In This Issue:

This is it! The future of fire and emergency medical services in Kirkwood depends on your vote! This is the formal ballot process required by California state law as defined by Proposition 218. Thanks go to many in the community who have already mailed in their ballot!

If you didn't receive a ballot or need a replacement, please contact KMPUD (info@kmpud.com).

Ballot MUST BE RECEIVED at the KMPUD office by April 3 in order to be counted (ballots postmarked by April 3 but not received cannot be counted). Ballots can be mailed or delivered in person to the office.

If the community supports the proposed assessment described in the ballot, the District will negotiate with Alpine County to staff at least one full-time firefighter/EMT in Kirkwood at all times and all year long in a model that will integrate our existing voluntary firefighters. 

At 9AM on April 3, KMPUD will hold a public hearing for the sole purpose of allowing property owners to submit their ballot in person or change a ballot already received. Once the hearing is closed, a 3rd party will count the ballots. The public is welcome to observe the ballot counting.

When the ballot count is complete, KMPUD will hold a public meeting to announce the results. We expect that announcement will take place during the Board meeting scheduled for 2PM on the same day - April 3.

At the March 6 Board meeting, KMPUD staff presented a set of options for the Board to consider as part of the Electric Rate Study. Overall, the cost of power is likely to be lower than the current $0.24/KWH and the fixed monthly rate will see a small increase due to inflation and labor costs. A copy of the staff presentation can be found here and you can see a video recording of the Board and community discussion at kmpud.com/about/board-of-directors/board. A major proposed change is to use a different methodology for allocation of fixed costs across residential properties that does not depend. The Board requested additional analysis before deciding on a recommended approach for the revised residential property allocations. The next steps are:

April 3 Board Meeting -  The Board will consider the additional analysis and choose a methodology for allocation of fixed costs. After the Board meeting, an individual letter will be sent to each electric utility customer via email or print that will explain the proposed changes and show how the change will affect their costs for electric power.

May 1 Public Hearing - The Board will conduct a Public Hearing on the proposed rate study. You are encouraged to attend and either offer your opinions at the meeting or submit in advance by email. The Board will incorporate public feedback and potentially decide on a methodology for allocation of fixed costs..

June 5 Board Meeting - The Board will consider approving the rate study.

July 1 - If the Board approves the rate study, the new electric rates will take effect. 

Pictured above: The Community, Staff and Contractors celebrate the completion of the “Out-Valley” project on November 1, 2014. The project has provided reliable, increasingly renewable energy to the Kirkwood Community and eliminated local pollution and noise from the diesel generators for over 11 years.

We encourage all community members to attend Board meetings to stay informed and provide input. Your participation and feedback are important to us as we work through this process.

Many common products that we use in our daily lives contain potentially hazardous materials and require special care when disposed of them. It is illegal to dispose of hazardous waste in the garbage, down storm drains, or onto the ground. Regulations to protect public health and the environment have been changing. This is because we now know that some common items that have traditionally been thrown in your household’s or small business’ trash cannot be safely disposed of in landfills. These common items are referred to as hazardous waste, and some of them as “universal waste” (u-waste).

What is Banned

Fluorescent lamps and tubes, batteries, computer and television monitors, and electronic devices.

Mercury-Containing Items: Electrical switches and relays, Thermostats with mercury, pilot light sensors, and mercury gauges to name a few.

Latex paint, oil-based paint, nonempty aerosol, and solvent cans.

Antifreeze, car batteries, motor oil and filters, and tires.

Photo waste, aerosol cans with hazardous materials, PCB-containing materials, and compressed gas cylinders.

 

Do not throw electronic devices in the trash!

The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has tested many electronic devices, including tube-type and flat panel televisions and computer monitors, laptop computers, computers central processing units (CPU), printers, radios, microwave ovens, video cassette recorders (VCR), cell phones, cordless phones, and telephone answering machines.

The devices that DTSC tested contained concentrations of metals (lead and copper) high enough to make them hazardous waste when they are discarded. 

