Okanogan County PUD commissioners recognized two employees for their years of service to the district at the May 13 board meeting.
Kyle Richter, systems technician, was recognized for 10 years working for the district. Richter has his associates degree from ITT Technical Institute in Spokane. He started in 2009 as an information systems tech, and became systems tech in 2017.
Rod Little, foreman for the Oroville crew, was recognized for 20 years with the district. Little completed his lineman trainee school before coming to the PUD in 1999 as a warehouseman. He bid and was awarded the lineman apprenticeship position in 2001, passing his test and becoming a journeyman lineman in 2004. Little bid and was awarded the foreman position in 2017.
In other business, the board:
- Heard that General Manager Steve Taylor sent letters to Seattle City Light, Tacoma Public Utilities, Grant County PUD, Chelan County PUD, Douglas County PUD and Bonneville Power Administration to see if they have funding available to assist with possible future costs associated with Enloe Dam. Taylor said he will keep the board updated on responses.
- Heard from Matthew Stevie, environmental coordinator, about his first six months on the job. He said he is working with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on dam safety for Enloe, as well as working with Max J. Kuney Company on pursuing three options for dewatering and inspecting Enloe.
- Approved the 2019 wage and salary grade program. General Manager Steve Taylor said he also has signed a contract with Milliman, Inc. to work with staff to provide a compensation study that includes reviewing job descriptions and salary ranges before the next budget season.
- Approved an updated governance policy and retirement plan trustee authority.
- Approved the first reading of adjusting the compensation for the general manager, based on his annual review conducted the week before, consistent with his contract.
- Heard from Don Coppock, director of finance and accounting, that last week, FEMA sent word that it will be sending $526,000 in reimbursements for the Carlton Complex wildfire projects. It should arrive in two weeks. This is the final payment surrounding the Carlton Complex fires of 2014.
- Heard from Ron Gadeberg, director of power resources and broadband services, that wholesale power sales were better this month, slightly better than budgeted. Retail sales were lower than budgeted. Overall power sales are still nearly $2.5 million under budget so far this year because of the cold weather and high prices that PUD had to pay for power in February and March.
- Learned that Taylor put his name in as a possible candidate to serve on the new state wildfire task force if the state so chooses.
- Wanted to remind the public that the right-of-way access that the PUD has on various lands is not public access – it is private. Commissioner Colyar said he has heard complaints in his area of people misusing PUD right-of-ways and wanted to emphasize that such activity is illegal.