Your PUD
News Release
PUD will trim spending on parks upkeep
Chelan County PUD
News Release
4/13/2009
Managers of the Chelan County PUD Parks program told commissioners Monday that spending cuts will require reductions in parks maintenance through this year and possibly beyond, depending on future budgets.
Restrooms will open at 8 a.m. instead of 6:30 a.m. and close at dusk. Lawns won’t be mowed as often nor fertilized as often. Recreation sports leagues and special event hosts will be responsible for more of their own site preparation and equipment. For example, PUD staff won’t replace bases or do field maintenance between softball games as they have in the past. Lights will be turned off at 10:30 p.m. There won’t be as many flowers planted.
Steve Currit, director of Shared Services, explained that about $425,000 has been trimmed from the Parks operating budget this year, representing about four seasonal employees. Another $1.7 million for 2009 capital improvements was scaled back to about $150,000. The PUD has trimmed roughly $27 million from its overall 2009 spending plans due to low revenues projected from surplus power sales and interest earnings during the economic slowdown.
Currit told commissioners PUD parks will still be clean and safe and well cared for, just not quite up to the level previously enjoyed. As the PUD informs parks users of the changes, Currit said it is possible that adjustments could be made if user groups want to cover the cost of having PUD staff available for additional work.
In other action, commissioners:
- Heard that a new contract for Xerox copier services at the PUD will save an estimated $210,000 per year by reducing the number of machines leased for the next five years.
- Heard a report on the PUD’s new online job application process that is streamlining the handling of hundreds of job applications.
- Set a special meeting for 9 a.m. to noon on May 7 at the North Central Regional Library Building to continue the board’s strategic planning retreat. The first session was March 13.
- Declared a special meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 6, at the Lake Wenatchee Recreation Club for a Customer Partnership Group meeting for people from the Plain-Lake Wenatchee area.
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The next regular commission meeting is at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 20, 2009, in the PUD boardroom at 327 N. Wenatchee Ave. A special meeting of the Manson Community Partnership Group will be held at noon Tuesday, April 14, at the Manson Parks Office.
Most PUD commission meetings are recorded, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org.
Steve Lachowicz
Communications director
509-661-4639, direct line
509-679-0148, cell
steve.lachowicz@chelanpud.org