RUBA Community Status Report

Community:

RUBA:

Staff:

Agreement:

DCA Region:

Agreement Date:

Region:

Exp Date:

Govt Type(s):

Borough:

Assessment Date:

Population:

Active Community:

Date Updated:

Community Sanitation Overview:

The City of Scammon Bay operates the piped water and sewer utility and its council is the policy making body. The community's drinking water is derived from an infiltration gallery located on a small fast flowing stream just southeast of the city. The existing water treatment plant has been in place for about 30 years. Scammon Bay is chlorinating its piped water; however their water plant does not have the filtration equipment necessary to bring water from the stream into compliance with state drinking standards. This is due to changes in State of Alaska regulations regarding treatment of water derived from surface sources. Therefore, a boil water notice has been in effect since 2007. Construction on the city's new water treatment plant is scheduled to be completed by fall of 2013. Scammon Bay provides piped water and waste water service to sixty-nine residential and six commercial customers, including the school. Less than twenty households pack water and use honey buckets. Due to the design, materials, and age of the city's water distribution infrastructure there have been many leaks, which will continue until the old PVC water and wastewater lines are replaced with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) lines. Cracks and leaks in the distribution lines cause low flow rates in the system which result in residential access lines freezing up in winter.

RUBA Status
and Activities
this Quarter:

Bethel RUBA staff participated in Technical Advice Providers (TAP) local workgroup teleconferences on October 11 and November 8, 2012 for the City of Scammon Bay. The meetings discussed the city's RUBA status, water plant and facility operation, water testing compliance and construction activity going on with the city's new water treatment plant. A RUBA assessment was completed for the City of Scammon Bay on 25 April, 2012. Billing and collections for Scammon Bay's piped water and wastewater services have been handled by Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium's (ANTHC) Assisted Billing Service since September 2009. The service bills customers, collects payments, tracks account histories and provides monthly reports to the utility for a small fee. According to ANTHC's assisted billing records the City of Scammon Bay's collection rates for September, October and November were 2012 was eighty-four percent, one hundred and five percent and ninety-five percent, respectively. Construction crews worked until late fall of 2012 building a new water treatment plant for the community with anticipated completion in the fall of 2013. Funding is through a $4 million Indian Health Services grant (which does not require RUBA compliance) and a $1.7 million from Village Safe Water. ANTHC is requiring the city to become a member of ARUC for Capital Improvement Project funds to be released which are needed to complete the new water treatment facility.

Capacity Indicator: Finances

Essential Indicators:

All revenues and expenses for the utility are listed in the utility budget.

The utility has adopted a balanced realistic budget.

Monthly financial reports are prepared and submitted to the policy making board.

The utility is current in paying all water/wastewater electric bills.

The utility has on hand a year's adequate fuel supply or it has a financial plan to purchase an adequate supply.

The utility is receiving revenues (user fees or other sources) sufficient to cover operating expenses.

Sustainable Indicators:

The utility is receiving revenues (user fees or other sources sufficient to cover operating expenses and Repair & Replacement (R) costs.

YTD revenues are at a level equal to or above those budgeted.

YTD expenditures are at a level equal to or below those budgeted.

A monthly manager's report is prepared.

Budget amendments are completed and adopted as necessary.

Comment:

A FY 2013 budget ordinance adopted on June 5, 2012, is electronically filed at the Bethel regional office. The budget appears to be detailed and balanced and includes revenues and expenses for the utility. Minutes from city council meetings held on September 4, October 11, November 6 and monthly financial reports for August, September and October were provided by the city for this report. A December 14, 2012 email correspondence from Alaska Village Electric Cooperative indicated that the city was current on all six of its electric accounts. The manager indicated that there is $40,000 allocated for heating fuel in the FY13 budget, twice the amount budgeted in FY12. Nine thousand gallons of heating fuel was delivered to the city on October 16, 2012 and the city manager indicated that they should have adequate fuel to heat city facilities during the winter of 2012/2013. A repair and replacement line item was not found in the city's water and wastewater department budget. Highlights from the manager's reports are included in city council meeting minutes

Capacity Indicator: Accounting Systems

Essential Indicators:

The utility has adopted a collection policy and actively follows it.

The utility bills customers on a regular basis.

