RUBA Community Status Report

Community Name: Old Harbor


Community:

 Old Harbor

RUBA:

 Yes

Staff:

 Brice Eningowuk

Agreement:

 No

DCA Region:

 Anchorage

Agreement Date:

Region:

 Kodiak Island

Exp Date:

Govt Type(s):

 2nd Class City

Borough:

 Kodiak Island Borough

Assessment Date:

 6/17/2013

Population:

 218

Active Community:

 Yes

Date Updated:

 6/17/2013


Community Sanitation Overview:

Water is supplied by a dammed creek and an infiltration gallery, is treated and stored in a tank, then distributed via pipes. A community wastewater tank treats piped sewage. All residences are connected to the public water and wastewater system and have complete plumbing. Refuse collection services are not available, although the city has requested funding for dumpsters and vehicles to do so. The landfill was recently relocated. They are interested in developing hydro-electricity. Electricity is currently provided by AVEC. There is one school located in the community, attended by 62 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Old Harbor Health Clinic. Old Harbor is classified as an isolated village, and it is found in EMS Region 2G in the Kodiak Region. Emergency Services have coastal and air access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers and a health aide. Auxiliary health care is provided by Old Harbor Village Response Team. ANTHC constructed a new water treatment plant that was completed in 2012. A new water storage tank was constructed in the summer of 2011.

RUBA Status
and Activities
this Quarter:

Anchorage RUBA staff traveled to the community and a new RUBA Assessment of Management Capacity Indicators was conducted and finalized.
 

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.
Yes

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.
No

Budget amendments are completed and adopted as necessary.

Comment:

The city adopted its FY13 budget, that includes the water enterprise, with Ordinance 12-15. The revenue for the water enterprise is budgeted at $46,020 and the expenditures are budgeted at $65,838. There is a budgeted deficit of $19,818 for the water utility. The city uses revenues from the local sales tax and state revenue sharing, that are not addressed on the budget, to cover operating expenses. The transfer from the sales tax and state revenue sharing are tracked in the QuickBooks software. Monthly managers report are recorded verbally in the council minutes and records. The city clerk/treasurer provides monthly financial reports in the form of profit and loss by class, while reviewing the budget with the council. Current YTD revenues are $55,728, which exceed budgeted amounts. Current YTD expenditures are $22,628, this is 34 percent below the expected expenditures. The utility budget does not show that there are enough funds to cover operating expenses, although the monthly financial reports indicate that the utility is generating sufficient funds for operating expenses. The utility budget is in a deficit and does not address any repairs or replacement for the utility. The city is current with the power utility, AVEC (Alaska Village Electric Cooperative), for the pumphouse and water treatment plant. The city is expecting a fuel shipment at the end of May 2013. This is the first year that the city has operated the new treatment plant, the FY14 budget is in draft form and is addressing the increased revenues and expenditures.
 

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.
Yes

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.

Comment:

The City of Old Harbor Code of Ordinances 11.02.340, Consequences for Non-payment of Service Charges, addresses delinquent customers. Monthly bills will be mailed out on or before the 25th of each month as stated in 11.02.270 of the City of Old Harbor Code of Ordinances. The accounts receivable report from QuickBooks has detailed information on water and wastewater customers that have past due balances. The largest amount owed is $3,482 by a customer. The accounts payable report from QuickBooks shows a total of $100,209 that the city owes to five vendors. Petro Marine is the vendor that is owed by the city in the amount of $100,000. When city customers pay a bill, a receipt is provided to the customer from a receipt logbook. The Old Harbor Code of Ordinances 11.01.170 states that water and wastewater monies will be used strictly for maintenance, extension, repair, capital improvement and operation of the systems. The chart of accounts lists all bank accounts, accounts receivable, assets, liabilities, equities, income, cost of goods sold and expenses of the city. Monthly bank reconciliations are done through QuickBooks. Purchases greater that $500 and not listed in the budget, approval goes from employee to supervisor, to the bookkeeper/treasurer and mayor for approval.

 

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.
Yes

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.

Comment:

The IRS report dated June 4, 2013 shows that the city is compliant with required federal tax deposits and filing and has no record of a lien. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Employment Security Divisions report from June 11, 2013 states that the city is in compliance with state tax filing and deposits The city is not listed in the March  April 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.

Comment:

The city is insured for workers compensation under their AMLJIA policy that is current until July 1, 2013. The personnel policies address the Introduction, Personnel Action, Equal Opportunity, Employee Conduct, Recruitment, Performance Evaluations, Personnel Records, Hours of work, Pay, Discretionary Leave, Rules of Conduct, Disciplinary Actions, Separation, Grievance and Grievance Procedures, and Travel. Personnel files are kept in a locked file cabinet and include the I-9, job application, letter of acceptance, evaluations, and tax information. The current probationary period is 90 days for new employees. The city provides training opportunities for employees when necessary and with budgetary limitations being considered.
 

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.

Comment:

The city owns the utility and is authorized by the Old Harbor Code of Ordinances, Title 11 to operate and manage the utility. Title 11 grants the city council the authority to set regulation and enforce those regulations with utility customers. The utility manager is the bookkeeper/treasurer for the city, as well as the operator. There is an alternate when the operator is not available. The organizational chart is depicted in the Old Harbor Water treatment Plant and Water Storage Tank Business Plan from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. The council meets on the first Tuesday of every month and properly posts notices according to local code. Meeting notices are posted in three public locations according to the local code.
 

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.
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.

Comment:

The operator is certified in both Water Distribution Provisional and Water Treatment 1 certifications that expire on December 31, 2013. There is a copy of the water treatment plant's Operations and Maintenance manual on site. The utility has a new water treatment plant. AMLJIA safety meetings have been addressed with the operators, but operators do not attend. There have been no major problems or outages due to management practices of the utility. The manager provides a report to the council on O/M and any major issues that may pertain to the utility. The 2011 CCR has been distributed to utility customers. The utility is not on the April 2013 SNC list. The utility does not have an inventory control list nor a critical spare parts list.

RUBA Activities for the Coming Quarter:

RUBA staff will continue to provide telephone, fax, and e-mail support and assistance as needed.