20240930Compliance Filing Meeting Notes.pdf

RECEIVED
Monday, September 30, 2024
IDAHO PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION
Ponderosa Estates Water Company (Farko Water C:ompa110 PTE-W-24-01
A customer meeting N\as held Crone 5:00 to 7:00 pill on 3'262024 at the Sagle. Idaho Senior
Center.
There was strong attendance including representati\cs from the Idaho Public Utilities
commission (IPUC'), the Idaho Rural Witter Association (IRWA), the Idaho Department of
environmental Quality (IDEQ), as well as approximately 36 people in person and six people
attending online, that represented community households on Farko Water.
The intent of this meeting was for the Company to answer questions of the attendees, determine
il'the community wanted to proceed in taking over management of the Farko water system and if*
so, elect a new board.
The following are generalized questions asked by customers ol'the Company:
• Question regarding road maintenance anti il'the water company would continue in that
role. Amber: Farko explained that road maintenance has always been separate front the
water company and that road maintenance would be at the discretion of the homeowners
and not part ol'the water company.
• Customer(Cody Freer)spoke about what he would like to sec regarding the water
company. Cody was concerned about the �,vater quality, as he has small children and is
willing to step up and either oven the system or be a board member to assure his lankly
receives clean, reliable water.
• Dion Holton. Water Circuit Rider Ior Northern Idaho, representing the IRWA introduced
his organization and briefly described what the organization does in support ol'snmall
water systems.
• Larry Fairfax with Farko Water stated that he has been working with two people, training
them to operate the system and providing training in an effort for the individuals to take
the State of Idaho Water Operators test in lmillerance ofobtaining their
I icense!certi f icat ion.
• 'Thcrc was it question about ownership ol'the system as they had heard multiple stories
anti wanted to be assured that if the customers took over the that they would own
it and not another unknown entity. Larry Fairfax gave a short history ol'the ownership of
the company and stated that he was the owner ol'the system and no one else has a clainm
to the system except the homeowners as a group.
• There was a question regarding different options Cor ownership of the system. A
conversation between Mr. Fairfax and the customers in which several options were
presented..These options included one or niore people taking over the system: keeping
the existing structure and electing a new board ofdirectors and to have the board and
cu.tonlcrs cooperatively operate the system: and selling the system to a third party, in
which the customers would hunt little to no control.
• There were questions Irons customers regarding grants and loans available to Farko
Water. Mr. Holton with IRWA described the different programs that may be available to
the company. These programs "ere generally provided through the Untied Stated

Department of Agriculture(USDA) through their Water& Environmental Grant and
Loan funding program. This program assists rural communities obtain the technical
assistance and financing necessary to develop and upgrade drinking water and waste
disposal systems. Mr. Fairfax stated that he had also been working with DEQ regarding a
grant, but he was unsure ot'the status ol'the grant.
• There was also a question regarding how many hookups were currently on the system.
Mr. Fairfax responded that there were approximately 48 active users.
The consensus from the custontct•s was that placing a new management board in Farko Water
would be in the customers' best interest to maintain the existing non-prolit entity.
Several customers volunteered I'or each board position and were then voted onto the board.
The new board of director lows:
Chairman: Cody Freer
Co-Chairman: John Ku
Secretary: Stephani Black r _
Co-Secretary: Nick l'ignotti
Treasurer: Brenny Ross
Board Member: Marto Cclluna �,1 �.
Board Membcr: Daniel Valdez -�
Support from the(IRWA) era, offered to assist and to pros idc training to the new board.
Additionally, there were 6 indn iduals identified to become licensed operators to work on the
water system to ensure a seamless transition and to provide the community with safe and clean
water.
It should he noted that everything will continue to be business as usual as the new board is
brom-ht on hoard and anv future changes will he voted on by the water customer members.