District Office and Meeting Building September 1, 2008

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

 

BEDFORD WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT

 

WILL HOLD AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING TO SOLICIT COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED SYSTEM UPGRADES AND IMPROVEMENTS

 

 

WHERE:  BEDFORD WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BUILDING

                 219 B STREET,  BEDFORD,   WYOMING

                       

 

WHEN:  THURSDAY,  SEPTEMBER   11,  2008  AT 7:30 P.M.

 

 

ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED:

 

1.      MUDDY STRING ROAD LOOPING LINE.  A PROPOSED 8-INCH LINE WOULD EXTEND FROM THE INTERSECTION OF MUDDY STRING ROAD AND LOST CREEK ROAD, SOUTH TO THE THAYNE BEDFORD ROAD AND THEN EAST TO CONNECT TO THE EXISTING SYSTEM.

 

2.      A PROPOSED 1 MILLION GALLON STORAGE TANK IN STRAWBERRY CANYON (ALREADY GRANTED AND APPROVED).

 

3.      A PROPOSED SYSTEM WELL TO BE IN THE VICINITY OF THE LOST CREEK AND MUDDY STRING JUNCTION.

 

4.    A PROPOSED 6-INCH PARALLEL LOST CREEK ROAD PIPELINE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WATER TO THE AREA.

 

THE PURPOSE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS IS TO PROVIDE

FIRE PROTECTION AND ADDITIONAL WATER

 

 

 

 

Kelly Heiner                   Chairman

Barry Fullmer                 Vice Chairman

Jody Skinner                 Secretary/Treasurer

Randy Plowman            Board Member

Wan Wolfley                  Board Member

Bart Barge                     Superintendent

The new Bedford Water Office building is now in service. It will be available to District members and the community for use. Construction projects are not all fully complete, but the building’s meeting rooms are available for rent. The use fee has temporarily been set at $25.00 per session. This fee barely covers cleanup costs and is a real value and convenience. A utility shop will be added at a later date, as well as fencing to contain the facility, and a handicapped access ramp. With the national elections being held in November, our new building will be the polling place / voting location for Bedford and Turnerville voters. More on this matter will be brought to you as information is available.

Everyone is invited to come to the Board meetings and discuss District issues. Monthly Board meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, 7:30pm at 219 B Street.

Annexations/ Deannexations May 31, 2008

From time to time land owners outside of the District apply for annexation into the District. The Board  looks at each individual situation with the idea of maintaining the integrity of the Water and Sewer District.  There has to be an engineering study done on each request to evaluate the impact on the District before any Board action is taken. If a project or proposal is accepted, the subdivision developer has to bring into the District both irrigation and culinary water, in equal or better amounts then the subdivision would use. The District has trained operators, a sound environmental testing program and many other assets that make incorporation an attractive alternative to outside developers.

State / Nation May 31, 2008

Permit for a Puddle? Government’s Attempt to Regulate Your Water

By US Representative Barbara Cubin

Far too often, career politicians in Washington get so caught up in the nitty gritty of legislation, they completely lose sight of why the government exists in the first place. President Reagan used to say that “Government’s first duty is to protect the people, and not run their lives.” The Clean Water Authority Restoration Act of 2007 (H.R. 2421) is a perfect example of bureaucrats forgetting what the federal government’s role should be. H.R. 2421 would extend the federal government’s jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to all “waters of the United States,” and in doing so, would extend its reach to almost any drop of water in our state.

The most frightening aspect of this bill is that no one really knows what its real impact would be. Under current law, federal jurisdiction under the CWA is limited to “navigable waters.” For all other waters, management decisions are left where they should be – in the capable hands of the states. Due to the new bill’s vague definition of what “waters of the United States” entails, the likely result of the measure would be to burden local communities and private property owners with additional cumbersome regulation. Prior converted croplands (PCCs), treatment ponds, and local water infrastructure projects could all be swept under the permitting requirements of the CWA. The federal government has not place in regulating every pond, creek, or mud puddle within an individual state – particularly on private property. In fact, Section 101(b) of the CWA itself clearly clarifies Congress’ intent that states maintain the primary responsibility for land and water decisions within their borders. H.R. 2421 raises serious states-rights concerns the bill sponsors have not addressed.

The fact of the matter is expanding the federal government’s jurisdiction over approved uses on our nation’s waterways has an untold number of consequences. That’s why I have heard from numerous groups, including the Wyoming Association of Rural Water Systems, the National Water Resources Association, the Western Business Roundtable, and numerous agriculture producers in Wyoming that such a broad expansion of the CWA would significantly affect their ability to manage water resources in the West. I opposed this bill when it was first introduced and still advocate against it today because it fails to strike a reasonable balance between environmental protections and private land-use rights. Instead, this bill creates unnecessary burdens on the very people which it intends to help.

The bill’s title makes it appear that if you oppose this bill you oppose efforts to secure clean water. Nothing could be further from the truth. We all support clean water. Every community in the U.S. deserves to have access to clean water. The point of disagreement occurs when we ask how we secure this goal.

