OWUI Meeting Minutes, Nov 22, 2023

OWUI 

Olga Water Users, Incorporated 

BOARD MEETING MINUTES 

Monday, Nov. 20th, 2023 5-6:30 pm — Olga Community Center 

Board members present:  Geoff Cunard, Pat Boehm, Guy Woods 

Operator not present.

1. Call to Order: 5:00PM 

2. Approval of minutes for October: Minutes approved

3. OWUI Operators Report  No operator present

a. chlorine update 

4. OWUI Administrators report.  Search for new administrator continues.  Guy has a lead.  Geoff will reach out to her ASAP.  Admin has found a couple of major leaks during billing.  Significant customer side leaks were identified on Merrymac Lane and Winterbrook farm Rd.  Both have been repaired.  Also a major leak at a hydrant at Olga Park Lane has been repaired, and leak at Chris Morris’ meter has been repaired. A customer reported an open standpipe at the end of Olga Park Lane.  It turns out our operator is flushing that line, and will document the volume lost for our annual WUE calculation.

5. Treasurer/ Financial report  We are in good shape, as Intertie project has slowed down.  Cash on hand is looking good.  We had a big month spending wise in October due to leak repairs and engineering expense.

6. OLD Business: 

a. Intertie Update  

i. SWSMP update Doe Bay continues to work with DOH, DOE,and the engineer toward completing their SWSMP.  Ours will follow on after DBWUA is complete.

b. Leak Detection Update (see above)

        7. New business:  At July meeting, a succession plan was instituted where Pat Boehm would transition to director of Operations and Project Management.  Geoff was chosen to succeed Pat as President.  This change is effective Oct 31,2023. 

Land Bank water lease for salmon recovery.  Pat spoke to Jenny DeGroot at her presentation about salmon recovery in town.  Pat will reach out to Peter Guillozet to discuss future water releases for salmon.

 8. Public Access  No public present

9. Next meeting time December 12, 2023 5:00PM 

10. Adjournment 5:59 PM 

OLGA WATER USERS, INCORPORATED. owuistaff@gmail.com

OWUI Meeting Minutes Oct 17, 2023

OWUI 

Olga Water Users, Incorporated 

BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023 5-6:30 pm — Olga Community Center 

Board members present, Pat Boehm, Paul Groeninger, Geoff Cunard

1. Call to Order: 5:05PM 

2. Approval of minutes for September Pat moves to approve, motion carries. 

3. OWUI Operators Report:  Operator is out on an emergency.

a. chlorine update 

4. OWUI Administrators report:  Geoff created a job description, shared it with a candidate who declined the position. He is starting to generate billing.  More email addresses have been collected.

5. Treasurer/ Financial report:  Guy is sick so no report

6. OLD Business: 

a. Intertie Update:  Pipe has been brought into and out of the vault at the control station, the curb around the base of the vault has been formed.  After it is poured, Island Ex can backfill. All parties are still waiting for feedback from DOH regarding DBWUA SWSMP.

i. SWSMP update On hold until DBWUA’s is approved.

b. Leak Detection Update:  Much work was done opposite Artworks to indentify the complicated plumbing at that location, but suspected leaky valve was found to be functioning.  The noise heard on the leak survey was cavitation at a fitting. A leak was repaired at Chris Morris’ garden meter. A leak was repaired at Dianne Gardiner’s between the corp. stop and the meter.  The hydrant at David Sofaer’s house appears to be leaking, but the valve that isolates it has not been located.

        7. New business:   Paul has spoken to Jason Hatch at Washington Water Trust to explore the idea of allowing some of our water to flow into the creek for fish passage.  Possibly get paid for it.  This process is ongoing.

 8. Public Access 

9. Next meeting time November 20, 2023 5:00PM 

10. Adjournment 6:12PM 

OLGA WATER USERS, INCORPORATED. owuistaff@gmail.com

OWUI Meeting Minutes Sept 12, 2023

OWUI 

Olga Water Users, Incorporated 

BOARD MEETING MINUTES 

Tuesday, Sep 12th, 2023 5-6:30 pm — Olga Community Center 

Board members present. Pat Boehm, Guy Woods, Paul Groeninger. Operator Dan Burke,

Members present: Dan Gottlieb, Grace Gottlieb

1. Call to Order:5:03 PM 

2. Approval of minutes for August   Approved

3. OWUI Operators Report 

No operator present - Sam intended to come but had to cancel

Meetings later in month are better from a standpoint of receiving monthly water quality report

Agreement that operator should submit written report in advance if they cannot attend

4. OWUI Administrators report 

  Sam has entered written meter readings into a spreadsheet.

Two leaks found and repaired

Payment plans continue trickling in

Geoff promises to work on Admin job description when he returns from vacation.

5. Treasurer/ Financial report 

No major spending as intertie has been on hold. 

Continue to project cash on hand will be sufficient to cover costs through end of year. 

Approve sharing cost of bringing Doe Bay old sand filters back online in accordance with terms of existing agreement re: sharing intertie related expenses. 

6. OLD Business: 

a. Intertie Update:  Guy and Dave met with Doe Bay - Doe Bay SWSMP is moving forward, filters to be refurbished and project to move forward.

Motion to update Doe Bay agreement to engineers recommended flow rate and include language around monitoring usage and ability to adjust future flow by mutual consent of both parties: approved.

i. SWSMP update 

Member suggests its important not to wait on SWSMP since we can’t submit funding applications without approved SWSMP.

Dave to coordinate with DOH and Engineer on whether SWSMP can be submitted immediately.

b. Leak Detection Update  3 out of 4 leaks repaired. Still a small leak at fire hydrant near David Sofaer’s property. Plan is to open hydrant and attempt to flush valve. Pat to to notify FD that hydrant is non-functional. Pat to confirm cost incurred to date on leak repair. 

c. Meter Update Ongoing.  No discussion of meters

d. Funding Update Webinars on Sep 20 and Oct 11 on DOH construction loans. Guy to contact Jocelyn Grey regarding first steps for applications in case there are steps that can be taken prior to approved SWSMP.

7. New business 

 a.Paul - clean water committee - there’s lots of interest from other organizations in potentially securing Olga water right for conservation. 

Paul to reach out to Jenny to contribute excess water to raise stream level through end of year the same way we did last year.

Paul will invite Jenny De Groot to October meeting. 

b.Water rights

Membership is vehemently opposed to any action which would put water rights at risk.

Discussion of what are next steps to take regarding securing our water right as we begin to flow water from Doe Bay.

c. Fire security

Member expresses concern that climate change makes wildfire danger inevitable. How are we planning for it? Lahaina fire - water system lost pressure as system drained. 

Creating emergency plans is a priority as demonstrated in SWSMP priorities. 

Discussion of valves to isolate sections of distribution system. Defensible fire zones for critical infrastructure. 

Next Meeting, Oct 17, 2023

Meeting Adjourned 6:57pm

OLGA WATER USERS, INCORPORATED. owuistaff@gmail.com