Last night’s Hi-Desert Water District meeting was smooth sailing until talk of sewer project fees crossed the board members’ path. Reporter Jill Carey Michaels shares the details.
At Wednesday’s Hi-Desert Water District board of directors meeting in Yucca Valley, Vice President Dan Munsey sought clarification regarding the sewer standby fee imposed for most Yucca Valley residents, asking board members if it would also apply to new customers. Director Bob Stadum affirmed that it would, adding that the standby fee rate has not increased since 1992 and that the town might actually have underbilled its residents. Although it was unanimously adopted, that piece of information prompted Board President Sarann Graham to schedule an evaluation review of the existing standby fees in the future.
The Hi-Desert Water District board also approved the Appropriation Limit of the District for the 2018-19 Fiscal Year, which sets the amount of property taxes they are permitted to collect.
Staff recommended the board authorize the general manager to renew the district’s contract with the United States Geological Survey for approximately $200,000.
Lastly, the board endorsed drilling three bore holes near the future wastewater treatment plant to monitor recharge water.
