Mendocino County Grand Jury
• 2001-2002
Westport County Water District The Westport County Water District (District) supplies water, sewage, and fire
⚠️ 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 and Recommendations 13 findings
F1
The District is current on all annual audits and bond payments.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Board meetings are in compliance with the Brown Act.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The present basic rate for water and sewer service is $83.01 per month, which provides up to 12,000 gallons of water for each residential and commercial user. Water use in excess of basic service is charged according to amount of usage. Commercial hookups are charged at a higher rate than residential.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
The District has an ongoing problem of obtaining enough citizen participation to fill the Board of Directors positions.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
The District has experienced a chronic shortage of revenue from lack of economy of scale. The District has aggressively pursued external grant funding.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
An outside contractor operating on behalf of the District has obtained a $264,000 grant to do a study of the watershed and existing system.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
The State recently awarded a grant to construct an additional water storage tank.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
The District drilled a deep well, which has a high flow rate, but is unusable because of high manganese and iron content. Use of the well water requires a filtration system costing more than $100,000.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
The sewage settlement ponds suffer from sediment accumulation and sewage seepage. They require dredging, draining, and lining. The District reports no funds are available for this work.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
Because of a shortage of personnel, the District does not mail bills in a timely manner. The 1999-2000 Grand Jury found similar problems. The District Board responded that their policy requires bills be out by the 15th of the month and that they have developed a form with a year of payment coupons to remind customers when a payment is due.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
The District is authorized to charge $30 per month to owners of undeveloped and unoccupied real estate parcels. The District has not implemented billing or collection of these fees, stating they would be difficult to collect because of absentee ownership and the lack of funds to legally pursue collection.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
E. The District pursue billing and collection of fees for undeveloped and unoccupied parcels and pass an ordinance to include unpaid fees in the cost of initial hookup. (Finding 11) F. The District review the matter of the recreational vehicles on a single service and determine if additional fees are warranted. (Finding 12) Comment It is not within the purview of the Grand Jury to make recommendations to citizens concerning political issues. However, in regard to the lack of citizen participation in the Water District, the Grand Jury would remind the citizenry of the District: “one gets the government one deserves.” Response required Westport County Water District Board of Directors
F12
The 1999-2000 Grand Jury found that “one large lot, which is divided into several parcels has five RV’s hooked up to one water and sewer line and paying a single rate” and recommended that “a complete review of all properties within the district, both occupied and vacant be made to determine if the district is receiving all revenues due.” The District responded that the recommendation was “in progress and of the highest priority.” The present Grand Jury finds that the single hookup for several residences still exists and the Chair of the Board of Directors reiterated this two-year old response.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
E. The District pursue billing and collection of fees for undeveloped and unoccupied parcels and pass an ordinance to include unpaid fees in the cost of initial hookup. (Finding 11) F. The District review the matter of the recreational vehicles on a single service and determine if additional fees are warranted. (Finding 12) Comment It is not within the purview of the Grand Jury to make recommendations to citizens concerning political issues. However, in regard to the lack of citizen participation in the Water District, the Grand Jury would remind the citizenry of the District: “one gets the government one deserves.” Response required Westport County Water District Board of Directors
F13
The 1999-2000 Grand Jury found that the Waste Water Capital Reserve Fund as mandated by the California State Water Resources Control Board was in arrears and recommended that “delinquent payments be brought up to date.” The District Board responded that capital funds should come from hook up fees, but that the shortage of new hookups caused the lack of funds. The Capital Fund now shows a zero balance.
No recommendations for this finding
Comments 1
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CO1It is not within the purview of the Grand Jury to make recommendations to citizens concerning political issues. However, in regard to the lack of citizen participation in the Water District, the Grand Jury would remind the citizenry of the District: “one gets the government one deserves.” Response required Westport County Water District Board of Directors 2001-2002 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report 67