EBWSC Town Hall meeting. Friday, March 9, :00 p.m. Springbank Heritage Club

Transcription

1 EBWSC Town Hall meeting Friday, March 9, :00 p.m. Springbank Heritage Club EBWSC Board of Directors members present at meeting: Alex Cardenas Kevin MacDougall Mick Podovilnikoff Dave Beattie Arlene Vermey Maxine Starkewski Scott Lawritsen Dave Laurie Guest of EBWSC Board: Nick Tenham from BSEI Meeting opened at 7:05 p.m. by Alex Cardenas. Alex Cardenas introduced Bruce Allan as the evening s moderator if necessary. Alex welcomed the membership of EBWSC. Members of the Board of Directors of the EBWSC were introduced to the membership. Slide presentation by Board members: December 2011 RBC failure: -Arrangements were made with Wildrose Vacuum Services to haul sewage from EBWSC -Obtained dumping permit from Town of Cochrane to haul sewage there (cost saving to EBWSC) -Engineer and operations assessment of failed RBC done RBC failure reviewed -Suppliers of RBC shaft were identified (The company that we used for the past RBC failure has gone out of business) -Replacement costs were estimated and reviewed (~ $400,000 for unit and ~ $90,000/month for sewage hauling) -Unit was ordered on Dec 19, 2011 (required 50% down payment) -Insurance claim initiated (Insurance co. was made aware of failure on day that it happened) -Cash flow of EBWSC was reviewed -EBWSC projections made -Newsletter sent to membership (see list) -In December 2011 the fees for 2012 had not yet been received -Cash flow evaluated and anticipated EBWSC insolvent by March 2012 Kevin MacDougall, Nick Tenham (with BSEI), Dave Beattie -Operations review -Until now, EBWSC projects have been mostly reactionary vs. being proactive -Developing timeline for necessary projects Slide # 24 Financing available Only on portfolio basis -Financing options are a total package and we are not able to pick and choose one of 3 options 1

2 AFTER BANK INFO SLIDE: QUESTION: CHERYL DAWES: How could you provide the bank with the audited financials for the EBWSC when the membership has been asking for them and can t get them?? ANSWER: Alex Cardenas and Scott Lawritsen: The bank was given the 2009 audited financials that we have (which were also made available at the 2011 AGM) and the 2010 unaudited financials. (2010 financials are still in the auditors hands) audited financials should be finalized in the next few days. The auditing firm, (GHB of Cochrane), will no longer perform these activities, so the Board will need to find a new auditing firm. At this point, Scott Lawritsen informed everyone that we will establish a more comprehensive financial model, starting with the 2010 audited statements, build in the preliminary 2011 and use the model to have a better view of our cash flow requirements on a monthly basis. SLIDE # 31 Web page design address created for communication with EBWSC Board: ebwsc.board@gmail.com QUESTION: CARL FRANSEN: Why is the EBWSC not suing the developer for costs that we have incurred to repair damages? ANSWER: Alex Cardenas: EBWSC settled some issues with the developer and received payment for those issues in 2010 and We have ongoing discussions with developer re: conveyances, right of ways, which were an integral part of the settlement. The EBWSC does not yet have ownership of the water and sewer system or the irrigation system in Rodeo Ridge. (The FAC has not been signed off on this). QUESTION: CARL FRANSEN: Why are we not rebuilding everything new when we have had problems/failures with the RBC in the past and again now? ANSWER: Dave Beattie: We are not discussing the old RBC, but are upgrading and improving the design specs with the system that is available to us now. QUESTION: BRENNER: Why are Villosa members being asked to pay for infrastructure that relates to sewage? ANSWER: Alex Cardenas: Infrastructure costs are unable to be separated because our water and sewer licenses are tied together. QUESTION: Why are EBWSC members not metered for water usage? ANSWER: The Board was given the mandate at the AGM to determine the cost of this/member and have determined it to be ~ $500.00/member. This would give us standardized units, installed that could be read remotely. The updated information will be presented to the membership at the next AGM of the EBWSC. QUESTION: MARY ANN KEREKES: How does the golf course fit into the EBWSC? ANSWER: Alex Cardenas: The effluent from the EBWSC is put into the settling ponds on the Springbank Links golf course, mixed with river water and used to irrigate the golf course lands. COMMENT: KEVIN HEISE: Request to membership of EBWSC to NOT use water softeners. The restrictive covenant states that NO ONE is to have/use a water softener and Kevin reminded the attendees that excessive salt levels from softeners harms the grass. QUESTION: WAYNE DEPNER: If the membership of EBWSC pays ~ $12/cubic meter of water why does the golf course have an agreement to pay the EBWSC only $2/cubic meter of water. 2

