Sunny Meadows Missoula County Water and Sewer District
Meeting Minutes
March 26th, 2026 06:00 PM at East Missoula Fire Department
Roll Call: Cyndie Winchell, Paula Niccum, Dusty Deschamps, Michael Bushey, Meggan Quigley via phone.
Daniel Fultz and Sam Collins, two of the IMEG engineers that operate our water system also attended. We decided to have them present first so they did not have to stay through the rest of the board’s business.
Daniel will be project manager & water operator, Sam and Riley Spearing will be our system water operators. They showed us how the new telemetry system works. It allows operators to constantly monitor pump usage and water levels to locate problems with the system. It has already helped us find malfunctions in the well pumps. Daniel and crew will be taking a look at the source of the problems.
They have been doing an inspection to familiarize themselves with our water system. They have looked at the sewer system. We are working together to determine things that need watching and projects that may need to be completed in the future. Cyndie suggested that we should look at the constant pump cycling problem at the booster station. We have high energy bills and the pumps at the station seem to be going on and off constantly. Cyndie has been taking readings at the station at the same time as Robbie takes the residential meter readings so usage can be tracked. She mentioned that the pressure tank at the station needs to be replaced and we have received 2 bids. One is from Mickelson plumbing, one is from M & K Pump service. We discussed whether it was better to have better to have the tank installed by plumbers or pump specialists. The board leans towards having Mickelson do it & to follow sanitary protocols. The tank we have is not very old and Daniel asked if we could get the purchase invoice to determine whether it was still under warranty. Cyndie will also get him the meter readings. After the information is gathered we will make a decision and then coordinate with the contractor to make sure they are communicating with the water operators on the replacement.
New federal requirements for water testing in the future is intended to detect forever plastics in water. This is still being researched and litigated.
Phillips Petroleum (? Yellowstone Pipeline) plans to drill under the river to relocate their pipeline. Cyndie and Riley saw trucks at the well lot and checked her phone, there was a message from Terracon stating they were going to drill on out lot. Cyndie informed them they could not drill there. They asked whether the county had called to inform us, they had not. They said that they were going to drill deep underground to run the pipeline and our lot was the preferred location. ShaRon lot across the highway was the second choice. Cyndie told them that that would be where the needed to drill. The DEQ states that we have a 100 foot protection zone around our wells. They have a utility easement that existed before the subdivision was created, so they can drill, but it will likely be located under the road.
Daniel suggested that we request that they perform the locates and examine the as-builts before drilling. Cyndie will get all of the info we have to him.
The two sewer system projects that they will address are the adjustment of the manhole cover at 4400 Edgewood and finishing the jetting and camera inspection of the sewer lines that had been paused in November 2020.
Approval of Minutes: Michael made a motion to approve the minutes for February as written. Cyndie seconded. Motion carried and minutes were approved.
Financial Information: Cyndie called the county because the financial reports they have been sending are not usable in their current format. Michelle Denman agreed to do a one on one training with Cyndie and maybe Meggan.
Old Business:
Project is complete. The final draw will be $8601.35, based on miscellaneous expenses that were recovered for reimbursement at the end of the project.
Booster station pressure tank replacement discussed during our visit with our new water operators.
Rate increase discussion: We will look at water rate discussion when we have more info about the situation at the booster station as discussed with our water operators above.
Meter reading review: We have two high users, they are both paying for all of the water they use. Cyndie and Robbie are checking readings monthly.
Well lot property: Maintenance of the well lot property will need to be done by someone new, the board is still discussing options.
New Business:
Meet with new water operators as detailed above.
Potential new website manager: Cyndie has found someone who may be interested in taking over website management and has put her in contact with Mike Lilley.
Ordinances, By-Laws and Hiring Policy review: Most of the review and update is a matter of adding language to comply with ARPA, and they have furnished us with the language.
Phillips pipeline upgrade information: included in discussion with water operators above.
Adjournment: Paula made a motion to adjourn, Dusty seconded. Motion passed & meeting adjourned.
- District Website: http://www.sunnymeadowswater.com/
- Respectfully submitted by Paula Niccum
