20150812Comments (5 Total).pdf

Jean Jewell
From:Barry Flener [[e-mail]]
Sent:Tuesday,August 11,20759:10 PM
To:Chris Hecht ch’—w’-/c_O /Subject:Schweitzer Basin water Company case Comments
Idaho PUC,
Would like to ad an additional comment.There seems to be a few,that are sending in polite
messages of how great the water is and the Current Price of water for our homes.
There are multiple issues here:first,will the PUC regulate how much the water system can charge
and what the rates will be?
The other is very simple.Will I have Fire Flow (enough water and pressure )to fight a fire at my
home?The hydrant is just a few feet away.Not just at my home but on their water system in whole.
If the answer from the water system owner not a yes,someone is responsible to notify all owners
with in this water system,the water system owners and or PUC need to notify all of the property
owners,that they may or may not have enough water and pressure thru the hydrants to fight a
home or other fire.
All owners need to know this as a health and safety issue.Their insurance companies need to
know.This is the bottom line.This isn’t about the owners,the current water costs or whether the
water tastes ok.It’s about safety.
Possibly some of the comments are from people who have been involved with building water
systems?I have built smaller water systems and I understand flow and pressure etc.I have built several
homes in systems with Fire hydrants.Never have I built where the hydrants may or may not
have flow and pressure to combat a fire.But my understanding is that the hydrant in front of my home
May or May not have Fire flow.
This isn’t an issue about warm and fuzzy letters.This is an issue about Safety.Have the owners send
me correspondence (and copy you )that they can provide water flow and pressure on their whole system
to combat a fire.I am good with that.Pretty simple request.
For safety issues,ask the water company to provide water flow and pressure on their system
to meet the standards for fighting fires on their whole system,or fix it.I ask the PUC to look at this
as a safety issue.
Pretty simple request,
Sincerely,
Barry Flener
fIene r@ca rna no.net
P0 Box 1629 Stanwood WA 98292
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Jean Jewell
From:[e-mail]
Sent:Friday,August 07,2015 9:39 PM
To:Beverly Barker;Jean Jewell;Gene Fadness
Cc:[e-mail]
Subject:Case Comment Form:Kristen Armstrong
Name:Kristen Armstrong
Case Number:SCH-W-15-01
Email:Joelkristenatmstrongyahoo.corn
Telephone:[phone]
Address:3309 W.23rd Av
Spokane WA,99224
Name of Utility Company:Schweitzer Basin Water Co.
Acknowledge public record:True
Comment:Please consider this comment letter in regard to case #SCH-W-15-Ol.I understand
letters were to be received by August 5,however I was out of town August 5-7 attending my
cousin’s funeral and hope this letter will be added to the case file comments.
My husband and I have skied at Schweitzer for over 30 years.Our parents skied there and
owned condos on the mountain.Now we own a condo in the Die Schmetterling and have been
outstanding water service from the Schweitzer Basin Water Co for the 15 years we’ve owned a
condo.
As treasurer of the Die Schmetterling I am the contact person in our building for any
problems.I have never been contacted about a water related problem.Even during periods of
peak water use,our service has been uninterrupted and reliable.Schweitzer Basin Water
delivers reliable,high quality water at a reasonable price.
As a civil engineer,I am aware of the difficulties of providing reliable,high quality water
in a harsh environment,let alone on the top of a mountain with no aquifer to draw from.Mel
Bailey has definitely upgraded and improved the system since he bought it.Not having water
outages during the Christmas holiday is greatly appreciated.We are willing to pay the
reasonable water rates we are charged for the high quality water and customer service we
receive.We have full confidence in Mel Bailey and Marsha Bell to continue operating
Schweitzer Basin Water Company and we appreciate all their efforts.
Sincerely,
Kristen Armstrong
Unique Identifier:174.31.22.214
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Jean Jewell
From:[e-mail]
Sent:Saturday,August 08,2015 9:35 PM
To:Beverly Barker;Jean Jewell;Gene Fadness
Cc:[e-mail]
Subject:Case Comment Form:Galen Miller
Name:Galen Miller
Case Number:SCH-W-15-01
Email:gam1842(gmail.com
Telephone:[phone]
Address:500 Ridgeview Lane
Coolin ID,83821
Name of Utility Company:SBWLLC
Acknowledge public record:True
Comment:I was an owner of a condo in Schweitzer Creek 100 from 1989 through 1992 during
which time Mel Bailey and Marsha Bell had purchased the Schwitzer Creek Water system and
began upgrading and maintaining it.They made many upgrades in the beginning years they
owned this system.I had been an owner on the mountain since 1974 and the water system was
quite often in need of attention.This changed quite rapidly with their ownership and the
reliability improved markedly.I have children who own on the mountain today and over the
years have been able to observe how the water system owners pay prompt attention to service
calls.
