20150806Comments (3 Total).pdf

Case Number:SCH-W-1 5-Of
Schweitzer Basin Water Company REVF
Ray and JoAnne Story 2Th I 8 39
Creekside Condo 306
Schweitzer Mt z
Poi3 372O
)5L P 37Z
Dear CkZLS
This letter is in regards to the fire hydrants at Schweitzer Mountain not meeting today’s
standards.Because of this,the Schweitzer Fire District has filed a suit against Schweitzer Basin
Water,LLC.
We bought our first condo,“The Tamarach”,in 197$.At the time,Dr.Jack Fowler owned the
water works.It worked great until Christmas week.By New Year’s Eve we would run out of
water.We learned to store water in 5 gallon buckets or everything else,to be able to flush the
toilets.We had to go down to the “Over Nighter”to take showers.They were the last to have
water.Jack would come by our condo to get Ray to help him find the leaks in the system and
repair them.Jack was a second cousin and knew that as a farmer,Ray,could repair anything.
In 1989,Mel and Marsha bought the water works from Dr.Fowler and the rest is history.
Reservoirs were added,pipes replaced,and wells drilled.We’ve never run out of water with the
new owners.Whenever the system needs to be shut down for repairs,all mountain dwellers’are
notified.
Please don’t mess with the great system and for heaven’s sake don’t waste any more tax dollars
on “pipe dreams”!
Sincerely,‘,-..-o
Ray and JoAnne Story
July31,2015 c r’.
To:Chris Hecht p :
Re:Schweitzer Basin Water LLC.
j ‘i i
Dear Chris,
I am a condominium owner at Schweitzer Mountain Resort and President of the Schweitzer Mountain
Property Home Owners Association.Additionally,my company,Mountain Boyz LLC.,provides Property
Management services to many Associations and Home Owners groups at Schweitzer.I have owned an
Alpine Condominium unit for twenty-five years and was President of the Association from 1995-2008.
I have had an opportunity to work with the owners of Schweitzer Basin Water LLC on many occasions
over the years and have always found their service to be of high quality and timely.As a Property
Manager and representing many owners of property at the Resort,I have never had my clients have any
complaints or concerns about their water quality,availability,or costs.
Prior to SBWLLC managing the water system,it was not unusual to have water shortages during peak
times such as around Christmas.That has been eliminated and never occurs since they have been
managing the delivery of water.
My personal opinion is that most if not all owners receiving service from SBWLLC are well pleased.
Cordiall
Kent Lawson
Jean Jewell
From:[e-mail]
Sent:Wednesday,August 05,2015 10:10 AM
To:Beverly Barker;Jean Jewell;Gene Fadness
Cc:[e-mail]
Subject:Case Comment Form:Lyle Hemingway
Name:Lyle Hemingway
Case Number:SCH-W-15-01
Email:ldhemingway(comcast.net
Telephone:[phone]
Address:128 Mogul Hill Road
Sandpoint Idaho,83864
Name of Utility Company:Schweitzer Basin Water Company Acknowledge public record:True
Comment:From:Lyle Hemingway
To Chris Hecht
Idaho Public Utilities Commission Secretary P0 Box 83720 Boise ID 83720
208-334-0306
Dear Mr.Hecht
I am a condo owner at Schweitzer Ski Resort and President of the Granite Peaks Home Owners
Association.
I have been coming to Schweitzer since 1988 and have owned condos (3)all on SBW,at
Schweitzer since 1988.I have been on the SBW water system at all of these condos.
The lots at Schweitzer vary in elevation by over 1000 feet and were not sold with utilities.
Jack Fowler started a water system using hoses and sand bags in a tributary of Sand Creek.
As condos and houses were built the water system expanded.
Blizzards,high winds,poor visibility,extreme cold,very deep snow are common.The
terrain is steep and goes to over 5000 feet.The first homes and condos were to accommodate
skiers,who did not necessarily have much money.Condos were about 225 square feet and not
built to today’s quality and standards.The condos were only used sporadically on some
weekends,i.e.they were unoccupied for long periods of time.Water lines in the buildings
would freeze and were not detected by the homeowners.The water company owners have to find
the in-home leaks.
Mel and Marsha have done an exemplary job of upgrading the SBW by replacing main lines,
adding service connections to lots,allowing fire hydrants to be installed,at home owners
expense,as required by the Fire Chief,responding to water leaks (mostly in homes)and
customers questions.They are an active part in a small community volunteering their time to
organizations that work to coordinate snow plowing private driveways,maintaining public
roads privately maintained,providing an on-mountain chapel,provide home owner input to on
mountain recreation and reviewing architectural proposals for impacts due to deep,heavy
snow.
Even though our condo owned fire hydrant does not flow the desired International Fire Code
rate,the water that SBW provides is sufficient to allow us to get fire insurance at a fire
insurance rating of 5.At a huge savings,over 50%,which I do not want to lose!
1
We applaud the SBW efforts that provide us high quality,reliable water.We are willing to
pay the current rate or more to maintain this safe product.
Lyle
Unique Identifier:24.49.176.71
2