3 ANSWER: Alex Cardenas and Kevin Heise: Springbank Links Golf Course is also a member of the Association, and as such, must be treated equally. They have agreements with the Association that must be respected. The EBWSC and Springbank Links Golf Course are in ongoing discussions regarding the conveyances, right of ways, etc. QUESTION: BRUCE ALLAN: Does the EBWSC know how many cubic meters of water we produce in a year and are our costs in line with charging $2/cubic meter? ANSWER: Alex Cardenas: Our production numbers have been skewed with leaks, and our discussions re: charges to Springbank Links Golf Course are ongoing. Alex Cardenas stressed the work that the EBWSC is continuing to do and our desire to strive to achieve: -fairness for our Villosa members -agreement with Springbank Links Golf Course -Rodeo Ridge Conveyance (Alex mentioned that the EBWSC has created an ACTION LOG to use as a tool to help track specific projects/items that membership have requested we pursue). QUESTION: MARY ANN KEREKES: Villosa members of EBWSC pay $1,900.00/year for water. How much do members of EBWSC with sewer service pay annually? ANSWER: Alex Cardenas: $2, for 2012 COMMENT: LYNNE ALLAN: Thank you to the Board of EBWSC for all their efforts. QUESTION: LYNNE ALLAN: What is the total outstanding balance on EBWSC members accounts? ANSWER: Alex Cardenas: To Feb total outstanding is ~ $30, QUESTION: LYNNE ALLAN: Because different members pay different costs (empty lot owners will not be charged for hauling) and that fact that the cash call is the same amount for everyone, when will the differences be adjusted? ANSWER: Alex Cardenas: When fees are set for the next budget, amounts will be adjusted to take into account the amount paid for the cash call LESS the sewage hauling costs for empty lot owners and Villosa Ridge members COMMENTS: JASON BAMLETT: Stated he had concerns and questions about the accountability of the Board of the EBWSC and the lack of disclosure to the open market place. Stated he was a real estate agent and as such was concerned about the value of homes in our community. Stated that there are 12 homes for sale in our community at this time. Stated he has done evaluations of 9 homes for people in the community. Stated he can t serve on the Board of the EBWSC. Stated he is concerned about the drop in real estate sales in the area. Stated he was singled out for using the EBWSC membership list that was accidently distributed. Stated that he had concerns about the Board of Directors not meeting their responsibilities. Stated that there had been no communication from the Board of Directors with the membership. Stated that he did not receive the minutes of the AGM with his EBWSC invoice in November RESPONSES: Alex Cardenas and Maxine Starkewski 3

