Engineer, manager update water-system projects, model delays and write-off approval

At its July 22 meeting, the Park County Water, Sewer and Utility Board received updates on several water‑system projects and operational items, including delivery and installation schedules for tube settlers, tank work, sewer monitoring, a water‑model data delay and a motion to send $12,802.02 in past‑due accounts to collections.

Evan White, engineer with Midtown Engineering, reported that David Pine (W&O) confirmed delivery of the tube settlers within two weeks and that on‑site assembly and construction would follow. "Shortly after that, there'll be construction. They'll start assembling them together on‑site and then be in contact with these water plant operator as far as when they're gonna try to shut down…so that we can keep them shut down as least as possible during this time of year," White said. White advised scheduling shutdowns to minimize service interruptions during peak summer demand.

White also said the ARP tanks are scheduled to be repainted at the beginning of next month, with mobilization already confirmed, and that demolition work at the Morrison Street tank began on the 18th of the month. On system monitoring, he reported that sewer flow monitors are to be pulled at the end of the month for cleaning and then prepared for the next deployment cycle later in the year.

General Manager Blunt reported an increase in measured water loss during the first half of the month that staff attributed to a large leak on a 12‑inch line; Blunt said repairs have been completed. Blunt asked the board for approval to send a set of past‑due accounts to collections. He gave the total for the accounts as $12,802.02 and said this is improved compared with the previous year. The board voted on the manager's collection action; after the vocal vote the chair stated the motion carried.

On the utility's water‑model project, staff said they were continuing work but were having trouble importing the full customer‑meter data set into the modeling software; a staff member named Emily was working with customer support to resolve the issue. The board also discussed connection and tap fees: staff described standard residential capacity charges and reported year‑to‑date connection fee receipts of $33,475 (combined categories referenced in the packet) and tap‑fee counts reported in the meeting.

Residents raised a neighborhood question about Thompson Lane, where a developer is installing a new water line and fire hydrant connections. A nearby resident described multiple private connections and asked how the line would be fed; staff responded that developers install lines and then surrender them to the utility in accordance with local requirements. A public commenter named Rosalie thanked staff for ongoing work and expressed appreciation for the utility's efforts.

Why it matters: the updates touch both near‑term construction schedules (which affect service interruptions and contractor activity) and system operations (losses, monitoring and account collection policy). The water‑model data issue affects staff's ability to run system analyses that inform operations and capital planning.

Next steps: staff will coordinate shutdown timing with operations during tube‑settler assembly, proceed with planned tank repainting and continue work on the water model once meter data import issues are resolved. The board approved the manager's request to proceed with the specified write‑offs and collections action.