[0:00] over here. Just be careful. >> I think nobody else is here yet.

[0:06] » Do we need to second that? >> I'll second it.

[0:11] » And then we're going to go through the minutes of our June 5th 20 no of our um

[0:18] I think it was March meeting.

[0:22] Has everybody had a chance? March. >> March and June.

[0:26] » What is it now? It's September. >> It's June, right? It's the June 5th

[0:29] meeting. Yeah. >> Got it. Okay. Yeah.

[0:34] » So, if you all had a chance to look through that,

[0:41] » that was the one that you were you looked through that Dan Dan had comment.

[0:45] » Yeah. >> Yeah.

[0:48] » What was Dan's comment? >> It was there should be an L and filter.

[0:54] » That's a reasonable comment. >> That's a fair comment. That was about

[0:59] » I mean there were a couple other things but anyway they've been corrected.

[1:03] » Great. >> Okay. Good.

[1:05] » All right. >> So if give you a second and then we'll

[1:08] move on. >> I read that stuff. I mean that stuff was

[1:13] on the the last thing you saw.

[1:27] This we've had before, right? A new one. >> This is This is This is This is 25. They

[1:35] always We always get an invoice for the prior years from June 25 to

[1:44] » gohead. >> No, you didn't get this.

[1:48] » Not this one. Okay. So, I'm going to Can we approve of

[1:54] the minutes? >> I shall move.

[1:57] » Very good. All right. We're moving on to the um Suffach County Water Authority

[2:02] part of the meeting and Joe Pakornney is on board. So, good

[2:09] afternoon, Joe. >> Hi, Joe.

[2:12] » Hello, everybody. How are you? Happy Labor Day weekend almost.

[2:15] » Can't even believe it. Yes. So, what do you got for us today, Joe?

[2:21] » Well, uh, I guess a couple things. The, uh, the thing that we were talking about

[2:28] last meeting had to do with delinquent accounts

[2:32] and how we would handle those going forward.

[2:36] I have been in contact with Tom Crouch. I believe that I I think from what it

[2:42] sounds like from his response that you folks and the town board had a get

[2:47] together of some kind to discuss it and he came back to me and it sounds to me

[2:53] like the um the way forward and and correct me if I'm wrong because I'm not

[3:00] sure I totally understood his response but it sounds like if there's a

[3:04] delinquent account and it exceeds our uh you know gets to the point where we

[3:09] could be uh shutting water off. We would turn it over to you guys

[3:16] or would you want us to turn, you know, I'm not sure if you want us to go

[3:18] forward with the turn off or whether you want us to to uh just turn it over to

[3:22] you. But in any event, if the person was essentially delinquent and didn't pay

[3:27] their bill, we would deduct that from our uh the remittance that we made to to

[3:33] you folks. uh and then you would deal with the

[3:37] delinquent account. Am I correct?

[3:40] » Hold on to the fine. >> I have to say that I have been confused

[3:45] on this and I did ask Tom for clarification.

[3:49] » Yeah. So did [clears throat] I. >> So I don't think that anything has been

[3:54] uh definitively >> set. Okay.

[3:58] » Because there were two there were two options. one what that I thought and

[4:01] hoped for was that Suffach County Water Authority would be the agency to shut

[4:07] water off. >> That's fine. We can do that.

[4:12] » Then there was also discussion about taking that delinquent account and

[4:17] attaching it to the tax bill and collecting it that way.

[4:21] » Right. We we talked about that last meeting and I I suggested to you folks

[4:25] that you could that's that's the way our other managed water districts do handle

[4:30] it. >> Uh right not necessarily meaning that

[4:34] you have to handle it that way. I mean we can you know it could be again uh h

[4:41] how how you get the money is is up to you but the point of the matter is is

[4:47] that we don't want to be the collection agency

[4:50] you know for the town. The town is our customer or the district is our customer

[4:56] and we would like to be compensated for the water that the customers of the

[5:02] district consume. Uh and if there's a person that doesn't

[5:06] pay their bill, uh you know, we'll we'll follow our

[5:10] normal procedures, but our normal procedures would then go to lean. The

[5:15] pro, you know, the the the bill would go to lean if they didn't pay their bill.

[5:19] And I don't know that you guys want us to do that. I you know you could you

[5:25] could let us do that if you want but I have a feeling that you'd rather handle

[5:29] it yourselves and try to get >> I think at that point was where we

[5:33] decided to adhere it to the tax bill. >> Mhm. That's what I thought.

[5:37] » You want to weigh in? >> That was the alternative. Yeah. I mean

[5:39] it's it's basically a lean. You just put it on the tax bill yourselves. But the

[5:43] point is is that we would deduct that payment. We would deduct that delinquent

[5:47] bill from the money that we remit to you at the end of the year. So we'd have to

[5:52] cover it basically. So >> you would have to cover it, right? But

[5:56] eventually it would be paid if you did put it on the tax bill. That money would

[5:59] come back to the district.

[6:04] Amber, is that a is that some kind of process that we have to really think

[6:07] through? >> Yeah. Um I just I feel like that just

[6:12] complicates things a little bit. So how does it how do you handle it with other

[6:16] districts? So if someone doesn't pay, they do lean the property, but then what

[6:21] happens? Are you deducting it from? >> Now, Amber, in other districts, in other

[6:27] managed districts, uh, we simply deducted from what we

[6:31] remit to the district. >> Okay. All right. As long as it's a

[6:35] similar process. >> Well, that's what happened. It's our

[6:39] fault, Amber, when we crafted the agreement.

[6:42] uh we I I forget whether it was an and or a may that was not indicated properly

[6:47] in the agreement. >> And so that's why we're that's why I'm

[6:51] asking for you folks to make this agreement like it is with our other

[6:56] managed water districts. >> That's what that's where I would like to

[6:59] get to. And then what happens if I guess we just

[7:04] if someone they finally pay up before you know like okay they don't wait until

[7:10] the property sold then we just keep the money here.

[7:14] » Right. >> Right. Yeah. If they pay up after we've

[7:17] deducted it then that money is yours. >> Okay.

