20260226Comment_1.pdf

The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Nancy Nowak
Submission Time: Feb 25 2026 8:56PM
Email: leenovak77CabgmaiLcom
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 1070 Bear Claw Road
Clark Fork, ID 83811
Name of Utility Company: Bear Claw Water System LLC
Case ID: BCW-W-25-02
Comment: "This comment addresses the water rate for the customers of the Bear Claw
Water System LLC (BSWS) currently at$50 per month as it is being evaluated by the PUC.
The prevailing understanding is that the PUC intends to assess data available from 10/2024
through 9/2025 only. This assessment would be equivalent to trying a murder case for the
body found in his yard this week and ignoring the 6 bodies found last week on the same
property murdered in the same manner. The point, please understand the whole history in
order to accurately rule on this issue.
US Bank created the trust which oversaw the water system from 2007 until September
2024. From 2007-2022 this system was "managed" by US Bank employee, Jennifer
Schmidt. No billing, hook up fees or late fees were sent to resident users of the BCWS.
Adequate processes to collect the $25/month from 1997-2010 and $50/month from 2011
forward would have equaled $193,200 conservatively. This is based solely on dates of full
time residency which does not reflect, at times,years of usage while building on these
properties. Hook up fees traditionally charged at$3000 during this period would have
captured another$69,000. This would have adequately covered maintenance and repairs
on the system. Instead of managing customers US Bank chose to sell off properties owned
by the trust in the Bear Claw neighborhood depleting funds which were planned for the
second well. Where did these thousands go? It's interesting that a lawyer representing US
Bank showed up at the annual meeting of the Bear Claw residents in May of 2023 vowing to
straighten out the situation with the water system. No further follow up was received in
Bear Claw but the manager was replaced. Today US Bank has been replaced as overseer of
the water system by Spurgetis for maintenance and a second firm hired to handle issues.
With 2 law firms involved this user hopes that the funds owed by US Bank can be paid
resulting in a solvent system ready to install the second well. Please leave our water rates
at the current$50/month. Thank you"
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