The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

General Manager Dave Tramblie brought the PUD Board of Commissioners up to speed at their meeting on Tuesday morning.

Hancock Timber was being required to remove a section of the Deep River mainline road and had contacted Tramblie to let him know that this would include part of the PUD’s water main.

Tramblie reported that the PUD would put in a temporary line and put the new main in on the newly graded slope when it was done.

According to Tramblie, the PUD is required to relocate the pipe and will have to absorb the cost of the project because the PUD has an easement on Hancock Timber’s property.

Commissioner Dennis Reid speculated the project may cost $7,000-8,000.

Tramblie gave an update on the intertie project with Pacific County.

“I don’t have a permit in hand,” he said, “but all indications are that it will be approved. Things appear to be moving in the right direction.”

Tramblie has ordered poles for the project and lined up a dump truck and excavator. There are still a few minor details left to consider, but Tramblie intends to ask the county for a week’s closure on a portion of the west Deep River road sometime in August.

There was a high water pressure event on Puget Island on Thursday, according to Tramblie. The crew investigated and found that a two inch pressure regulator was stuck. They were able to readjust it on Friday morning, but the pressure was higher than usual for a while.

“I haven’t heard of any damage reports,” Tramblie said. He speculated that the problem had been caused when the master meter was calibrated the previous Monday.

“They had to use some valves and piping at that location that don’t get used as often as the main pipe,” he said. “Perhaps there was some turbidity that got stirred up and perhaps that lodged in this valve and caused higher pressure.”

After a contractor replaced a valve on Malone Creek Road a month ago, the crew discovered a leaky valve between the fix and the Malone reservoir.

“I haven’t seen the spikes on the Westend in the consumption like I’ve seen on the Island so I think we’re headed in the right direction,” Tramblie said.

Finally, Tramblie reported that an individual had approached him about a property on Beaver Creek that was not connected to the system.

“The power was disconnected more than 20 years ago,” Tramblie said. “I don’t know the whole story. All of the underground on Beaver Creek had been replaced except for this section that fed the very last customer. Apparently they didn’t live there and didn’t make a big issue of it. He came to me and asked why their section wasn’t replaced. I gave him an estimate and he was a little upset.”

After more conversation, Tramblie opted to go ahead and replace the underground cable. The customer told Tramblie that he intends to remain connected to the system.

“It’s a busy time of year,” Tramblie said.

Auditor Erin Wilson reported that there had been an issue with their electronic payment processing on Friday. The source of the problem came from the company that provides the service, not from the PUD itself.

“It was an inconvenience,” Wilson said.

“Not only for staff, but for our customers,” Tramblie added.

Dick Swart, a representative from the Town of Cathlamet said that they had placed an order for a strainer assembly for the water plant intake project.

“I believe that the idea was that the PUD would pay for a portion of it,” he said.

Swart also shared that there had been an exploratory meeting on potential efficiency improvements for respective water systems.

“It was probably one of the best meetings I’ve seen between the town and the PUD in the 15 years I’ve been here,” Swart said.

Commissioner Gene Healy, who had been at the meeting, concurred that it had been productive and “done with honor.”

Swart also reported that the town was making progress in getting a charging station.

The commissioners approved a letter of agreement with the town to share limited water connections. They approved a resolution which amended a deferred compensation plan for employees. They also approved travel for Healy to attend a Washington PUD Association water workshop in Vancouver in September.

The next PUD Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for July 19 at 8:30 a.m. in the PUD meeting room.