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Included in this newsletter

  1. Upcoming events.
  2. Featured Topic (Challenges)
  3. Breaking news and current events
  4. Water Ordinance Public Hearing
  5. Water Bill Reminder
  6. Tax Bill Reminder
  7. Website updates
  8. How to contact the District of Eidelweiss District office and the Commissioners.
  9. Links to Commissioners and Committee Meeting minutes.

Upcoming events

  • Dec 4 10:00 am            Reinach Tank Project Bid Opening at District Office
  • Dec 11 8:00 am            Public Hearing on Water Ordinance and Driveway Ordinance
  • Dec 11 1:00 pm            Asset Management meeting at Eidelweiss Office.
  • Jan 18, 2019 7:00 pm First Public Hearing on 2019 Budget
  • Jan 25, 2019 7:00 pm Second Public Hearing on 2019 Budget
  • Feb 23, 2019 VDOE Annual Meeting Voting 5pm to 7pm; deliberative session 7 pm.
  • Every Tue. 8:00 am.   Commissioners meeting at the Eidelweiss District Office.

Challenges for VDOE

November activities were focused on normal ongoing activities, the Reinach tank project, organizing the 2019 budget and evaluation of prospective warrant articles. Review of capital requirements is ongoing. The long-term planning is helpful in understanding future needs.

Water System

  • A Reinach tank pre-bid meeting took place on November 6, 2018. Five potential bidders were in attendance. Three potential bidders went to the site.
  • The pre-bid meeting resulted in the issuance of an addendum. The addendum extended the due date for bids to December 4, 2018. This change was requested by several prospective bidders to give them more time for bid preparation. The addendum addressed the issue of potential damage to asphalt road surfaces by indicating that the Village would address the wear and tear issues.
  • A second addendum will be issued to address SCADA requirements.
  • An evaluation of the bids will result in establishing the targeted cost of the Reinach tank project.
  • The priorities for the water system have been reviewed. The recommendations of the water system operator have been taken into consideration for projects that could be funded by the remaining balance of the existing loan.
  • Our engineer is providing a drawing of Rigi and Upper Lakeview PRV designs.

Upcoming News Letter Focus Topic:

  • The 2019 proposed Budgets and Warrant Articles

Breaking News and Current Events:

Roads

  • All equipment has been fitted out for winter use.
  • It had been an unusual November in that we have experienced four snow storms. The 2018 winter storm seasons, to date, have resulted in unusually high work and as a result high costs have been incurred.
  • Three problematic roads have been shimmed. One reduces the incidents of repair of the plow.
  • The specifications for the replacement of the Ford F550 are complete and bids have been requested.
  • A review of gravel needs is underway. Several major road improvements are being considered.

Ordinance updates

  • The Village District of Eidelweiss Board of Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 8:00 am at the office, 1680 Conway Road, Madison for proposed updates to the Water Ordinance; amending the dates between which a charge is incurred by the property owner for a seasonal shut off and the Driveway Ordinance; increasing the fine for altering a driveway without a permit.

Rumors and corrections

There is a rumor that the District Commissioners have violated RSA 91-A by not allowing public comments at Commissioner meetings. 

RSA 91-A grants the public access to all public meetings and allows for the public to record all public meetings.  RSA 91-A does not grant the public the right to speak at public meetings.

There is a rumor that the District Commissioners stopped public comments at Commissioners meetings because they do not want to hear from the taxpayers.  

The Commissioners are interested in addressing all questions or comments regarding ongoing and planned projects.  Please email the office with any questions or comments on any ongoing District activities. Email allows the Board the opportunity to review and formulate proper responses.

Water Bill Reminder: 

Any property with an outstanding water bill will have service disconnected December 17.

Tax Bill Reminder:

The second tax payment is due December 6, 2018. Please be aware that all 2018 tax increases for the County, School, Town and District are included with the second tax payment of the year.

Website updates

If you have photos of the district and would like to share them so that they may be included on the site, please send them to office@vdoe-nh.org.  We will review and select the best photos for use with the site.

 How to contact the District office:

  • The VDOE has an official website and sends out emails with emergency notifications. Be sure to visit the website at www.vdoe-nh.org and enroll.
  • The VDOE has a “see something / say something” policy. Anyone who sees something suspicious or unusual should report it for the benefit of the VDOE community to the Madison Police at 603-367-8334 (non-emergency line).
  • Office hours and guidelines have been added to the website to make it more convenient to schedule appointments with the District administrator. Click Here for Office Hours.

The office can always be contacted via email with questions, concerns and suggestions. Messages will be forwarded from the office to the commissioners. The email address is office@vdoe-nh.org

Links to Commissioners and Committee Meeting minutes:

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Water System Notice

The Reinach water storage tank that was inspected will be put back in service Monday, May 21. Prior to being put back in service, the tank will be flushed. Some customers may experience short periods of low pressure, air in the water lines, a residual smell of chlorine and/or slight water discoloration. Should your water be discolored, please run a large faucet (outside spigot, tub, kitchen sink) for a period of 10 minutes. If the situation does not clear up, please contact the office at 603-367-9022.

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VILLAGE DISTRICT OF
EIDELWEISS
Board of Commissioners
WATER SYSTEM FLUSHING

Flushing of the Water System will begin on Monday, April 30, 2018. Some customers may experience short periods of low pressure and slight water discoloration. Should your water be discolored, please run a large faucet (outside spigot, tub, kitchen sink) for a period of 10 minutes. If the situation does not clear up, please contact the office at 603-367-9022.
The flushing program is implemented to ensure high quality drinking water, and to comply with the requirements of the NH Department of Environmental Services.

