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RUBA Status Report

Community: Larsen Bay RUBA: Yes
Staff: Brice Eningowuk Agreement: Yes
DCA Region: Anchorage Agreement Date: 2/21/2011
Region: Kodiak Island Exp Date: 2/21/2013
Govt Type(s): 2nd Class City
Borough: Kodiak Island Borough Assessment Date: 2/28/2011
Population: 89
Active Community: Yes Date Updated: 4/10/2013


Community Sanitation Overview: Water is supplied from two sources, a reservoir and a well that supplies a 200,000 gallon tank. The well is classified as a groundwater under the direct influence of surface water. A water supply line is also connected to the penstock of the hydroelectric plant and used a majority of the time to reduce utility expenses to both the service plant and the customers. All 40 homes are connected to the piped water system. A community wastewater tank with an outfall line serves these homes, and the majority of them are fully plumbed. Weekly refuse collection services are provided. The community incinerator is currently unusable and all refuse is deposited at the landfill site. A water treatment plant project from Village Safe Water (VSW) is nearly complete.
RUBA Status and Activities This Quarter: On January 14-16, Anchorage RUBA staff traveled to Larsen Bay to assist the city clerk and billings clerk in resolving financial reporting issues. RUBA staff reviewed the current Larsen Bay office files and discussed filing systems with the city clerk. A copy of the 2012 State of Alaska, Local Government Model General Administrative Records Retention Schedule was provided for review when creating a new filing system and examples of other communities filing systems were shared. RUBA staff also assisted the city clerk and billings clerk with networking the city computers allowing city staff to use QuickBooks in multiuser mode. The city clerk asked for help in researching city council seats and terms assigned to each. RUBA staff attended a city council meeting on January 14 and provided assistance when asked by the council.

Capacity Indicator: Finances
Essential Indicators
Yes All revenues and expenses for the utility are listed in the utility budget.
Yes The utility has adopted a balanced realistic budget.
No Monthly financial reports are prepared and submitted to the policy making board.
Yes The utility is current in paying all water/wastewater electric bills.
Yes The utility has on hand a year's adequate fuel supply or it has a financial plan to purchase an adequate supply.
Yes The utility is receiving revenues (user fees or other sources) sufficient to cover operating expenses.
Sustainable Indicators
No The utility is receiving revenues (user fees or other sources sufficient to cover operating expenses and Repair & Replacement (R) costs.
Yes YTD revenues are at a level equal to or above those budgeted.
Yes YTD expenditures are at a level equal to or below those budgeted.
Yes A monthly manager's report is prepared.
Yes Budget amendments are completed and adopted as necessary.
Finances Comment: The FY13 budget shows the water/wastewater utility is subsidized by the city-owned grocery store. Monthly financial reports have not been prepared and submitted to the council. The utility is current in paying all water electric bills. The city received sufficient fuel from Crowley to meet usage needs and has funds to purchase additional if necessary. The utility has a repair and replacement (R and R) account, but fund deposits are not listed as a line item in the utility expenditures. The utility manager is the primary utility operator. The manager provides a verbal report to the council. Budget amendments are completed when needed.

Capacity Indicator: Accounting Systems
Essential Indicators
Yes The utility has adopted a collection policy and actively follows it.
Yes The utility bills customers on a regular basis.
Yes An accounts receivable system is in place which tracks customers and reports past due accounts and amounts.
Yes An accounts payable system is in place.
Yes The payroll system correctly calculates payroll and keeps records.
Yes A cash receipt system is in place that records incoming money and how it was spent.
Yes The utility has a cash disbursement system that records how money was spent.
Sustainable Indicators
Yes A chart of accounts is used that identifies categories in a reasonable, usable manner.
No Monthly bank reconciliations have been completed for all utility accounts.
Yes The utility has a purchasing system that requires approval prior to purchase, and the approval process compares proposed purchases to budgeted amounts.
Accounting Systems Comment: The city staff is in the process of providing copies of the original ordinances to be codified. The city uses QuickBooks Pro 2012 and reports are made utilizing the program. The city accounts receivable report shows all transactions for the water and wastewater utility for all customers. The city accounts payable report shows no accounts to be paid currently. When the city receives cash, the customer is offered a receipt and the data is then entered into QuickBooks following the transaction with the ledger/receipt number. Every Monday, the city deposits the cash into the bank account. A chart of accounts lists all current assets, liabilities, and equities for the City of Larsen Bay. Monthly bank reconciliations are done at the end of each month. All purchases are routed from the employee to the mayor for approval, and from the mayor to the clerk for processing.

