20131223Costigan Letter.pdf

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Oc..
Tel.[phone]$North Kelso Drive
Spirit Lake,Idaho 83869
--December 20,2013
Mark A.Redford,Commissioner
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O.Box 83720
Boise,Idaho 83720-0074
RE:CASE NO.SPL-W-13-01 ORDER NO 32904
My dear Sir:
I wish to express my disappointment with the manner in which the results of the
Case were promulgated.In my letter of October 27th,a copy of which is enclosed for
your reference I queried why the costs for overage were not enclosed in the findings.I
assumed they would be made at a later date.It is possible they were promulgated in the
Coeur d’Alene Press,but like many others I do not receive the Press and am not on the
Internet.That is why I inquired in writing.
While I don’t agree with the Staff’s recommendation for a monthly allotment of
6000 gallons,I appreciate the fact the Commissioners’had the good sense to retain a
modicum of the allowance 8000 gallons,the main requirement comes during the Summer
Months.
At the Commissioner’s hearing,I requested the return of a document I provided
Gerry Galinato at the September Meeting in Spirit Lake.The reason being it is of a
particular unique nature.The document specified that the Water Right was dedicated
solely to use in Kootenai County.That was surprising to me,since the Idaho Water
Resources Service assures me that no use has ever been so specified.
WATER RIGHTS MAY VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR RIGHT 95-9949 Is FOR 366 HOMES
As a Resident of the Enforced Plat of Spirit Lake East,an entity which was solely
created out of whole cloth by Three County Commissioner without the benefit of Public
Review very little surprises me.
When I received my December Water Bill,I noted that the overage rate had
increased to “$3.11 for each 1 CCF over 10.7 CCF with usage measured in cubic feet.
Rates.I assumed that this was the rate established by the Board,which translated to
$0.42 per 100 gallons.Although this was far in excess of what the Company had
requested at the initial hearing,”an increase from $0.10 per 100 gallons to $0.12 per 100
gallons.”I was not surprised.When queried by several neighbors,I told them I had not
received any response to my letter of October 27th,and assumed the matter had been
promulgated in the Press or the Internet.Since I don’t subscribe to either one,I
considered the matter closed.Exorbitant but closed.
At my age,I assume that I will not be participating in any future Hearings,but I
would like to be informed as to the results of the addition of Fire Hydrants.I know from
direct personal contact,that R.A.Hanson Corporation relied on the establishment of a
Fire Station on the Spokane Circle to provide Fire Protection to the Plat.When the Spirit
Lake Fire Department failed to follow through on this gratuitous offer and after several
years,returned the Deeded property to the Home Owners’Association Incorporated,five
and three quarter square miles in the Plat relied solely on the Spirit Lake Fire
Department for protection.
Cc:Spirit Lake East Water Company
P.O.Box 3388
Coeur d’Alene,Idaho 83816
WATER RIGHTS MAY VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR RIGHT 95-9949 IS FOR 366 HOMES
COPY
33588 North Kelso Drive
Spirit Lake,Idaho $3869
October 27,2013
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O.Box $3720
Boise,Idaho 83720-0074
RE:CASE NO.SPL-W-13-01 ORDER NO.32904
In all of my correspondence to the Commission regarding the above Case,I was
always very careful in relating the conversion differences between the measurements for
GALLONS AND CUBIC FEET to avoid any confusion on the part of persons or
companies not readily familiar or conversant with the differences.I encountered similar
challenges when dealing with the conversion of metric equiva]ents to their counterpart in
the English system of measurement in the Federal Highway System.
When I received October findings,I failed to notice the adjusted rates for the
overage requested by the Spirit Lake East Water Company.In the initial filing,the
Company had requested an increase from $0.10 per One Hundred Gallons to $0.12 per
One Hundred Gallons or its equivalency in Cubic Feet.
Will this information be forthcoming at a later date or will the original billing rate
remain in effect?
Respectfully,
Robe A.Costigan