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Commissioners to gather information on possible changes to whistleblower policy

Chelan County PUD
News Release
2/22/2005

PUD commissioners will continue to research a proposal to change to the PUD's “whistleblower” policy. The proposed addition suggested by Commissioner Werner Janssen would provide another option for an employee: an independent attorney, retained by the commission, to receive allegations of improper governmental actions and report back to the board.

Tuesday’s discussion followed up on a suggestion made by Janssen last month.

After discussion of potential cost and the availability of local attorneys to provide the service, Commissioner Norm Gutzwiler proposed delaying action on Janssen's motion until commissioners could do more research. The board agreed to table the issue.

PUD developing method to focus on issues that matter most
A new method for identifying, measuring and tracking progress on goals to make sure that Chelan County PUD is working on the things that matter most to its customer-owners and employees was discussed with PUD commissioners on Tuesday.

General Manager Charlie Hosken said the “balanced scorecard” was the best method for tracking results he’s seen in 30 years in business.

Hosken and senior managers will use the “balanced scorecard” to make sure the District is focused on all areas, beyond just finances, that a balanced organization needs to watch. Those include the needs of employees, the concerns of customer-owners, and the ways they work together. Measurements will be taken monthly – the "scorecard" -- to show how well the PUD is staying on course and signal if it needs to steer in a different direction. Employees and customer-owners will have frequent opportunities to make suggestions. 

Joe Jarvis, Finance and Technology assistant general manager, and Dan Sollom, Strategic and District Services director, outlined how the initial scorecard was developed. Jarvis emphasized that the method is flexible and will be updated to reflect feedback from all interested parties. The point is to use the measurements to learn and prompt appropriate action, he said.

Managers will follow results monthly and report to commissioners and the public quarterly.

In other business, commissioners:

• Received an update on plans to build a 1-million gallon water reservoir to improve supply, reliability, fire protection and meet future growth in west Wenatchee. The new reservoir will replace two old, smaller reservoirs. The project is part of an effort since 2002 to update and improve the water systems operated by the PUD that serve neighborhoods on the outskirts of Wenatchee. Construction of the new reservoir west of the Broadview neighborhood and improvements to the access road are scheduled this summer, said Sam Dilly, PUD civil engineer. Because the construction site is in an area popular with hikers and mountain bikers, extra efforts are being made to make sure the community is aware of the work and that people are careful in the area. About $850,000 has been spent so far. Construction of the reservoir and related work is estimated at $2.4 million. Engineers will ask PUD commissioners to approve bid documents for the project the first week of March.
• Commissioners also heard an update from staff on the District's Habitat Conservation Plans, as a prelude to resolutions that commissioners will be asked to approve for follow-up fish studies to make sure the PUD is meeting goals of the long-term environmental plans. The HCPs are already saving the District millions of dollars by minimizing spilled water for fish passage at Rocky Reach Dam -- because other methods such as the new fish bypass system are more effective in guiding fish around turbines. The District will be participating in a legal review of the HCPs since the Yakama Nation appealed the documents with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in January.

** *

The next regular meeting of the PUD commission is at 1 p. m.  on Feb. 28, 2005, in the boardroom of the Headquarters Building, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.

Most PUD commission meetings are recorded and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org.

Kimberlee Craig
Public Information Officer
661-4320, direct line
679-6858, cell
kimc@chelanpud.org