Water District plans four-year
rate increase; Public Hearing December 15
by Jay O'Brien
The Rio Linda/Elverta Community Water District (RLECWD) Board of
Directors, at its' meeting Wednesday November 5, selected a rate
increase plan for the next four years. The plan also increases the base
rate so as to include the first 600 cubic feet of water and provides
customers with 30% more water before moving to the next rate tier.
RLECWD General Manager Dave Andres says that the plan selected, once
approved, will care for the necessary Capital Improvements and expected
increased operating costs through 2007. Andres explained that the
rate study previously commissioned by RLECWD in 1999 suggested rate
increases that would have amounted to increases of 126% to date had it
been implemented when and as proposed. Andres says that study has
proven to be correct, but as the rates were only increased 50% in
November 2001, additional increases are now necessary.
There are 4288 RLECWD customers. 3525 customers are served through 5/8"
meters and 712 customers are served through 1" meters. These customers
account for nearly 99% of the RLECWD accounts.
The rate plan selected by the Board is as follows:
Small usage customers with 5/8" meters, for 600 cubic feet of water in
a two month period (75 gallons per day) would see their two month water
bills increase from the present $16.37 to $20.00 in 2004, $23.00 in
2005, $26.00 in 2006 and $29.00 in 2007. Small usage customers with 1"
meters would see their two month bills go from $24.07 to $36.00 in
2004, $41.40 in 2005, $46.80 in 2006 and $52.20 in 2007.
Medium usage customers with 5/8" meters, using 5000 cubic feet of water
in a two month period would see their two month water bills increase
from the present $38.59 to $41.56 in 2004, $44.56 in 2005, $47.56 in
2006 and $50.56 in 2007. Medium usage customers with 1" meters would
see their two month bills go from $43.54 to $54.92 in 2004, $60.32 in
2005, $65.72 in 2006 and $71.12 in 2007.
Note that 1" services have the capacity to deliver 2.5 times as much
water as 5/8" services; the rates take this capacity difference into
consideration.
The selection was passed three to one; RLECWD Directors Mel Griffin,
Jerry Wickham and Doug Cater voted yes and Director Mary Harris voted
no. Director Robert Blanchard was absent.
Even though handbills were distributed over the previous weekend urging
attendance at the meeting, there were only eight of us in the audience.
The handbills alleged excessive salary and benefit increases and
suggested Board "incompetence, fraud, or what?"
The December RLECWD Board meeting will include a public hearing on the
rate increase. The meeting is scheduled for December 15, at 7PM. The
meeting will be held in the Community Center at 810 Oak Lane in Rio
Linda.
November 3, 2003
I am appalled that the News is only printing Jay O'Brien's biased
rendition of Director Mary Harris and the inner working of the Rio
Linda Elverta Community Water District. Mr. O'Brien needs to stop
spreading his personal squabble with Harris at the public's expense,
and work on those issues one on one with Harris, not in a public forum.
I applaud Director Harris for her diligence and common sense to know
that something is apparently wrong in the transactions of our water
district. A big red flag that Director Harris is on to something is
clear, when we see the weekly attacks and the manner of treatment she
is getting from those who censure.
We elected Director Harris to look out for the ratepayer's interest and
from what I see, she is doing exactly that. When a ratepayer inquired
about health benefits for retirees, that item was placed on the agenda
Director Harris requested from CalPERS Health Service a copy of the
contract and monthly billing roster for Rio Linda Elverta Community
Water District. She uncovered that we are paying $1096.00, a month
toward retiree medical benefits to ex-general manager Mike Phelan, who
had only five years vested with our district. In addition, we are
paying $548.00 toward Director Jerry Wickham medical benefits. I can
not fathom that our Directors would have approved something like that.
I am outraged to discover that our water district has a been paying
total premiums for retirees, when CalPERS Health Benefit services has a
contract that state retiree's medical benefits is a self pay program
with a graduated percentage amount... Not total premiums.
Could this be a possible fraud issue?
As the Sacramento Bee so rightly stated. The public is much better
served by water officials with a thirst for information than by those
who are satisfied with too little
Sincerely
Matthew Chadaris
Rio Linda, CA
Dear Mr. Chedaris,
Thank you for your letter and for giving me the opportunity to address
the issues you raise.
First, I would like details on your assertion that my articles are a
"biased rendition of Director Mary Harris and the inner working of the
(RLECWD)". I haven't seen you at a Board meeting, so in order to reach
that conclusion in a manner completely unbiased by the interpretation
of others, you must have personally viewed video tapes of the meetings.
I welcome your review and differing opinion; your specific citations of
perceived bias would be appreciated.
Second, I respectfully disagree that any treatment applied to Harris
stems from any possibility of her being "on to something" or that any
"big red flag" exists. Just as Harris has the right to question and
dissent, others have the right to engage in the same, to question
accusations and motives, and to expect facts supporting allegations.
Third, are you aware that the documents that Mary Harris obtained from
PERS are only available to authorized representatives of the RLECWD,
and that the information you quote in your letter is identified by law
to be private and secure? Her public disclosure of individually
identifiable information is the subject of an employee complaint with
the potential of civil or criminal action.
Finally, the PERS contract with a "graduated percentage" you mention is
not the one we enacted. Your allegation of fraud has been
addressed by the General Manager. If you are not satisfied with his
explanation, you should attend a Board meeting and address the "fraud"
issue you raise head on, in person.
Furthermore, you might be interested to know that total elimination of
Phelan and Wickham's benefits would amount to savings of 39 cents per
ratepayer.
In closing, you quoted a Sacramento Bee editorial. I wonder how the Bee
editorial writer would react if, at a Board meeting, an elected
District official told that writer, twice, on the record, that she held
the writer's social security number without explaining the purpose for
which it was held by that official.
Please do write more, Matt, it's good to hear from you again.
Sincerely,
Jay O'Brien
RLECWD Board Member 1998-2002
November 3, 2003