GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING June 13, 2019 — 5:00 PM TO 7:00 PM SNO-ISLE Coupeville Library 788 NW Alexander Street, COUPEVILLE, WA
AGENDA
Call to order & Quorum call Member and guest introductions Approve Agenda Members vote to approve the Agenda Secretary’s Report: Randi Perry will present the Minutes for the March 14, 2019 General Membership Meeting. Members vote to approve the Minutes. Treasurer’s Report: Bethel Hart will present the Treasurer’s Report. Members vote to approve the Treasurer’s Report. “Pass the word!”:
Plan for bringing AWWA one-day workshops to Whidbey Island; members’ comments on first workshop; subject matter, date, location and fees for the second workshop
Dates and themes for remaining Quarterly Membership Meetings in 2019 at Coupeville Library
Whidbey Island Water Resources Committee – Charter and Mission of the WRAC and issues under consideration.
Theme of this meeting: Drafting your Small Water System Management Program (required by WAC 246-290-105). Binders and copies of the official Guide (DOH Document #331-134) will be provided. Presentations by our Board of Directors and guests on composing the first chapter: MANAGERIAL CAPACITY Floor open for questions & answers and general discussion Adjourn
Every year, we receive many questions from our members about the Small Water Systems Management Program (SWSMP) that the State requires (Washington Administrative Code 246-290-105) of all Group A systems. Indeed, when you pull up the official Guide for preparing the SWSMP on your computer it does seem overwhelming (82 pages !!!! for Heaven’s sake) and that induces the urge to put off working on it for another day.
Meanwhile, water keeps flowing out to our neighbors and problems of ownership and operations keep coming up – and even the most dedicated and competent water boards struggle to understand and meet their responsibilities. Well, the number ONE responsibility of the Whidbey Island Water Systems Association is to be the focal point for information on water system operations and maintenance … and the number TWO responsibility is to inform our members about government laws and rules. So, our Board of Directors decided to use the rest of the meeting time that we will have with our members this year (3 quarterly meetings) to help them to draft their SWSMP’s.
The State’s Guide (DOH Document #331-134) divides the SWSMP into three chapters: Managerial, Technical and Financial. We will use the time available at our next three quarterly members’ meetings to concentrate on each of these chapters in turn – beginning with presentations on every element of the Managerial Chapter at our meeting at the Coupeville Library, 5:00 to 7:00 pm on June 13th. By the end of this year, we hope that the loose-leaf binders that we will provide, filled with the detailed information that we will help you to develop, will satisfy the State’s requirements. How about that for a sensible goal? By the way, you have often heard me say that the safest thing for a Group B system to do is “to act like a Group A system.” These meetings on the SWSMP will provide everything that is important to know to run a Group B system in the most responsible way!
Jeff Lundt Northwest Washington Subsection AWWA 2064775582 jeff.lundt@kingcounty.gov
A one-day presentation of some of the basic elements, terminology, regulations and concepts involved in operating a water utility. This workshop is aimed at new frontline employees, office staff and others who would benefit from an understanding of the basic concepts and terminology used in the water supply industry. Topics include:
Cost is $25 for WIWSA members, $80 for AWWA, WEF & PNCWA members and $105 for non-members. If you, or your utility are WIWSA, AWWA, WEF or PNCWA members you qualify for the member rates. Lunch and refreshments are included. $20 surcharge for registering after Monday April 8th. Registration closes Friday April 12th.
Cancellation Policy – If a registrant is unable to attend the workshop and a substitute within the organization can attend, please contact Jeff Lundt at jeff.lundt@kingcounty.gov to update the information. If unable to attend or send a substitute contact the above at least one week before the workshop for a refund (minus a $10 processing fee). Refunds after that time will not be given.
If the workshop is cancelled due to lack of registration or another reason, full refunds will be given.
Please note that the on-line registration system requires a unique email address for each registrant. If you do not have a work or home email call Jeff Lundt (206/477-5582) for a work-around.
For more information contact us at the email or phone shown on the left.
Thanks for your time and attention.
Other NWWA Training Events for 2019
Water Storage Basics Monday April 1st, Burlington Public Library
Emergency Preparedness Tuesday May 7th, Legion Hall Everett
Pump Station Operations & Maintenance Wednesday May 22nd Port Townsend
Western Washington Short School & Trade Show, Tuesday & Wednesday June 4th & 5th, 2019 – Lynnwood Convention Center, Lynnwood, WA.
See the subsection Webpage for updates on dates and other training
Those of us who were born before the so-called “Digital Revolution” still expect to find important data and information about nearly everything printed on paper. Wellllll, that revolution really happened and now we are all working hard to become “computer literate.”
When we needed information or data about our water systems, for example, it once required an actual “voyage of discovery” down to Island County Administration, a “get acquainted” chat over the desk, and the patience to delve through records in every stage of decay. Not so anymore! We are indeed fortunate to have access to digital “Navigators” who can guide us to the data and information that we need without us even leaving our kitchen tables. Two of those intrepid Navigators, John Lovie and Doug Kelly, will spread out the pertinent digital maps for us at our next Quarterly Members Meeting, 5:00 to 7:00 pm, Thursday, March 14th at the Coupeville Library. Please attend and bring your trickiest questions about digital access “courses and speeds.”
As a bonus, we will also host the recently appointed Deputy Director of the Washington State Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water. Derek Pell served the public as the Deputy Director of the NW Region of the ODW for years and is no stranger to Whidbey Island and our association. We want to hear about his first impressions of “Life at the Top” at the seat of our State Government – so bring even trickier questions for his challenge!
Warm regards, Jim Patton
P. S. As a matter of interest, please see the record below of the themes that we have explored at all of our Quarterly Members’ Meetings over the last five years – and don’t hesitate to let us know if you think that some are important enough to revisit.
2014
Q1 Insurance for Small Water Systems
Q2 What’s New at Island County Health and ODW
Q3 Recruiting and Training Certified Water System Operators
Q4 Consolidating Small Water Systems into Districts
2015
Q1 Potential for Disruption of Water Supplies
Q2 Plans for Response to Acts of Nature
Q3 Funding sources for Improvements and Repairs
Q4 World Café – Concerns and Suggestions
2016
Q1 Responsibilities of Water Boards
Q2 Who Owns Our Drinking Water?
Q3 Water Treatment
Q4 How to Develop your SWSMP
2017
Q1 Detection and Treatment of PFAS
Q2 Purpose of and Preparation for Sanitary Surveys
