Your PUD
News Release
Two new commissioners sworn in
Chelan County PUD
News Release
1/3/2005
New PUD Commissioners Ann Congdon and Werner Janssen were sworn into office Monday by Chelan County Auditor Evelyn Arnold.
Janssen, Leavenworth, was elected to a four-year term in November, filling the At-Large District A vacancy left by Dave Pflugrath’s retirement. Congdon, Manson, was elected to the six-year, District 3 position held by Jim Wall for 22 years.
PUD prepares for frigid weather
Commissioners heard from Randy Lowe, director of Power Management, on forecasted below-zero weather and its possible effect on the PUD’s power supply.
The PUD has already taken steps necessary to meet the increased demand for power if temperatures drop to below zero as forecasted for next week, Lowe told commissioners.
If the temperature were to drop to minus 5, PUD power planners expect the demand for electricity from the PUD’s 38,000 customers would reach about 400 megawatts. The PUD’s peak power use was 427 megawatts on Jan. 31, 1996, when the low temperature dropped to minus 12 degrees.
New commissioner recommends revising “whistleblower” policy
Commissioner Werner Janssen recommended that the general manager rewrite the PUD’s “whistleblower” policy. He emphasized a need for commissioners to directly receive allegations of improper governmental actions and for the board to retain independent legal counsel to evaluate such complaints.
Carol Wardell, general counsel for the PUD, reassured Janssen that the current policy follows state statute and was reviewed in September 2004.
After discussion, commissioners tabled the motion for further review of the current policy and Janssen’s recommendations.
General manager presents change to “at-will” employment
General Manager Charlie Hosken told commissioners he plans to change the employment policy for non-bargaining-unit employees.
Since 1998, non-bargaining unit, or salaried, employees were “at will” and could be terminated at any time, with or without cause.
Hosken’s proposed change to the policy sets specific conditions for terminating employment, including misconduct or failure to perform.
Board members will provide comment on the proposal to Hosken before it takes final form.
In other business, commissioners:
- Authorized an agreement with Quality Resource Services, Inc., Spokane, to provide services to the PUD on an as-needed basis. The PUD’s 2005 budget sets aside $394,000 for these specialized, flexible and short-term expert services for various projects.
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The next regular meeting of the PUD commission will start at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 10, 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, www.chelanpud.org.
Christine Shearer
Communications Specialist
509.661.4258
509.421.4258, cell
christin@chelanpud.org