20140902Comment.pdf

CASE NO.SPL-W-li-01 ORDERNO.32904 DTD OCTOBER 11,2013
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3358$North Kelso Drive
ZOR SEP -2 Spirit Lake,Idaho $3869
UT1LITIrS CC
-August29,2014
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
472 WEST WASHINGTON
BOISE,IDAHO 83 720-0074
Dear Sirs:
RE:CASE NO.SPL-W.13-O1
When I attended the June 2013 Public Meeting of the Commission’s
Representatives in Spirit Lake,I had only one question in mind.It appeared
to me that the allocation of water provided by the Idaho Department of
Water Resources to the Enforced Spirit Lake East Plat in Kootenai County
and the Public Treeport Plat,(Planned Commercial Airport)in Bonner
County,was inconsistent with the provisions under consideration.
Examination of the filed water rights,CASE NUMBER:49578,
referenced to the July 9,2009 application indicated an allowance by IDWR
would have provided roughly 119 gallons per day per lot for Irrigation and
527 gallons per day for Home use.An estimated 19,320 gallons per 30-day
month.This allocation seemed totally inconsistent even in 2009 with the
then current Monthly Allotment of 9000 gallons per month.
At the Meeting,I provided your Engineer Gerry D.Gallinato,with a
copy of the of the General Adjudication Rights for the Commission’s
inspection and review,for a possible explanation of the disparity.I only
asked that it be returned to me at the end.You may recall I made at point of
it to your Attorney in my testimony at the final Hearing in Spirit Lake.
CASE NO.SPL-W-13-01 ORDER NO.32904 DID OCTOBER 11,2013
The only other matter at the initial meeting that seemed to be of
importance was raised by Mrs.Carla Strane.She asked the question as to
whether the charges on the displayed Pie Chart were incurred by the Present
Owner of the Water System or by the R.A.Hanson Corporation.Mrs.
Strane did not return to the subsequent hearing and I did not know who she
was at the time.
At the Final Hearing held in Spirit Lake,I was simply aghast that
your Engineering Staff recommended a Monthly Allocation of 6000 gallons
of water per month for a Minimum Monthly Charge of $25.55.
The inconsistency was so out of proportion to reality for the
Residents of SLEPLAT,that I pleaded with Commissioner Mack A.Redford
to reconsider.The Monthly Allotment was finalized at 2000 gallons per
month.
The Tax Assessor’s Enforced Spirit Lake East Plat was established in
Kootenai County as a Rural District (Multiple Use)suitable for rural
uses ,such as agricultural pursuits including livestock production and
forestry.The proposed Commercial Airport (Treeport)would have taken
place in Bonner County.
My evaluation of the situation,was that your Engineering Staff
concentrated on the Plant,that is what engineers do,and not on the
Communities involved.Someone in Idaho Public Utilities Commission
should have been looking out for the interest of the Residents as well.It
didn’t appear to me at the time the Residents were.This is unfortunate,but
in my opinion,the allocation of product was disproportionate to the current
usage and distribution.Where did the water go?You never answered my
basic question,“Where did the Water Go?”The disparity is puzzling to say
the least.
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CASE NO.SPL-W-13-01 ORDER NO.32904 DTD OCTOBER 11,2013
Cc:Mrs.Carla Strane
31076 North Spirit Drive
Spirit Lake,Idaho 83869
Mr.Shane Crist
8743 West Liberty Drive
Spirit Lake,Idaho 83869
SLEHAII’JC
P.O.BOX 217
Spirit Lake,Idaho 83869
IPUC Consumer Assistance
Attn:Jolene NLN
472 West Washington
Boise,Idaho 83702-5983
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