VILLAGE DISTRICT OF EIDELWEISS
Public Hearing on the Budget
January 18, 2019
The Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on the 2019 budget at 7:00 pm on Friday, January 18, 2019. In attendance were Commissioners Mike Smith, Ralph Lutjen and Ron Sandstrom.
At 7:00 pm the meeting was called to order by Chairman Mike Smith.
Ralph Lutjen makes a motion to open the public hearing. Ron Sandstrom seconds. Motion passed 2-0.
Mike Smith outlines the rules for the meeting. All comments and questions are to be related to the article discussed.
Commissioners overview of the 2019 Warrant is highlighted by Ralph Lutjen.
At 7:07 pm Ron Sandstrom makes a motion to open the bond hearing on the proposed bond for a new truck. Ralph Lutjen seconds. Motion passed 3-0.
Review of need for new truck. F-550 at end of useful life.
Question on outfitting of new truck. Included in quote.
Question on repairing the truck instead of replacing.
Question on warranty for new truck – 3 years.
Discussion on increase in ability with purchase of heavier duty truck.
Concern stated for cost of truck.
Discussion on running equipment into the ground prior to replacing is held. Need for reliable equipment during a snow storm is outlined.
Wear and tear on the truck is outlined.
Number of days out of service are questioned – will be looked into.
At 7:31 pm Ralph Lutjen makes a motion to close the hearing on truck bond for Article 2. Ron Sandstrom seconds. Motion passed 3-0.
At 7:31 pm Ralph Lutjen makes a motion to open the bond hearing on the proposed bond for replacing the Reinach tanks. Ron Sandstrom seconds. Motion passed 3-0.
Review of need for replacing two 30,000-gallon tanks at Reinach; both tanks failed inspection in 2018 and are not candidates for lining.
Highlight and review of replacement plan with one 90,000-gallon concrete tank. Storage needs outlined. Inclusion of Reinach Pressure Zone with this project is outlined.
Discussion on cost is held.
Highlight of lack of approval of funding as an impact on bid process.
Question on Board having faith in Fluet Engineering. Outline that financing was major hold up for contractors.
Outline that Paul Fluet will be at Annual Meeting.
Discussion on engineering for the District and possible use of other engineers going forward.
Question on access to Reinach Place during construction. Will be open. Steel tanks will be removed after construction of the new tank.
Discussion on re-opening bid process prior to proposing project is held.
At 7:56 pm Mike Smith makes a motion to close the hearing on water bond for Article 3. Ralph Lutjen seconds. Motion passed 3-0.
Article 4 – DPW electrical upgrades
Review of need for upgrading electrical system at DPW and correct code violations.
Discussion on code violations.
Discussion on need for upgrades.
Highlight of importance of DPW well reliability for proper functioning of the water system.
Review of electrical upgrades including lightening protection, meters, VFD addition and code corrections including proper grounding and surge protection.
Question on funding. Discussion on use of approved bond funds from last year.
Article 5 – Summit pump house electrical upgrades
Review of need for upgrading electrical system at Summit Pump House.
Discussion on code violations.
Discussion on need for upgrades.
Highlight of impact to the water system users should this pump house go down for electrical issues.
Question on funding. Discussion on use of approved bond funds from last year.
Article 6 – Chocorua Pump House upgrades
Review of need for project to be completed.
Discussion on code violations.
Discussion on need for upgrades.
Highlight of impact to the water system users should this pump house be out of service.
Question on funding. Discussion on use of approved bond funds from last year.
Article 7 – Highway/Operation budget reviewed and discussed. Operational budget for the water system is also reviewed.
Line items reviewed and discussed.
Ralph Lutjen outlines self-insurance of deductible/full exposure is budgeted.
Discussion on impact of bonds on the budget.
Question on self-insuring the deductible and savings it has created.
Questions reviewed.
Discussion on capital reserve fund expenditures.
Article 8 – York Rake Replacement
Review of article.
Current rake is not operational. Rake is used regularly during spring and summer by the DPW to smooth roads. Rake is also used after road grading to remove rocks brought to surface during grading.
Article 9 – Asphalt road repairs
Review of need to keep roads in travelable condition until rebuilt.
Specific work to be done through this article includes Aspen, Klausen, Chocorua View and Eidelweiss Drive from entrance to DPW II.
Discussion on putting these articles into the budget is held
Article 10 – Gravel road repairs
Review of need to keep roads in travelable condition.
Specific work to be done through this article includes Klausen, Upper Lakeview and Aspen.
Article 11 – Thusis culvert replacement
Review of work to be completed, project to maintain 100% on VDOE property.
Discussion on amendment to proposed project at 2018 Annual Meeting. Project was not able to be completed as amended. Engineering required to review the amendment and then to amend the project.
Comment on project cost versus engineering costs is made.
Reduced construction cost with DPW doing the work is outlined.
Article 12 – Grandval and Burgdorf engineering
Review of article and engineering needed to update the roads to Class V standards.
Discussion on Class V standard for VDOE. Document is available on the website.
Recommendation for removal of this article is made.
Article 13 – Water Budget
Line items reviewed and discussed.
Article 14 – Muddy Beach Tank Replacement
Article reviewed.
Replacement of 5,000-gallon tank for water storage.
Comment that concrete 5,000-gallon tank available for $10,000 less than this quote is made.
Article 15 – Upper Lakeview/Rigi
Article reviewed.
Question on if this project was included in proposed updates under Article 2 – this will be checked.
Article 16 – Water tank CRF deposit
Statement on funding CRF.
Comment on use of fund for Article 14
Article 17 – Water System Pipe CRF deposit
Statement on funding CRF
Article 18 – Water System CRF withdrawal
Replacing the $42,000 withdrawn during the 2017 audit process.
Commissioners intent to re-deposit the funds in 2018 was denied by the NH Department of Revenue (DRA) as voter approval is required for deposits to a CRF.
Received petition articles are reviewed.
Petition to appropriate $6 for executive salaries. This is a budget line item and should be addressed during the operational budget discussion.
Petition to have employees pay 10% of health insurance premiums in 2019 and 20% in all subsequent years. Petition is advisory as employee matters are under control of the Commissioners; not the Legislative Body.
Petition to transfer unspent $141,695.14 from 2018 Article #2 to the water system CRF. Petition will require a 2/3 majority to pass.
Petition to limit number of Commissioners as voting members of any committee to not greater than 1/3 of committee. Petition is advisory as committee size and members are determined by the Commissioners, not the Legislative Body.
Petition to name voters as agents to expend on all CRF except Water Line Extension Fund.
Petition to place $42,000 in the Water System CRF from Unassigned Fund Balance. Petition is a duplicate of Article 18.
Petition to have draft minutes posted within 5 days of a meeting and approved minutes posted within 24 hours. Petition is advisory as no requirement exists to post minutes.
Petition to place $250,000 in the Water System CRF with funds to be raised by taxation. Outline that this petition will add more than $2.50 per thousand valuation to the tax rate is made; the 2018 tax rate would have been over $8.60 per thousand with this petition.
Ralph Lutjen makes a motion to close the public hearing and adjourn the meeting. Ron Sandstrom seconds. Motion passed 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy E. Cole
Administrator