Happy New Year!! This communication covers work underway in the following areas:
- 2025 State of the Districts’ Message
- Progress towards an Interim District Administrator
- Upcoming Budget Process – Budget Committee Members needed
- REMINDER to Rate Payers– Annual Backflow Prevention Report Due March 31
- Progress on District Rejuvenation Projects
A. 2025 State of the Districts’ Message
The Chairs of the Water District and Sanitary District have published their second annual State of the District’s Message and mailed it to all rate payers. Click here.
The Message presents insights gained over the past 18 months that shape the direction of the Districts and raise strategic questions for the Districts into the future. In brief, long-term distraction from the core business of producing water and processing waste waster compounded by increasing demands on the Districts and a changing economic picture has been costly and we are paying the penalty of catch-up. We are so grateful to Matt who has been carrying a large part of the “turn things around” burden and is just starting to get his head above water (well, at least occasionally). The good news is that we are finding our way, making difficult decisions and taking steps to put resources and processes in place that will, hopefully, keep us on the path and prevent us from getting distracted again. We can’t afford to!
On a more tactical note, emails have been received about one statement in the message, which is “Since then [over the past 20 years], the population has increased by more than 80% (from 205 to 375 full time residents).” The County was the source of this information – and it is for zip code 97102 which includes part of Falcon Cove.
The following statement – “There are now 94 residential homes, 66 short term rental homes and 207 second homes…” is specific to the Arch Cape Domestic Water Supply and Sanitary Districts, which exclude Falcon Cove.
B. Progress towards an Interim District Administrator
Request for Proposals (RFP) notices have been posted in the Daily Journal of Commerce, Business Tribune, Oregon Association of Water Utilities web site and Special District Association of Oregon. The RFP has also been distributed to known professionals in Oregon who may be interested or know of others who might.
RFP due date is February 11th at 11:00 AM.
Click here to see the RFP posting, key dates the final version of the RFP.
Please forward to anyone you know who might be interested or who might know of others that would.
NOTE: We are adhering to state contracting rules that dictate how procurements such as this must be done by Special Districts such as ours.
C. Upcoming Budget Process – Budget Committee Members needed
Over the next two months, the budgets for the fiscal year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 will be developed. Per state law and District Policy, each District’s budget must then be reviewed by a budget committee comprised of the Board and 5 community members. This review process usually takes 2-3 meeting of 1-1.5 hours in length. (see dates below)
If you are interested and willing to participate in the budget review process please send an email
| Month | Day / Time | Event | Focus / Intent |
| April | April 3rd 4:00 | Budget Meeting Zoom | 1st meeting – Presentation of budgets and first round of discussion |
| April 17th 4:00 | Budget Meeting Zoom | 2nd meeting – Refinement of Budget | |
| May | May 1st 4:00 | Budget Meeting Zoom | 3rd Meeting – Final refinement and approval of Budget |
| May 15th | Board Meeting | Approve Budget |
D. REMINDER to Rate Payers – Annual Backflow Prevention Report Due March 31
All ratepayers who have an irrigation system, fire suppression, in-floor water heating system, hot tubs, swimming pool OR any device which presents the potential for cross contamination of the public water supply due to backflow have a legal requirement to: 1) have a backflow prevention assembly installed, and 2) have that assembly inspected each year by a certified tester and submit the testing report to the District by March 31 of each year.
For more specific information about applicability and the requirement – Click here
E. Progress on District Rejuvenation Projects
In addition to standard operations tasks and addressing unexpected challenges that present themselves, the following progress has been made this month on the FY2024-2025 budgeted rejuvenation projects listed below – with green indicating completed and yellow indicating progress was made / new status reported. (The complete set of projects with status can be found by clicking here)
- Project 1 – Replace Operations Control Electronics for the Water Plant. PROGRESS MADE
Rearrangement of the computer hardware and wiring is underway, with the intent to simplify and expedite the process for bringing the backup computer on-line in urgent situations.
The need for this was identified during the power outages caused by one of the recent storms.
- Project 2 – Replace Webb Lift Station. PROGRESS MADE
The electrical work to bring power to the inside of the lift station building is being completed. Wires are being run to the appropriate locations in the walls to power the control panels, when they arrive.
- Project 3 – Upgrade & Bring Current the Business/ Admin Computer and Data System. COMPLETED
- Project 5 – Implement an Asset Management System. JUST COMPLETED
An initial set of management reports are now in production. The data schema used for capturing the work order data is/will continue to be refined so as to maximize the usefulness of the information for ongoing management of plant and operations.
- Project 6 – Upgrade & Bring Current the Districts’ Web Site. COMPLETED
- Project 7 – Inspect Water Lines for Lead. COMPLETED
- Project 9 – Replace Operations Control Electronics for the Sanitary Plant. PROGRESS MADE
Software licenses for the control system software have been purchased. Installation scheduled for week of January 19.
A.C. Water District Board (Go to Home Page) 