The information meeting regarding the upcoming bond vote (Loan # RF3-469-3.0) was held on 12/12/2022 at the Deborah Rawson Library meeting room.
Attendees: Fred Lavenberg, Jeffrey Earl, Dan Dube, Jon Byer, Mac Lippert and Charlie Windisch.
Meeting called to order at 7:11pm
The background regarding the need for the loan was discussed. In summary:
The greensand filter (primarily removes the manganese from the water) was installed in 2003 and had reached the end of it’s life. Concerned that the structure could collapse at any time (and result in an immediate and very expensive repair) the Prudential Committee made the decision to have Culligan replace the filter this past summer. The total bill for the greensand filter project (engineering fees, labor, the filter itself) came to $68,335.
Some time prior to last summer, the Committee had been in touch with the state to obtain a long term loan (bond) from the state’s drinking water revolving fund, as the reserves of the Jericho Fire District #1 were not sufficient to cover the full cost of the project.
The state approved our application for $60,000. The loan will be paid over 20 years (one payment per year of $3669.78). There will be no impact to the current quarterly bills.
However, since we are a municipality, the bond cannot be simply accepted by the committee – it must be voted upon by the registered voters of the Foothills development.
That vote will take place next Monday, December 19, 2022. Polls will be open from 10am to 7pm at the Deborah Rawson library meeting room.
There was a question as to whether there are other pending projects regarding the water system. The committee does recognize the need to eventually replace the existing piping that runs from the wellhead to the pump house. The committee wants to take advantage of another state program that will enable dollars to be available for that effort when the time comes.
The meeting ended at 7:30pm