here down this road and service them.
In September, Randy Russell entered into the picture.
L. Russell: Why couldn't the services been provided from there?
Cattan: It's too far.
Waters: Couldn't there be temporary structure? Temporary poles?
Cattan: The Telephone Company was going to extend its line before Randy
came on the scene. They already designed to put the pole here
and a pole down this way. They started, then somebody stopped them.
The Telephone people already have their work and they will not
be changed. So we did install a pole and we put a transformer in.
J. Houlgate: That property line is cleared. And there is another lot on it.
There is an automatic easement on all property lines in our Sub-
division for Utilities. As far as I'm concerned take it where
it is suppose to go. As mach as we are concerned if you want to
put temporary power in there you can if it can be done.
Waters: In other words you have no way of putting power back into his
lot?
Cattan: We can put it in but we would have to spend a lot of money.
L. Russell: I think that service to your consumers should be your primary
function. The large development, the District somewhere along
the line has taken upon themselves the construction and because
of this obligation, it has put a hardship on the people. This
particular case with Randy is involved, he came in, in August.
In August he requested for poles to be placed from the District
for temporary power. The time he came in he was given a weeks
notice to get his power. In the meantime he received complaints
that the poles were brought out and laid on the roadside.
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Policy Decision to be made on power line. . . . . . . . . .Cont.
L. Russell: If someone tells us that the agreement has been broken, it is
our obligation to notify whomever is breaking this agreement.
We are in the position of being sued, because of misrepresentation.
When Randy came in this pole line threw an easement here. Brought
down the pole 1S to 20' in the county right of way. This pole
had a transformer on it serving the houses in the area. I came
r-- in and asked if they could run just temporary power to Randy's.
I was told that it couldn't be done. There is no reason whatsoever
that power can 't be run over to this house on a temporary basis.
The middle of September we asked for power, and it has been two
months so far. Now tomorrow, they are going to go out and put
a pole up. Nothing has changed. It just isn't fair to the consumers.
I think the Board should be aware of the things that are happening,
in my opinion, in the Management District.
Cattan: We spent $22,000 to get your Subdivision.
J. Houlgate: The agreement has been made by the Board.
Loehr: Are you going to put the power in for them tomorrow?
Cattan: We are going to install the Telephone people's pole. It's not
our fault.
D. Anderson: Do we have written agreements?
J. Houlgate: There are agreements on all. The agreement is more direct, in factual
form.
D. Anderson: Do you have copies of that?
Cattan: I have everything prepared for you. All agreements. From water
to electric.
D. Anderson: Could you get us a package of agreements prior to the meeting.
Cattan: Yes. Several days prior.
J. Houlgate: We don't have copies. Well, the purpose of our coming here on the
21st, will be to resolve our problems. Thank you.
Electric Rate for Domestic Power
Stone: At that time we hope to clear it up. Resolution 7201 states the
minimum charge for service shall be $60.00 per year, payable
monthly at a rate of $5.00 per month. Would your impression be to
rewrite i t.
R. Anderson: Aren't all of our resolutions drawn up by legal counsel?
Paulus: This was changed. The working of it was changed after we discussed
it. We should disregard the whole resolution and start from scratch.
Cattan: Originally it was $5.00 a month.
•-- Loehr: I don't think it was the intention of the Board. It certainly wasn't
mine, that people would pay $5.00 a month plus power usage. The
minimum would be $S.00 a month.
D. Anderson: It would be $5.00 period.
Loehr: Yes, $5.00 only. Then there should be a clause in there for order
of disconnect, if that deceases you have to pay $60.00 and pay
$7.50 to reconnect.
Paulus: Well if that is the opinion then there is no need to rewrite it.
Stone: Does the Board have any complaints that $5.00 a month should be
the minimum?
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Electric Rate for Domestic Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cont.
R. Anderson: As long as he is connected. But Henry is saying if he disconnects
he don't have to pay anything.
Waters: No, I don't think that was the intent of the orginal resolution.
Cattan: Whether they use power or not they still should pay the $5.00,
even if they disconnect. The best thing is to rewrite the resolution
and we will send draft copies before we type the final copy.
Waters: When we adopted the resolution we were told that it would only
concern the people out in Donner Lake.
Paulus: Well Donner Lake is essentially the Truckee area.
Stone: Is it clear in your mind Tom--how to reword the thing?
Paulus: It isn't at this minute. We will have to drop the bottom portion.
Loehr: What if somebody used $30,000 worth of power. .
R. Anderson: I don't care if he uses- $1,000 worth, he stills pays a minimum of
$5,00 a month.
Loehr: Plus the power usage?
R. Anders on: No, if the power usage exceeds $5.00, then he pays that amount.
Stone: I have two short items I'd like to bring up before the adjournment
of the meeting. I'd like you to think about the hiring of a new
Manager or Engineer. Also, there will be a boy and a girl in our
meeting on the 21st. We will be giving them a chance to see how
Civic Government is run. Please ask them questions if they are
shy in asking and answer all of the questions they might have.
Okay that is all I have tonight.
Loehr: If there will be nothing more to come before the Board, I move
that the meeting be adjourned.
Waters: I second the motion.
The meeting of November 7, 1972 was adjourned by President Nelson Stone,
at 9:30 P.M.
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
�--- 9BARBMZZ"ASPUE�NCaEiR- RE RDING SECRETARY
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