Capacity Indicator: Tax Problems
Essential Indicators
Yes The utility has a system to accurately calculate, track, and report payroll tax liabilities.
Yes The utility is current on filing tax reports.
No The utility is current on making tax deposits.
N/A If there are any past due tax liabilities or recorded tax liens, a lien release has been issued or a repayment agreement has been signed and repayments are current.
Tax Problems Comment: A report from the IRS dated April 9, 2013 indicates that the city is not compliant with federal tax deposits. The the report does indicate that the city is compliant with federal tax filing and has no record of a lien. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Employment Security Divisions report from March 18, 2013 states that the city is in compliance with state tax filing and deposits and is not on the January  February 2013 Lien Watch.

Capacity Indicator: Personnel System
Essential Indicators
Yes The utility has a posted workers compensation insurance policy in effect.
Sustainable Indicators
Yes The utility has adopted and uses a Personnel Policy, which has been reviewed by an attorney, AML or Commerce for topics and language.
Yes The utility has adequate written job descriptions for all positions.
Yes The utility has adopted and follows a written personnel evaluation process that ties the job description to the evaluation.
Yes The utility has an adequate written hiring process.
Yes The utility has personnel folders on every employee that contain at least: I-9, Job Application and Letter of Acceptance.
Yes The utility has a probationary period for new hires that includes orientation, job training/oversight, and evaluations.
Yes The utility provides training opportunities to staff as needed and available.
Personnel System Comment: The city has an insurance policy with Alaska Municipal League Joint Insurance (AMLJIA) from July 1, 2012 to July 1, 2013. AMLJIA has confirmed that the city has insurance coverage until June 30, 2013. The policy is posted as required. A copy of the personnel policies was provided that has sample job descriptions, evaluation and hiring processes, and the probationary period for employment is 30 days. Employee personnel files are kept in a locked file cabinet in the city clerk's office. These files each contain an I-9, job application, and all appropriate employee and employer correspondence.

Capacity Indicator: Organizational Management
Essential Indicators
Yes The entity that owns the utility is known; the entity that will operate the utility is set.
Yes The policy making body is active in policy making of the utility.
Yes The policy making body enforces utility policy.
Yes The utility has an adequately trained manager.
Yes The utility has an adequately trained bookkeeper.
Yes The utility has an adequately trained operator or operators.
Yes The utility has adopted the necessary ordinances (or rules and regulations) necessary to give it the authority to operate.
Sustainable Indicators
Yes The utility has adopted an organizational chart that reflects the current structure.
Yes The policy making body meets as required.
Yes The utility complies with the open meeting act for all meetings.
Organizational Management Comment: The City of Larsen Bay is the owner/operator of the water and wastewater utility. The ordinances are updated as needed and those ordinances are followed in regards to collection policies. The primary operator is part-time as he is both the water/wastewater and electrical operator; he is scheduled to be at the pumphouse for two weeks and other operators cover the remaining weeks in a month. The city clerk oversees all the bookkeeping for the utility; the billing clerk receives and enters all incoming transactions into QuickBooks. The organizational chart is in the personnel policy manual and includes all employees; the city clerk and billings clerk are listed in a separate branch under the mayor. The organizational chart does reference Title 29 and regulatory agencies in separate branches above the city council.

Capacity Indicator: Operation of Utility
Essential Indicators
Yes The utility operator(s) are actively working towards necessary certification.
Yes The utility has a preventative maintenance plan developed for the existing sanitation facilities.
Sustainable Indicators
Yes The manager receives a monthly O&M report from the utility operator and routinely "spot checks" the facilities to see that the maintenance items are being completed.
Yes The utility has a safety manual and holds safety meetings.
Yes Utility facilities have not suffered any major problems/outages due to management issues that are unresolved.
Yes The utility is operating at the level of service that was proposed.
Yes The operator provides status reports to the manager on a routine basis.
No The utility has completed and distributed its "Consumer Confidence Report".
Yes The utility is not on the "Significant Non-Complier" (SNC) list.
No The utility maintains an inventory control list.
No The utility maintains a critical spare parts list.
Operation of Utility Comment: There is an operations and maintenance manual for the existing pumphouse. The new pumphouse is approximately 90 percent complete and once the project is finished, a new operations and maintenance manual will be provided. The city has a monthly safety meeting with the water/wastewater/electric operators. There have been no major outages. The water utility is operating at a level proposed. The water utility is subsidized by the electric utility and the city owned grocery store. The last CCR on file is the 2009 CCR. The water utility is not on the January 2013 SNC list. The city does not have an inventory control list as there is a new plant that is near completion. There is no record of a critical spare parts list with the city.


RUBA Activities for the Coming Quarter: RUBA staff will continue to assist the community to meet all of the unmet management indicators. Anchorage RUBA staff will travel to Larsen Bay on January 14-16, 2013 to provide assistance to the new utility clerk and city clerk.