SALIDA SANITARY DISTRICT

Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors

August 13, 2026

 

The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Salida Sanitary District was called to order by President Gary Horton at 6:00 p.m. in the Salida Sanitary District Boardroom.  Other Directors present were Gary Dew, Lana Moore and Brad Johnson.  Others present were District Manager-Engineer Antonio Tovar and Secretary Linda Walker.  Legal Counsel, Attorney Dennis L. Hay was in attendance virtually.

 

Members of the public were invited to address the Board, but no comments were made.

 

The minutes of the regular meeting held July 9, 2026,were unanimously approved as submitted.

 

Bills of the District totaling $186,856.94 were presented for payment.  A motion was made by Director Johnson, seconded by Director Dew, and on vote unanimously carried to adopt Resolution No. 1815, “Resolution Authorizing Payment of Bills.”

 

Correspondence consisted of a letter dated July 27, 2026 from Steve Herum of Herum, Crabtree, Suntag Attorneys, regarding the District’s productive working relationship with Mid Valley Engineering, and DASCO Development regarding the Cottonwood and Fallwood project properties.

 

District Manager-Engineer Antonio Tovar’s report included the following:

 

1.      District Staff recently applied gypsum to the bottom of Rapid Infiltration Basin #6 for the purpose of improving percolation rates.

2.      Spoke with lessee Paul Van K. meeting regarding using the lower 20-acre land currently growing corn for the disposal of effluent.  Confirming if the feed is used for animal producing milk for human consumption.  Title 22 will not allow if the feed is used for milk production animals.

3.      Original date to take over the 3 acres is Nov.30th. Extension of the use of the 3-acre site by the lessee. Checking with CEQA on the removal of trees to expediate process.

4.      Quarterly Financial Report- Reserves & Fund Balances – An updated financial report will be provided during the September meeting.  The County has not provided a Balance Report and financial information for the 2nd quarter is not available.

5.      California CLASS is a local government investment pool that allows local government agencies to invest funds together.  A future, brief presentation will be proposed by California CLASS towards the end of the year.

6.      Attended Valley Water Collaborative Board of Directors meeting – Later in the year, the VWC will be making water quality data request from participating member agencies.

 

 

 

 

 

Director Johnson moved to approve and authorize the execution of a new agreement with Stanislaus County for Direct Assessment Services, which includes collecting the District’s sewer service charges on the property tax roll.  The term of the agreement will continue through June 30, 2031 (5 years), unless otherwise terminated.  The motion was seconded by Director Moore, and on vote unanimously carried.

 

District Manager-Engineer Tovar provided written project updates on:

1.      The Covert Lift Stations Upgrades Project

2.      The New Aerobic Digester Project

3.      The RIB Expansion Project

4.      The Solar Dryer Panel Replacement Project

These updates are attached to these minutes.

 

District Manager-Engineer Antonio Tovar led a discussion regarding the Black & Veatch proposal for shelving the New Aerobic Digester Project and the previously ordered close-out of the New Aerobic Digester Project current contract with Black & Veatch. Per District Manager-Engineer Tovar, delays, additional reviews and credit for incomplete items can be summarized as follows:

-Additional cost to update design to new code                                   $16,000

-Additional cost for project management                                           $20,000

-Credit for 100% Design Opinion of Construction Costs                   -$4,500

-Credit for Bid Support Services                                                        -$9,404

-CEQA Support Services                                                                    -$1,072

                                                            Net Additional Cost                $21,204

 

Black & Veatch’s proposal is to stop all work at this time, invoice the District for all work done since the last invoice was submitted in December 2025, and close out the project. On July 24, 2026, Black & Veatch submitted an invoice in the amount of $63,855.00, leaving a contract balance of $1,536.08.  This would be the final payment and close- out the contract with Black & Veatch. District Manager-Engineer Tovar advised the District should not pay the invoice dated July 24, 2026, as he considers the amounts of additional costs and credits for incomplete items provided by Black & Veatch to be erroneous, and he would like to negotiate with Black & Veatch to lower these additional costs.

 

Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Kjeldsen, Sinnock, & Neudeck (KSN) to the Rapid Infiltration Basin Expansion Project was presented to the Board.  The amendment changes the design scope of services by relocating the footprint for the proposed Rapid Infiltration Basins No. 10 and No. 11 to immediately east of the existing Rapid Infiltration Basin No. 9.  Director Dew moved to approve Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with KSN, for the Rapid Infiltration Basin Expansion Project.  The motion was seconded by Director Johnson, and on vote unanimously carried.

 

 

 

A Request for Proposals for Professional Design Services for the Integration of a Programmable Logic Controller With The District’s Radio and SCADA Systems was presented to the Board.  The integration is needed, due to a design error in the Covert Lift Station Upgrades Project. The new Allen Bradley PLC in the new Covert Lift Station Cabinet is not compatible with the District’s existing MDS 9810 radio. A motion was made by Director Dew to Approve and Authorize the Release of the Request for Proposals for Professional Design Services, (as presented) for the Integration of a Programmable Logic Controller with District’ Radio and SCADA System.  The motion was seconded by Director Moore, and on vote carried 3 to 1.  Director Johnson opposed the motion, stating the application to provide a proposal is too lengthy.

 

District Manager-Engineer Tovar presented historical information regarding the annual Cost of Living Adjustment previously awarded to District Staff. Also presented, was the June 2026 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, San Francisco Area of 3.8 %.  A motion was made by Director Moore, seconded by Director Johnson, and on vote unanimously carried to approve a 2.5% Cost of Living increase for all full-time employees, effective September 1, 2026.

 

The existing effluent sampler has failed beyond repair after 17 years of service.  The District proposes replacing this unit with a Hach AS950 sampler.  A motion was made by Director Johnson to approve a purchase order to HACH Company in the amount of $11,715.34 for the purchase of a Hach AS950 refrigerated sampler.  The motion was seconded by Director Moore, and on vote unanimously carried.

 

Director Dew moved to approve a purchase order in the amount of $9980.84 plus shipping and handling to Applied Industrial Technologies for a decanter actuator. The motion was seconded by Director Johnson, and on vote unanimously carried.  This purchase will provide the third actuator and complete the replacement of all 3 decanter actuators.  Without a working actuator, the ICEAS process tank cannot perform the decant cycle, and the ICEAS process tank must be taken out of service.

 

The meeting was adjourned to Closed Session.

 

                                                                                    ____________________

                                                                                    Secretary

ATTEST:

___________________________

President of the Board