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Board faults contractor reporting, discusses DNA tests and budget as Ecology grants and liens limit options
Summary
Board members said Aqua Technics' spring/fall maps and final report were unclear and inconsistent, limiting the ability to judge treatment effectiveness; staff outlined budget numbers, remaining Ecology grant funds, liens totals and next steps for a possible contract addendum.
A board member raised concerns that the spring and fall survey maps and the final report prepared by contractor Aqua Technics did not provide clear, comparable information to measure treatment effectiveness and recommended changes to the contract's scope and reporting.
"The quality of the maps of the spring and fall surveys is insufficient," one board member said, arguing that the maps use inconsistent legends and survey methods so it is hard to tell whether biomass changes reflect treatment effects or different measurement approaches. The board asked staff to request contract language and pricing for expanded survey content and additional methods to improve comparability.
Staff said they had been in contact with Aqua Technics and reported a contractor recommendation to run DNA tests on milfoil samples to detect hybridization; the contractor contact (Terry) suggested a DNA test costing about $750 each. Board members asked staff to obtain a firm scope and price for any increased survey effort before approving an addendum.
On funding, staff reported the ALMD received a $75,000 grant from the Department of Ecology that was billable for work done in 2025 and 2026. The ALMD billed $64,441.42 to Ecology for 2025 work, leaving $10,558.58 available for 2026. After carryforward and an annual $2,649 repayment to the city, staff presented a working 2026 budget of about $42,500 (assuming full assessment payment and holding a 10% reserve).
The board also reviewed assessment liens: staff reported nine liens totaling $1,863.53 against properties in the district; Thornwood Beach Club was cited as a difficult case because records show a PO Box and ownership appears parceled among many heirs. Staff will work with finance and the county assessor to identify current owners and pursue resolution.
No contract addendum was approved at the meeting; staff will present proposed contract language, cost estimates for added surveys and DNA testing, and corrected budget spreadsheets at the next meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for June 11.
