Infrastructure Water Problems are a Local and National Concern

 

Image by rony michaud from Pixabay 

Infrastructure water problems in older communities across the nation are a concern that both the Federal government and State governments are stepping-up to the plate to begin funding of major water projects in the United States.

1. Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC)
2. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law water funding
3. Water Infrastructure and Innovation Act (WIFIA)

Cities, communities, towns and counties are addressing the amount of water infrastructure problems. Some have created new positions to hire an in-house engineer or there is the standard contract labor for engineers.

Hiring an in-house engineer is costly based on the professional salary and hiring availability.
An engineering firm with their own project managers that handle multiple areas is the normal means of getting needed work done. 

Either way, these are the professionals that understand the work, have the expertise to look for the funding and the knowledge needed for filling out the paperwork for projects needed.

Over the past four months, CNj has submitted FOIA forms every month to obtain a copy of a contract between Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District (HISID) and Engineering Services Inc. (ESI) Jeff Dehnhardt, P.E. (project engineer).

CNj also includes an FOIA for all paid billing statements and invoices since October 2020 to date. (4/13/2023 last FOIA request.)

The community of Holiday Island has known since January 2022 that the area has $1.4 Million in water infrastructure problems. 

The HISID board of directors (BOC) announced in December 2022, during final budget planning, that HISID did not receive the grant they had submitted for $1.4 Million. 

What is really being processed? All FOIA requests for the ESI contract and the paid billing / invoices from ESI from Oct. 2020 to April 13, 2023 return the answer every time that there are none.

This is the schedule for applying for ANRC grants, which is what the district manager states is being processed.

CNj attended a Bid Opening on April 13, 2023 for PRVs at the HISID district office just to ask Jeff Dehnhardt in person if he had a contract. His answer was NO.

The bid opening was short. There were NO bids to open.
There was NO district manager present either.

A detailed advertisement was placed one time in both the Arkansas Democrat Gazette (March 12, 2023) and the Carroll County News (March 14, 2023). 

The last contract on file for ESI Jeff Dehnhardt, P.E. was in 2017.
The contract pricing six-years-ago had the rate for a small project like PRVs at $2000 to prepare and $500 to be present for the bid opening.

Before leaving, this editor asked Jeff Dehnhardt for permission, which he granted, to ask HISID Chair Phyllis Sarratt to give this person a contract!

Her response with a giggle, "we just tell people he likes us."
Mayor Dan Kees was also present. He was on the HISID BOC in 2017. The last year that a proper contract was written with former District Manager Lawrence Blood and ESI.

Holiday Island Needs a Fire Truck

 

Image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay 

Arkansas does have one of the finest Open Meeting Laws in the Nation and yet, the community this article is concerning has years of difficulty understanding "How It Works."

The previous article, Smoke & Mirrors, intros into a "Special Meeting" called by the Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District (HISID) board of commissioners (BOC) on Monday, March 20, 2023. 

The Creekside News Journal (CNj) received the mandatory two hour notification by phone for this Special Meeting. It was later that CNj became aware that HISID had sent email notifications to the public at large. Upon arrival to this meeting, the meeting had an agenda and was conducted as a "Regular Meeting."

With a public comment section, one individual, new to the neighborhood, participated in this section to state interest in learning about the neighborhood.

This editor, also a resident, inquired about a line item printed on a submission included in the Tax Assessment Statement indicating a pay-off amount for AOB.

The District Manager (Danny Presley) and the Chair (Pat Sarratt) stated they could not comment on that topic. 

So, for the record, CNj announced that this was a "Special Meeting" being conducted as a regular session meeting. 

Fire Chief Ates gave a short presentation about a used 2007 E-ONE Typhoon Fire Truck
that is offered For Sale through Bradford Fire Apparatus.

There are exchanges between the Fire Chief and District Manager regarding email info. 
The Fire Chief took a mechanic with him to view the truck.
(CNj has receipts for that trip.) 

Discussion regarding how fortunate for the district that this truck is available that there are not other trucks available. 

(CNj does have a rather long list of other brokers selling this year and model truck.)

The BOC spent approximately an hour talking about the fire department and insurance but NOT the specifics of the truck, which was to be the "Special Meeting" topic. 

