Letter: STPUD candidate Jim Jones - Build for future, don't steal from it

The following is a Letter to the Editor from South Tahoe Public Utility District Board Member Jim Jones, a candidate for re-election:

To the Community:

I am deeply concerned about the financial stability of the South Tahoe Public Utility District. I have not voted nor supported the budget for the past eight years because it ignored adequate funding for maintaining our infrastructure. In an attempt to keep the rates down, the majority of the Board has ignored managing our infrastructure that is now valued at over $2.0 billion. We are losing ground in keeping up with maintenance, protecting our infrastructure investments and protecting our community by improving fire protection. The lack of sufficient funding has painted the District into a corner where important projects and maintenance has and will be delayed many more years. This puts the District in jeopardy of pipeline and pump station failures and potential spills that could threaten Lake Tahoe.

As a civil engineer, I am concerned about our aging infrastructure. Major issues have been ignored! We have structures and pumps that are going on 60 years. Pump that have been rebuilt numerous times by staff because the manufactures are no longer in business. We need to upgrade the older sections of the water system. About 10% of the residences in in our system do not have minimal pressure for fire protection. The 300 miles of asbestos cement sewer pipelines are crumbling and need to be replaced or new linings installed to prevent failures and spill. The majority of the existing board is proud of their decision to keep rates low by putting repairs and replacements on hold for 10 years which will result in major rate increases. But there will be a cost. Major rate increases will be the result.

WE SHOULD BE BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE, NOT STEALING FROM IT

We should not repeat the history of the 1970s when user rates were not increased to properly maintain the sewer system. This resulted in numerous failures, cease-and-desist orders, heavy fines and moratorium for new sewer connections from the Lahontan Water Board and TRPA. It took many years and more dollars than it should have to clean up that mess.

I have been asked why I am running again for the Board of Directors. I believe that I have an obligation as a responsible citizen in our society to use my skills and knowledge of the “water business” to improve our community. My involvement in water issues for 50 years as well as my education, training and experience gives me a unique understanding of the “business” of water. I am a semi-retired licensed Civil Engineer. I have a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly and a M.S. in Civil Engineering/Environmental Engineering from Stanford. I worked for the Bureau of Reclamation, Environmental Protection Agency and National Science Foundation before starting my own engineering consulting firm here at South Tahoe in 1976

As a Board member, I have been a strong advocate for improving the water system and especially the expansion of the fire protection components. Over 10% of the residences in our community do not have adequate water pressure for fire. Up sizing of fire lines and hydrants are desperately needed in certain parts of town. These have been ignored by a majority of the Board!

We all have an investment in the District. Our existing water and sewer infrastructure are valued at over $2.0 Billion. Being a public utility district, with about 17,000 owners or connections, each home owner has about a $115,000 investment in the District. If we are to consider a maximum 100-year life expectancy of all facilities, then we need to spend at a minimum of one percent or $20 million in replacements each year. Over the past 10 years, we have averaged less than one-quarter of that. This a slippery slope that cannot continue without detrimental results.

I have worked to make sure that dollars spent will give the greatest long-term benefits. We must balance the concerns of our customer with the needs for environmental protection and the state and federal regulations. I have been directly involved in obtaining $90 million of Federal funding for our community, but those sources of funding are drying up. Over my years on the Board, I have represented the District on the State and Federal level. I have served on several committees for the Association of California Water Agencies that have benefitted our District. I was very much involved in the Districts successful lawsuit against the oil industry’s MTBE pollution of our wells to the tune of $70 million. I was Chairman of the MTBE Committee for the Association of California Water Agencies. As part of a nationwide coalition of water agencies, I testified before Congress in the successful goal of banning MTBE.

I have been a strong advocate for developing the lands owned by the District on Alpine County. The District purchased the property to spread treated effluent that is pumped out of the basin and over Luther Pass. In addition to grazing cattle and raising alfalfa, the District is now generating electricity from a hydroelectric facility. There is also space there to construct other renewable energy project such as solar energy, wind energy, co-generation and composting on what I have called our “Energy Farm”. Now we can plug in these other energy sources. These projects, which could bring significant revenues back to the District, have been slowed by lack of financing.

I have the enthusiasm, commitment, passion and the time to continue the job of serving our community. I will continue to bring professionalism, accountability, openness and dedication to the task of representing our community.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE NEED TO SPENT MONEY IN ORDER TO SAVE MONEY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
• 50 Years of experience in water resources and wastewater treatment.
• Member/President, Board of Directors El Dorado County Water Agency (2006-14).
• Appointed to Governor Wilson’s Advisory Panel on Leaking Underground Fuel tanks and MTBE (1999).
• Appointed to Association of California Water Agencies Statewide Blueprint Task Force (to prepare master plan for California water supply).
• Chairman, MTBE Committee of the Association of California Water Agencies.
• Life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
• Kiwanis Sunrisers of South Lake Tahoe Member and President, (25 years).
• Tahoe Tallac Association, Founding Member of the Board of Directors (16 years).
• South Lake Tahoe/Biakalsk Sister City Program, Board of Directors.

- Jim Jones, Board Member
South Tahoe Public Utility District