[7:21] » And if they pay up before that then we turn them back on. They're back in

[7:24] business and they're a customer. And that money then becomes part of your

[7:27] remittance with the portion of it that's attributable to the district becomes

[7:32] part of your remittance. >> So can you add a line to the tax bill

[7:36] that says delinquent water or something? >> Um I don't know the the mechanics of how

[7:42] that happens. Um, but I think what we need to do is let Thomas then finish

[7:47] working with your legal department to go ahead and craft the necessary language

[7:52] so we can do an amendment to the contract,

[7:56] » which I thought we had kind of done and I went I got back to I responded to

[8:01] Thomas and I haven't heard from him and that was about a month ago.

[8:05] » So I think we need to really follow up on that and press forward.

[8:08] » I'm going to bump that on my list. Um so Joe the the um just going back to the

[8:17] process that this still is the request to shut water off is still being made to

[8:23] Suffach County Water Authority. Correct. So we're following all the

[8:27] processes up to that point. You you shut the water

[8:32] off. We then um the town decides how to collect the money. What? How?

[8:39] » But I think it's that process that I we were not clear about and it seemed like

[8:44] you didn't want to be involved with like shutting the the water off. So

[8:48] » I we don't we don't have a problem with doing that. We can do that if if uh

[8:52] again again a lot of times when we shut the water off then people pay their

[8:55] bills >> of course. And so I would suggest that

[8:59] we let's let's continue that process. Let the water authority do that. uh if

[9:05] the people pay their bills then it doesn't then it's no longer a delinquent

[9:09] account then it's all settled and nothing has to be done.

[9:12] » I think that the point might be you shut the water off on Tuesday they want to

[9:19] pay the bill on Wednesday they are under the impression that they are going to

[9:23] pay Suffach County water the bill. So then you will take that money and send

[9:29] it back to Westneck Water or you would take that money and that would be

[9:33] included in our in end of the year invoice.

[9:38] » Yes, it would be >> money coming to us.

[9:40] » Yeah. Theoretically this is happening before the invoice goes out for the year

[9:43] but you know if it was after that it'd be for the next year but uh yes if it's

[9:48] before the end of the year then that money would be included in the total

[9:52] revenues that we generated for the year. we would deduct our management fee out

[9:57] of that and we would remit to the town or to the district the uh the balance.

[10:01] » So the question would be when when would it be posted on the tax bill? Would it

[10:07] be stay pending on Suffach County Water Authority until a certain date and then

[10:11] it's on the tax bill? >> Right.

[10:13] » Because if they do pay a week later then >> Right.

[10:16] » Yeah. We'll have to have a you know >> the mechanics has to Yeah. with

[10:20] » Yeah. It's not an instantaneous process. In other words, you know, you know, they

[10:25] become a delinquent account, we tell you about it, then you've got to go through,

[10:29] you know, when your taxes are due, >> uh, you have to post put it on their on

[10:34] their bill. Uh, and again, you know, in my experience, most people when we shut

[10:39] the water off, they they pay the bill. But there are some folks that just shut

[10:45] the water off and I don't know if they leave town or what, but

[10:49] » Well, they have to have their water. >> Yeah. Well, if they're there,

[10:52] » they get the money somehow. >> Is is there

[10:55] » is there a charge for turning it back on?

[10:58] » Yes. >> So, that has to be stipulated some.

[11:01] » Yeah. >> Disconnect charge as well.

[11:06] » Sorry, John. >> Is there a charge to shut the water off?

[11:09] » Yeah. In other words, has there charge at each end disconnect?

[11:12] » Oh, I bet. I don't know. Um, >> is there a charge to shut the water off?

[11:17] » No, I think so. No, no, >> no. The the the charge is to turn the

[11:22] water back on.

[11:26] » All right. So then, as it stands now, can we verbally say that we are

[11:33] expecting Suffach County Water Authority to take it to that shut off point and

[11:38] then we're going to work out the mechanics of payment?

[11:42] » Can we can we leave it at that and say that that that is where we are? That's

[11:47] fine with me. I It really it's just that it's a minor change to the way we're

[11:52] operating now. >> And basically what it is is that now

[11:55] we're going to deduct the money out of your annual payment.

[11:59] Uh and before we were we were trying to collect the money,

[12:03] » right? >> We were holding the money on our we were

[12:05] holding the pass due amount on our account. And uh you know again my

[12:10] finance department pointed this out to me. We went back and looked at the

[12:13] agreement and we said, "Well, that's that's not the way we want to operate.

[12:18] Uh, the way we operate should be the way we do it with all of our managed

[12:21] districts." And if it works for you guys, I would I would appreciate it if

[12:25] we could make that change. >> And what I'll do is I'll work with Tom

[12:29] if it's okay, you know, if you guys can get back to me and let me know if it's

[12:33] okay. But if it is, then I'll work with Tom to change the language in the

[12:36] agreement. It'll require a small amendment of the agreement language to

[12:41] codify this. >> Yeah, absolutely.

[12:45] » Okay, >> go for it.

[12:46] » And then with we have to work together. We have to sit down and figure out

[12:51] » and

[12:55] » yes.

[12:59] » Okay. And um there's there's something to that uh that is really important. I

[13:05] think we mentioned it before and that is we need to we need to be have a regular

[13:13] a scheduled uh

[13:17] what not invoicing but we have to be told regularly when an account is

[13:23] delinquent. >> Yes, [snorts] that's that's part of it.

[13:26] So if we have a delinquent account we need to notify you. [clears throat]

[13:29] » You need Yes. And sooner rather than later.

[13:33] » Absolutely. So that may be something to work out with Stephanie

[13:38] Hannah. Well,

[13:41] » there must be a similar process for other districts. Yeah. So if it's like a

[13:46] month later or, you know, I probably not a week later, but whatever that is, it

[13:50] makes sense to be consistent across the board for them.

[13:53] » Mhm.

[13:56] » Okay. because then some letter would have to

[14:00] go out to the homeowner that you are delinquent, therefore this will be

[14:04] posted on your tax bill, etc. >> Right. Well, they send the letters with

[14:10] regards to um delinquency on their end. >> I know, but once it reaches once a

[14:15] problem, we have to then let them know how that's going to play out.

[14:19] » Yeah. >> Joe, are you still with us?

[14:23] » Yeah, but I'm I'm going back and forth. It's blinking on and off. Is that Is

[14:27] that you folks over there? Can you hear me?

[14:29] » We can hear you. >> We can hear you. Yeah,

[14:31] » we can't see you, but we can hear you. >> For some reason, Whoa.

