Trustees discuss communications upgrades, cybersecurity risks and small CDC grants for site protection

Summary

Staff reported a communications contract to clean up wiring and reduce monthly bills, plans to add Internet and cameras at Grimes and SCADA access, and trustees discussed cybersecurity threats to utility systems; small CDC source-protection grants (~$10,000) were highlighted as a possible funding source for cameras or fencing.

Speaker 2 told trustees the district signed an agreement with FIDM to consolidate communications and clean up wiring; Speaker 2 reported the upgrade will allow Internet at the Grimes site, camera monitoring, and remote SCADA access. He noted this should reduce recurring bills, citing both a $9.61 figure and an estimated $500-per-month savings in the discussion.

Trustees then discussed cybersecurity. Speaker 5 described recent cybersecurity sessions and warned that attackers increasingly target operational systems and office systems alike. "You could steal your data and shut you down," Speaker 5 said. Speaker 2 said the drinking-water program has been issuing cyber alerts about once a week and recalled outreach for security audits was delayed by federal staffing pauses; he also noted Limestone had been hacked last year.

Speaker 5 also briefed the board on small CDC grants for source-protection and security (roughly $10,000) that could support cameras or fencing around facilities; staff noted a sanitary survey recommendation to review camera systems and supplied a contact (Sophia) at the drinking-water program for future applications.