Unique Identifier:204.9.111.46
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Jean Jewell
From:[e-mail]
Sent:Wednesday,August 12,2015 1 1:08 AM
To:Beverly Barker;Jean Jewell;Gene Fadness
Cc:[e-mail]
Subject:Case Comment Form:Bob Bensen
Name:Bob Bensen
Case Number:SCH-W-15-01
Email:c.bensenhotmail.com
Telephone:[phone]
Address:12694 Baldy Mtn Rd
Sandpoint Id,83864
Name of Utility Company:Schweitzer Basin Water Acknowledge public record:True
Comment:From:Bob BensenTo Chris Hecht
Idaho Public Utilities Commission Secretary
P0 Box 83720
Boise ID 83720
208-334-0306
Dear Mr.Hecht
I am the property manager for several properties at Schweitzer that are served by the
Schweitzer Basin Water LLC (SBW).
Several years ago,in the winter,one of the properties I manage had a major leak to the
building (Wild Flower Condo A).The curb stop riser for the building was filled with ice and
the curb stop could not be operated.I called Mel Bailey,owner of the SBW.He was able
to stop the leaking water by shutting off a main line valve but this affected around 100
residential units.There was another valve to our service line in the road,but this line
was also full of sand,from sanding the road,and full of solid ice,from melting ice on the
road.The temperatures were in the single digits and by now it was dark.
Mel had stabilized the system but had numerous people without water.He could have gone to
bed and worked on this in the daylight (around 8am).But this was unacceptable to him.He
got a source of hot water and kept pouring small amounts into the riser,vacuuming out the
water and melted ice (using a generator to operate a vacuum).They did this over and over
again.Mel and Marsha continued doing this until 3 AM when they were able to shut off the
valve.Mel and Marsha met their goal of having water to their customers when they got up to
go skiing.
This is an example of the dedication that I have personally seen.Mel helps with
engineering new projects.With his experience in snow country he adds consideration for
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unusual water,snow and wind effects.And he has excellent ideas for improving lines that
have been subject to freezing,etc.
Mel is also involved in several organizations at Schweitzer and provides valuable input to
them.We appreciate Mel’s involvement on the mountain.
I also manage other properties on and off the mountain.Comparing water systems,the
Schweitzer Basin Water LLC has been reliable and provides water of high quality.The SBW
charges a fair price for a wonderful product.
Bob Bensen
Unique Identifier:70.199.132.107
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Jean Jewell
From:[e-mail]
Sent:Monday,August 10,2015 6:59PM
To:Beverly Barker;Jean Jewell;Gene Fadness
Cc:[e-mail]
Subject:Case Comment Form:John &Sharon Didlield
Name:John &Sharon Oldfield
Case Number:SCH-W-15-O1
Email:Ifo.mail(air-pipe.com
Telephone:[phone]
Address:22 Snowghost Rd
Sandpoint ID,83864
Name of Utility Company:Schweitzer Basin Water Company Acknowledge public record:True
Comment:John and Sharon Oldfield
22 Snowghost Road
Sandpoint,ID 83864
August 10,2015
Chris Hecht
PUC Commission Secretary,IPUC
P0 Box $3720
Boise,ID $3720d
Re:Schweitzer Basin Water Company,LLC (SBWC)
Dear Mr.Hecht:
We have been customers of SBWC for 10 years and are very pleased with the service we have
been provided.
1.The quality of the water has been excellent in clarity,taste,and purity!
2.Coming from a metropolitan area in Seattle we are very pleased with the rate we are
paying.Admittedly we are in a resort area with very few full timers,have restrictions in
our contract as to watering lawns,etc.but still think we are getting a big bang for our
buck.
3.The few problems that the water system has experienced in our area have been promptly
addressed and we have been kept informed of the situation,progress,and completion.This
has not been our experience with previous water companies.
While we are pleased with the water quality and services provided by the SBWC we are also
satisfied with the services provided the community by the Schweitzer Fire and Rescue
District.
It is our understanding that SBWC is primarily a domestic water service company.Hydrants
are a great addition but not the primary reason the company was formed.
We appreciate the SFRD’s concerns over the water pressures and resultant flows in some areas
but hope as customers that the quality of the SBWC services,product,and fees survive in any
resolution.
Respectfully,
1
John F.Old-Field Sharon C.Old-Field
Unique Identifier:204.9.111.221
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