An accounts receivable system is in place which tracks customers and reports past due accounts and amounts.

An accounts payable system is in place.

The payroll system correctly calculates payroll and keeps records.

A cash receipt system is in place that records incoming money and how it was spent.

The utility has a cash disbursement system that records how money was spent.

Sustainable Indicators:

A chart of accounts is used that identifies categories in a reasonable, usable manner.

Monthly bank reconciliations have been completed for all utility accounts.

The utility has a purchasing system that requires approval prior to purchase, and the approval process compares proposed purchases to budgeted amounts.

Comment:

Copies of the City of Scammon Bay Code of Water and Sewer Ordinances adopted on January 8, 2004 and September 13, 2011 are on file at the Bethel regional office. Sections 1.11-1.16 of the January 2004 ordinance address: utility rates, notices, billing and payments, administration and enforcement, discontinuance and restoration of services. Billing and collections for Scammon Bay's piped water and wastewater services have been handled by Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium's (ANTHC) Assisted Billing Service since September 2009. The service bills customers, collects payments, tracks account histories and provides monthly reports to the utility for a small fee. According to ANTHC's Assisted Billing records the City of Scammon Bay's collection rates for September, October and November were 2012 was eighty-four percent, one hundred and five percent and ninety-five percent, respectively. On September 13, 2011 city council raised water and wastewater rates from $30 to $75 a month. This rate increase reflects the council's intentions to eventually have user fees covering all the operational and maintenance costs of running the utility. A chart of accounts from the city's QuickBooks software was provided during the April 25, 2012 RUBA assessment. Bank account reconciliations for October and December 2012 were provided for this report. City ordinances have written purchasing procedures that require prior approval by the city manager.

Capacity Indicator: Tax Problems

Essential Indicators:

The utility has a system to accurately calculate, track, and report payroll tax liabilities.

The utility is current on filing tax reports.

The utility is current on making tax deposits.

If there are any past due tax liabilities or recorded tax liens, a lien release has been issued or a repayment agreement has been signed and repayments are current.

Comment:

A December 14, 2012 email correspondence from Alaska Department of Labor in Anchorage indicated the city is current with filings and deposits for Employment Security Taxes through September 30, 2012. On December 19, 2012 the IRS faxed the Bethel RUBA Office an Authorization to Request Federal Tax Information form showing the city to be delinquent on making 941 tax deposits for March and June 2012. Therefore, because the city is not current on their federal tax requirements 'The utility is current on making tax deposit' essential indicator has been marked 'No'. The city was not listed on the September-October 2012 LIEN WATCH: A Review of Small Community Liens.

Capacity Indicator: Personnel System

Essential Indicators:

The utility has a posted workers compensation insurance policy in effect.

Sustainable Indicators:

The utility has adopted and uses a Personnel Policy, which has been reviewed by an attorney, AML or Commerce for topics and language.

The utility has adequate written job descriptions for all positions.

The utility has adopted and follows a written personnel evaluation process that ties the job description to the evaluation.

The utility has an adequate written hiring process.

The utility has personnel folders on every employee that contain at least: I-9, Job Application and Letter of Acceptance.

The utility has a probationary period for new hires that includes orientation, job training/oversight, and evaluations.

The utility provides training opportunities to staff as needed and available.

Comment:

The City of Scammon Bay is insured by Alaska Municipal League Joint Insurance Association, Inc (AMLJIA). Proof of the workers compensation insurance coverage was verified on the Department of Labor, Worker's Compensation website on December 31, 2012. The personnel policy that the city manager indicated was being used (although the document contains no verification of its adoption) has an adequate written hiring process, gives employees a three month probationary period, and states 'that the probationary period is a time of learning and orientation'. During the March 12-13, 2012 site visit for the RUBA assessment the city manager provided RUBA staff with job descriptions for their city clerk, public safety officer, city manager, water plant operator and other positions not currently filled. The job descriptions and personnel policy are electronically filed at the Bethel regional office. Full access to personnel files was not possible due to the absence of the city clerk during the visit. The city has sent its water operators and administrative staff to trainings within the last year. The new city manager has not yet had opportunity to develop written personnel evaluations that tie job description to evaluation criteria for his staff.