[14:36] Uh, for some reason, my screen is blinking on and off, and I'm not sure

[14:40] what that is. >> Well, service out there is not the

[14:44] greatest. >> And now I'm blurry. [laughter]

[14:46] » Very blurry. >> Very blurry. Yeah.

[14:48] » Who makes the decision to pull a plug? Well, right now

[14:53] » squad does. >> They make the decision based.

[14:56] » Well, they they're going to do it, which is absolutely logical. Yes.

[14:59] » But I mean, who says go ahead and do it? >> That's we're giving them that permission

[15:03] right now. >> We're not involved in that piece of the

[15:06] process. >> There must be a standard that they use

[15:08] for all >> is it automatic with a certain amount of

[15:13] time or amount of money? >> Yeah.

[15:16] » Okay. >> Yep. And it's all laid out on their web

[15:18] page, too. >> Yeah. I know. Yep. So we don't touch

[15:22] you. >> We don't have No.

[15:24] » So but the hard part is to come. Right. >> Right. [laughter]

[15:27] » When we go to collect. >> Yeah.

[15:29] » Yeah. That'll be our

[15:34] » All right. Well, >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry about the blurry

[15:36] view here. I'm not sure what what's causing it. I can I can hop off and hop

[15:41] back on if it's important. >> No, we know that I'm blurry. Okay.

[15:48] » Um anything else? Um I know that we are still awaiting site plan review

[15:54] confirmation. >> From what I understand it's now with

[15:59] » it was approved on Monday. >> Yes.

[16:01] » So what are how are we going forward with that? Is it are we ready to

[16:09] » um >> to jump ahead with the project?

[16:11] » Yeah. So Southern County Water Authority would like finish up whatever building

[16:14] permits need to be obtained. So they'll work with the building department and

[16:18] move forward. Okay. >> Yeah.

[16:22] » So, are you are you there with that? >> Yeah, we'll do that. Well, you know, my

[16:26] chief engineer is uh he's on top of the process. So, uh I'm not sure if there's

[16:31] a meeting coming up where we have to be involved with doing a presentation to

[16:35] the building department or whether this is just a plan review and approval. Um

[16:41] whatever it is, we'll we'll do it.

[16:46] Yeah, I think you already came to us with the with this with the plan.

[16:50] » Oh, yeah. >> Town board and it was approved.

[16:53] » Yeah, it's my understanding the permit from the building department. You don't

[16:56] have to do a presentation to the board. That part's all done.

[16:59] » Yeah. >> Okay.

[17:01] » Yeah. And I think um there's two trees in the rightway that need to come down

[17:06] for access. And I I believe uh public works is going to take those two down.

[17:11] » That's correct. >> Okay.

[17:12] » Yeah. Yeah, the neighbor the neighbor notified us that he's going to put a

[17:17] fence up. >> We talked about it yesterday. I talked

[17:21] with the neighbor. >> Did you? Okay.

[17:23] » The town engineer and uh the supervisor of department of um the road.

[17:30] Uh we sat down and we talked to the neighbors. They know what has to be done

[17:34] and they're in agreement with it. And um so we're we're moving we we have that

[17:41] plan sort of in place and now that we've got the approval we just Kenny can just

[17:46] go down take down the trees and then we can start redirecting

[17:52] the road. So we'll let you know the trees are down now. And um is that a is

[18:00] that something Suffach County Water Authority will do? is at something that

[18:04] we will do which is to extend the road beyond where it is right now and fix the

[18:10] right of way. So I think that's in our I think that's

[18:15] our in our perfe

[18:20] I'm happy to do minor little improvements but if this is road work uh

[18:25] this is really something I think that you folks should be doing.

[18:28] » Yep. especially due to the sensitive nature of this with the neighbors.

[18:32] » Right now it's amicable. >> Great. I'm glad to hear that.

[18:36] » They know what's going on. They're in agreement and it it's it's we're in a

[18:40] good place with the neighbors. >> Great. Um [clears throat]

[18:45] some of the concern is that once the right ofway is extended onto the

[18:50] property where those two trees were and will come down, it's a very sharp 45°ree

[18:58] turn onto the onto the uh property where the [clears throat] you know the pump

[19:03] house is. So >> yeah,

[19:06] » knowing what kind of is needed for the trucks to go down to could start the

[19:13] project is an important part of this conversation. How big of an area

[19:20] do those trucks need? Because right now they're just going down and taking the

[19:24] corner off of the neighbors lot. Yep. >> So right now if they're going to go

[19:28] straight and make a turn, >> that's that teetail needs to be laid

[19:33] out. Yeah. Um I'll have to check with my

[19:36] engineers to make sure that we think we can get in there. Obviously, we're going

[19:40] to have to bring a concrete truck in there when we pour the foundation.

[19:44] » Uh and a small excavator to to, you know, install the foundation. So, I'll

[19:51] have to have them take a look at it and make sure. I haven't heard that there's

[19:54] going to be a problem with it. So, I'm hoping that we'll be able to navigate

[19:58] it. >> Yeah. Well, I I don't think anybody

[20:00] knows quite what what it's going to look like yet until we get the trees down and

[20:04] we actually establish where the road is. >> Then I think it'll become we think it's

[20:09] going to become apparent. >> So maybe our DPW supervisor can get in

[20:16] contact with whoever on your end is going to

[20:21] » Tim Com. >> Yeah,

[20:22] » Kil Commons. >> Yes, Tim Kil Commons. And I think

[20:25] they've already been in contact with each other.

[20:28] » Okay. Um, and then as time goes on,

[20:34] you know, just for the maintenance of the uh filter, there are going to be

[20:40] times when the filter media will have to be changed out. So, that will require a

[20:45] larger truck, too. So, we'll have to confirm that that truck can also make it

[20:49] down the driveway.

[20:52] » Okay.

[20:58] And uh is there anything else that

[21:03] » No, I think that's it. If that you know, I'd just like to move this along,

[21:06] » right? I know we would too. >> And [clears throat] you know, I think

[21:10] we're all sorry that it it it took this long and that there it was this

[21:13] complicated. >> We didn't foresee that. So, uh I don't

[21:18] think anybody No. Yep. >> All right. We'll get through it.

[21:25] I just would, you know, I would just like to have you folks having the

[21:29] benefit of filtered water as opposed to not. That's all.

[21:32] » Well, we that's >> Yeah. We And that was part of the

[21:35] explanation to the neighbors is >> Y

[21:37] » the sooner we get this done, the healthier it is for everybody,

[21:41] » right? >> Yes. Yeah. I mean, they're on the Yeah.

