Sunny Meadows Missoula County Water and Sewer District Minutes

Board of Director’s Meeting, Lutheran Church, Bonner, Mt.

August 6, 2009

Board member Present: Mike Lilley, Bill Englestad & Cyndie Winchell

Also Attending: Steve Postma, Sheri Postma & Kurt Halttunen

1. Roll Call

a. President Mike Lilley called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

2. Approval of Minutes

a. Bill Englestad motion to approve, Cyndie Winchell second

 minutes were approved.

3. Financial Report (end of year)

 Mike Lilley reported a cash balance of $20,006.23

 Revenue: 532,859.68

 Received YTD

 a. Treasure State Endowment 263,154.23 98% 

 b. DNRC Grants 95,000.00 95%

 c. Metered Water Sales 34,861.70 91%

 d. SRF Loan Proceeds 173,395.00 96%

 The board members discussed the Expenditure Budget and found there were some items that needed to

be addressed with the District bookkeeper. The consensus was that the Board did well with the budget last

year considering the Project and some unexpected surprises. Cyndie Winchell reminded Mike Lilley he could

not retire from the board at the end of his term until the other board member were taught to do budgeting

among other items.

Bill Englestad moved to approve the Financials, Cyndie second, motion approved.

4. Public Input. 

a. Sheri Postma brought her recent bill and expressed frustration with the rate structure . She voiced

some old and negative feelings about Mike Lilley not being an original water user and Mike voiced he

felt offended by her comments and Cyndie felt the comments were disrespectful and inaccurate. Mike

responded that the water rights for those on the hill will negotiated prior to the subdivision being

created. We were able to move on to try to discuss the real issues at hand. Mike mentioned we, the

Board were in the process of trying to find a rate structure that would be fair to all water users of the

District yet meet our financial requirements. Sheri Postma, her husband Steve and Kurt Halttunen felt

the District should charge $65-$70 a month base fee to all residents and make it more accessible for

residents to maintain the watering of their yards. They feel the expense of our water rates have led to

many residents letting their property go as evidenced by the brown and unkempt lawns in our

neighborhoods. They feel our property values are being devalued and we should charge more up front

and provide more water to encourage well kept yards. Cyndie mentioned that with some of the

residents that will not make a difference as some have said they like not watering as then they don’t

need to mow as much. Mike said we appreciate any input we can get in this matter. We do need to

represent all the residents needs and will be sending out a questioner in the near future with 2 rate

structures to comment on. Cyndie will keep track of all responses and make note of all comments and

those who do not respond. Often people want to be part of the problem but not part of the solution.

We discussed the rates at great length and will continue to hope for more input from the water users.

Mike reminded everyone the board has got to be fiscally responsible by Montana law.

5. Old Business

 a. Project Completion

 Mike has just received the final documents from Patterson Construction for the 

 completion of our project. We will be sending the final payment.

 b. Review of the new budget

 Resolution 2009-03 Budget 2010

 Cyndie moved to accept Resolution 2009-03

 Bill Second, motion approved

6. District Election

 2 positions open at the end of the year, Cyndie Winchell and Mike Lilley

 Cyndie will run again, Mike is not sure

 Cyndie mentioned to Kurt Halttunen that he was welcome to apply.

 She did forget to mention the position requires homeownership and voter 

 registration in the District boundaries. Application to run for these positions must be 

 submitted at the Missoula County courthouse by August 20,2009

7. Board member Payment

 Board member are compensated $10.00 each month they attend a meeting. Bill 

 Englestad, Mike Huber, Mike Lilley and Cyndie Winchell have attended 11 meetings

 Tom Walter 9

 Mike Lilley presented Resolution 2009-02 Board Member Compensation

 Cyndie moved to approve the motion

 Bill seconded, motion approved.

8. Cyndie discussed the Walt meter and situation and feels the problem is nearing resloution. The meter is

now functioning and their past due bill will be rectified soon.

9. Adjournment at 9:03 PM

 Bill moved, Cyndie second, meeting adjourned.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Cyndie Winchell August 26, 2009