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RUBA Status Report

Community: Selawik RUBA: Yes
Staff: Georgianna Phillips Agreement: Yes
DCA Region: Kotzebue Agreement Date: 9/30/2011
Region: Northwest Arctic Exp Date: 10/1/2014
Govt Type(s): 2nd Class City
Borough: Northwest Arctic Borough Assessment Date: 11/1/2007
Population: 828
Active Community: Yes Date Updated: 4/4/2013


Community Sanitation Overview: The community has piped water and wastewater throughout the entire community; 96 percent of the homes are fully plumbed. A circulating water and vacuum wastewater system provides services to the community. A central treatment facility pumps water from the Selawik River, providing up to 8,000 gallons a day. A new boiler and plant have been installed and completed. The city signed an agreement with the Alaska Rural Utilities Collaborative (ARUC). The city continues in the completion of the plant rebuild as well as the energy efficiency projects, which are expected to be completed the summer of 2013.
RUBA Status and Activities This Quarter: ANTHC is completing the plant rebuild as well as the energy efficiency projects. It is expected with the completion of the energy projects that the city will realize huge savings at the plant for electric and fuel. As the result the system has been operating much better and has had much less home freeze-ups.

Capacity Indicator: Finances
Essential Indicators
Yes All revenues and expenses for the utility are listed in the utility budget.
Yes The utility has adopted a balanced realistic budget.
Yes Monthly financial reports are prepared and submitted to the policy making board.
Yes The utility is current in paying all water/wastewater electric bills.
Yes The utility has on hand a year's adequate fuel supply or it has a financial plan to purchase an adequate supply.
Yes The utility is receiving revenues (user fees or other sources) sufficient to cover operating expenses.
Sustainable Indicators
Yes The utility is receiving revenues (user fees or other sources sufficient to cover operating expenses and Repair & Replacement (R) costs.
Yes YTD revenues are at a level equal to or above those budgeted.
Yes YTD expenditures are at a level equal to or below those budgeted.
Yes A monthly manager's report is prepared.
No Budget amendments are completed and adopted as necessary.
Finances Comment: ARUC has worked with the city to adopt a balanced realistic budget listing all the revenues and expenses for the utility. The city received funding from various agencies in which to repay ANTHC for last winters disaster (2012) causing major freeze-ups at the plant, mains and homes. The city has cut various staff hours to reduce costs in administration in keeping the budget balanced. Expected payments from entities assisting the community in keeping the water/sewer rates at the same monthly rate have not all been received by the city. Approximately $55,000 is expected to be received and then paid to ANTHC.

Capacity Indicator: Accounting Systems
Essential Indicators
Yes The utility has adopted a collection policy and actively follows it.
Yes The utility bills customers on a regular basis.
Yes An accounts receivable system is in place which tracks customers and reports past due accounts and amounts.
Yes An accounts payable system is in place.
Yes The payroll system correctly calculates payroll and keeps records.
Yes A cash receipt system is in place that records incoming money and how it was spent.
Yes The utility has a cash disbursement system that records how money was spent.
Sustainable Indicators
Yes A chart of accounts is used that identifies categories in a reasonable, usable manner.
Yes Monthly bank reconciliations have been completed for all utility accounts.
Yes The utility has a purchasing system that requires approval prior to purchase, and the approval process compares proposed purchases to budgeted amounts.
Accounting Systems Comment: ARUC works with the city who adopted a collection policy that ARUC enforces on a monthly basis through the water plant personnel. ARUC utilizes quickbooks for billing assistance communities and Continental Utility Solutions for community like Selawik for accounts receivable system, payable system, payroll, purchasing, cash receipts and cash disbursements that records incoming money and how it was spent. They use their budget as the chart of accounts reconciling monthly.

Capacity Indicator: Tax Problems
Essential Indicators
Yes The utility has a system to accurately calculate, track, and report payroll tax liabilities.
Yes The utility is current on filing tax reports.
Yes The utility is current on making tax deposits.
Yes 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.
Tax Problems Comment: ARUC is deemed compliant by both IRS and ESC. They are not on the Lien Watch List ending January 2013.

Capacity Indicator: Personnel System
Essential Indicators
Yes The utility has a posted workers compensation insurance policy in effect.
Sustainable Indicators
Yes The utility has adopted and uses a Personnel Policy, which has been reviewed by an attorney, AML or Commerce for topics and language.
Yes The utility has adequate written job descriptions for all positions.
Yes The utility has adopted and follows a written personnel evaluation process that ties the job description to the evaluation.
Yes The utility has an adequate written hiring process.
Yes The utility has personnel folders on every employee that contain at least: I-9, Job Application and Letter of Acceptance.
Yes The utility has a probationary period for new hires that includes orientation, job training/oversight, and evaluations.
Yes The utility provides training opportunities to staff as needed and available.
Personnel System Comment: The city obtains their insurance through AMLJIA and has indicated that the city had a credit amount towards the renewal of insurance. Personnel policies have been adopted. ARUC not only includes orientation, job training and evaulation of staff but continues to provide training opportunities to staff as needed and available.

Capacity Indicator: Organizational Management
Essential Indicators
Yes The entity that owns the utility is known; the entity that will operate the utility is set.
Yes The policy making body is active in policy making of the utility.
Yes The policy making body enforces utility policy.
Yes The utility has an adequately trained manager.
Yes The utility has an adequately trained bookkeeper.
Yes The utility has an adequately trained operator or operators.
Yes The utility has adopted the necessary ordinances (or rules and regulations) necessary to give it the authority to operate.
Sustainable Indicators
Yes The utility has adopted an organizational chart that reflects the current structure.
Yes The policy making body meets as required.
Yes The utility complies with the open meeting act for all meetings.
Organizational Management Comment: The city has the necessary ordinances to give it authority and is the known entity to operate the utility. The city has a signed Memorandum of Agreement for utility management to be provided by ARUC. The city has an organizational chart that reflects the current structure. The city council complies with the Open Meetings Act. ARUC is active in making sure the council follows and enforces their utility policy.

Capacity Indicator: Operation of Utility
Essential Indicators
Yes The utility operator(s) are actively working towards necessary certification.
Yes The utility has a preventative maintenance plan developed for the existing sanitation facilities.
Sustainable Indicators
Yes 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.
Yes The utility has a safety manual and holds safety meetings.
Yes Utility facilities have not suffered any major problems/outages due to management issues that are unresolved.
Yes The utility is operating at the level of service that was proposed.
Yes The operator provides status reports to the manager on a routine basis.
Yes The utility has completed and distributed its "Consumer Confidence Report".
Yes The utility is not on the "Significant Non-Complier" (SNC) list.
Yes The utility maintains an inventory control list.
Yes The utility maintains a critical spare parts list.
Operation of Utility Comment: The utility is on the still on the SNC list. A new system to reduce turbidity was installed in September, 2012 and already is reflecting positively in regards to lowering turbidity. The city administrator has reported the city is no longer on the 'Boil Notice', receiving a letter in March, 2013, informing the city of this. ANTHC is working on continuous data recordings and reporting which should show how treatment is working for DBP reduction. The utility has a preventative maintenance plan. It is operating at the level of service proposed, holding safety meetings following their safety manual and spot checking the facilies to make sure maintenance items are being completed. They have completed their consumer confidence report. The utility maintains an inventory and critical spare parts list.


RUBA Activities for the Coming Quarter: LGS Staff will work with the city clerk in reviewing the city code. Ensuring that it is and has been maintained with all ordinance updates since the adoption of the city code.