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OCN > 2410 > Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 16 – Board hears financial and operational report

Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 16 – Board hears financial and operational report

By James Howald

At its September meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board introduced its newly hired district engineer. It heard financial and operational reports from board Treasurer Roy Martinez, District Manager Jessie Shaffer, and Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine. The meeting ended with an executive session, after which no actions were taken.

Cydney Saelens joins staff

Shaffer introduced Cydney Saelens, who replaces Ariel Hacker as district engineer. Saelens graduated from Colorado State University in 2020 and spent four years at RICK, an engineering, planning and design firm where she did land development and drainage design.

Financial reports made user-friendly

Martinez told the board Office Manager Cory Lynch and Shaffer had worked with a consultant to redesign the district’s financial reports, making them easier to understand and closer to what the board members are used to seeing. He said additional changes would be made to the reports.

Martinez explained the balance sheet had been split into two pages, the first detailing assets and the second liabilities and stockholders’ equity. He said only minor changes had been made to the line items within those larger categories.

The statement of revenues had also been expanded into two pages, Martinez said, adding the excess water sale line item was renamed supplemental water service to make plain that water rights were not being sold.

The budget worksheet, published in board packets and used to track the district’s finances on a monthly basis, had also been updated, Martinez said.

Directors Tom Roddham and Bill Clewe said they liked the additional detail the new reports provided.

Operational reports

Clewe, who serves as the district’s liaison with the Joint Use Committee (JUC) that manages the waste treatment plant WWSD shares with the Towns of Palmer Lake and Monument, told the board he had reviewed the JUC’s 2025 budget, which will increase from $1.9 million in 2024 to $2.7 million. Clewe said increases to construction, operation, insurance and engineering costs all contributed to the larger budget. WWSD is responsible for about 29% of the cost of operating the treatment plant, he said, and the Towns of Palmer Lake and Monument were each responsible for 35%.

In his Manager’s Report, Shaffer told the board he was vetting different methods the district might use to finance its portion of the Loop water re-use project. He was discussing this with Andrew Rheem of Raftelis, the consulting firm that helps the district set rates for its water and sewer services. Shaffer said fee increases and General Obligation bonds were being considered. He noted a presentation by Magellan Consulting Group that he attended which focused on presenting requests for bonds to voters. Shaffer said he would present financing options to the board at its November meeting.

Shaffer reported progress on the effort to build a new 650,000-gallon concrete storage tank and said he expected construction to begin in 2025. There are only two manufacturers of concrete storage tanks in the United States, he said, so scheduling the construction was difficult.

LaFontaine reported one shear and two services failures for the previous month. He said he is continuing to examine the meters at the district’s treatment plants and replace or repair them as needed.

LaFontaine noted that a high level of manganese in the water delivered to customers prompted a return to 100% surface water from a blend of surface and ground water. The level of manganese did not represent a health risk to customers, he said.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to discuss negotiating positions regarding the district’s participation in the Loop water reuse project and discussions with Classic Homes. No action was taken following the executive session.

Correction

In last month’s article, Dan LaFontaine was incorrectly referred to as operations supervisor. His correct job title is operations superintendent.

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The next meeting has been moved to Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. Meetings are usually held on the second Monday of each month at 1 p.m. at the district office at 1845 Woodmoor Drive; the September meeting is delayed by a week. Please see www.woodmoorwater.com or call 719-488-2525 to verify meeting times and locations.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.

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