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April 2018 Newsletter from the Village District of Eidelweiss

The VDOE Communication Committee intends to highlight a different person each month –

Get to know: Commissioner Ron Sandstrom
Ron Sandstrom moved to Eidelweiss in 2010 with his wife Leeann and their children. Ron has an undergraduate degree in Geology and a graduate degree in computer science. These days Ron can be found running one of his businesses, coaching the multiple-time state champion robotics team at Kennett High School, serving on a local board, or volunteering on a local committee. He is currently serving his third three-year term as a commissioner in Eidelweiss. Ron has embraced all that the Mount Washington Valley has to offer.

Upcoming events
May 5th is Valley Cleanup Day. Registration will be at the lodge at the conclusion of the info-board meeting. There is a communications committee meeting in the Lodge starting at 8:45am the same day. All are encouraged to attend. Food and coffee will be there for everyone. The Hampton Inn is also having an event from 12-2. There will be food, music and a water park.
May 26th is a Loon Preservation Society Presentation at the Lodge beginning at 6pm.

Did you know…
All are welcome to reserve the lodge if desired. Contact the VDOE office for additional information.

The VDOE has an official website and sends out emails with emergency notifications. Be sure to visit the website at www.vdoe-nh.org and enroll.

The VDOE has a “see something / say something” policy. They can’t do it all and they encourage anyone who sees something to report it for the benefit of the VDOE community to the Madison Police at 603-367-8334 (non-emergency line).

Village District of Eidelweiss
Employees:
Nancy Cole (Administrator)
Kelly Robitaille, Jeff DeMartino (Highway Department)

Elected officials (term ends):
Commissioners - Mike Smith (2019), Ron Sandstrom (2021), Ralph Lutjen (2020)
Treasurer - Dinah Reiss (2019)
Moderator – Robert Ingram (2020)
Clerk – Nancy Cole (2019)

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The Village District of Eidelweiss Annual Meeting is tonight at the Madison Elementary School gymnasium (Noyes Hall).
Voting for officers will be from 5 pm to 7 pm with the deliberative session to begin at 7 pm for voting on all other articles within the warrant. The warrant and budget are posted under Notices on the website.
The Commissioners ask for your support of the water bond for needed improvements to be made while leveling the water rate.

See you tonight!

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The Commissioners ask for your yes vote on Article 2- the bond article. The Village water system faces numerous risk factors that if not addressed will result in future high cost emergency actions and disruptions in service. Historical management of the water system assets has focused on incremental improvements. This has been a result of an emphasis of keeping the water bill at level that was non-controversial to the users. Unfortunately, we now have to face significant projects that are essential to future reliable operation.
The projects include:
• Storage tanks- Many of our storage tanks are over 60 years old. If left without projects to repair and line with sealant, they will fail in the future. The total cost of inspection and lining of the tanks is at $200,000.
• PRV and isolation valves- Additions and replacement of pressure reducing valves and isolation valves are essential in responding to leaks in an efficient time. These additions will have an immediate reduction in electric costs.
• Reinach Phase 1- Currently the system is unable to provide service at the state mandated minimum to several zones. The first phase modifies the piping system to permit upgrade to higher water pressure.
• Electrical upgrades- The system has electrical code deficiencies and inadequate electrical grounding. The system has been damaged by electrical storms. Failure to address this deficiency could result in very costly repair costs.
• Muddy Beach Phase 2- The completion of Muddy Beach pump station will result in insuring a reliable second source well. This project will result in providing water in the event of disruption to the first source of water- the DPW well.
• SCADA- All upgrades should be made when the electrical upgrades are made to be most cost effective. Jungfrau, Oak and Muddy Beach have had proper electrical surge protection and SCADA upgrades completed as we updated those pump houses.
• Security Locks- The security of the pump stations is essential. The upgrade to identify any access to the pump station will permit a response to any unauthorized incursion.

The bond permits the undertaking high priority projects while permitting the water bill to continue to be at an acceptable level of approximately $500. The bond recommended is interest only for three years. This is the period during which the projects are underway. Then there is twelve years of loan payments. The bond financing enables the Village to keep the system operating reliably by accomplishing the necessary projects without creating extraordinary increases in the water bill. Several of the projects increase efficiency by reducing electricity usage. Cost savings will be significant. Better control of the pumps is one of these elements.

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[gview file="https://vdoe-nh.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Water-Interruptions-for-July-24-2017.pdf"] The water system will be systematically checked for leaks over the two week period of Monday, July 24 to Friday, August 4, 2017. Based on high water usage numbers, a leak is suspected within the distribution system. In order to check an area for a leak that may exist, the water service to the area will be shut down and the area checked.

Water Service Interruptions

Interruptions in water service will occur between Monday, July 24 and Friday, August 4, 2017. Interruptions will occur within all areas of the District while sections of the water system are isolated for leak detection over the two week schedule.

Water service interruptions will begin no earlier than 9 am

Service will be restored as soon as possible, no later than 5 pm.

Please plan accordingly.

We appreciate your understanding while this necessary work is completed.

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Election results from the 2016 Annual Meeting;

Commissioner:  Mike Smith, 3 year term ending 2019

Moderator:  Mark Graffam, 2 year term ending 2018

Clerk*:  Nancy Cole, 1 year term ending 2017

Treasurer*:  Dinah Reiss, 1 year term ending 2017

Articles to increase the term for the Treasurer and Clerk from one year to three years passed at the annual meeting.  In 2017, these positions will be elected for a three year term.