Your PUD
News Release
Monitor water system bid approved
Chelan County PUD
News Release
11/13/2007
PUD commissioners Tuesday approved the $3.4 million bid of Buno Construction, of Snohomish, to build a water system to serve Monitor and the surrounding area. The winning bid was one of 14 received.
The new water system is designed to serve 263 customers and 42 hydrants. Construction will include 7.9 miles of new pipe to carry water from the existing PUD system in lower Sunnyslope to Monitor.
Construction could begin as soon as late November or early December and completion is expected by Fall 2008.
Efforts to improve the drinking water supply for Monitor, west of Wenatchee, date back to the early 1990s. After much community input, PUD commissioners voted in favor of the $6.5 million project in May.
Working with the Monitor Community Council, Chelan County and the Port of Chelan County, the PUD secured $3.8 million in grants and $2.7 million in low-interest government loans to pay for construction of the system.
Monitor Community Council member Jack Pusel thanked staff and commissioners Tuesday for bringing the project to construction, “We’re excited out at Monitor that this is actually starting to happen.”
In other business, PUD commissioners:
- Approved a motion to support the Andrew York Lineman Rodeo’s move from Rocky Reach grounds to Walla Walla Point Park in 2008. The annual event, which is named in memory of Chelan County PUD Lineman Andrew York who was killed on the job by a drunk driver, brings linemen from around the northwest to test their skills.
- Heard staff’s plan to address winter power reliability problems in Stehekin. After the community’s Company Creek hydroelectric project was removed from service for repairs earlier this year, back-up diesel generators were used full time. The plant’s cracked Pelton wheel was repaired and put back in service in October. A new wheel is expected to be installed in March 2008. Until then, electric service may not be as reliable as in winters past, and staff will encourage residents to be prepared for winter outages. The PUD will also form an internal team to address long-term energy service for Stehekin. Recommendations for commissioners are expected in the third quarter of 2008.
- Received a third-quarter report on PUD power resources and finances from Executive Manager of Energy Resources Randy Lowe and Chief Financial Officer Joe Jarvis. Lowe reported that the PUD is having a good year so far in wholesale sales and reminded commissioners that Chelan County is lucky to be having an average water year as most of the West is experiencing lower-than-average water. Lowe and Jarvis projected that year-end surplus power-sales revenues could be around $60 million, about double what was budgeted.
- Heard an update on the PUD’s 2007 fish spill program and survival studies. Targets have been met at Rock Island Dam and further emphasis on sockeye passage will be necessary at Rocky Reach. The PUD’s Habitat Conservation Plans commit the utility to a 50-year program to ensure that its hydro projects have no net impact on Mid-Columbia salmon and steelhead runs.
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The next regular meeting of the PUD commission is at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 19, in the boardroom at PUD headquarters, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave., to discuss a proposed power-sales contract with Alcoa. Regular business will start at 1 p.m.
Most PUD commission meetings are recorded, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org.
Christy Shearer
Communications Audio-visual Specialist
Chelan County PUD
509.661.4258 office
509.421.4258 cell
509.661.8133 fax
christy.shearer@chelanpud.org