CNj got a few questions in with answers during the second comment section.
The purchase of the truck will include an engine replacement.
Hoses not included.
The odometer reading was known but not the hours of service for this truck.

 
Some points CNj was not allowed time to ask due to a comment section time restraint:

The engine replacement, a Cummins but, some of these engines have been recalled by the government and there are other issues including a flow issue. Details?
Exactly whom is the One Year warranty with for this truck purchase?
The truck is a Diesel.
Will it take off-road diesel or need to go to the White Oak Station to be filled?

Will it fit there?
One point that the Fire Chief questions: "Will it fit in Station #1?"
Why did he not know this?

According to Bradford Fire Apparatus the measurements for a 2007 E-ONE Typhoon Fire Truck: Length 33' 4"   Height 9' 4"   Width 8' 4"

The HISID BOC approved the purchase of this truck.
The HISID BOC canceled the regular business meeting for March 27, 2023, simply because the District Manager would be out of town. 

Smoke & Mirrors

Video by Attila Pergel from Pixabay 

The Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District (HISID) located in Northwest Arkansas is governed by five elected board of commissioners (BOC), whose oath of office binds them to uphold Federal, State and Local laws, which includes Arkansas Open Meeting Laws.

HISID meetings are streamed Live on HISID's YouTube channel and cataloged for future views / reference on their channel. 

Public records of these meetings are kept along with approved minutes, financial statements, budgets, audits;  all of this information is housed at the District office and on HISID's government website page. 

The public may submit an FOIA request for any document of any item referred in a meeting and all government records. The information can be provided as paper form copies or electronic returns.

By design, this type of transparency is a good thing for information and crediting information. 

What is astonishing?

 

These types of government meetings are open to the public and all of this factual information is available to view.

Why are discussions greater in social media groups where further diversion from the factual information is creating more and more discord and even delays in addressing what are immediate problems within the community, town and city?

Communication technology moves society backwards.

The Fire Department has a new Fire Chief Randy Ates, who presented some straight forward truths regarding the condition of the fire department at the Feb. 27, 2023 HISID meeting. 

The community has been in trouble with this lack of placing the Fire Department operations above recreational amenities. 

For some it came as a surprise, some acted surprised but, the former Fire Chief Chris Ledeker made a Fire Presentation to the BOC in a public meeting on March 15, 2021 with the same information and now two years later, it is an even greater problem.

The community's Health and Safety is at risk. The risk can no longer be swept under the carpet. It took a letter from ISO to bring the topic to the forefront in social media conversations. 

Along with the ISO letter and Chief Ates' report at the HISID meeting, Water came back to the forefront of the conversation. Fire hydrant water flow reports have not been submitted for several years.

The District has $1.4M worth of water problems to fix, which includes two wells, #4 & #5.
These two wells are the mainland source for potable water.

Grants that the District keeps stating are being submitted have actually not been submitted or if they have then the answers to several FOIA requests are incorrect. 

The District states that ESI prepares the grants yet, CNj upon submitting several FOIA requests has received these answers:

1. There is No current contract with ESI
2. There are No paid billing statements from ESI
3. There are No paid invoices from ESI

There will be no further information available until the next
HISID BOC regular meeting scheduled for March 27, 2023 at 9.m. 

_________________________________________________________________________

While you wait | blogging from Fancy This ~ Another Timeline

Short Topic 1 - Legal (June 14, 2017)

Now with Bill Moyers | Special Report: Kids & Chemicals   (May 10, 2002)

 

Government Social Media Policy

The usage of the Internet websites, tech knowledge and social media businesses changed the landscape for government entities. The DOT/GOV Act of 2020, was passed by the Federal Government for all government entities to utilize and give trust to being at an actual government location. Cybersecurity was also provided to DOT/GOV websites.

(blog archive July 16, 2022)

With the growing usage of social media, word definitions as well as recognizing the position or usage of these words is of the utmost importance. The DaDa art movement at the end of WWI grew out of the colliding times of politics. My blog article, This Dadaist Sorts Hats defines these definitions.

In 2011, the FTC defined its first opinion / warning to professionals utilizing social media as a tool in their advertising and marketing campaigns: 

"Social media advertising is subject to the same rules and standards as traditional advertising. The FTC's focus is on the integrity of the communications from the marketer to the consumer - whether the communications are accurate, transparent and non-deceptive. In other words, brands must tell the truth, not exaggerate any claims and be transparent through the disclosures and disclaimers." Holland and Knight, LLP / JDSupra 

Roughly eight years, professional advertising and marketing firms brainstorm and develop their programs to comply with the FTC warning for conducting business utilizing social media platforms. 

