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RUBA Status Report

Community: Saint Michael RUBA: No
Staff: Iura Leahu Agreement: No
DCA Region: Nome Agreement Date:
Region: Bering Straits Exp Date:
Govt Type(s): 2nd Class City
Borough: Unorganized Assessment Date: 5/3/2006
Population: 445
Active Community: Yes Date Updated: 4/1/2013


Community Sanitation Overview: Currently, water is pumped from Clear Lake, approximately five miles north of the community and stored in a 1.2 million gallon water storage tank. The water is then pumped from the 1.2 million gallon tank, filtered, disinfected, and stored in a 400,000-gallon water storage tank for consumption. Wastewater is collected at the vacuum plant and pumped via forcemain to a wastewater treatment area northeast of the community. A new sanitation system was completed during the summer of 2005 to provide piped water and vacuum wastewater service, and residential plumbing to the homes in the community. At present, 99 percent of the homes are served by the system. A washeteria upgrade was completed in 2004 that completely renovated the washeteria. The water treatment plant is under renovation to meet compliance with the Surface Water Treatment Rule.
RUBA Status and Activities This Quarter: Alaska Rural Utilities Collaborative (ARUC) provides full management and operation services to the city's water and wastewater utility. This quarter, Nome RUBA staff had several telephone and email contacts with the city administrator. LGS staff provided election and tax assistance, as well as general government assistance. LGS staff advised the city clerk, administrator, and members of the city council to contact LGS staff with any questions since DCRA provides assistance to local municipalities, including by not limited to such assistance as administrative, personnel, and the day-to-day management of local governments and public utilities. LGS staff also reminded the city staff that DCRA staff provides onsite advice and assistance at the request of municipalities.

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.
Yes Budget amendments are completed and adopted as necessary.
Finances Comment: The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ARUC) provides the community and RUBA staff monthly finance reports comparing year-to-date, monthly, and annually budgeted revenues and expenditures for the utility. The fiscal year for ANTHC starts on October 1 and ends on September 30 the following year, same as the federal fiscal year. ARUC passed its budget for the water and wastewater department before the beginning of the FFY and is now implementing it. For the federal fiscal year (FFY) '13, beginning on October 1, 2012, ARUC budgeted $304.170 in revenues and $266,783 in expenditures. For the month of October, 2012, ARUC's St. Michael collection rate was over 100 percent because more revenues were collect from residential customers than expected in October.

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 water/wastewater ordinance contains a collection policy section. ARUC manages utility billing, accounts payable, receivable, and payroll processing.

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.
N/A 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: The city's utility is managed by ARUC who is responsible for accurately calculating, tracking, and reporting payroll tax liabilities. On March 28, 2013, RUBA staff received confirmation from the IRS and Department of Labor that the city is current with all tax reports and deposits. ARUC is also current with all tax reports and deposits.

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 utility's worker's compensation insurance policy is provided through ARUC. The city council is in the process of revising its personnel policies. RUBA staff provided on-site assistance to the city council and staff and made recommendations on how it can go through the process.

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 a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with ARUC to operate its utility. Through the MOA, ARUC has the authority to set rates, ordinances, policies, and procedures for the utility. The municipal election was held with no major issues by the newly rehired city clerk, Richard Elachik. Mayor Milton Cheemuk was re-elected as mayor. The city council acts as the utility board.

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: ARUC manages the city's utility operator(s) and has a preventative maintenance plan in place for the utility. RUBA staff verified that as of April, 2012, the city is not on the Significant Non-Complier (SNC) list. The city clerk has completed the 2011 CCR.


RUBA Activities for the Coming Quarter: RUBA staff will continue to monitor ARUC reports and provide assistance as requested.