RPMUD 9/25 Meeting Update

Before I get to the nitty gritty of the meeting, I would like to acknowledge an RP HERO - Al DeCoudres. Al stopped at our block after the hurricane and saw two huge trees that had fallen across the road, and came back with his power saw, cut them up and cleared the road. Al also gave Dick Judge the name of a company, that leases generators, to pass along to Richard Ramirez. This company leased generators to commercial and retail users in the area. Since the commercial users received power first, they had no use then of the leased generators. However, electricity was turned on a few hours before it may have become critical. Thanks again, Al DeCoudres, you have no idea how much you are appreciated.

If any of you will give me the names of other helpful RP residents, I will acknowledge them in the next update.

Hint: During a power outage, use a phone that does not run on electricity. Land lines are not affected by loss of power.

Now to the meeting -

During the public comments Rosemary Swan asked Richard Ramirez about the amount of liability insurance the District carries. He did not know, but would get the information. If it is anything like the information MUD sent to me a few months ago, it appears that the liability insurance is $500,000 for each occurrence, with a $1,000,000 aggregate limit.

Also during the public comments, mention was again made about the high costs of the two attorney firms. Last month Max Mahaffey said the District spent $11,000 on attorneys' fees. I noted that, through June of this year, the total amount was $18,000+. Bob Harvill defended Dippel's firm (the $500/hour attorney) by saying that he saved the District millions in lawsuits. We had never heard about any lawsuits. Mahaffey cut off Harvill. Soon after, Dick Judge questioned Ginger Seyfang about the lawsuits. She said they happened many years ago, only involved thousands, and RPMUD was the one suing.

Adding bars to the storm drainage boxes in the District was discussed, and prices will be obtained.

I sent a letter to the TCEQ, asking how they could give approval for this water treatment plant, when this board had violated the Open Meetings Act and the Water code: RPMUD had not given notice of their meetings for "72 continuous hours" until July; they discussed and voted on the alternate sites outside of an open meeting, and they took bids on the generator (a $71,000 item) without placing a notice in the newspaper, as required by Water Code Chapter 49 for all items over $25,000. The TCEQ responded that RPMUD had done nothing wrong.

Jack Curtsinger asked why the engineer (Bleyl) receives the invoices instead of RPMUD. He had no problem with Bleyl receiving the bill, but the District should receive it from the contractor also.

Obtaining an additional generator was discussed, as were ways to communicate with the residents during an emergency. Dick Judge brought up the fact that inadequate fuel tankage and a lack of generator backups at #1 or #2 were a problem during Hurricane Ike, and this situation should be corrected ASAP. The board and the manager agreed. This requires additional fuel storage at #2 and a generator at #1, with an additional generator in reserve at #2. Ramirez suggested additional fuel storage at the MUD office location and the water treatment plant. Judge said the WTP was a must, but the MUD office location is isolated during floods, so that one is not an option.

Communication with the residents during an emergency situation is of the utmost importance. Bing Hastings spoke with Ramirez after the meeting, and suggested using the ham operator frequency, radio equipment, radios and tower to carry the ham antenna. Ramirez and his assistant were using two-way radios.

Forgot to mention this - at two separate meetings, Ginger Seyfang and Max Mahaffey said that the residents can look through the glass and read the meeting notice on the bulletin board. Seyfang and Mahaffey must have really good eyes. Don't know of anyone who could read print on an 8 x 11 sheet of paper 10 to 12 feet away through glass without any light - even with light.

Next meeting is Thursday, October 23, at 4 p.m.