Aging Water Pipes Central to Discussion

By Gary Meyer

The Frazier Park Action Task Force—formed during the recent Synergy Summit meetings to monitor and assist key community projects where possible—met on Friday, March 23 for updates on two projects which many hope will converge in October of this year.

Joining the informational meeting were Christy Fitzgerald from Supervisor Ray Watson’s office and Malinda Chadwick, President of the Board of Directors of the Frazier Park Public Utilities District (FPPUD).

At a March 9 Frazier Park Beautification Project meeting, Chadwick had informed County officials that FPPUD’s main water pipes beneath Monterey Trail and Mt. Pinos Way were 78 years old and in need of replacement. She told them that the district could not afford to replace the new curbs and later this year, in the event of a water line failure requiring repairs after the beautification work is done.

Chadwick estimates that FPPUD’s cost to replace its water mains under Monterey Trail and Mt. Pinos Way, without combining resources together with the Frazier Park Beautification Project, would be two million dollars—approximately $920 from each water customer.

The water chief then estimated the cost of replacing the main pipes this October— while the Beautification project already has the streets under construction—to be only $108 from each water customer.

"We have an opportunity to save a lot of money for something that must be done soon whether or not there is a beautification project. Most of the cost is in labor and equipment. If we gain approval now from the water customers to purchase pipes, those pipes can be easily and cheaply installed at the same time the work is underway for beautification," Chadwick said in a telephone interview on Friday, March 23. "If the old pipes fail on these two main streets, water service to most of the north side of Frazier Park would be lost," she added.

The Task Force, at its March 23 meeting, was informed that the Frazier Park Beautification Project is on schedule for a May 30 deadline to submit its request for $600,000 in federal Transportation Enhancement Act (TEA) funding.

According to Supervisor Ray Watson, "Several steps follow the TEA funding request on May 30, 2007. The project design components, including lighting, benches and landscaping materials will need to be approved by the property owners. Plans will be submitted to CALTRANS with approval estimated by late Summer 2007. The project will then go out to bid. The bidding process typically takes about 30 days. It is my hope that local contractors will take an interest in bidding on the project. A contract should be awarded and construction starting in late fall or early winter 2007. I am hopeful that the project will stay on schedule without any delays."

"Authority to make decisions about the beautification project’s design elements rests with the property owners in the project area since the improvements will become a permanent part of the individual properties," Watson said in an email to The Mountain Enterprise on Monday, March 26. The property owners have agreed to pay for all maintenance costs at an estimated rate of $250 to $300 per year for each parcel owned. (See drawings in March 16 story, online at www.Mountain- Enterprise.com; click the Archive tab and do a search for beautification).

Both projects are proceeding in parallel at this time. County officials say the Frazier Park Beautification Project will move forward without replacing the water pipes if the FPPUD does not gain support from its customers in time to purchase pipes for an October installation.

The FPPUD’s water mains project has, to this point, only been in the planning stage. The water board plans to begin appealing to its customers by early summer for a decision to accept the cost-saving option of replacing the main pipes during the beautification construction this October.

According to Chadwick, FPPUD is required to obtain a two thirds vote of its customers before imposing a special assessment of this type.

This is part of the April 06, 2007 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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