Another favorite saying of President Reagan’s was that “the most terrifying words in the English language are,’I am from the government and I am here to help.’” Unfortunately, this bill as it is currently written proves the Gipper’s point.

Million Gal. Tank and Well Head May 31, 2008

The well head will be upgraded this summer.  We have called for bids to install a variable speed drive unit that will give us full control of the well and will utilize a telemetry system to call for the well to be off, or on, depending on the rate of water flow needed. For example, will turn on the well to supplement a firefighting event or to meet peak water flows, on hot, muggy afternoons when everyone on the system is trying to save thier lawn. The auxillary well would be off unless one of these conditions would exist. If the District puts a reservoir in the upper part of the system, any wasted water that is now being bled, to maintain maximum pressure, to area creeks, would be eliminated. This upgrade also has the potential to add 60 to 80 new hookups to the system. The District has also retained Weston Engineering to perform an independent well-head delineation / protection study to evaluate potential contamination and interference issues with our well.

The storage tank project is on hold pending a funding proposal that is now before the District voters, to approve or disapprove, with a motion to finance the remaining 30% required matching funds. The District has already been granted over $900,000 toward the tank project from the Wyoming Water Development Comission.

A booster pump station will be installed at the mouth of Strawberry to provide water to areas that are too high to be served by the tank.  The pressure valve that is at this location, which restricts flow down stream at this point, will be opened up to provide additional water in the system.

The Million gallon stroage tank is projected to be installed this summer. dependent on funding.  It will be on a site that has been approved by the Forest Service in the canyon above the power plant.  We are hoping to get a metal tank.  Bids will be let out soon, dependant on funding.

The projects are are estimated to cost $1.4 millon when completed.  We have grants for 67% of the cost.

Water Quality May 31, 2008

Our water is of excellent quality. The District has not used chlorination this winter or spring. The Annual Water Quality Report is available at the Bedford Post Office or the BWSD Office Building at 219 B Street.

Other Business May 31, 2008

The Wyoming Water Development Commision has engaged an engineering firm do a study on a Central Valley Water System.  The Central System would be to help the county deal with the valley growth.  The results of this study could affect our District.  It has been stated that Afton and Bedford, among others, are the major sources for such a system.  This concept is an ongoing county issue.  It is the Board’s intent to keep the District intact, but could lose future funding opportunities if we don’t support this study. Again, please attend regular Board meetings and stay informed about the issues facing the District.

System Status May 31, 2008

The system is working well and we have not had any serious problems this winter.  We had sufficient flows to meet the District’s needs without the well being put in service. Currently we are enjoying abundant spring water flows from our main spring. Triannual EPA required water quality testing will commence this month and our operator expects that our spring will test to it’s usual pristine nature.

As summer approches,  we would remind the members to conserve water where ever possible. Please use your irrigation rights to water gardens and lawns where possible.

Message From The Chairman May 31, 2008

At the last board meeting the dicussion was centered on the tank project and funding options. The members of the District, in attendance, expressed the opinion that the Board should procede with the funding effort and seek a low interest bank loan for the unfunded portion of the project. A meeting was scheduled with bank representatives to discuss the loan. During this meetig it was stated that there are prerequisite steps that need to be taken for the funding. These steps will be discussed at our next Board meeting on June, 5. We would like to have as many members of the District, as possible, for input on the plan. We are still moving forward on the well improvements and the tank project. We are anxious to have the District be in compliance for fire protection and to have a water reserve. Feel free to bring any concerns and comments to our Board meetings. We desire to meet the needs of our community. This is a great system and is one of the best in the state of Wyoming, often exceeding many standards within the state. I look forward to seeing you at the next meeting in our new office building at 219 B Street, in Bedford.

Financial May 31, 2008

It is interesting to note that the state would like us to increase the mill levey on the members to bring us in line with the state average.  We feel that the district is in good finanical condition and does not need this increase.  The state also has regulated our gallon cost to the members to make us eligable for their grants.  We don’t anticipate any rate increases.  The new hook up fees of $5,000. each is all tagged to pay for the remaing debt on the tank.

Bart’s Corner—–District Water Superintendent May 31, 2008

Spring has sprung, although you may not be able to tell by looking out your window. Please discontinue any winter bleeds as we are unlikely to see any deep freezes at this time. The District has started the summer meter reading schedule and over use fees are back in effect. Take notice of any pressure reductions , any sound of running water when you are not using water or damp spots that don’t dry up near your service lines. These could be indications of a leak in your service line. A very small leak could really add to your bill.

The annual water quality report is available in the Bedford Post Office or at the new BWSD Office (219 B st.).This report is published yearly and is a record of all contaminants found in our water. We have some of the purest water in the world!

Plan to attend our next Water Board meeting as the Board will be discussing some very important funding issues pertaining to the reservoir project. Board meetings are held the first Thursday evening of every month at 7:30 pm, at the Bedford Water building, 219 B Street. Please attend and share your views and get the real truth about all the issues facing the Water District.