Sunny Meadows Missoula County Water and Sewer District Minutes
Board of Director’s Meeting, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Bonner
August 7, 2008
Board Members Present: Tom Walter, Mike Huber, Bill Engelstad, Cyndie Winchell & Mike
Lilley.
Also Attending: Craig Progeza, water specialist, Jim Harrison, Kay Bateman, and secretary, Joan Kuehn
1. Roll Call
a. President, Mike Lilley called the meeting to order at 7:04 P.M.
2. To prioritize Craig’s time, items involving him were moved forward on the agenda:
a. New business…Engineering (1) & Project Schedule (2) & Draws (3) along with Old
Business…(1) EPA Well Status & (2) Meter Replacement
i. The first day of construction had “wrinkles.” The road to the construction site was
repositioned and a legal easement seems advisable. A Qwest telephone line was severed
and the District lost water July 7th. The line was buried at an inappropriately shallow
depth of about 2 inches.
ii. In general, construction has gone slowly.
1. There was discussion about the responsibility of Geo-Tech an the
disappointment of discovering the tanks location had to shift. The District
chose to dig three test holes and the company did what they were asked.
Now a few other adjustments must follow.
iii. Installation of a blow-off hydrant / fire hydrant, and valve gate were successfully
completed during the one-day water shut down.
iv. The tank location had unstable soil and was changed by a 17’ distance.
v. Previously paved-over valves are now correctly exposed.
vi. Eleven-fourteen meters were installed without the “touch read” and the readings are now
off for billing to be accurate. 17 meters total must be correctly installed.
1. Craig will write a letter of concerns tomorrow.
vii. The tank delivery date is unknown. Work is estimated to pause Aug 18 until it arrives.
viii. Next steps in construction include concrete pipes and the ring wall foundation. Tom
asked and learned that the tank will arrive in panels about 6’ x 8’.
1. Craig will email project schedules in pdf format tomorrow.
ix. The Army Corps of engineers will start drilling the new well Aug 14th.
x. Payment for mobilization, pipe, main, hydrants, valve, fittings, manhole, materials and
storage were billed $191,058.02. There was discussion about payment before the tank is
here. The District can withhold 5%, and because it is public money, the payment system
is standard. The contract with Patterson assures they will be paid when they send an
invoice. It has been challenging for Craig to see Patterson follow a schedule with few
people on site.
1. 1% of the total due is sent to the state of MT and refunded to only
contractors from the state, so Patterson will receive the amount at the end of
the year.
2. Patterson must pay the invoice for the tank within one month of our
payment OR we can withhold their wages.
3. A county account may need to be set up.
xi. Mike L. signed 4 copies of paperwork brought by Craig.
xii. TSEP will monitor District files August 22nd.
xiii. Mike H. asked and learned that Terrace Industries will assemble the tank and provide
telemetry expertise. Tom’s question about the tank manufacturer was Aquastore.
xiv. Electrical systems are good-to-go. Susan Ames is the electrical engineer.
xv. WE HAVE A GREAT WELL AND MORE WATER THAN WE CAN USE
3. Approval of Minutes, Bill moved, Cyndie seconded*** and the minutes from July 3, 2008 were
unanimously approved.
4. Financial Report (through the end of June): Cyndie
a. Total assets $62,239.13
b. Revenue
* $ 112,359.01 YTD Total revenue
* Revenue vs. Actual expenses was reviewed. Revenue included:
* $ 0 Treasure State Endowment Program (TSEP)
* $ 12,259.27 EPA grant
* $ 3437.20 Metered water sales
* $33.06 miscellaneous
* $35.04 Investment earnings
* $ 15,764.57 Total revenue / deposits
c. Expenses: $ 4722.16
* $ 187.36 heat/light/water / 90%
* 10.11 sewer / 96%
* 39.44 phone / 90%
* 200.00 audit / 63%
* 450.00 contracted services / 100%
* 100.00 Consultants 113%
* 3735.25 architect/engineering
d. All water bills are within 30 days.
Mike H. moved / Tom seconded *** and the financial report was accepted unanimously.
5. Public Input
- Jim commented both of his home’s meters were replaced and the installer said he
had to “be above the concrete foundation” and seemed to think he had a different
kind of meter and installed it incorrectly. He returned with the reader and the
inside was off 100 and the outside off 7000.
- Tom inquired about chlorination. The system was zapped for 2 weeks.
- Kay wasn’t mailed a bill and the board will see why. Cyndie volunteered to follow-
up about Jim’s meter readings and the bill. All meters will need to be re-read.
6. Old Business
Cyndie read Water Use Ordinance #1-2008 for the 3rd reading. Bill moved, Tom seconded
***and there was unanimous vote.
Cyndie read Water Rate Ordinance #2-2008 for the 3rd reading. Mike H. moved / Tom
seconded *** and it also passed unanimously to go in effect November 1, 2008.
Director Compensation
Resolution 2008-14 was moved by Cyndie / seconded by Mike H., and passed with all
approving stipend payment for $10 per month per meeting attended.
Bill $100
Mike H. $120
Mike L. $110
Tom $90
Cyndie $110
7. New Business
District Bylaws
o The District wishes to publish rules and include an imposition of penalties. It was
recommended by a lawyer to add to the bylaws that no homeowner can drill a private
well without the district’s approval. There was a contamination risk and fairness of
payment issue. $40,000 per year is required to pay the District bills.
Cyndie moved / Mike H seconded *** and all voted yes to pass resolution
2008-15.
Bookkeeper duties
o Cyndie moved / Bill seconded *** and Resolution 2008-16 passed unanimously to
permit Shelly to be able to write a check up to $500 in value without prior
authorization.
Cyndie will begin the process to enter each home and also call each of the new meter candidate
homes regarding bill payment. Each will be told the average amount charged for their home in the
past two years, and yet be offered to pay a minimum of $50 on their July bill with the
understanding that the August bill may be much larger once actual readings are accurate
At 9:05 PM, Bill moved/Mike H. seconded***, and the meeting unanimously adjourned.
9. The next meeting will also be held at Bonner Elementary School, Library, September 4, 2008
*** Vote taken
10. District website reminder: http://www.sunnymeadows.dnsalias.com/index.shtml
11. Respectfully submitted by Joan Kuehn, August 9, 2008.