As social media platforms multiply and expand more tools to the consumers to use on the internet, the FCC finds a need to become involved in monitoring whether the communications are accurate, transparent and non-deceptive. 

By 2019, politicians form a bill that passes in congress as the DOT/GOV Act 2020.

During this same time period, the FCC and FTC suggested that government entities write their own Government Social media policy. 

Elected officials should be held to the same policies as other government employees. Elected officials also need to make sure that their social media use complies with laws about campaigning and open meeting laws. 

The DOTGOV Act of 2020

 

DOTGOV ONLINE TRUST
IN GOVERNMENT ACT OF 2019

A committee of U.S. legislatures worked
for years on what eventually
passes as the DOTGOV Act of 2020.

Whether Federal, State or Local government, the Act was to help the public trust accessing online internet websites.

The public needed to know that (dot)gov was official and offered cybersecurity.  The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced on
March 08, 2021 that it would begin overseeing the .gov top-level domain (TLD) in April 2021.

In Arkansas there is a suburban improvement district that is a local government group with five elected board of commissioners (BOC). The BOC writes regulations, oversee a tax budget of nearly $3 million to operate a water department, road department, fire department, recreation center, two golf courses and a marina.The office buildings, a clubhouse, plus a restaurant, and a campground. The website for the Holiday Island Suburban District (HISID) has not transitioned itself into the (dot)gov, even though it is a government entity that collects payments online.

The same local area, as recent as January 2021 was additionally voted upon to become a City.  Currently there is an elected seven member board that will increase to eight members in 2023 with the creation of Wards.

"A momentous $200 million worth of federal cybersecurity grant money is slated to come to state and local governments this year, with another $800 million arriving over the next three years. Localities are to be the biggest recipients; with 80 percent of the funds promised to them." (source)

Holiday Island (City of the 2nd class) did not create an online presence with a DOTGOV domain name. This government entity operates as volunteers. Those volunteers utilize free resources for an Internet presence as well as educating themselves on operations.

Back in 2021, when they held full ZOOM meetings during the pandemic, there were professionals attempting to get their attention, both tech firms and this reporter, that there was this new DOTGOV Act.

At that time, it would have been perfect for a new start-up city or any new government entity. A one-year grace period for registration fees. Now, to get compliant will create more work and money lost from the grants. 

Update Aug. 1, 2022

Cyber Insurance Price Hike Hits Local Governments Hard

Some rates have more than doubled, and many insurers require
new security protections.

Building a city takes time and money

There is a demographic area in Arkansas that has the ability to now declare itself, "newest city" in the State.

The process hit many bumps along the way but, with the help of Arkansas State Senator Bob Ballinger the laws were re-written to accommodate. 

The Arkansas Decomocrat Gazette wrote this article, Holiday Island gets ball rolling to become incorporated city, in December 2019.

When it was approved to place on the 2020 General Election Ballot, many people later expressed their misunderstanding as to what they were actually signing. 

Then when it actually passes, the anticipated money "turnback funds" was not immediately available. Those are dispensed funds to entities based on the previous year and that would be tax money of 2019. 

The community receives some poor information. Some were told, If you vote to be a City then the SID goes away. That is false info. The second government entity is the Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District (HISID). 

The City consists of resident property owners and renters. (voter's registration)

The SID is property owners both resident and non-resident. This group receives a Tax Assessment. It is not an HOA contrary to real-estate forms. 

In 2000, the Federal Government told all government groups to acquire a (dot) gov website for conducting government business. Everyone even received a one year grace on paying the (dot) gov fee. 

The FCC and FTC also advised government groups to have a written "government social media policy." 

Social media businesses have established policies. There is a reason. Let you ponder this comment for a moment.

So, I read in local social media groups, over and over that the communication is horrible for this new city. Don't disagree. I know where that info is but, not my job to keep directing people to a site that is not a (dot) gov. 

I did watch the city's June meeting live online and again today as an archive.