[21:45] the system. So, so I think they they understood that.

[21:48] » Yeah. Okay. Good. >> Great.

[21:50] Are there any questions from any anybody here to for Joe? I I don't have any

[21:56] other order of business. I know um >> certainly. John, come on up. Uh John um

[22:03] Cad Walder is is here. I told him he um this would be a good opportunity to ask

[22:11] questions even though it's a West Neck Water District meeting.

[22:15] » Yeah. Hi Joe. Uh thank you. >> Hi John. How are you?

[22:18] » I'm well. >> I'm sorry. I'm blurry, John.

[22:20] » That's quite right. I I am too. [laughter]

[22:25] So, to follow up, I was ruminating what you said and for the benefit of the

[22:29] room, it was uh we are part of the West Morland community. I am moving at my

[22:36] snails pace to try to solve our egregious

[22:40] salt water problem. We haven't gotten into the rest of the stuff yet. So, in

[22:46] kicking all around, I spoke to Joe uh about the reality of connecting to the

[22:52] West Neck water supply. And uh to reiterate,

[23:02] uh your supply is really just coming from the two new wells.

[23:08] And based on the calculations of the number of homes that it would require to

[23:14] be on board to get to us, which is toward the end of uh West Morland, um

[23:22] the system lacks the capacity. Does that sum it up, Joe?

[23:26] » Yes, it does. So, so John, you know, John lives pretty far down West Morland,

[23:32] uh, pretty far down the road. And if we brought a water mane down to his home,

[23:38] first of all, we need 40% participation in order to go ahead with a project like

[23:43] that. Uh, and there are quite a few homes along the way. And my concern is

[23:49] that 40% of the number of homes along the way plus people that will want to

[23:52] come in subsequently uh that will exceed the capacity of the

[23:57] system. >> So and then you had said in order to try

[24:04] to move it forward uh it would require the town's involvement.

[24:10] Did I understand that correctly? Well, uh, what I said was that the system as

[24:16] it stands right now is very limited in capacity

[24:20] and that the answer to increasing capacity would be to obtain another site

[24:25] for water supply and to connect that to this existing wellfield to expand the

[24:32] system. And I did explain to John that, you know, we had identified a potential

[24:38] location for a new wellfield a year or two ago up in the Sum Woods property

[24:46] there that's owned by the town. And that that to me would be the most likely

[24:52] location for an expansion if one were to occur.

[24:58] So I guess my question is what's the reality of that possibility?

[25:05] Uh what is just ballpark cost of putting in

[25:10] a new well and how many wells additionally would uh need to be drilled

[25:16] in order to accommodate us? Um so because I'm crunching numbers, we this

[25:24] is one of my neighbors here. There's a group of us who've banded together to

[25:29] talk about the issue. Uh you start adding up everybody doing a

[25:35] sister through binder. Uh that's a that's a lot of dough, you know. So

[25:40] talking 70 78,000 bucks per I'm looking at other options as well. But um you

[25:49] know before we commit to shelling out of pocket you know a fairly large sum of

[25:55] money. I'm wondering you know how realistic it is to hope for something

[26:00] like this. Uh, I know originally when I was talking to Lisa, it had to do with

[26:06] reading the paper and when SCWA took over the bond and, you know, maybe more

[26:13] people would help diffuse the the overall cost per person. So, in any

[26:19] event, um, that's why I'm here, just to kind of stir it up a little bit more.

[26:25] » Sounds like the real critical issue is getting another well.

[26:29] » Yeah. Now, allegedly, uh, uh, I talked to Gregor, uh, he's waiting to come

[26:35] back. He said, "Oh, for you guys to get another well

[26:39] » for West Texas another." >> Yeah, for us it's sticking a straw in,

[26:45] and how shallow can we go? >> We've got that mega house going in up

[26:50] the street. Uh, uh, your dad did a five job.

[26:56] stuff to talk about riding on top of the mountain.

[26:59] » Um, so yeah, we're all connected. We're all in this together and uh I haven't

[27:04] gone door todo uh you know to see who else is interested uh just you know sort

[27:12] of informally in conversation and people found out that I I've been pursuing this

[27:17] for about a year and a half or whenever the saltwater intrusion testing through

[27:22] WAC in the school started. Uh I have been doing uh I think you may have heard

[27:30] in the LA because I was here for the QI meeting my numbers are up to uh you know

[27:37] well 2420. I just had Goldman come again of being out of pocket just to have my

[27:42] own little database but it's gotten you know worse from

[27:48] uh passible when we first moved in 2017. So, I know it's a lot of factors that

[27:54] are adding up to the problem. Um, but I did read somewhere that Suffach County

[28:01] had a mandate to provide portable water to its citizenry.

[28:07] Uh, and does that include us on Shelter Island? And you know, it gets tricky

[28:13] because I know we're not hooked into the main SCWA system. And I mean I even see

[28:20] the push back that you guys are getting Joe from trying to get to South with the

[28:26] pipe. Right. So I >> Yeah. Yeah. So I've been following it

[28:30] all. I'm trying to you know stay in price situation but I'm here pleading I

[28:35] guess >> for some help.

[28:37] One question I have, and I don't know if anybody can answer this yet, is is there

[28:43] a possibility of drilling a well closer to West Morland?

[28:50] Um, or is that just going to the spot where the the it's critical and there's

[28:57] no there's no ability to to find a portable water in that particular

[29:03] peninsula. I don't know the answer to that because the Sich Woods idea is

[29:10] grand, but there's that's huge hurdles >> to get over to do that.

[29:16] » A lot of area to draw to drive mains and to put mains in.

[29:20] » Yeah. >> However, since our the since the West

[29:25] Neck water man currently goes down to Hyo right now, I mean, I'm just shooting

[29:31] from the hip here. It's not that much a stretch to see it progress toward uh the

[29:40] West Morland Peninsula if there was portable water available.

[29:44] » I'm just throwing that out there. >> Do you remember the the home count that

[29:48] you had, Joe? >> Um I know I said just roughly got around

[29:53] 36 homes and we were doing >> something like something in the 30s.

[29:57] Yes. Yeah, 40% of that, you know, 14 16ish

[30:01] » homes, you know, just to get to us who's available. I've been looking on the DE

[30:07] site, DEEC site >> at the wealth desk. Sadly, a reliable

[30:12] source said those numbers about depths of well often are fudged.