It is critical that homeowners know the location of all their water shutoff valves, inside and outside of the home. A broken water line or fixture can lead to serious property damage and an expensive water bill. Most homes have a shutoff valve inside of the house, where the water enters the home that will isolate water for virtually the entire residence. Most homes in Kirkwood also have private shutoff valves at the home which should be accessible to the homeowner or plumber. Knowledge of the location of these valves is critical for protecting your home. There are several different types of shutoff valves. Homeowners need to be aware of all shutoff valves and their locations and ensure that access to these valves is always available in the event of an emergency. Gate valves, as shown below, are typically located within the house, and are shut off by turning the handle clockwise until it is fully closed.

Kirkwood has 200 fire hydrants, and during winter months, snow can quickly bury them, making it hard for firefighters to locate and access them in an emergency. In the event of a fire in your neighborhood, firefighters may waste valuable time searching for and digging out a hydrant instead of focusing on crucial tasks to extinguish the flames.

This is an opportunity for community involvement and making a real impact. Some citizens have informally "adopted a hydrant" in their neighborhood, taking responsibility to clear snow 3 feet in all directions from the hydrant and ensuring it remains visible from the street. Peter Dornbrook, a KMUD Board Member and your neighbor to some, has adopted Fire Hydrant #18 on Fremont Road (photo to the left). He consistently keeps the hydrant accessible for the firefighters. Peter will be contacting his neighbors to motivate them to adopt a hydrant and increase the number of accessible fire hydrants in the area.

How to Keep Fire Hydrants Clear 

When you shovel out a hydrant, be careful not to damage any of the associated piping. Clear approximately three feet around the hydrant in all directions and ensure a clear path between the hydrant and the road. This action will enable firefighters to access the hydrant easily, connect hoses, and operate it effectively. 

If you notice a hydrant that is not marked with a snow pole, or have any questions please call us at (209) 258-4444.  

Thank you for helping make our community safer. 

We use energy every day in our homes, and businesses, to power our lights, appliances, heating and cooling systems, and other electronic devices. Energy-efficient practices allow us to enjoy the comfort and performance of these modern conveniences while keeping our energy use and our utility bills low. Efficiency upgrades can make a substantial difference to your energy bills. For example, replacing outdated and inefficient bulbs with highly efficient LEDs is just one simple change that can save you money each month. Home weatherization improvements, like changing out single-paned windows with double or triple paned, offer better insulation and can reduce the costs of heating or cooling your home.

Here are 10 quick and easy ways to save on your energy bill.

Turn off lights, computers, appliances, TV's, etc. when they are not in use.

Use energy-saving light bulbs such as LED bulbs.

Close window shades during the summer to preserve a cool atmosphere indoors, and keep shades open during the winter to take advantage of the sun's warmth.

Use "Smart" power strips that don't draw phantom energy when appliances are not in use.

Invest in smart HVAC systems such as programmable thermostats and install Energy Star appliances.

Weatherize your home by making sure windows, insulation, doors, etc. are up-to-date and all air leaks are sealed.

Install water-saving appliances, such as low-flow faucets and shower heads and water-efficient toilets.

Wash only full loads of clothes in cold water and air dry on a drying rack.

Replace/clean filters to improve air flow and prevent your appliances from overworking.

Insulate your water heater and plumbing system.

As described in the article above, the board of directors discussed the proposed electric rate study and made some initial decisions on rates and rate-setting methodology

We encourage the community to watch the recent meeting at kmpud.com and explore the Board packet. Keep watch for updates from KMPUD as we progress in addressing the urgent issues concerning KVFD.

Kirkwood is your District, and your input and participation are valuable. Click here to view the Community Calendar of upcoming Board and Committee meetings. We encourage your participation at our meetings. Click here to learn about the agenda and click here to access past Board of Directors meetings. 

Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District

209-258-4444 / info@kmpud.com / www.kmpud.com