SALT LAKE COUNTY

SERVICE AREA #3 – SNOWBIRD

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES

January 21st, 2025

9567 E. By-Pass Road

Snowbird, Utah 84092

ATTENDEES:              

                                    Dave Richards, Chairman, Absent

                                    Chris Bremer, Vice Chairman

                                    Tom Prosek, Trustee

                                    Kasey Carpenter, General Manager   

Bryauna Alderin, Office Manager/Clerk

John Brindle, System Operator

                                       

The Salt Lake County Service Area #3 Board of Trustees meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman Bremer at 12:03 pm.

 

Trustee Prosek mentioned the brief discussion on increasing the Service Area property tax rate by Mr. Carpenter at the December meeting in leu of a rate increase for fiscal year 2026. Mr. Carpenter and Ms. Alderin are still looking into the process of a truth and taxation meeting and will keep the board updated on the process.

 

Meeting Minutes approval –With no questions or comments Trustee Prosek motioned to approve the minutes from the December 9th, 2024 board meeting. Vice Chairman Bremer seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. A copy of the minutes is attached for review.

 

Discussion/Approval of the 2025 Town of Alta Interlocal Service Agreement contract– Mr. Carpenter stated a copy of the agreement was sent to Fabian Van Cott the Service Area #3 law firm for review, who responded with no issues with the updated interlocal agreement and returned the contract with attorney signature. Mr. Carpenter briefly went through the changes of the contract with the board. Stating the 2 larger changes being the Payment for service section, in which it is stated the Town of Altas contract rate shall increase 3% annually January 1st each year, unless discussed before November 15th annually, and the insurance indemnification to which each party now indemnifies themselves. Trustee Prosek motioned to approve the Town of Alta Interlocal Service Agreement. Vice Chairman Bremer seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. A copy of the original and updated interlocal agreement are attached for review. 

 

Open and Public meeting laws - As an annual requirement governed by the Utah State Legislature, all current public officers (Trustees), are required to annually review the “Open and Public Meeting Act” (Utah Code Title: -52-Chapter 4). Ms. Alderin presented Salt Lake County Service Area #3’s 2025 annual review of the laws regarding open and public meetings. This was a video provided by the Office of the State Auditor. A link to the Open and Public meetings review is attached to the meeting minutes. Office of the State Auditor - Training Portal (utah.gov)

 

SA3 Bylaws Chairman/ Vice Chairman selection- As per section 3.2.1 of the SA3 Bylaws, the Board is to decide the chair and vice chair positions. It was decided Chairman Richards will continue in his position of Chairman and Vice Chairman Bremer will continue to carry the position of Vice Chairman for the year 2025.

 

SYSTEMS OPERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT-

 

Town of Alta cross tow water loop – Mr. Carpenter discussed he again met with the Town of Alta administration and Hanson Allen & Luce engineers and reviewed the 90% design drawings for the cross-tow water line project for summer 2025. Mr. Carpenter discussed the 90% drawings explaining the changes to realign the trench to better follow Alta Ski Lift Company plans. Mr. Carpenter stated he will continue to work with the town on this project and keep the board informed of changes.

 

Town of Alta master planning – Mr. Carpenter discussed in the master planning process for the Town the Engineers have found some deficiencies in the Town’s fire flow and water storage systems. It was also found the Town is using approximately 90% of the water in the contract agreed upon with Salt Lake City. Mr. Carpenter stated the Town and their engineers are looking at possible storage tank options. Mr. Carpenter will keep the board informed of any changes.

 

Wasatch Drain Tunnel filter issue Mr. Carpenter discussed that he received a call from our night operator Mr. Bildstein about some noise and pressure issues in the drain tunnel. Mr. Carpenter came up to troubleshoot and found that the filter valves were not opening, Mr. Carpenter reset the valves to normal operations. Mr. Carpenter will reach out to Nickerson Co. and schedule them to come out to check that no pumps were damaged during the valve issues.

