BW&S Proposed Projects and Voting Boundary Map

Colleen Dahlseid's Thoughts on BW&S' Option "C"

August 5, 2018

Why I am supporting BWSD Bond Option “C”.

At the October 15, 2016 BWSD Board of Directors meeting, Neil Peck submitted a list of required systems repairs for the water systems and requested that a facility plan be done to evaluate these items.  DEQ financing was not available without the facility plan.  The system deficiencies stated by Neil are basically the same as the ones produced by the JUB facilities plan. There were a couple on Neil’s list that have subsequently been repaired or replaced plus one for purchase of a truck that is no longer needed and consequently not included in the bond options.  At that meeting, there were 4 of these potential systems repairs set forth with a price tag of $1.8million. 

I share this background to show that the needed systems repairs and maintenance issues and the magnitude of their financial impact are nothing new.  The system deficiencies set out in JUB Water Facilities Plan, were recognized by the previous operators as critical deficiencies of our old and aging infrastructure.   Would they have assigned different priorities and proposed perhaps a different approach to address some of the issues?   Most likely they would have.  My point here is that we are where we are and the issues need to be addressed from where we are now with the existing facilities plan, the favorable financing that is available now and the bond options that we are presented now.

It took a lot of lobbying to get a minimum option that actually addressed the critical deficiencies of the water system at the lowest possible cost to the users=$8.27 monthly increase (.27 cents more than the “do-nothing” option).  This included adding the rehab of the existing tank and removing the water meter replacement to that proposed option.  The rehab of the existing tank is critical, I am not an engineer, but I believe that it will result in a remaining life beyond the 25-30 years that is forecast. This option now allows for the meter replacement to be budgeted and done over an extended period of time.  

Many may feel that rejecting all of the bond options is the solution to their disagreement with past actions of the board.  This is not a referendum on the performance of the BWSD Board.  A “do-nothing” approach will ultimately burden the customer base with extraordinary costs of system repairs and maintenance.

These on-going costs will be in addition to the $8.00 monthly increase that will be levied to establish a reserve fund if the bond fails.  It is an option that is unaffordable in my opinion.

In addition to the above, the following facts were considerations upon which I based my support for Bond Option “C”:

)  The District would lose the $92,100 cost of the Water Facilities Plan- ($45,000 will be paid by DEQ grants) the balance will be paid by BWSD.

)  DEQ financing will provide DEQ project oversight and approval of all funds disbursed.

)  To “do nothing” will result in the forfeiture of the favorable financing terms.  (1.75% for 30 years plus up to $210,000 principal forgiveness granted by DEQ)

)  The total rebuild of the system for $2.1million is far beyond the needs of the district. The facilities plan study indicated that potential growth of the district will result in a user base of 700-950 within 10 years. A larger and more affluent user group will be better equipped to afford the total rebuild of the system than our present 475 fixed and low income user base.

)  There are issues with the dated infrastructure at the sewer treatment site 

which must be addressed in the near future and will very likely result in increased fees for that system, as well.

I approached my assessment of the bond options with the following as the stated goal of the selection process:

“To resolve the most critical deficiencies identified by the water facilities study at the lowest possible cost to the BWSD user base.”

I believe Bond Option “C” is the only option that meets this criterion. 

Colleen Dahlseid

Bayview, ID

BW&S Evening Board Meeting and Open House

We will be adding recommendations for the proposed project choices with reasons.