[30:18] » Exactly. >> So, so I've even talked Oh, I'm sorry,

[30:22] Joe. Did you by a chance remember the device that you were trying to tell me

[30:29] about reading through PVC to get the salinity?

[30:35] Remember we were talking about trying to test test where

[30:39] » Yeah. U >> you know even where I might start to

[30:42] look for something like that. >> It's it's not a it's not a uh

[30:48] it's not like a commercially available device. It's a technology

[30:54] and it's uh boy oh boy it's electro something and I I I I

[31:02] I'll get it for you if you want. >> I appreciate it if you if you come

[31:05] across it because I'm a little bit of a nerd that way and

[31:10] » yeah we've we've actually done it we've done it in

[31:12] » Southold. Yeah. Well say that again. I'm sorry.

[31:16] » Say that again Joe. >> We we've done it in Southold. We put in

[31:20] some PVC case wells and then read through the PVC casing what the salinity

[31:24] was of the water on the other side of the casing. Um

[31:29] » the only thing John and I again you know after talking to you I spoke to my hydro

[31:34] geologists I just don't see you having an option

[31:39] when it comes to another well. I really don't. You're so shallow now,

[31:44] » right? >> That you know to go shallower

[31:48] the water quality is going to suffer. You know, to have a 25- foot deep well,

[31:54] you know, you're really the the the potential for contamination

[31:59] and the filtration system you would need would really be uh a big lift.

[32:06] » I agree. Which is why >> at some point you're going to be

[32:09] desalinating. You know what I mean? You're going to be

[32:12] You're going to be desalinating the water

[32:14] » as we >> problems too,

[32:16] » right? Should I pump the effluent back into the creek and raise

[32:20] » right? What do you do with the I'm trying I'm trying to do the right

[32:24] thing. So, um, >> so one other question though, Lisa, you

[32:29] told me that there were other wells that were retired from the original West Neck

[32:36] district. Um, yeah. Is there a reason that they are no longer used and could

[32:44] they be brought back to life or >> No, they they failed. Um,

[32:49] » we had three other wells and Joe probably could give you a more concise

[32:53] uh evaluation, but essentially they they were shallow.

[32:58] » They had problems with manganesees and um iron and so there was discoloration.

[33:04] They weren't viable wells, which is why they were retired, and which is why we

[33:08] opted to do these two newer and much deeper wells on the golf course. So,

[33:15] there is one well that um is still on the old property, well number four,

[33:20] which goes on during periods when peak is low. It kind of helps offset the two

[33:28] deeper wells. Yeah. But it it's essentially wells just go bad.

[33:34] » And is the golf >> Sorry. Go ahead,

[33:37] » Joe. >> Go ahead, Joe.

[33:39] » Yeah, we've retired the uh the two wells on the golf course that we got when we

[33:45] uh when we took over the system. Those were PVC case wells and they weren't

[33:49] grouted. So, they've been abandoned and they were replaced by two, you know,

[33:55] public supply wells that are built to current standards.

[33:59] » What's the new opportunities on the golf course for

[34:02] additional wells. I wouldn't be surprised.

[34:06] Uh we haven't explored that. You know, I know that Shelter Island

[34:11] Heights has some wells on the golf course on the other side, so we have to

[34:15] be careful that we're not too close to them, but that is that's not something

[34:20] that we've looked at. Mhm. >> What about creating an entirely new

[34:25] district south where it could

[34:28] » because then what about Shell Beach and >> Well, the Shell Beach is having

[34:32] problems. You're having problems. >> Not that would be astronomical, but it

[34:36] would be it's you know, you could if you could find a space down that way that

[34:40] was reliable, you could branch out in those directions.

[34:44] » So, problem is as you get south there though, the water quality is going to

[34:48] deteriorate quickly. You have to take it from somewhere closer to the center and

[34:52] ship it out to them because there's just not enough there. It's too shallow of an

[34:56] aquifer to support everybody on a major well.

[35:00] » Yeah. Now >> the good quality water is on the high

[35:03] ground. >> Back to what Lisa had had, you know,

[35:08] asked earlier about is there another place in our area. Anecdotally, I just

[35:13] learned today because what happens is uh friends hear me talking and then they

[35:17] talk to other friends and so couple people up, you know, up near the bend uh

[35:24] are saying they have good water. Although somebody was saying, "Yeah, but

[35:28] my neighbor doesn't have a sister and he's irrigate irrigating." Uh point is

[35:33] » uh I don't know like the the air the airfield there. I think there is a I

[35:39] believe that's a well I've never gone to look at a Doug a Doug well tile did you

[35:43] ever notice come in >> unless Morland

[35:46] » there I think there is an old well there it's not something we would

[35:49] [clears throat] be able to use for >> right I understand but I'm just saying

[35:52] that maybe because it's a little higher ground and it's a more open but again I

[35:58] don't know >> who controls that

[36:01] » it's also still like a shallow >> out

[36:04] that seems >> yeah that's the concern

[36:06] » right that's what I want to do now. I want to play with it and actually find

[36:09] the land. So, I've been looking at all kinds of ways to

[36:13] » and this is a particularly bad summer for it because of the drought in the

[36:16] beginning and then everybody coming out. So,

[36:19] » well, and that's what happens. I think you maybe heard just for you guys to

[36:23] review, >> you know, we moved in 2017 and fall and

[36:28] our water was fine. We're drinking it a tinge in August. Uh and then and we were

[36:34] going away uh typically 3 months of the year. COVID we were gone for 6 months

[36:39] and came back and but it was just progressively getting worse and waiting

[36:43] for a recharge and waiting the rain that never came and just that's why

[36:48] » you know when I pegged the numbers at the high school I was like I want to see

[36:53] what the real numbers are and just watching just steadily marching up you

[36:58] know no relief. So etc. It just hadn't come to yesterday. It'll be interesting

[37:03] to see if this rain had any impact at all. But I was holding my breath. So I

[37:10] » you know talking with John I mean he kind of enlightened me as to the number

[37:14] of people that actually have sistns on the island which I really I

[37:19] embarrassingly I was not aware of. But uh you know, we've spoken we've it's

[37:24] always been a point of contention with people in South Hold about the large

[37:29] tanker trucks that fill up uh via the fire hydrants in South Hole. Then they

[37:35] get on the ferry and they bring water over to Shelter Island. This has always

[37:38] been a big big issue for them. They feel like you're stealing their stealing

[37:44] their water. I won't get into that, but but from what I understand,

[37:48] » I think so too. We're stealing your water.

