State of Alaska > Commerce > DCRA Home > Ruba Community Profile   > Ruba Status Report RUBA Status Report Community: Tanana RUBA: Yes Staff: Jeff Congdon Agreement: No DCA Region: Fairbanks Agreement Date: Region: Interior Exp Date: Govt Type(s): Non-Profit Borough: Unorganized Assessment Date: 6/3/2005 Population: 258 Active Community: Yes Date Updated: 4/11/2013 Community Sanitation Overview: The water and wastewater utilities in the City of Tanana are operated by Too'gha, Inc. which is a non-profit utility board. Water is drawn from a well near the Yukon River, a watering point is available. In the spring of 2010 the Too'gha board entered into a financial management agreement with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)'s Assisted Billing program. Personnel associated with the Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative (ARUC) program within ANTHC provide billing assistance. The utility and ARUC use this service as an assessment prior to increasing ARUC's management capacity. ANTHC took over billing in June 2010 with an initial plan of handling billing for a three month period, then informing the Too'gha board of the viability of the utility, with an option of ARUC overtaking operations of the water and wastewater of the utilities, with Too'gha retaining the operations of the laundromat and washateria. A conclusion or decision by ARUC and or Too'gha has not been made regarding the further management of the utilities by ARUC. A new washateria and water treatment facility was constructed in 2001 and opened to the public in early 2002. As part of an on-going project, piped water/wastewater service is currently available to approximately 58 customers including the school, four public facilities, several commercial units, and residential customers. The community is seeking additional funds to provide water/wastewater services to residents not served by the existing water/wastewater system. The landfill uses an incinerator and provides recycling services. Tanana Power Company provides electricity. In November 2007 two wood burning boilers, to provide a supplemental source of heat, was installed at the water/wastewater utility. The wood boilers provided hot water for the washing machines but were not connected to the entire building. During the summer of 2010 the system was modified so that the wood boilers can provide heat for the building and all domestic water usage. Solar panels were installed on the roof of the washateria to provide a supplemental source of electrical power. Too'gha is in the design process for adding additional wood fired boilers to assist in heating the utility. RUBA Status and Activities This Quarter: The RUBA assessment for Too'gha has expired. Too'gha is non-compliant with IRS currently. RUBA staff suggests a new assessment for Too'gha. Requested financial information has not been provided to RUBA. Too'gha has not budgeted for clerk/financial personnel. Capacity Indicator: Finances Essential Indicators No All revenues and expenses for the utility are listed in the utility budget. No The utility has adopted a balanced realistic budget. N/A Monthly financial reports are prepared and submitted to the policy making board. No The utility is current in paying all water/wastewater electric bills. No The utility has on hand a year's adequate fuel supply or it has a financial plan to purchase an adequate supply. No 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. No YTD revenues are at a level equal to or above those budgeted. No YTD expenditures are at a level equal to or below those budgeted. N/A A monthly manager's report is prepared. No Budget amendments are completed and adopted as necessary. Finances Comment: Too'gha does not have a budget. Too'gha may, or may not meet quarterly. Too'gha operates at a loss, and is dependent on the city, or the tribe for financial or in-kind assistance. Too'gha staff supplied RUBA personnel with a FY2011 October 1 - September 30 budget in June 2011. Too'gha utilizes a federal fiscal calander. Federal Fiscal Year 12 reports generated by ARUC did not include Too'gha, the relationship appears to have been terminated in September, 2012. The laundromat generally operates at a loss that is supplemented by revenues generated by the water/wastewater utilities. The water and wastewater utilities typically operate at a loss as well. This is usually supplemented by either the city or the tribe in Tanana. The Too'gha board is scheduled to meet quarterly. Capacity Indicator: Accounting Systems Essential Indicators No The utility has adopted a collection policy and actively follows it. No The utility bills customers on a regular basis. No An accounts receivable system is in place which tracks customers and reports past due accounts and amounts. No An accounts payable system is in place. No The payroll system correctly calculates payroll and keeps records. No A cash receipt system is in place that records incoming money and how it was spent. No The utility has a cash disbursement system that records how money was spent. Sustainable Indicators No 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. No 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: As of September 2012 Too'gha no longer is using ANTHC for customer billings. The Tanana city office and the Tanana city school have not received bills for water or wastewater usage. The utility still processes accounts payable and payroll. The tribe's bookkeeper, through in-kind contribution, is also the utility bookkeeper and is fulfilling the role well. ANTHC's billing service had operated (until September 30, 2012?) at over a 90% annual collection rate for Too'gha. Capacity Indicator: Tax Problems Essential Indicators No The utility has a system to accurately calculate, track, and report payroll tax liabilities. No The utility is current on filing tax reports. Yes The utility is current on making tax deposits. Yes 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: Too'gha is not compliant with the IRS. Too'gha made tax deposits, but needs to file form 941 for 1st and 3rd quarter 2012. 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. No 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 of Tanana has a current workers compensation insurance policy in effect through AMLJIA insurance with as of April 10, 2013. The utility has a personnel policy and procedures manual which RUBA has evaluated and a copy is on file in the Fairbanks office. Job descriptions have been in existence since the utility was created and copies are also on file. The water operators take advantage of training opportunities and are current on the certificates necessary for producing clean water. The hiring process is written in the personnel manual, chapter 2. Capacity Indicator: Organizational Management Essential Indicators Yes The entity that owns the utility is known; the entity that will operate the utility is set. No The policy making body is active in policy making of the utility. No The policy making body enforces utility policy. No The utility has an adequately trained manager. No 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 No The utility has adopted an organizational chart that reflects the current structure. No The policy making body meets as required. Yes The utility complies with the open meeting act for all meetings. Organizational Management Comment: Too'gha is not in compliance with business licensing and corporate licensing for the State of Alaska. The policy making board has not been meeting regularly. The bookkeeper is either absent, or is not given the hours to perform the tasks required. Operators are excellent, are well trained, and are continually involved in training opportunities. 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. No 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. Yes 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. Yes The utility maintains a critical spare parts list. Operation of Utility Comment: The utility operators are certified (level 1) and progressing in their trainings, however, they are not certified to the level required by the system (level 2). The Remote Maintenance Worker has indicated the need to have fully certified operators. According to the most recent SNC list, current in January 2013, the utility does not have any violations. The utility does not maintain an inventory of parts but with the assistance of the Remote Maintenance Worker a list of critical spare parts is provided. RUBA Activities for the Coming Quarter: RUBA staff will continue to be available for training or assistance. RUBA staff recommends a new RUBA assessment.

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