4 Board of Directors sent out newsletters, s, notices as often as there were any developments and once monthly after the Board meetings. A slide was presented that showed the date and summary of all the newsletters published and issued to the membership since May These notices are also posted in the mail shacks, on the mail boxes in Villosa and Emerald Bay. Maxine has also posted notices on members front doors and mailed them to individual members that she is aware of that do not have the internet. Maxine remarked that notices are not sent out if there is nothing to add to the information that has already been distributed to the membership. Jason Bamlett had not been singled out at any point during the presentation. His name was not included in any slide. He singled himself out during his commentary. At this point, Gerald Handford and Judy Howard asked if we could move on to the remainder of the member questions. QUESTION: JASON BAMLETT: Does the $2, cash call cover any reserve fund? ANSWER: Alex Cardenas: No, just the expenses associated with the replacement of the RBC unit and the site preparation, sewage hauling costs, etc. QUESTION: LIZ TOERPER: Why are we not connected to the Cochrane Calgary sewer line? ANSWER: There are costs involved there as well we would need the right of way to run lines from our area to their line, lift stations would need to be constructed, etc. QUESTION: JASON BAMLETT: Has any correspondence been sent to the County of Rockyview re: tying into the system? ANSWER: Dave Beattie: No. EBWSC did make a request to the County of Rockyview to dump into their lift station and we were turned down. Permits and right of ways would be very lengthy. This could be a long term solution, but it would never have been feasible for a short term solution during the RBC incident. QUESTION: SHANNON BRISTOW: Where is the $2, being spent? ANSWER: Alex Cardenas: Alex reviewed the slide that he had presented with this information. QUESTION: MARY ANN KEREKES: How long does it take the RBC to process sewage? ANSWER: Dave Beattie and Nick Tenham: It takes ~ 4 hours from start to finish for the sewage treatment plant to process. QUESTION: CHRIS TOERPER: Has anyone investigated the possibility of having the municipality take over the water co-ops? This has been done in other jurisdictions (around the Peace Country region) and all the water co-ops are managed as one with the costs for all of them being shared by everyone. ANSWER: Alex Cardenas: No. We hadn t heard of this before, but it is definitely something that could be researched in the future. (No volunteer to take on this project stepped forward at this time). QUESTION: Is the RBC the most expensive piece of equipment? ANSWER: Alex Cardenas, Mick Podovilnikoff, Dave Beattie: It is the most expensive piece of equipment in the sewage treatment plant, but NOT the most expensive piece of equipment that the EBWSC own. QUESTION: JASON BAMLETT: You said that the web site would be ready for spring. It s spring in 2 weeks, will the web site be ready then? ANSWER: Maxine Starkewski: No. It is still our goal to have the web site running before the summer season. 4

5 COMMENT: MARK ROY: The Board has been concentrating on other things for the past 3 months and I think the membership is aware of that. I suggest we give the Board Members a break. QUESTION: TROY DILLABOUGH: Members from Villosa are still concerned about what they are paying for. Is there a legal opinion and/or contract available for review?? ANSWER: Alex Cardenas: The EBWSC strives to be fair with all it s members and will try and locate any documentation/agreements it can find and have them reviewed. QUESTION: MARY ANN KEREKES: Are the original documents for Villosa resident s available. Where would that information be? We paid $8, to our developer to be tied into the EBWSC. ANSWER: Arlene Vermey: Of the $8, paid to the developer, the EBWSC received $ There may be a photo copy of something from the late 1990 s but unsure of where it would be located. COMMENT: Alex Cardenas: The EBWSC is going to form a Communications sub-committee and they will try and have EBWSC documents located, scanned and filed going forward. Volunteers for this activity are welcome. COMMENT: BRENNER: We are concerned about the cost of water to Villosa residences. We know people near here that are only paying $ RESPONSE: LINDA AND JERRY SOLTYS: Calling Horse Estate residents pay $2,000.00/year for water. QUESTION: RICK UNRUH: Does the EBWSC carry liability insurance on it s Board members? ANSWER: Arlene Vermey: Yes. COMMENT: CLAIRE MACMURTERY-MOFFAT: Can we please wrap it up? COMMENT: DON MCDONALD: I have a home in Villosa and have done some research on some issues. Can I share them? ANSWER: Yes. (At this time several Villosa residents were in discussion amongst themselves). QUESTION: Is the system designed to handle the load at full build out? ANSWER: Nick Tenham: Yes. At this point, and with no additional questions from the attendees, Alex Cardenas thanked the membership for coming out and participating. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m. (Notes taken and submitted by Maxine Starkewski) 5