Surfus
Mar 01, 2006, 05:09 AM
Madera Co. moves to buy water firm
By Charles McCarthy / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Wednesday, March 1, 2006, 5:30 AM)
MADERA — The Board of Supervisors opened the door Tuesday for an Oakhurst-based maintenance district to seek federal money for a future purchase of privately owned Hillview Water Co.
The board directed Madera County Resource Management Agency Director Floyd Davis to submit a preliminary application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for an unspecified share of Rural Development funding.
"This is a shelf-ready project," said Supervisor Gary Gilbert, who represents the Oakhurst area. "This is a complete system available to go, on the ground."
The supervisors formed the district, known as Maintenance District 22-F, last July to seek eventual public ownership of Hillview. The per-parcel property tax assessment was set at zero.
The board noted that although it makes decisions for the county, the maintenance district would own and operate the water system.
"It is the district that is financially responsible, not the county," Gilbert said.
After he learned of the board's unanimous action Tuesday, Hillview President Roger Forrester said in his Oakhurst office: "I'm a willing seller, if the price is right ... $4 million plus take over the existing debt."
That would total between $5.5 million and $6 million, Forrester estimated.
Last August, dwindling water in Hillview's tanks forced Forrester to ask for voluntary cutbacks, a plea he has had to make in numerous previous summers.Customers were asked to stop all outdoor watering.
Two major wells had been deepened and new wells would be brought online. Hillview had one new well tested and ready to start pumping water last August. But it didn't have enough pipeline in place to deliver the water, Forrester said.
Without cutbacks, the Hillview system might not have enough water to keep its downtown hydrants supplied in the event of a fire.
The 2005 plea was similar to Hillview warnings since 1999 that its system was hard-pressed to supply enough summertime water to the growing community.
In July 2004, Madera County Sheriff John Anderson declared a community emergency that restricted not only outside watering but daily use of dishwashers and washing machines along with banning frequent toilet flushing.
By mid-August 2004, Forrester said, the company was pumping enough water to ease that summer's heat crisis.
The reporter can be reached at cmccarthy@fresnobee.com or (559) 675-6804.
By Charles McCarthy / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Wednesday, March 1, 2006, 5:30 AM)
MADERA — The Board of Supervisors opened the door Tuesday for an Oakhurst-based maintenance district to seek federal money for a future purchase of privately owned Hillview Water Co.
The board directed Madera County Resource Management Agency Director Floyd Davis to submit a preliminary application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for an unspecified share of Rural Development funding.
"This is a shelf-ready project," said Supervisor Gary Gilbert, who represents the Oakhurst area. "This is a complete system available to go, on the ground."
The supervisors formed the district, known as Maintenance District 22-F, last July to seek eventual public ownership of Hillview. The per-parcel property tax assessment was set at zero.
The board noted that although it makes decisions for the county, the maintenance district would own and operate the water system.
"It is the district that is financially responsible, not the county," Gilbert said.
After he learned of the board's unanimous action Tuesday, Hillview President Roger Forrester said in his Oakhurst office: "I'm a willing seller, if the price is right ... $4 million plus take over the existing debt."
That would total between $5.5 million and $6 million, Forrester estimated.
Last August, dwindling water in Hillview's tanks forced Forrester to ask for voluntary cutbacks, a plea he has had to make in numerous previous summers.Customers were asked to stop all outdoor watering.
Two major wells had been deepened and new wells would be brought online. Hillview had one new well tested and ready to start pumping water last August. But it didn't have enough pipeline in place to deliver the water, Forrester said.
Without cutbacks, the Hillview system might not have enough water to keep its downtown hydrants supplied in the event of a fire.
The 2005 plea was similar to Hillview warnings since 1999 that its system was hard-pressed to supply enough summertime water to the growing community.
In July 2004, Madera County Sheriff John Anderson declared a community emergency that restricted not only outside watering but daily use of dishwashers and washing machines along with banning frequent toilet flushing.
By mid-August 2004, Forrester said, the company was pumping enough water to ease that summer's heat crisis.
The reporter can be reached at cmccarthy@fresnobee.com or (559) 675-6804.