The board voted 4-1 to deny further relief on the Faulls’ $3,497.29 leak bill; staff’s $1,372.80 credit and interest-free payment option of up to 36 months stand. Directors welcomed General Manager Travis Small and thanked outgoing interim GM Jim Abercrombie. Staff said about 60% of meters require on-site reads. Leak detection will go to the POE committee, and directors requested clearer investment and outside-services reports.
A slide blocks downstream Ione Canal flow. Crews built a temporary cattle-water supply as staff scopes possible full abandonment; long-term service remains unresolved. Mule Creek Prison’s roughly 2 million gallons of storage are offline; the 1985 agreement requires the agency to supply it. Staff seeks tank repairs and models supply options. Tanner Clearwell bidding targets January 2027; the $6.9 million Buckhorn main and Tank D project targets an April 2027 start.
River Pines Well 6R and Lamel Well No. 1 had PFAS notification-level detections below the MCL. Directors suggested outreach ahead of the Consumer Confidence Report. A possible $10 million headwaters fuel-reduction grant may be confirmed in December. A director said the Buena Vista data-center website reduced its stated size from 41 to 16 megawatts; no formal county application or data-center water arrangement was confirmed.
A proposed 20-year water agreement with East Bay MUD drew public concerns about pricing and drought-time access for local agriculture. The board heard comment and prepared to recess to closed session for discussion. A new auditing firm was approved for a three-year engagement.
Board approved the Pine Grove tank parcel transfer and the consent agenda. Staff discussed wildfire resiliency grant efforts and county GIS gaps. The GM employment agreement and legal counsel report were pulled; staff noted the GM candidate withdrew acceptance and said next steps would be discussed in closed session.