 

Service Area #3 re-named in Smith lawsuit- Mr. Carpenter explained the Service Area #3 has again been named in a counter claim from the Smith Estate lawsuits from April 2024. This is concerning the same incident at the mouth of the canyon in April 2023. The Defendant in the original lawsuits was found liable and has now filed a counter claim against the government entities named in the original lawsuits. Ms. Alderin has again been in contact with our Utah Local Governments Trust claims representative and is awaiting the response. We will keep the board informed of any updates.

 

 

Snowmaking water usage update –Mr. Carpenter discussed Snowbird snowmaking is complete for the 24/25 season with a total water use of 83.5 million gallons.

 

Snowbird Creekside water use – Mr. Carpenter discussed he is still in conversations with Mr. Mahak from Snowbird concerning the water usage at the Creekside lodge which is outside of our service boundaries and is allotted a strict 80 thousand gallons a month per contract. Mr. Mahak from snowbird is worried that the usage with Mid Gad restrooms being closed for the season will affect the amount of water used at Creekside. Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Mahak are continuing to work together to help determine the best way to stay within Snowbirds Creekside water use limits. January water use is at 70k gallons so far for the month.

 

X-mission email issues – Mr. Carpenter briefly discussed that there have been fairly consistent server issues with our current email provider X Mission. Mr. Carpenter is working to transition Service area emails to Microsoft 365 office accounts.

 

Synology computer back up storage- Mr. Carpenter discussed that he has purchased a Synology network storage device and back up software to help ensure our computer data is safely and securely backed up and protect our systems from the heightened cyber security concerns.

 

2024 Wasatch drain tunnel upgrade – Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Brindle are 90% done installing a new heavy-duty tarp over the entrance area of the treatment plant to help divert the seeping ground water away from the newly coated and installed piping from this summer’s upgrades.

 

Peruvian to Superior valve issues- Mr. Carpenter discussed that there have been some issues with the valve between Peruvian and Superior opening and closing. Mr. Carpenter believes it is the PLC not communicating correctly, not a valve issue. The Pumphouse PLC is 20 years old and the oldest in our system. Mr. Carpenter is working with Mr. Taylor from SKM for quotes to replace the old PLC summer 2025.

 

Hidden Peak waterline – Mr. Carpenter discussed that the water line in the water room had frozen due to the continuing freezing temperatures. Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Brindle put a space heater in the room overnight and the line was unfrozen and able to fill the tanks the next morning.

 

2024 Audit Preparation– Mr. Carpenter stated that our accountant Mr. Rowley from Keddington & Christianson will be up at the office Mid-March working with Ms. Alderin for 2 days on preparation for the 2024 financial audit. Gilbert & Stewart, the Service Area’s Auditor’s should be up towards the end of April or early May for their portion of the onsite audit.

 

RWAU Conference Feb 24- Feb 28th 2025- Mr. Carpenter, Ms. Alderin and Mr. Brindle will be attending the Rural water association conference in St. George. Mr. Brindle will be taking a Cross-connection administrator class and test. Mr. Carpenter and Ms. Alderin will attend regular classes to keep current certifications. Mr. Carpenter discussed we have also been looking into attending the American Water Works Association national conference June 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

 

Treasurer’s Report – Mr. Carpenter reviewed with the Board of Trustees the Balance Sheet Previous Year Comparison report through December 31st, 2024, and the Profit and Loss Budget vs. Actual January 1st, 2024, through December 31st, 2024. These reports are emailed to members of the Board prior to the Board meeting for their review.

 

Approval of Bills paid – Approval of the bills listed on the check detail dated December 5th, through January 17th, 2024, as presented by Mr. Carpenter, and hereby authorized and ratified to be paid by the office manager. Vice Chairman Bremer made a motion to approve. Trustee Prosek seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Copies of the approved check detail are attached to the minutes.

 

Adjournment - With there being no further business, Vice Chairman Bremer adjourned the meeting at 1:27 pm.

 

Salt Lake County Service Area #3-Snowbird                                      

 

__________________________________________________

Chris Bremer/Vice Chairman

 

ATTEST: ________________________________________

Bryauna Alderin/Clerk

 

 

DATE: ____________________________________________