Board Meeting - April 23, 2008

April 23, 2008
Contact: Ron Nelson
(530) 273-6185
Or: Dave Carter
(530) 265-NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

GRASS VALLEY - Directors of the Nevada Irrigation District on Wednesday (Apr. 23) agreed to review last year’s formation of the Cement Hill Community Facilities District (CFD).
The board approved the CFD last December following a mail-ballot election in which 82 percent of voters supported the formation of the CFD and a special tax to bring treated water supplies to Cement Hill near Nevada City.
Since that time, some property owners have raised questions about their inclusion in the CFD. Some have said they were unaware of the election while others said they have other sources of water. One of the four speakers at the meeting said he created a subdivision during the formation process and is facing tax assessments on four parcels instead of one.
While taking care to ensure most of the 240 property owners in the CFD that NID remains committed to the water project, board members agreed to review the formation process and to see if any adjustments to the CFD might be appropriate.
Last year, voters in the CFD boundary approved a special tax of $1385 per parcel per year, beginning in 2009. Proceeds from the special tax will be used over a 20-year period to repay a low-interest $9.8 million state loan that NID has obtained to fund the system improvements.
Board President George Leipzig said the formation would be reviewed by staff and referred to the board’s Administrative Practices Committee for a recommendation back to the full board.

In other business:

General Manager Ron Nelson reported that available NID water supplies are about 80 percent of average for this time of year. Supplies were near average a month ago but April brought little rain or snow and seasonal water use is beginning to pick up, he said.
discussed Zebra and Quagga mussels, which are tiny, invasive species that clog and damage water distribution facilities. The mussels have been found in California this year and officials fear they could arrive in Sierra reservoirs via unwashed recreational boats and trailers. NID is planning a May workshop on the issue.
awarded a $2.5 million construction contract to Teichert Construction Inc. for the Loma Rica Airport Pipeline Project. The firm’s quote was lowest among eight submitted on the project.
• cast a ballot for Frederick A. Hoffmeyer of the Ophir Hill Fire Protection District for election to a four-year term as a special district member of the Nevada County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).
congratulated staff for three awards the district received in The Union newspaper’s “Best of Nevada County” program. NID’s Scotts Flat Reservoir was voted as the best location for camping, boating and fishing.

The next regular meeting of the NID Board of Directors will be held at 9 a.m. on May 14 at the NID Business Center in Grass Valley. NID board meetings are open to the public.