2019-12-07 Commissioners Meeting Approved

                                      VILLAGE DISTRICT OF EIDELWEISS

Commissioners Meeting             

                                                        December 7, 2019

The Board of Commissioners met at 9:00am on Saturday, December 7, 2019.  In attendance were Commissioners Adam Leiser, Jay Buckley and Kathy Koziell. The meeting was filmed for Madison TV.  Approximately 30 members of the public were there for the 10am presentation as well.  Chris Albert of Jones and Beech is also present.                            

At 9am Commissioner Adam Leiser calls the meeting to order.

1. Agenda – No agenda

2. Highway Department Report  -

3. Water –

4. Administration

      Most of the hour was spent setting up the projector, screen and chairs.

      Jay Buckley reviews the tank financing options that have been prepared with the lower     

      municipal bond interest rates and annual cost to the tax payer.  He is in favor of the 15    

      year option with an annual payment of 68K as this is the closest to what that voters  

      approved at the last annual meeting which was an amount of 66K annually.

5.  Accounts Payable –

6.  Minutes

7. Commissioners Reports

9. Correspondence

10. Scheduled Appearances - none

11.  Public Comment

At 10am the “State of the District” begins. Presentation made by Adam Leiser.  Comments and questions made during the meeting.  Meeting starts with a story about two brothers and how it’s important to not think solely about how a decision effect you. This quickly moves towards discussion on cost roads, trucks, water system and the Reinach tank.

Discussion on the district receiving a $295,000 grant towards our water system which  is just awaiting a rubber stamp from DES which is coming soon.

A resident asked about turning paved roads into gravel roads because paved roads are so expensive.  Another resident comments that paved roads are necessary on steep grades.

A resident asked if the VDOE has a culvert priority list.  The answer is yes.

Discussion continues about water leaks in the VDOE system.  Approximately 16 million gallons of water are wasted every year.  Estimated cost to the district is $30,000 per year between electricity and fixing pipes.  Adam states that the water bill could drop 15% if VDOE stops wasting water.  A resident asks about coordinating pipeline replacement with road paving.  Adam states that this will be coordinated to ensure the lowest possible cost to the district and that our  DPW takes that into consideration.

Residents wonder about mapping.  BOC response and response from water system engineer respond that all current mapping is unreliable and a guess at best. The district will need to invest in professional mapping.

Residents ask about expending all $869,400 from bond. 

A resident states we should take a bond for water pipe replacement.  Treasurer is asked about bond rating but is unable to answer.  Commissioners explain that the BOC intent is to take bonds for pipe replacement and combine it with pipe replacement CRFs and get the largest possible grant to help offset large costs.

A resident states that most municipalities take out 30 year loans for projects like this.  Terri Cancelarich states that this is NOT true.  She reads from her computer the exact numbers. The conclusion is that most municipal bonds are in the range of 10 to15 years.

A resident tells the BOC to allow property owners to save money on their own for taxes rather than allowing the VDOE to amass large sums of money in CRFs.  BOC states that the intent is not to collect large CRFs except for pipeline replacement because pipeline replacement money can be matched with grants. 

Another resident states she wants taxes to not increase.

A resident states that Kathy and Adam ran on a platform of not raising taxes but it seems like that is being presented today.   Kathy states that she and Adam ran on a ticket of transferring expenses from water fees to taxes which would benefit property owners with lower accessed properties.

A resident encourages the BOC to drive district trucks as long as possible.

Discussion about multiple bids coming for multiple pieces of the Reinach project: tank to be bid by two companies.  Site work to be bid by many companies.

Treasurer wonders why the BOC states that the tank project is $869,400 when Adam has told the public that it’s going to come in $200,000 under budget.  Adam states that the prior bid was $992,000 and this one is estimated to be $165,000 less than that number.  Adam also states that additional projects are being sent out for bid to cover the difference along with the expected grant money.  Chris Albert states that he believes the tank bid will likely be $375,000-$400,000.

A resident asks about inside of the tanks.  Chris Albert reports that tanks will be lined and will need inspection and relined possibly every 20 years or longer.

A resident asks about the PRV on Upper Lakeview.  Adam states that while he doesn’t want to speak for the BOC it is his intention to prioritize that replacement and fix the pressure issues there once and for all.

Former commissioner Ralph Lutjen hands out ten copies of a document he has prepared yet not yet shared with the BOC.  He speaks for approximately five minutes.  Ralph wants a 30 year loan for the tank because the value of a dollar in 30 years is less than the value of a dollar today.  Adam states that money is money and we will make living here very expensive if we keep asking future people to pay.  Adam explains that the electrical upgrade projects is a good example of this.  The prior BOC took out an interest only loan which artificially kept costs low and now we are looking at a huge increase in our water bills in 2021 as a result of that decision.

A resident encourages more bonds.

Another resident encourages a special assessment to have tank paid off in just two years.

Another resident states he supports the 10 year option on the bond.

Conversation ensues about tax rates and importance of maintaining home values. 

A resident asks if Biasca wasn’t plowed intentionally in January, 2019.  Adam states that Biasca has never been discussed in regards to plowing since this Board has been in office.  Adam asks Ralph to comment since the incident happened while he was a commissioner.  Ralph states that resident should call 911 if a road isn’t plowed.  Adam states that the BOC discussed plowing schedules with Kelly and the BOC was told every road gets plowed every two hours if not sooner.  Resident is frustrated living in Eidelweiss and states he would not have bought here if he could redo that decision.

Conversation continues about funding large infrastructure projects.  Adam states that the BOC supports long term bonds on pipeline but the VDOE can not start taking on huge long term debt with so many outstanding projects.  Slideshow continues and Adam points out that taking bonds for the trucks will cost the district a lot of money and make living in Eidelweiss very expensive. 

A resident asks about consolidating debt.  Adam thinks it’s not possible but BOC can look into it as a possible option.

Discussion about additional taxable options begins.  Adam mentions that the BOC will be needing the public’s help for getting money from Madison for roads and the room and meals tax.  Adam encourages property owners to go to the Madison Annual meeting and vote yes to giving Eidelweiss some of this money because Madison gets the money that is generated in Eidelweiss.  Adam states that the BOC will put together petition for warrant articles and publicize dates of meeting.

Discussion about assessments and the accuracy of them.  Nothing we can do about unfair assessments.

Adam Leiser makes a motion to adjourn – second Kathy Koziell– Vote 3-0 yes

Meeting adjourned 12:35pm