CLEARLAKE OAKS >> Clearlake Oaks” water board meeting Thursday drew nearly 50 residents for a contentious debate over agenda items which sought to either raise board members compensation for meetings or provide health insurance for each of the five board members.
As the meeting drew to a close, three out of five members voted against continuing to seek the coverage of their insurance, leaving the proposal dead in the water. However, the raise in per meeting compensation from $50 to $100, with a maximum monthly compensation of $200, will be considered at future meetings after an ordinance is drawn up.
Throughout the meeting, residents made clear their qualms with providing the increased amount of funding to compensate the board members, especially as needed repairs to the water system are expected to cost millions.
The majority of complaints were aimed at the proposed insurance benefits, which would cost the district an estimated $40,000 a year. Full insurance coverage, including medical, dental, vision and employee assistance programs, would have cost $679 per board member per month. Insurance for the members” family would not have been provided.
Currently, board members are paid an average of $3,000 per year in compensation.
“When you have millions of repair work to do, you dig your heels in tight and you spend money wisely,” resident Chuck Lamb said. “With that $40,000, you could do a lot of repairs.”
Director Richard Kuehn believed the increased compensation would save the district money in the long-run as it would attract more experienced and skilled candidates for the board. Residents argued the increased benefits would end up attracting candidates for the wrong reason.
Kuehn and Director Dena Barron voted to continue discussing the insurance option, but were overruled and the issue was abandoned.
Kuehn and Barron also voted against moving forward with a compensation plan that would allow for a $200 monthly cap. At the beginning of the meeting, board members had sought to allow for a $600 monthly cap for each board members” compensation. But at the suggestion of Jim Steele, a supervisor candidate for District 3, the board agreed to lower the cap to $200 a month.
After receiving legal guidance from County Counsel Anita Grant, the board will create an ordinance to increase the compensation amounts.
During the meeting, the board also addressed the millions of dollars in repairs that are needed to the aging water system.
Kuehn said the “good news” was that the board was likely to receive U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants, as Clearlake Oaks has been designated as a disadvantaged community with an extremely old infrastructure. According to Kuehn, a lift station has failed and crumbling water mains that have reached their 50-year service life have caused multiple leaks. A study by the USDA to find the leaks will be required to make the repairs.
Lamb said 45 percent of the district”s water is going into the ground at the cost of ratepayers.
Additionally, the board discussed Dollar General”s appeal for a reduction of its quoted sewer and water connection fees. Although nothing was voted on, ratepayers expressed their opposition to the reduction.
“They (Dollar General) can well afford to pay these connection fees and they won”t walk away if we say no,” Lamb said. “I hope the board chooses to stand their ground.”
Steele said Dollar General had “already gotten a gift” from the county with a reduced environmental impact report.
“There”s no reason to stroke their back,” he added.
