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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 7 findings
F1
Page 23
The District has a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to address long-term infrastructure issues; the District still does not have a plan in place to address district-wide future needs.
F2
Page 23
While conducting interviews with district and plant management, the Grand Jury learned two separate policies and procedures manuals (aka operations manuals) exist. One manual contains policies and procedures regarding operation of the wastewater treatment plant while the other is for the pump station (headworks). These two manuals are dated 2000 and 2002 respectively and are out of date. Contact personnel and contact phone numbers are incorrect. Although a new employee handbook, dealing with personnel issues within the district, was adopted in 2006, a comprehensive, combined policies and procedures manual has yet to be written by district management and adopted by the board of directors. The CIP and employee handbook do not adequately 18 address the specifics of day-to-day operations, job definitions, emergency procedures, etc.
F3
Page 24
The wastewater treatment plant was upgraded in 2002-2003. Originally intended to operate in an automatic mode, the plant still has to be run manually because the upgrade was not completed as originally specified. According to the district engineer, he has received no direction from the district Board to rectify this deficiency.
F4
Page 24
The Grand Jury finds that little or no progress has been made on obtaining additional sources of discharge. This problem has been known and studied for a number of years without being resolved.
F5
Page 25
The district received a Notice of Violation (NoV) from the CRWQCB in January 2007 identifying violations from 2005 and 2006. Correction of the NoV is very expensive and time consuming. Since the district has a part-time manager it has limited resources to deal with the NoV.
F6
Page 25
Minutes of previous board meetings are being approved only when board members who attended those meetings are in attendance. No board action was made regarding this process. Minutes are often approved in batches at board meetings, and some are two to three months old. RECOMMEDATION The Grand Jury recommends minutes of previous meetings be approved at the following regular board meeting. Waiting to approve minutes does not improve accuracy and risks minutes never being approved in cases of illness or board vacancies. RESPONSE REQUESTED Murphys Sanitary District Board of Directors
F7
Page 25
On most agendas for regular meetings the board indicated that it would go into closed session to discuss pending litigation. There is no pending litigation. 20
Recommendations 4
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R1Page 26The treatment plant can operate continuously in automatic mode.
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R2Page 26The NoV has been dealt with to the satisfaction of the CRWQCB.
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R3Page 26An alternate source of discharge has been obtained.
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R4Page 26A comprehensive emergency policy is written to include duties of all personnel and an accurate reporting policy. Copies of the emergency policy should follow both state and county reporting guidelines, be posted in all offices and plants, and be given to all district personnel including members of the board after having been reviewed and adopted by the district board. The Grand Jury also recommends: A. The district reorganize its management policy and procedures, including the hiring of a full time district manager. The district also institute a hiring and training program, including pay adjustments where appropriate, to reduce high staff turnover. B. A comprehensive policies and procedures manual be drafted and adopted by December 2007 that spells out all functions necessary for normal plant operation, special procedures that may be required from 21 time to time, and emergency procedures including accurate and lawful reporting methods. C. Long range planning be implemented, including a comprehensive district wide plan to deal with short term and long-range goals. D. Innovative funding solutions need to be explored due to the need for a large number of infrastructure requirements necessary within the next five years, and could include bonding arrangements with potential developers, grants from federal and state resources, and assessment districts where needed. E. With an eye on the limited capacity of the wastewater treatment facility, the district should promote an aggressive district wide water conservation policy in conjunction with UPUD. RESPONSE Murphys Sanitary District Board of Directors Union Public Utilities District 22