Your PUD
News Release
PUD approves land exchange with city of Entiat
Chelan County PUD
News Release
1/28/2008
Chelan County PUD commissioners, on Monday, approved the exchange of 8.53-acre parcels of land in Entiat that will give the PUD park land and make way for a waterfront community area for the city.
Land owned by the PUD along the Columbia in the northern part of the city will be exchanged for land inside Entiat Park currently owned by the city.
The exchange was supported by John Huselton, president of the Entiat Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Keith Vradenburg, Entiat mayor. Three council members also attended the meeting to lend their support.
“This is a big thing for the city of Entiat,” Vradenburg said.
The exchange was agreed to in principle during recent relicensing discussions.
The PUD will retain flowage easements on the property, to allow for changes in water levels, and also retain a 12-foot-wide pedestrian corridor.
Integrated Resource Planning process starts with hearing
Power resource managers provided an introduction to the Integrated Resource Planning process mandated by the Legislature for all Washington utilities with more than 25,000 customers.
The first plan must be submitted to the state by Sept. 1. It will provide a strategic plan for meeting the PUD’s power needs for the next 10 years.
Becky King, power resource analyst, said the planning will be ongoing and that much of what is required for the IRP is already being done.
The PUD will use a computer model to help analyze power options. A draft plan will be presented to the board in July.
District contracting streamlined
A series of focus groups with PUD employees helped identify areas in contracting processes that could be improved to provide potential savings for the utility and faster turn-around time on contracts.
Commissioners heard that the improvement team is focusing on process, risk and training in making improvements.
The improvement team consists of employees from many departments. Their work is part of the Continuing Quality Improvement effort at the PUD.
In other business, commissioners:
- Heard a report on the certification of the Lake Chelan Hydro Project by the Low Impact Hydro Institute. The designation is an important step toward possible participation in green energy markets.
- Declared seven land-locked parcels of land totaling just over 1 acre north of Entiat as surplus and made it available for sale to developer Calvin White.
- Approved a motion authorizing PUD finance staff to take initial steps toward the possible refunding and/or conversion of $134 million in bonds due to the changing economic and bond market climate.
- Heard that staff is tracking 140 bills introduced in the state Legislature that could each have an impact on the PUD. The slate of bills should narrow after the first cut-off date on Feb. 8.
- Changed the start time of the Feb. 11 board meeting. Commissioners will meet at 10 a.m. in executive session to continue review of a public employee. They will meet in regular session at 11 a.m. and resume after lunch at 1 p.m.
- Thanked Melisa McPherren for her service as clerk of the board. McPherren is moving out of the area.
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The next regular meeting of the PUD commission will begin at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4, 2008, in the boardroom at PUD headquarters, 327. N. Wenatchee Ave.
Jeri Freimuth
Chelan County PUD
509-661-4504
509-668-0267 (cell)
Jeri.freimuth@chelanpud.org