[37:51] » Yeah. But uh >> but talking to the ferry operator on the

[37:55] south uh ferry uh he was telling me that like dozens of

[38:00] tankers go over every day taking water from the south side.

[38:04] » Yeah. Right on that spit of land. >> Long Beach Road right there. There's a

[38:09] » there's a stand pipe and they're that's where they're pumping it out of. So

[38:12] yeah, >> not a well that's coming from your

[38:15] system. >> Oh no, it is.

[38:17] » It's Suffach County water. >> Well Well, yeah. So, you know, we're we

[38:21] have intentions of looking closely at that to see where he's getting the water

[38:25] from and how much he's taking because uh you know, we charge him a hefty fee to

[38:31] connect up in South Hold, but we we didn't really know how much water was

[38:35] coming out of Southampton. >> Oh, you didn't know that? Wow. Wow.

[38:39] Yeah, it is. That's a lot. >> Yeah.

[38:42] » And then maybe my last question. No, there will always be more. uh the

[38:48] current sister-in-law um can they be used for portable water?

[38:55] » I think right now in the code it says no.

[38:58] » Yeah. >> So to look at that.

[39:00] » Yeah. Okay. >> Because it's a whole health department

[39:02] regulation. >> We're in this together. It's just that

[39:04] we're kind of at the front of it because we're splitting the bullet.

[39:07] » If your sister is coming from a water truck, a tanker truck, it's not

[39:12] regulated >> that water that I understand that you

[39:15] know. So, you know, I'm looking at the roof rain near the roof and you know, I

[39:19] haven't gone down to get all the code. >> Yeah.

[39:22] » But I'm that's why I say I'm at my snail's pace marching along with this.

[39:26] But, >> you know, we just replaced our boiler

[39:30] probably repeating myself. We've gone through in those almost nine years, two

[39:36] hot water heaters, a pressure tank, piping. It's just it's

[39:40] » Yeah, >> chlorides will do that. I had I had a

[39:43] three-year-old bow pop out from, you know, corrosion. Looked like looked like

[39:49] beavers got to it. >> Thank you very much.

[39:52] » Thank you, John. Um, >> all right. Nice meeting you, John.

[39:55] » No, I appreciate your

[39:59] » because, as you say, we're all connected. You know, water doesn't have

[40:03] boundaries. So, this is this is part of a a greater conversation.

[40:08] » Yep. And um >> understood.

[40:11] » I just have to wonder how much of this conversation takes place when they're

[40:15] building new houses everywhere. >> It's hard for me to believe that in a

[40:20] water starved area like this you could even build another house.

[40:23] » Yep. That would be my at the sizes, >> especially at these huge sizes.

[40:28] » Yeah. Exactly. I mean that people don't think of that. They don't think, you

[40:32] know, they just assume the water is going to magically be there because it

[40:35] was in the city. You just turn on the faucet. Okay.

[40:38] » Well, there's an irony that, you know, water is so abundant in other parts of

[40:42] the island. You know, you don't have to go far to find plenty of water.

[40:48] » Okay. Joe, we're do we have any more questions for John?

[40:53] » Lisa, the only other thing was that I'm sorry. Anybody have questions? Go

[40:56] » ahead. I I sent you that AR amortization schedule that I apologize. I was delayed

[41:02] on that. I I should have sent that earlier. Um that's basically it. You

[41:07] know that as far as capital improvements, those are all the capital

[41:10] improvements on the system right now. That's what your that's what your uh

[41:14] search charge is paying for. >> Right.

[41:16] » Um so that is the current state of affairs

[41:20] » and I don't think I forwarded that to anybody. So I will forward that.

[41:26] » Um yeah, it came in and I just forgot about it.

[41:31] » No problem. I'll I'll make sure we all look at it.

[41:33] » Okay. All right. I just wanted to make sure.

[41:36] » All right. Well, I think that the uh you know, the next order of business is just

[41:40] to get you down there to put that uh put those filtration get the thing built and

[41:45] get those filters. >> Now, that's our focus. Yep.

[41:47] » Get the road done first and figure out >> get the road done and get get in there

[41:51] cuz >> Yeah. And also, uh you know, the Bloom

[41:55] residents, uh they're they're being connected. I'm not sure if they've been

[41:59] connected already, but it's in the works. It's almost done, I think.

[42:04] » There you go. >> Yeah. I I spoke with Barbara and she's

[42:06] she I said, "Please come to the meeting." But she

[42:09] » she was very happy and pleased with the service that she's gotten from uh the

[42:14] water authority and the way, you know, the way it's been progressing once you

[42:19] get all over all the bureaucratic DEC stuff. Um, she's very happy to be on

[42:25] board and I think they're waiting for their plumber

[42:28] » to connect but and then they'll be >> they still have the other house where I

[42:32] think the line has to be extended to connect too. Yeah, I believe so.

[42:36] » The one on Manic >> Manic. Yeah.

[42:40] » So, yeah, she was h she was good testimonial there.

[42:44] » Okay, great. All right, good to hear. All right. So, if that's it, we'll uh

[42:48] we'll talk to you in a couple months and hopefully we'll have lots of good moves

[42:51] then. >> Okay. And we'll get next next time we

[42:54] meet, I'll give you a wrap up on the summer, what Pumpage was like,

[42:59] » uh and how it compares to previous years.

[43:02] » I mean, so far it's looking like a fairly average to

[43:06] I would say a fairly average summer. >> Yes. Well, on our invoice, it gives the

[43:12] um total consumption and it's um

[43:17] 6,11400

[43:20] cubic feet. So, I didn't look back to the previous year's invoice to see how

[43:26] that compared. >> Uh I

[43:29] » I keep a spreadsheet. I Yeah, I have I keep a spreadsheet. I look at pumpage.

[43:33] You know, I I could look at the consumption, but I'm more interested in

[43:36] how much water we're taking out of the ground because that's the one that

[43:40] impacts the resource. So, I keep that and I keep that in thousands of gallons.

[43:44] But that's okay. I I can I can show it to you and I can compare it to you over

[43:48] the past five or six years at this point.

