Sunny Meadows Missoula County Water and Sewer District
Meeting Minutes
July 24th, 2025 06:00 PM at East Missoula Fire Department
Roll Call: Cyndie Winchell, Dusty Deschamps, Michael Bushey, Paula Niccum.
Tami Quinn, new water system manager also attended.
Approval of Minutes: Cyndie made a motion to approve the minutes, Michael seconded. Motion passed and minutes approved.
Financial Information: Information at meeting time was incorrect and incomplete because the county is transitioning to new software. A motion was made to table the financials was made by Paula and seconded by Dusty. Motion passed and finance reports tabled.
Public Input: None.
Old Business: Mike Neeley has prepared us another bid to upgrade our telemetry system. It was less than the first bid we had received. We have until December 31, 2025 to use ARPA funds to pay for the upgrade. We had telemetry issues July 20 with low tank level alarms starting in the early a.m. System users were sent a text to request they use hand watering only for irrigation until the problem was repaired. Mike Neeley and Andy Mefford worked on the problem Monday and system users were sent a text to resume normal irrigation Tuesday afternoon.
Cyndie contacted Alice Longacre set up a meeting with the DNRC to discuss our water rights and questions about additional hookups. Cyndie, Dusty, Paula and Tami attended. There are inconsistencies in our two water rights documents that need to be clarified. We got some questions answered, asked for additional information and they will respond.
Rate increase- discussion of a rate increase is ongoing. There have not been any rate increases since 2010.
Sewer line maintenance- The next portion of the sewer system line cleaning, repairs to manholes and video inspection of the lines will be discussed at the next meeting.
Cyndie and Paula will hang additional no parking signs on the well lot fence.
New Business:
Tami showed the board some pictures of “tampering is a federal offense” signage that she suggested we purchase and post on the Well lot fence. Cyndie made a motion to purchase the signage, Paula seconded, the motion passed and purchase was approved.
The discussion of updating our ordinances, was tabled until the next meeting.
Tami Quinn will be our new Water System Operator and Manager beginning August 1. She and Dusty are working together to generate a scope of work and contract. She will be able to ask Amy Deitchler from Great West Engineering for information and assistance with the system until December 31 with payment for that service being funded by money remaining in our ARPA grant. After that time, we will have a contract with Great West to continue support. Tami and Dusty will meet to discuss more details and then Dusty will draft the contract.
Cyndie has been taking bids for irrigation at the Well lot since Tom Carrol has given notice that this is his last summer taking care of the lot.
The water storage tank inspection and cleaning bid came in at $2850. Tami said that seemed like a normal amount, but will look for other bids.
Adjournment:
Paula made a motion to adjourn, Dusty seconded. Motion passed, and meeting adjourned.
- District Website: http://www.sunnymeadowswater.com/
- Respectfully submitted by Paula Niccum
