SALIDA SANITARY DISTRICT
Regular Meeting of the Board of
Directors
July 9, 2026
The
regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Salida Sanitary District was
called to order at 6:03 p.m.by President Gary Horton 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.
President
Gary Horton opened the scheduled public hearing to consider the District’s
Sewer Service Charge Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. There were no protests or comments from any
person present, so the public hearing was closed. A motion was made by Director Moore, seconded
by Director Johnson, and on vote unanimously carried, to adopt Resolution No.
1811, “Resolution Ordering the Levy and Collection of Sewer Service Charges
Within the Salida Sanitary District.”
Members of
the public were invited to address the Board, but no
comments were made.
The
minutes of the regular meeting held June 11, 2026, were unanimously approved as
submitted.
Bills of
the District totaling $188,525.37 were presented for payment. A motion was made by Director Johnson to
adopt Resolution No. 1812, “Resolution Authorizing Payment of Bills.” The
motion was seconded by Director Moore and on vote
unanimously carried.
District Manager-Engineer Antonio Tovar’s report included the
following:
1.
On
June 3, 2026, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted
the Modesto Management Zone Order, as part of the CV-Salts Nitrate Control
Program. The program was created to
address nitrate impacts to groundwater used for drinking water supplies.
The
Modesto Management Zone Order grants a 20-year nitrate
exceptions from water quality objective; requires implementation of emergency,
interim, and long-term drinking water solutions; establishes a nitrate
reduction program; supports managed aquifer restoration efforts; and includes
reporting, oversight, and updates to the Regional Board.
2.
District
Staff recently applied gypsum to the bottom of Rapid Infiltration Basins #4 and
#7 for the purpose of improving percolation rates. It is currently too early to determine the impacts of the application
Attorney
Dennis L. Hay reported a partial list of findings from the internal
investigation he has been tasked to perform:
For the
Covert Lift Station Upgrades Project
1.
The first Professional Services Agreement with
Blackwater Consulting Engineers approved by the Board on July 8, 2021 is illegal, as it was not put out to bid.
2.
The
design error regarding the incompatibility of the new Allen Bradley PLC, and
the District’s existing MDS 9810 radio should have
been identified early in the design planning of the project.
3.
Blackwater
brought HCS Electrical into the project.
Blackwater did not declare HCS as a subcontractor in the Agreement with
the District. The District
has no contract with HCS Electrical.
4.
Invoices
from Blackwater have been charging the District to
correct Blackwater’s own errors. The District has been overcharged. Blackwater invoices lack significant detail
as to the work performed. Blackwater
only provided one set of stamped plans.
5.
On
November 15, 2022, the publication of advertising in Modesto Bee for bids to
provide all labor, materials and equipment, and perform all work necessary for
the construction of the Covert Lift Station Upgrades Project, in accordance
with the plans and specifications, was only advertised once. The law requires
that the advertisement be published twice.
6.
On
August 26, 2024, an authorization letter was signed by the District for GSE to
commence work on the Covert Lift Station Upgrades Project, with completion of
60 days. As of July 9, 2026, the project
is incomplete, and a completion date has not been provided.
District
Manager-Engineer Tovar presented to the Board, a
proposed operations, maintenance and capital improvements budget for the fiscal
year 2026-2027, with an accompanying memorandum dated July 9, 2026. After a
brief discussion, a motion was made by Director Moore, seconded by Director
Dew, and on vote unanimously, carried to adopt Resolution No. 1813, Resolution
Adopting Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
District
Manager-Engineer presented a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Professional
Design Services for the Integration of a Programmable Logic Controller With the District’s Radio and SCADA Systems. The Operations Manager requested the RFP be
changed to mention the new equipment previously purchased for this project is
available, but if the selected designer does not think it is needed, the newly
purchased equipment is not required to be included in the proposed design.
Director Johnson provided many suggestions to enhance the RFP. The District Manager-Engineer
will revise the RFP to incorporate the suggested edits, and
bring the RFP back to the Board for approval at a later date.
No Action was taken on Agenda Item 7B. “Discussion and Possible Action to
Authorize the Release of a Request for Proposals for Professional Design
Services for the Integration of a Programmable Logic Controller With the District’s Radio and SCADA Systems.”
No Action
was taken on Agenda Item 7C. “Approve and Authorize Execution of New Agreement
with Stanislaus County for Direct Assessment Services.”
A proposed
resolution regarding the spending limit for the District Manager-Engineer
position was presented and briefly discussed.
Director Johnson moved to approve Resolution No. 1814, “Resolution
Establishing Spending Limit For District
Manager-Engineer.” The motion was seconded by Director Dew, and on vote
unanimously carried.
As there
was no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
_________________________
Secretary
ATTEST:
________________________________
President
of the Board