[43:50] » Well, I'm not sure if our invoice is is is CCFs or if it is

[43:55] » CCF. Yeah, we build in CCF. So, that's why the invoice or what you're talking

[43:59] about is CCF. >> Okay. which is 700

[44:02] » customer you know that's customer meter >> readings and customer accounts

[44:08] » which if for a reference is 748 gallons one CCF

[44:14] » you could do a calculation >> okay thank you very much Joe and uh

[44:18] we'll talk to you in a couple of months >> okay have a great Labor Day weekend

[44:23] » take care >> all right

[44:24] » bye bye >> um so the next order of business are is

[44:29] finances and we've got some happy stuff coming. And uh so our class account is

[44:35] up to $155,87,

[44:39] which is good. It's it's been steady. And um our checking account, which is

[44:46] just used to pay small day-to-day administrative costs, is a couple

[44:51] thousand dollar. So that's good. Um,

[44:57] so two things. We did get the invoice from Suffach County Water Authority,

[45:03] which I forwarded to you guys to take a look at it to become familiar with how

[45:08] we're charged and looking at each individual um person's charge. We're

[45:14] going to put that in executive session because we're going to talk about

[45:19] » specific properties. So, we don't want to do that publicly. So, I'm just going

[45:22] to set that aside. And um I don't know Amber, do you want to talk about the new

[45:29] um happiness? >> Yes.

[45:32] » Okay. I see the floor to Amber. She's going to talk. Do you remember the

[45:36] analysis that we use to raise our rates? >> She's going to talk about that.

[45:42] » Yes. I brought that up on screen here. And you have two um handouts. Um, and

[45:48] the first one was the one prepared on April 22nd before the closing of 2026.

[45:56] And so when you look at that, um, we had made assumptions about what we thought

[46:03] fiscal year 25 would be or 26 would be um, as an average of the last three

[46:10] years. um because 24 was low but then we had found some missing um invoicing

[46:15] which got caught up in 2025. So looking at 2026, we anticipated receiving

[46:23] Westlake water billings of about 97,000. And then if we subtracted out what the

[46:30] fee is for S County Water Authority, their operating amount, um we thought we

[46:36] were going to be shy just a little bit and have to pay them.

[46:40] What ended up happening that year or you know last year was that our um our

[46:47] billings was not 97,000 it was 106,596.

[46:53] So that ended up with us receiving a check from Suffach County Water

[46:57] Authority for 72 $7,288.

[47:02] So we ended up putting more money into reserves. So, we ended last year with

[47:07] 14794, you know, basically $148,000.

[47:11] So, when Lisa just said what the the new amount was, um that's why we had that

[47:16] bump up. So, given that information, I went back

[47:21] and plugged in um what it would look like if we increased our billing rates

[47:29] half a percent, which you approved in the last in three months ago. or it got

[47:35] implemented. So if we blow those rates out through

[47:39] the end of the

[47:43] um payback period of the loan, basically we will end up not having to pay the

[47:51] county water authority. I mean this is all an estimate. Um, but in 2020, no,

[47:58] 2035, 2036 would be the first time we would

[48:02] have to cut them a check. If they're if we keep increasing half a percent a

[48:07] year, if they only increase 3% a year and our staff in office expenses only go

[48:14] up 2 and a half% a year. So, there's some, you know, variables in there, but

[48:20] we end up at the end of the term of the loan of end having $210,000

[48:26] in our reserve account still. So, I'm not recommending that we do anything

[48:32] right now. Um I think in the spring um especially when we hear um from Joe next

[48:39] quarter what the summer consumption was if it was up if it was down and we may

[48:44] you know we'll talk about the billings you know what we want to um you know do

[48:48] with rates for the customers again. My recommendation right now with not a lot

[48:54] of, you know, not knowing what the future holds is just not raise the rates

[48:57] next year because even not raising the rates through the end of the loan, we'd

[49:02] still end up with like $74,000 in the account. But I'm not going to I'm

[49:07] not going to recalculate the spreadsheet until next year.

[49:11] You know, we'll make a decision what you want to do with rates in the spring. See

[49:15] what the 2027 billing is >> and look again to see how you went

[49:20] forward. >> Yeah.

[49:21] » But um it was it was nice seeing that check come in and nice plugging it in to

[49:26] see what it did to the sensitivity analysis.

[49:30] » Yeah. Well, it's always nice if we can avoid rate raising rates.

[49:33] » Yeah. >> And a very healthy amount. But

[49:37] » Mhm. Yeah. >> But we know that we we got at least uh

[49:41] two new uh services service hookups. So that will increase an uptick. Yeah, but

[49:49] just a little bit. And we want to keep a reserve. We want to make sure our

[49:52] reserves >> don't dwindle down too much because we

[49:57] always have to make sure that we can pay some kind of water authority.

[50:00] » Yeah. >> The debt repayment. But as we get out

[50:03] to, you know, year 2040 and later, then we can start to do a little bit more

[50:08] tweaking >> to

[50:11] run down that balance if it hasn't already started to run down differently

[50:15] from these assumptions. Of course, it will be a different board

[50:20] [laughter] and it will maybe me will still be here.

[50:25] » Ask a question. >> Um yeah, I guess

[50:28] » uh as a potential customer one, um what what is the likelihood of some seismic

[50:37] price increase in this? I know this bond has you

[50:42] planned and >> lay out. And it sounds like you've got

[50:46] a, you know, good handle on on on the numbers. You know, has there been any

[50:52] talk about what could, you know, what >> you mean like global warming?

[50:56] » Yeah. Something some something crazy. >> We're all underwater,

[50:59] » right? >> It's hard to say

[51:01] » something. Yeah. >> I just wondered

[51:04] that likely is that you feel pretty confident with the way things are going.

[51:10] Well, one thing, John, um when we went under Suffach County Water Management

[51:15] Agreement and they they have elevated our infrastructure to the standards that

[51:20] they require. Everything they do and everything they

[51:26] will do from the point of management, which was 2022

[51:30] to 2048 is all on their watch that they're paying for everything.

[51:37] So, we're going to have the benefit of having the uh the highest technologies,

[51:44] all kinds of testing and um infrastructure, but we don't pay

[51:49] anymore. We've already paid everything. >> So, those changes do get diffused

[51:54] through their entire customer. >> Absolutely.

[51:56] » But the current customer, [clears throat] if if the system is

[51:59] extended, does that change anything >> if they were to extend it someplace?

