The Board meets on the first and third Monday of each month. Meetings begin at 1:00 p.m. and are held in the department conference room at 65 Lafayette Ave, Littleton. Board meetings are open to the public and time is allotted for public comments at each meeting.
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The regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting began at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 16, 2019 in the Littleton Water and Light (LWL) conference room. Present were Commissioner Peter Cooper, Commissioner Schuyler Sweet, Commissioner Ralph Ross, Financial Director Cheryl Wilkins and Superintendent Thomas Considine.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of the December 2, 2019 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Sweet made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0
CUSTOMER AND PUBLIC CONCERNS:
Power was shut down to the majority of the LWL service territory with little to no notice given due to the mechanical failure of a porcelain insulator on the 34,500 kV overhead electric circuits. On Monday, December 9, 2019 an employee from Arrow Equipment reported noticing sparks/smoke on a utility pole located on Riverside Drive in the vicinity of the old state highway patrol shed. LWL personnel found the broken insulator and the energized wire resting on the wood cross arm structure and expedited repairs. It was fortunate that this person promptly reported the incident, the location was accessible, and LWL personnel were readily available. If the power was not shut down when it was this incident possessed the likely potential to have caused a catastrophic event especially if this line (sub-transmission) had made contact with the underbuilt distribution circuit below.
SUPERINTENDENT/ GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT:
Vachon Clukay & Company PC (LWL’s independent auditors) as part of their financial audit had an employee on site today to conduct a random spot check of LWL’s physical materials inventory. Several items were randomly selected by the auditor from each of the three (3) operational material inventory warehouses. Accompanied by an LWL employee the auditor physically verified that the items annotated in the adjusted materials inventory warehouse matched what was actually on the shelf.
GENERAL/ OTHER BUSINESS:
1. The BOC discussed a proposed purchase power agreement (PPA) submitted by Green Street Power Partners in regard to interconnecting a utility scale photovoltaic solar array to the Mann’s Hill distribution circuit. The BOC reviewed the economic analysis provided by Daymark Energy which found that the proposed average cost and scope of the project were significantly over market price.
Superintendent Considine stated that he had a concern with regard to interconnecting this size array on the load side of a distribution substation with regard to proper circuit fault current and relay coordination. In his opinion this type of array should be on the supply side at the 34.5kV level as this presents less operational challenges.
Following some additional discussion the BOC was in agreement that a project this size and type should go through the competitive bid process and that they feel this is not the right type of project for LWL at this time. The PPA submitted by Green Street will not be executed by LWL .
2. The BOC discussed the proposed 2020 Capital Improvement Project & Equipment plan for LWL.
Commissioner Ross asked about the proposed $50,000 allocation being recommended in support of the Gale River South Branch dam removal and river restoration project.
Mr. Considine stated that the suggested amount would be paid to American River in support of the construction phase of the project. LWL owns the dam and any connected liability that goes along with the property though the property belongs to the US Forrest Service. The US Forrest Service granted LWL a special use permit to use the property and built a dam for the purpose of providing drinking water to the Town of Littleton. As long as LWL maintains the property for public drinking water purposes LWL is allowed to remain on the property as a condition of the permit. The dam and associated water main installation cost LWL about $97,000 to build in 1956 and the estimated project costs to design and remove the dam in 2019 is estimated at about $700,000.
Demolition and restoration activities are expected to begin in August 2020. Planning and design phases (about $236,000) of the project were funded through volunteer program partner, funding for the construction phase is ongoing. Mr. Considine stated in his opinion this is a win-win for LWL. LWL has no plans to restore the structure which has not effectively operated for many years.
Technically the US Forrest Service in accordance with the permit could require LWL to vacate the property and restore the property to pre-construction condition. If this were to happen LWL could be responsible for the entire project cost of removal and restoration.
Following some additional discussion Commissioner Sweet made a motion to accept the 2020 capital plan as presented in the proposed amount of $ 361,685, dated December 16, 2019, with the condition that any additional appropriation/resource for projects under review must be approved by the BOC, seconded by Commissioner Ross.
Vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the board Commissioner Sweet made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 2:07 p.m.
The regularly scheduled Commissioner’s meeting is held twice monthly on the first and third Monday, at 1:00 p.m., in the Department’s conference room.