05/22/2001 - Minutes TIGARD WATER DISTRICT
BOARD OF COMMISSIONER'S MEETING
Tuesday, May 22, 2001
Members Present: Beverly Froude, George Rhine and Norm Penner
Staff Present: Ed Wegner and Twila Willson
Visitors Present: Mary Stobbe and Bruce Stobbe
1. Call to Order
The regular meeting of the Tigard Water District Board of Commissioners was called to
order by the acting chair, Commissioner George Rhine, at 7:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Staff called the roll. Commissioner David Strauss was excused. Commissioner
Gretchen Buehner was not present. She has resigned but has not submitted a written
resignation and, therefore, was included in the roll call.
3. Approval of Minutes—April 23, 2001
Commissioner Norm Penner motioned to accept the minutes as submitted for the April
23, 2001, meeting. Commissioner Beverly Froude seconded the motion. The vote was
unanimous to accept the minutes as submitted.
4. Visitor's Comments
Commissioner Rhine held off comments from visitors to allow Ed Wegner time to report
anything he needed to pass onto the Board before leaving to attend the Tigard City
Council meeting, also being held at that time.
Mr. Wegner reported that Dennis Koellermeier has been hired as Utility Manager.
Dennis has over 20 years experience with the City of West Linn, Public Works. Dennis
is working on summer supply projects for Ed and will start with the Tigard Water District
in July.
Summer supply looks good unless there are long periods of extremely hot, dry weather.
Ed has been working closely with PGE on the potential problem. Recommendations will
be made for even/odd, voluntary water use days. It is hoped there will be regional
participation in this campaign. He does not think the City of Portland will participate.
They think they have plenty of water and fear problems with the green industry
(landscape companies, etc). The even/odd campaign will help control the peaking. It is
not only the drinking water that needs to be kept in mind, but also the emergency
services (structural or grass fires). Dennis is preparing news releases on this. This
Tigard Water District Minutes - 1 - May 22,2001
recommendation will be presented to the Intergovernmental Water Board (IWB) on
Wednesday and then to the Tigard City Council.
Commissioner Froude requested that Ed present this information to the Citizen
Involvement Team (CIT), which meets the first Thursday in June. Citizens can complain
or speak their mind at the meeting and information is also dispensed. The meeting is
televised locally on Channel 22. Dennis Koellermeier and Sara Danz (the Water
Conservation Program Coordinator) will be in attendance at the June meeting and will be
taping something for the July meeting.
Mr. Wegner told the newly elected Board Members, Mary Stobbe and Bruce Stobbe, that
he and Dennis Koellermeier would be glad to meet with them during the next month to
review water issues in an effort to bring them up to date.
Commissioner Froude asked Mr. Wegner if the TWD chose to meet less often, if it would
be productive and beneficial to receive the IWB minutes to keep the board members
current on water issues. He guaranteed the members of the TWD Board that they would
receive the IWB minutes if they held fewer meetings. There was a brief discussion as to
whether the minutes should be sent prior to or after approval. It was decided that the
draft form of the minutes would be better with the understanding that final approval
would be needed. There is not a need to meet monthly now. If the TWD were to go to
fewer meetings, it would also free up more time for Dennis and Twila to work on the
newsletters that the TWD wants to distribute. It was mentioned that there would be a
time when water issues would require the Board to meet more frequently so there would
be a need for flexibility. There were no further matters to discuss with Mr. Wegner and
he was excused to attend the Council Meeting.
Commissioner Rhine welcomed Bruce and Mary Stobbe as newly elected board
members and looked forward to their continued participation. Their term of office will
start July 1, 2001.
Twila Willson stated she received certificates that are to be presented following the
swearing in ceremony. She spoke with the Elections Board and they informed her the
swearing in should be performed the month prior to their taking office, which would put
the swearing in ceremony in June. The Board will meet in June to approve the budget
and swear in the new Board Members.
Bruce Stobbe stated he was interested in Mr. Wegner's comments about the even/odd
water days. He said he also owns property in Wilsonville where they are practicing that
now. He expressed the poor example the City of Wilsonville has made by turning water
on and letting it run for two or three days at a park. He felt the City should follow their
own suggestion.
Commissioner Penner added that it is everyone's responsibility to tell our neighbors
and/or the City when we see someone misusing water. He related an example when the
City noticed his water usage was much higher than usual. They contacted him to see if
there was a possible leak. He praised City of Tigard employees for being so alert and
helpful.
Mr. Stobbe stated he and his wife used to own a water company and they knew what
was involved.
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5. Intergovernmental Water Board Update
Commissioner Penner indicated that the IWB has not met since the last TWD meeting
and therefore, he had nothing new to report.
The IWB will meet tomorrow night and Commissioner Penner has received the agenda.
He thinks neighbors living near the Clute property will probably come back to the IWB in
an effort to acquire the land to make a park from that excess land. It is his
understanding that the property was paid for with water money and therefore should be
used to purchase property elsewhere to put in another reservoir. The park issue is up to
Washington County to handle. He wanted to know how to represent the TWD Board.
Commissioner Froude asked Commissioner Penner to get the names of those citizens
who attend the meeting. He said he would get the information. There was a discussion
about the need for a park in that area, but the final outcome was that the appropriate use
of the money would be for reservoir site purchases.
6. Non-Agenda Items
Commissioner Froude brought a copy of an article she saw in the Tribune as a point of
interest. The article was about Portland's Commissioner Sten and his ideas for a
regional water system.
Twila Willson notified the Board of receiving a request from the Special District's
Association for an update of Board Member information for publication. The Board
members reviewed the information and made changes where appropriate. Information
about Mary and Bruce Stobbe was also collected to add to the form.
She also informed the Board that envelopes for the TWD were completely depleted.
There still was a supply of stationery. She requested their approval to order more
envelopes. Approval was given.
7. Set next meeting date
The next regular meeting for the TWD was scheduled for June 25th at 7:00 p.m. The
Community Room at Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue has been reserved for that date.
8. Adjournment
Commissioner Penner motioned to adjourn and Commissioner Froude seconded the
motion. The Board unanimously voted for adjournment at 7:22 p.m.
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