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Maintenance chief reports progress on Moorfield work, unresolved water leak and incoming buses
Summary
Josh C. Vasquez reported progress on interior work at Moorfield (lighting, ventilation, bathrooms, outlets), an unresolved campus water leak driving up bills, and confirmed new buses will arrive next week; he also described a push to add electric buses via grant funding and driver/mechanic training.
Josh C. Vasquez, the district's maintenance and transportation lead (identified in the meeting transcript), told the board the renovation at Moorfield is moving ahead: lights, some ventilation and bathroom partitions are installed, drywall and outlet covers remain to be fitted, and volunteers have assisted with painting.
Vasquez said some final checklist items remain but that the project has advanced rapidly. "It's came a really long way," he said, and noted roughly 20 work orders remain open. He showed board members photos of the interior progress and described the remaining tasks as primarily finishing touches: a small number of ceiling lights, switch and outlet covers, and reinstalling an ASAP fire-alarm component.
Board members then focused on a water leak issue tied to unusually high utility charges. Vasquez said the leak has not been located despite inspections by PSD and staff checks of fixtures. "We cannot find it. It's a mystery," he said. Board members discussed digging along the meter and road corridor to trace the line before the ground freezes; one member said the water bill has been "jumping like $5,600 a month." The chair urged staff to begin excavation if necessary to locate the break.
On transportation, Vasquez confirmed the district's newly ordered buses will arrive next week and staff will install radios and place them into service. "The new buses will be here next week," he said, adding the district will fit radios and begin rotating buses onto runs.
Vasquez also recounted a visit to an electric-bus manufacturer and described the vehicles as promising: he told the board they include regenerative braking that can recharge batteries on downhill runs and an eight-year battery warranty. He said mechanics and drivers will be trained on the different operating characteristics. He added the district is pursuing grant funding for an additional electric bus and has engaged a local contact to prepare a grant application.
Why this matters: Facility finishes affect when spaces can be occupied and reduced unfinished work lowers risk of repeated vendor callbacks; unidentified leaks can carry substantial recurring costs. The arrival of new buses and the district's interest in electric buses could affect operations, fuel costs and maintenance over coming years.
Next steps: Staff will continue the punchlist at Moorfield, pursue locating the water leak (possibly by excavation), install radios and deploy the new buses, and move forward with the electric-bus grant application and training plan.