[52:04] » Yeah. Yes. would definitely change. Well, it would take the bonus off of the

[52:10] each us. >> No, no, that wasn't my question. Uh will

[52:12] they extend it just on their own? They'll pay for an extension.

[52:17] » No, that who like say for example Westneck um or West Morland are

[52:22] requesting that is going to come out of their

[52:26] pocket and I don't know how that's going I I can't say how that's going to work.

[52:31] Would you have to set up your own water district if you came on to West Neck

[52:34] Water District? Would we have to set up a whole new structure? I don't know. But

[52:40] you're going to have to pay for the mains and all of the lines and

[52:44] everything. >> Wouldn't there be amendments and tweaks

[52:47] if something changed? >> Yeah.

[52:49] » So, I mean, that would be taken care of then. We just kind of uh it would

[52:54] diffuse the kind of the end of the world uh for them for you.

[53:02] You get a piece of the end of the world. But no, you'd end up paying

[53:07] » at the broken bridge. >> Well, now that you bring that up, John,

[53:13] it's you know, you don't seem so attractive to us anymore. [laughter]

[53:17] » Sorry. Yeah, I just shot myself in the >> Well, part of it would be um however we

[53:23] determine to handle the districtricting, right? So, Westneck Water District has a

[53:27] defined boundary. So it would be a question of do we create a new district

[53:31] for the new area that's being serviced or do we try to expand West Neck Water

[53:36] District to incorporate more area. So it would really depend on on how it worked

[53:40] out um districtricting wise. >> So hypothetically if because Suffach

[53:46] County does have a squad does have a mandate to provide portable water. So if

[53:52] a new district was created do they have to do that? I mean, they

[53:58] don't do it for free, so you have to pay for it, but they will do it. Is that the

[54:01] deal? Is that how that works out? >> That's where the 40% of the people

[54:05] » 40% of the people in the area have to want it in order for it to be fiscally

[54:10] » and then does [clears throat] everyone in that area have to pay? Once you have

[54:14] the district, you have to hook on >> tied in.

[54:17] » They would pay county water. >> No, I'm just charges. There are triggers

[54:22] that would require you tying in. Yeah, but if you already have quotable water

[54:28] in your well, you're not forced to tie in. It's if you're building a new pro,

[54:32] like a new house on a lot that doesn't currently have water, you'd be

[54:38] so like >> so it' be optional for those who live in

[54:40] that area, but their water is okay. They don't have to sign on,

[54:45] » right? And then there are certain triggers that might in the future force

[54:49] them to tie. Like let's say their water quality diminishes, it's no longer

[54:52] portable. the health department will say, "Well, you have a main right there.

[54:55] You need to tie it to drop a new well." Right? Okay.

[55:00] » County Department of Health is say, "You have to tie it."

[55:04] » Um, so there's a whole bunch of different ways it could get handled. And

[55:07] so, let's say just hypothetically, um, you know, uh, Suffach County Water

[55:13] Authority did put wells in St. James's Woods. Well, then you would have the

[55:19] debate, do you start a new district? do tie into an existing district where the

[55:23] boundaries I mean it becomes a process. So

[55:26] » um there would be a lot negotiated. >> Yeah.

[55:28] » Because when they were looking at that they that was really because they're

[55:31] trying to solve the same problem. >> Yeah.

[55:36] » Yeah. And then it had the benefit of being an emergency backup to neck water

[55:40] district if possible. So you know could serve multiple

[55:44] needs. Was that the only place that was seriously consumed

[55:50] » so far? >> Yeah.

[55:51] » Yeah. >> And then and then the

[55:55] waste water treatment that was over by the emergency services

[55:59] » that was a whole another >> Yeah. And that that's pretty much the

[56:03] Yeah. So going back to um this

[56:10] analysis uh do we have anything that do we want to

[56:15] go with Amber's suggestion that we just sit and wait

[56:19] » and see what our what the pumpage has will be for 26

[56:23] » and uh >> I mean we can't predict ahead of time

[56:25] but if we can avoid an increase and not >> drive ourselves down yes by all means

[56:30] we're not into when it's a not for-p profofit here we're not into making

[56:33] money Yes. Yes.

[56:36] » Do you have any questions about this analysis? No.

[56:39] » Okay. >> But it could change. It could turn out

[56:41] that that's not the way things are going. And you know, it could go both

[56:45] ways. >> Well, just just as we saw [laughter]

[56:48] from earlier in the year spreadsheet to this year's spread, you to this today's

[56:52] spreadsheet. It's like, yeah, we're going to end with $1,500 reserve. Now

[56:56] we're going to end with a $215,000 reserve. I know it's crazy. Yeah.

[57:00] » Because we have so many years. So, I like the idea of just being kind of

[57:06] consistent but no, you know, jerky things, big changes.

[57:12] » And I have to say the first couple of years were up and down because they put

[57:17] meters in. We lost water, we lost consumption readings.

[57:22] » So, it it took it took a couple years to work it out. Now I think this is a an

[57:28] optimistic but sort of much better. >> It's not unrealistic.

[57:32] » It's not unrealistic. This is >> the way hopefully it will operate. Um

[57:38] and you know the last two years have been outliers just getting used to the

[57:41] system. So it's good stuff. >> But I think the message I'm getting

[57:46] especially with Joan's comments is that there are areas in this island that are

[57:50] populated that are desperate for quality water. And I don't think we can just

[57:54] ignore it. I mean, there has to be some solution offered

[57:59] » regardless of what people think about Squa or, you know, what their prejudices

[58:03] are against a district.

[58:07] » Yeah. >> Um, so that's it on the finances before

[58:13] we go into executive session. Do we have any other anything else you want to

[58:17] bring up? I didn't put rules and regulations down because I just thought

[58:21] we have enough to talk about, but we'll get back to that maybe our next meeting.

[58:26] » That's good.

[58:30] » Yeah, we're gonna take you out, John. Sorry.

[58:35] » Count your blessings. [laughter]

[58:41] » What a groovy shoot. [laughter]

[58:45] And if I may, Wendy, I don't know if you remember, we we have met and spoken over

[58:50] the years. >> John,

[58:54] I'm honored. >> I'm a big fan.

[58:58] » So, thank you very much. >> You're welcome. Yeah. Good luck.

[59:01] » Are you Are you feeling discouraged? Does God do things?

West Neck Water District 09.04.26

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