Willow Creek Folks,

Panther Tank Installation

New Roof At Veterans Park

Al Hodgson Water Treatment Facility Dedication

The Community Services District has recently completed a water rate increase which began with an engineered study and was followed by notification, a forty five day period for public response and a public meeting on the eighteenth of December to adopt new rates.  There were 13 respondents who protested the increase, representing  31 parcels out of 1238. The Board of Directors amended the rates downward for the fourth and fifth years of rate change.  This effort to soften the impact of water rates is the result of public input, particularly from the area’s small farmers.

The District is facing the replacement of three major water storage tanks, Bussell, Bigfoot, and Hodgson, and is hoping to build a major storage facility on Brannan Mountain Rd. above the Danco Site to improve the Hwy 96 portion of our water system and increase storage potential.  We currently have a storage capacity of 1.2 million gallons and use @ 1.7 million gallons on a hot summer day.  This makes it necessary to pump water 24 hrs. a day during the summer.  This frequently results in electricity costs in excess of $13,000 per month in the summer time (avg. $16.00 per month/per service).   Bussell and Hodgson are 40+ year old redwood tanks which have been repaired often as the dry rot and age deteriorate the tanks.  Bigfoot tank is a bolted metal tank which has thirty eight years of service in the District following a career in the oil fields.  The Bigfoot tank has had a liner in it for over a decade and continues to deteriorate from rust and corrosion. The cost to replace the three tanks is @ $950,000 and the new tank on Brannan Mountain. could cost over $600,000 with 2/3 mile of trenching and new pipe.  We are currently working to identify these needs for the anticipated Federal Infrastructure Program expected in the first days of the new Administration in Washington.

The State of California has ceased to fund its Proposition Grants of past years and this has ceased work on Creekside park’s electrical project and cut off funds expended to roof our bathroom at Veteran’s Park.  The State has severe economic woes and is passing them down the line to the smallest entities like ourselves.  There is a constant effort by the state to capture our portion of property tax revenue which they did for the years 2005 and 2006 leaving us with two years of $40,000 shortfalls in our budgeted revenue.

The need for a public forum or newspaper is acute in our community so we will attempt to include a local news format in our website and print copies for local distribution.  Please forward information regarding our citizens, our students, awards, deaths, and interesting tidbits.  We would also like to supplement the Chamber calendar with a list of current events.

Lynn White, of Campora Gas and Buddy’s fame is our new office manager and brings her knowledge of our community and the utility business along as great assets.  We invite you to drop by and visit Lynn with any questions about your water service, reservations for our parks and campground, or just to say hi.

See willowcreekcsd.com

This year 4th of July falls on a Saturday and we hope that the Community has a large event @ Veteran’s Park including Fireworks and Food & Music. Please see Algena @ the Post Office to offer support and help make this happen.  “Fire will be our only deterrent!”

As our community ages we lose dear friends.  A few of those recently removed from our community include Florence Elkins, Martin Berger, and Leroy Hames.  

We do not have any news regarding births but encourage your sharing that information.  Our healthwatch extends its concern for Jack Foster to return to good health.


Happy New Year,
Your CSD Staff

Lonnie Danel was recently honored as the 2008 Water Operator of the Year at the California Rural Water Association’s Education & Exhibitor Expo in South Lake Tahoe on April 29, 2008.  Lonnie’s nomination for the award was endorsed by the WCCSD Board of Directors, Josh McKnight of Trinity Valley Consulting Engineers and Tony Wiedemann of the CA Dept. of Health Services.  Based on their letters of endorsement, Lonnie was chosen among nominees from all over California by CRWA’s management panel for his achievements, endeavors, and accomplishments over the last 30 years for the WCCSD.  Congratulations!

The WCCSD was awarded a $33,000 CDBG grant for a wastewater feasibility study for the Willow Creek community.  The engineering contract for the study was given to Oscar Larson & Associates, of Eureka, by the WCCSD Board of Directors.  The study will assist Willow Creek in its efforts to develop wastewater capacity to serve the urban center of the community and garner the attention of funding agencies to provide a viable wastewater system.  The study will provide information that details the most feasible method for wastewater collection, treatment and effluent disposal at 130 Flower-McNeil Rd. that will be the least expensive to construct and operate and will have the fewest negative environmental impacts.  The study will be completed by May, 2008.