Capacity Indicator: Organizational Management

Essential Indicators:

The entity that owns the utility is known; the entity that will operate the utility is set.

The policy making body is active in policy making of the utility.

The policy making body enforces utility policy.

The utility has an adequately trained manager.

The utility has an adequately trained bookkeeper.

The utility has an adequately trained operator or operators.

The utility has adopted the necessary ordinances (or rules and regulations) necessary to give it the authority to operate.

Sustainable Indicators:

The utility has adopted an organizational chart that reflects the current structure.

The policy making body meets as required.

The utility complies with the open meeting act for all meetings.

Comment:

The City of Scammon Bay has water and wastewater ordinances that were passed on January 8, 2004 and September 13, 2011 which indicate that the city is the sole owner of the utility and gives a description of service. Billing and collections for Scammon Bay's piped water and wastewater services have been handled by Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium's (ANTHC) Assisted Billing Service since September 2009. The service bills customers, collects payments, tracks account histories and provides monthly reports to the utility for a small fee. According to ANTHC's assisted billing records the City of Scammon Bay's collection rates for September, October and November were 2012 was eighty-four percent, one hundred and five percent and ninety-five percent, respectively. This indicates that city council is enforcing its utility policy. The city manager started working for the city in March of 2011, and has worked as an office manager with Askinuk Corporation, a bookkeeper for Scammon Bay Traditional Council and as an IT specialist with Coastal Villages Region Fund. The city's water operator has a 'Small Water System Treated' certificate which expires on December 31, 2012, and recently received 'Water Distribution 1' and 'Water Treatment 1' certificates that expire on December 31, 2014. The operator is attaining on-the-job experience and certifications necessary to be equivalent to the State of Alaska classification of city's water plant and water treatment facilities. The city's water and wastewater utility is classified by the State of Alaska as having a Class 2 Water Distribution System, a Class 1 Water Treatment System, a Class 1 Wastewater Collection System and a Wastewater Lagoon. The operator is attaining on-the-job experience and certifications necessary to be equivalent to the State of Alaska classification of city's water plant and water treatment facilities. An adopted organization chart for the city was not provided at the time of this writing. The city council is active in the policy making of the utility and usually meets at least monthly pursuant to Alaska Title 29. Public notification of meetings and the manner in which they are conducted are in accordance with Alaska's Open Meeting Act or otherwise stated in their local ordinances.

Capacity Indicator: Operation of Utility

Essential Indicators:

The utility operator(s) are actively working towards necessary certification.

The utility has a preventative maintenance plan developed for the existing sanitation facilities.

Sustainable Indicators:

The manager receives a monthly O&M report from the utility operator and routinely "spot checks" the facilities to see that the maintenance items are being completed.

The utility has a safety manual and holds safety meetings.

Utility facilities have not suffered any major problems/outages due to management issues that are unresolved.

The utility is operating at the level of service that was proposed.

The operator provides status reports to the manager on a routine basis.

The utility has completed and distributed its "Consumer Confidence Report".

The utility is not on the "Significant Non-Complier" (SNC) list.

The utility maintains an inventory control list.

The utility maintains a critical spare parts list.

Comment:

The city manager routinely 'spot checks' work done on the water treatment facilities. He interfaces with the operator on a daily basis at which time he receives status reports on the utility's facilities. The city's water and wastewater utility is classified by the State of Alaska as having a Class 2 Water Distribution System, a Class 1 Water Treatment System, a Class 1 Wastewater Collection System and a Wastewater Lagoon. The city's water operator now has 'Small Water System Treated' and 'Water Distribution 1' certificates which expire on December 12, 2012. The operator is attaining on-the-job experience and certifications necessary to be equivalent to the State of Alaska classification of city's water plant and water treatment facilities. A copy of the city's preventive maintenance plan is electronically filed at the Bethel regional office. Copies of the city's 2011 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) and a certification form signed by the city manager on September 14, 2012 indicating the CCR has been distributed by mail to the community are electronically filed at the Bethel regional office. Scammon Bay's water system was not listed on the October 2012 Significant Non-Complier (SNC).

RUBA Activities for the Coming Quarter:

Bethel staff is willing to work with Scammon Bay's administrative staff to help the city with non compliant RUBA indicators.