Image by Marc Manhart from Pixabay 

Google Town

Called to order. All board members present. Held up while phone numbers being exchanged; waiting for one person to join online. That person seems to be someone hired by contract to actually take the minutes.

 

• The position of Code Enforcer has a candidate that accepted the City's offer. 
• An interview with one applicant for Building Inspector. No offer given yet.
• Short term rentals discussed and still researching
• The Broadband Grant is not progressing.
• The Sheriff contract is not progressing, at this time.
• The City approves the interlocal contract between The City and the Suburban Improvement District. No details. Moves to The Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District (HISID) board of commissioners (BOC) on their agenda for Monday, June 27,2022 for discussion and a vote. The contract agreement begins on July 1, 2022 and runs through December 31, 2022.
• Mayor has no quotes for bag tags. His phone is filled with calls regarding the City's mandatory trash collection. He said, the City also needs a City dumpster. 

1. City planning commission repeatedly points out that zoning / planning ordinances and regulations are all under review by the City attorney.
2. At this meeting, Lynn Dumas informs the Mayor and the Board that all plans from the planning commission by law have to be published in a newspaper for 15 days prior to a meeting. (Not just any newspaper; One with a circulation certificate)
3. And: The planning commission is required by law to hold public hearings before an ordinance / regulation is approved.
   

Back to the top:
Bryan King won the Republican Primary Run-off against Senator Bob Ballinger. 

HISID BOC Cancels June Workshop

Rebecca L. Sherman  June 17, 2022
Opinion

The reporting that I was expecting to write, hit a dead-end when my local government decided to cancel a workshop meeting slated for June 20, 2022. This particular workshop was to be held by the Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District (HISID) located in Northwest Arkansas. 

The HISID BOC hires a District Manager to oversee all functions for maintaining the district that includes a Fire, Water / Sewer and Road departments. Every year this board sets the budget and issues the Tax Assessment due in October, while the district then operates on projected numbers collected from property owners; resident and non-resident.

Two years ago, a social media platform was utilized to persuade residents to vote in favor of becoming a City. This voting group is different than a SID. A City is all residents. Property ownership is not what counts. Just a registered voter. 

The HISID BOC had invited the City elected officials to the table for this workshop session that was officially Canceled on June 16 (notification to the press.)

A HISID workshop meeting only requires two BOC officials to hold a workshop meeting and hear concerns and questions from the public. There is no actions to be taken by the BOC. In the past this area has utilized this open meeting format with great success. In these current times of social media chatter, a workshop would have a positive effect regarding information especially for a reporter.

Questions such as:

1. Rumor has it that the water levels are low in the fire hydrants? A fireman quit because of this? There are broken hydrants? The insurance fire rating has dropped?
2. HISID has assigned Stateline Road to the new City of Holiday Island? The City that has no road department, will the City pay the SID for maintaining this 911 roadway? When winter comes, Who plows it? Who pays for the equipment, employee salary and the chemicals needed? 
3. Follow-up question: Will the HISID AOB be reduced on the next Tax Assessment?
4. Why is HISID allowing all of the VRBO, AirB&B lodgings in what the covenants clearly state are residential ONLY areas? Is HISID collecting commercial rates on the  tax assessment? Residents in the Blue Water Circle area have complained that they are paying commercial rates on residential living areas. When will the HISID planning commission address all of these concerns? Is there even an active HISID planning commission? This is not a City problem.
5. The Water Department is a HISID business. The rumor has it that the Federal Government has many grants for local Water Departments. Any HISID staff looking into this opportunity? Well #1 was just repaired under emergency actions. There are only two active potable wells, #4 and #5, that carry the water load for the greater Holiday Island area. These wells were not originally functioning as the sole wells to provide for drinking water to the residents of Holiday Island. Are you meandering the water from these wells in order to cover the mainland? 
6. Follow-up question: The Water: With the fire department rurmor of low water pressure in the hydrants and only two active wells for both drinking water and hydrants: Why is the focus on the new swimming pool building? This expense appears as a cart before the horse type of thinking. It is a private pool. Even the thinking, "you have to spend money to make money," Residents are trying to speak-out and let it be heard that they want clean drinking water and a home that has a fire department with water to fight any type of fire.

Now, if the HISID BOC had not Canceled their scheduled workshop meeting for June 20, 2022, imagine how many other comments, questions and points-of-view might have been offered at a workshop for the community.