Gardnerville Ranchos General Improvement District
Board of Trustees Meeting held
May 19, 2016 at 5:00 pm at
931 Mitch Drive, Gardnerville, Nevada
Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Jeff James
Trustees Present:Jeff James, Cade Baligad, Brad Newlon, Leann Teter and Bob McDowell
Also Present: Michael Bennett, Mike Rowe, Bob Spellberg and Dawn Hinds
Public Comment: none
Approval of the Agenda:
Public Comment: none
Bob McDowell motioned to approve the Agenda. Leann Teter seconded the motion.
All ayes. Motion passed.
Approval of the minutes:
Cade Baligad motioned to approve the Minutes from the May 4, 2016 Board Meeting.
Jeff James seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion passed.
Public Comment: none
Staff Reports:
District Engineer: Mike Bennett reviewed his project tracking schedule for the month of May 2016.
District Counsel: Mike Rowe will be reporting later on items on the Agenda.
District Manager: Bob reported that the District is still waiting on Stanley to install the security cameras.
The East Peak waterline project has been approved by the State and can begin when the contractor is ready.
New Business:
I For Possible Action: Board discussion on the award of the fiscal year 2016-2017 Street
Maintenance Project. Board discussion followed by public comment. Possible Board
action to award the fiscal year 2016-2017 Street Maintenance Project to Sierra Nevada
construction in the amount of $394,007.02. Action Item.
The bids were opened on April 28, 2016. Sierra Nevada Construction (SNC) was the lowest total bid of $394,007.02. Engineer’s estimate for this project is $452,626.50. SNC, a Nevada contractor licensee, is of good standing and their bid was found complete. Therefore, staff recommends that the award be considered to SNC for the amount of $394,007.02.
Public Comment: none
Bob McDowell motioned to award the 2016-2017 fiscal year Street Maintenance
Project to Sierra Nevada Construction in the amount of $394,007.02 and further
authorize the District Manager to approve change orders up to 10% of the
project total cost. Cade Baligad seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion passed.
II For Possible Action: Board discussion regarding charging service charges for people who
use credits cards. Board discussion followed by public comment. Possible Board action
to start charging for credit card use to offset the fees paid by the District to the credit card
processing company. Action Item.
Bob stated that this Item is a follow up on suggestions from Bob McDowell and Mike Rowe that the District look into charging customers who use credits cards a fee for using their card. The District currently uses penalty charges to offset the cost of credit card fees. The District cannot collect more in fees than are being charged by Elavon the processing company. In fiscal year 2014-2015 the District paid out $16,256.72 in credit card fees. The penalty charge paid by delinquent customers was $21,585.00.
Bob McDowell stated that credit cards are just another service the District provides. The customer pays for water, sewer, streets and parks and therefore why not credit card fees.
Mike Rowe said that the Town of Gardnerville and Topaz GID have recently adopted convenience fees for the use of debit and credit cards.
Brad Newlon is concerned that since the District is now charging for meters he does not want to add another fee and make customers feel like they are being nickel and dimed to death.
Cade mentioned that the District is a nonprofit entity and although he understands where Bob McDowell is coming from the District is in the black and he does not have an appetite for applying a convenience fee at this time.
Jeff James likes the concept but he does not think the time is right. Jeff suggested revisiting this item at a later time. Brad agreed.
Public Comment: none
Bob McDowell motioned to table this item regarding charging for credit card use until November 2016. Jeff James seconded the motion. Four ayes. Cade Baligad stood opposed.
III The Board will recess to meet with counsel in a meeting that excludes the public. The
Board will meet with counsel to receive information form counsel to the District regarding
potential or existing litigation involving a meter over which the Board has supervision, control
jurisdiction, or advisory power and to deliberate toward a decision on the matter. Non Action
Item.
Cade Baligad motioned to recess and go to closed session. Bob McDowell seconded
The motion. All ayes. Motion passed. (5:39 pm)
Meeting Reconvened at 6:28 pm.
IV For Possible Action: Board discussion regarding a demand from the Minden Gardnerville
Sanitation District. Board discussion followed by public comment. Possible board action to
decide what action the Board will take regarding a demand for funds by MGSD to offset
the cost of building a heating system using by products produced by the MGSD sewage
treatment plant. Action Item.
MGSD has requested that GRGID contribute $350,758.00 or 16.77 percent of the costs incurred by MGSD for the installation of the Co-Generation Facility in Minden. The Board discussed the options available to them regarding this demand for money from MGSD and is not convinced the District is even obligated to pay for this five year old facility per the 1974 Agreement and Supplement to the 1974 Contract dated November 21, 1990.
Two options available are litigation and mediation. Cade Baligad would like to keep it out of court if all possible.
Bob Spellberg suggested having Mike write another letter asking for clarification
Public Comment: none
Bob McDowell motioned to direct counsel and the District Manager to create a letter to MGSD asking for clarification to the last paragraph in the letter written by Mike Rowe dated October 2, 2015. Cade Baligad seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion
passed.
Old Business: None
Consent Calendar:
Public Comment: None
Cade Baligad motioned to approve the Consent Calendar as is. Jeff James seconded
the motion. All ayes. Motion passed.
Trustee Reports:
Bob McDowell asked for future discussion on the public meeting held on May 4, 2016 especially regarding the meter program.
The Board changed the June meeting to June 9th, 2016 because of a conflict in the District Manager’s schedule.
Public Comment: Terry Faff from Birdie Court in the Ranchos. Suggested the Board attend county meetings regarding streets and who owns them so they can form their own opinions. He stated that the new County Manager Larry Warren may be receptive in meeting with the Board to talk about the streets. He feels this would avoid a lot of issues and confrontations and possible litigations. Bob stated there is a lot more to this issue than just roads and the last thing the Board wants to do is litigation. Bob has offered to meet with Terry and discuss the issues.
Adjournment:
Leann Teter motioned to adjourn the meeting. Bob McDowell seconded the motion
All ayes. Motion passed.
Meeting adjourned at 6:46 pm.
By
_________________________________
Dawn Hinds
Acting Secretary