Annual Meeting Minutes: The Freeman Creek Pipeline and Water Association

Freeman Creek Pipeline Water Association (FCPWA) 07/04/2020

Annual Membership Meeting Minutes Meeting was called to order by Steve Walb (President) at 9:02 AM. Roberts Rules of Parliamentary Procedures were followed for the meeting as required.

Steve Walb announced Steve Personett as a new board member filling the Secretary position. Walb requested the membership to confirm their contact information - lake address, mailing address, phone number, and email address - which Personett is maintaining.

Valerie Horner (Treasurer) counted and reported association members present & proxies received. Meeting was qualified with a quorum.

Motion to accept the meeting agenda was made, seconded, and approved.

Steve Personett (Secretary) summarized the highlights from the prior year (2019) annual membership meeting.

Valerie Horner (Treasurer) reported on the water fees collected this year to date and the expenses for this past year totaled $33,392 - including $14,876 to refresh/restore the upper spring collection area and $8,134 for water testing.

Motion to accept the Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports was made, seconded, and approved.

Wayne Barron (Water Operator) reported on the Old Business from last year. In 2018/2019 the water production had dropped by up to 50% to less than then 20 gallons per minute. The system was having trouble keeping up with demand. In the fall of 2019 the upper spring was excavated and found to be silted in and clogged with roots. The area was cleaned, lined with a pond liner, collection piping replaced and the area restored. Resulting in a new robust water collection system resulting in a flow of about 40 gallons per minute – back to the former higher flow rates.

A question was asked about lawn watering. Walb stated the same watering schedule would be utilized: Ho-Hum residences water on odd days and Hummingbird waters on even days, both roads water from 6 – 10 AM only, except for the 4th of July week which is shorter hours. Wayne Barron reminded us the southwest Colorado area is still in a severe drought and the members need to conserve water.

Wayne Barron gave his Water Operator’s report:

• Due to more than 25 year around residents, the water system was reclassified from a seasonal system to a Year Around Community Water System resulting in additional testing requirements. Required first year testing will hopefully be reduced in the future.

• Water sample testing that was required quarterly in the current year, may in the future only be required annually or bi-annually.

• Bacteria testing previously required seasonally is required monthly.

• Turbidity and Chlorine testing (done by FCPWA volunteers) required daily for all 12 months.

• A new testing meter was purchased ($1,680) not due to new testing requirements, but due the failure of the Turbidity section of the old meter.

• Purchased new chlorine drum ($200) for filter house.

• There will be testing for lead and copper from 5 properties this summer.

• The state of Colorado offered free water testing to determine if residual chemicals from fire fighting retardant & foam was present in the water. Results: no trace of these chemicals.

• The quality of the water produced by the FCPWA system is very good.

Motion to accept the Water Operator’s Report was made, seconded, and approved.

Steve Walb opened the discussion of the Board Reports and the FCPWA Project Lists:

• After the refresh/restoration of the upper spring collection area, the upper spring needs to be refenced – an area of about 3 acers – at a cost of about $10,000. John Fitzpatrick applied for and will receive for FCPWA a $5,000 grant from the state of Colorado for this fencing. As a condition of this grant, FCPWA must provide volunteers to clean up the area to be fenced. This project should be completed in July or August. There will also be required ongoing maintenance of this area each year (Not a requirement of the grant).

• John Fritzpatrick also reported on Doug McCormick’s involvement in the refresh/restoration of the upper spring collection area including time he and his employees worked on this project. Doug did not request any reimbursement for his time or the expense of his employees. Fitzpatrick made a motion which was seconded and approved to name Doug McCormick Neighbor of the Year.

• The next major project to be completed is to replace the distribution water line from mini-hydrant #1 (between Walb & Horner residence) to the ward box near Hummingbird Lane. To be completed this fall.

• Inspect water storage tanks. Required every 5 years and due this year. Re-pipe storage tank internal piping. To be completed this fall.

• Projects for the future - in no particular order: o Replace distribution line from storage tanks down to Y box.

  • Replace 2-inch pipeline from Y box to Taylor box (Across from Dee Dee’s property)

  • Replace old distribution line from 17501 CR 501 (King property) to 15511 CR 501 (Aisenshtat property).

  • Evaluate addition of 15,000 gallons of water storage.

  • Install blue painted T-posts at each customer tap for emergency identification.

  • Research additional grants

The discussion then turned to the need for volunteers for testing and maintenance.

Motion to accept the Boards Reports and Recommended Projects was made, seconded, and approved.

Steve Walb moved on to new business. The Board determined that the tap fees should be increased from $3,000 to $4,000. These new fees would only apply to about 3 eligible properties.

The meeting was opened to the membership for Questions and Answers.

• A question was asked about when a water line leak would be repaired (Secretary could not determine location). Steve Walb acknowledged the leak and was scheduled to be fixed. Fitzpatrick suggested that Doug McCormick might be able to encourage the correct person to make the repair.

• A question was asked about the current Board Members. Steve Walb introduced all 7 of the current board and stated their contact information was on the FCPWA website (www.freemancreekpipelinewaterassoc.com)

John Fitzpatrick asked the members to recognize all of Steve Walb’s hard work with a round of applause.

Steve Walb awarded Water Operator Wayne Barron and Ironman of Maintenance Steve Horner each with the plaque Order of the Golden Faucet.

Motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and approved at 10:02 AM.