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SHELTON, WA 98584

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Mason PUD News

PUD Commission Report for June 29, 2010

Meeting Highlights

Authorization of partial payment for Mountain View substation rebuild
Presentation from Mason County Fire District Five regarding proposed annexation of the city of Shelton into the district for fire protection and emergency services
Authorization of a call for bids for placement of conduit as part of the reconstruction of underground electrical distribution system in Hartstene Pointe community
Partial payment to contractor for site preparation for Johns Prairie operations center project
PUD 3 staff raises nearly $3,000 for American Cancer Society

Consent Agenda

Mason County PUD No. 3 Commissioners approved vouchers in the amount of $1.9 million.

Commissioners authorized the release of a partial payment in the amount of $103,976 to Mountain Power for reconstruction of PUD 3’s Mountain View substation in Shelton. The bid amount for construction is nearly $1.2 million. The total cost of the project, including prior purchases of equipment is estimated at approximately $2.3 million. The project was substantially complete the week of May 10.

The upgrade included the installation of separate circuits for the Mountain View, Mason and Johns Prairie substations. This will improve reliability and flexibility when responding to system maintenance or outages.

The Mountain View substation serves nearly 2,700 customers in Shelton and north of the city limits.

Comments from the Public

Dave Salzer, assistant chief for Mason County Fire District Five, reported on the proposed annexation of the city of Shelton into the district for the purposes of firefighting and emergency medical services. The fire district currently provides services to the city through an interlocal agreement. However Salzer noted that annexation would provide for operational efficiencies and cost savings for taxpayers in the city and Fire District Five. A vote on the proposal will be on the August 17 ballot. Voters in the fire district and city must separately approve the annexation for it to become effective.

John Komen, a Mason Lake area resident, expressed his opposition to the annexation plan. Komen stated his opinion that the proposal would increase taxes and costs to residents of the fire district through benefits provided for city residents.

Dave O’Leary, city of Shelton administrator, said the current arrangement could lead to higher tax rates at a faster rate than by consolidating the fire and emergency services with the fire district.

Action Items

Commissioners authorized purchase of a consolidated Microsoft Software License Agreement. The agreement will save PUD 3 an estimated $54,000 over the next three years in desktop and network operating software, office productivity applications, support and service.

Commissioners authorized a call for bids (L5-2010) for Hartstene Pointes Drive East conduit road crossings. This is part of a rebuild of the underground electricity distribution system in the area on north Harstine Island. The engineer’s estimate for the conduit project is $76,105.

Commissioners authorized the addition of Loy Clark Pipeline Company of Tualatin, Oregon to the PUD’s list of prequalified contractors.

Commissioners adopted Resolution 1512 declaring distribution system items surplus, and authorized the sale or disposal of the equipment, which is mostly transformers.

Commissioners authorized, on a 2-1 vote, to release the first partial payment in the amount of $100,000 to Zephyrs’, Inc. of Allyn for site preparation at the Johns Prairie operations center property. The original bid amount was $243,000 plus taxes.

Staff Reports

Joel Myer, public information and government affairs manager, reported that a team of employees, working on their personal time, had raised an estimated $3,000 for the American Cancer Society through fund-raisers and the Relay for Life event June 26 and 27 at Shelton High School. Myer praised the group’s enthusiasm and creativity in their fundraising efforts.

Commission Reports

Commissioners consented to a request from the Washington Public Utility District Association to allow for a one-time extension to the deadline for which member utilities may consider withdrawal from the association. They agreed to allow the notification date to be deferred from June 30 to November 1.

Next Meeting

The next PUD 3 commission meeting takes place July 6, 2010 at 10:00 AM in the PUD auditorium at 307 West Cota Street in Shelton.