February 18, 2008

John Hardwick, Valparaiso City Utilities, 219-462-8412
Bill Etzler, Aqua Indiana, 260-489-1502
Bob Veneck, OUCC, 317-233-3231
Al Lao, IDEM, 317-308-3282
Darrel Heisler, Indiana American, 812-853-3356
Gale Gerber, Chair Elect, IN Section, 574-773-4623
Stan Diamond, Greeley and Hansen, 317-924-3380
Art Umble, Greeley and Hansen, 317-924-3380
Lou Ann Baker, Veolia Water Indianapolis, 317.263.6572
Todd Taylor, LaPorte Water, 219-326-9540
Scott Bell, OUCC, 317-233-1084
Curt Gassert, IURC, 317-232-2749
Jerry Webb, IURC, 317-232-2765
Terry Atherton, Indiana American Water, 219-880-2367
Odetta Cadwell, IRWA, 317-402-7349
Vince Griffin, Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Mark Basch, IDNR/DOW, 317-232-0154
Phil Smith, Smith Group Consulting, 317-788-8534
Mark Nye, DLZ, 574-236-4400
Doug Perry, Utilities, Goshen, 574-534-5701
John Stancati, City of South Bend, 574-235-5646
Beth Millett, Borshoff, 317-631-6400

John Hardwick and Valparaiso City Utilities presented a plaque to Stan Diamond in recognition of his efforts with INWARN.

Vince Griffin, Legislative Updates

• The Great Lakes Compact has passed, and there may be a ceremonial signing on Wednesday. Vince suggested to the Governor’s office that it could be with AWWA officials.
• Indiana is the first of any of the compact states to have the language for the compact as well as implementation.
• Great Lakes Compact bill includes conservation measures that we may want to review; water conservation measures will certainly apply to the rest of the state very quickly.
• We believe the undesirable language from 1061 has been pulled as Bray promised it would.
• No additional bills of major concern, since Compact has passed.
• Next legislative session will have a lot of freshmen legislators –12 have thus far announced intent to retire.

John Hardwick, WUC Updates

• D.C. Fly in is April 16 – 17; John Hardwick and Art Umble will attend again; will certainly get update on chemical security bill closer to that time. If there are other national issues of concern, please suggest them, since John and Art can discuss issues even if National hasn’t reviewed them.
• Jerry Webb has asked if we would be involved in reviewing water rate paradigm. Most are familiar with descending block rate structure, and IURC is interested in looking at different ways to do rates in order to promote water conservation. This is a great opportunity for us; not sure how we are going to help tackle this thing, but I appreciate Jerry’s willingness to allow us to participate. If you are interested in participating, contact John Stancati, Odetta Cadwell or John Hardwick.

Al Lao, IDEM

• Training on 2dp2 rule complete by middle of year. This year focusing a lot more on groundwater rule impact. Meeting with EPA to discuss staffing level impact, requirements, etc., since rule will be in effect in December 2009. Work has begun to figure out what’s going to happen when those systems that would have had coliform hits. This year, spending a lot of time evaluating those groundwater systems.

Jerry Webb, IURC

• Several rule-makings going through the process; 30 day filing paused while clarifying the definition of “utility” but it is going well and will be done this year.
• Water meter testing rule making: still in discussions with energy groups because we broadened the rule to include electric and gas.

Scott Bell, OUCC

• Susan Macey is resigning as Consumer Counselor; moving to Denver to work for a law firm.
• Our staff has talked to some folks from Indiana American and Indianapolis Water/Veolia in regards to conservation and a fair water rate mechanism; it should mesh well with Jerry’s group.

Odetta Cadwell, IRWA

• 48 workshops for grandparented operators set for this year; all of the locations tentatively scheduled and on www.indianawateroperatortraining.org.
  
• Manual is in final edit phase and hope to go to press in a couple of weeks.

Stan Diamond, INWARN

• 16 members
• Currently communicating periodically through e-mails because funding through IDEM for the Web site has not yet come through; paperwork is in the process; agreement is signed.
• IACT is receiving and managing the signed Mutual Aid Agreements (MAAs), and they are sending Stan the emergency contact information for distribution to our three Regional Emergency Operations Coordinators.
• Stan recently attended the national WARN conference; 46 states were there, with a lot of good materials, a lot of information, and a lot of sharing of lessons learned.
• We have made certain that all of our emergency members know that there are three emergency coordinators -- Duane Gilles, John Wiltrout and Dale Pershing -- who take first call when you need assistance.
• Also need to establish an operations committee. The national level has put together a draft operations plan; we need a group to flesh it out and turn it into Indiana’s operational plan. Will be beneficial to participate in that; not a significant time requirement. Contact Stan if you are interested.
• After operational plan is finalized, need to develop training and get that going.
• Need to seek subsequent funding for administration beyond first year. Other WARN networks have had utilities step forward or have gotten grants from EPA. We need to move from our current volunteer set-up to our next phase. We will be interested in talking to people who are able to step up and do more so we can continue to improve and move forward.
• We need all utilities to join, and we, as a steering committee, need to be certain we give Duane, John and Dale the support they need and the training to make things happen.
• Emergency training program April 17 will mainly focus on emergency response to something like a chemical spill. Hope to offer 4 hours of certification credits; includes an hour panel for some utility managers to share what they have learned in dealing with crises

Mark Basch, DNR

• Rate structure issue will be interesting to follow; the task force has discussed looking at something like that, particularly in times of water shortage.
• Task force met last week; working on setting up drought trigger mechanism that would be the index used to say we are in a drought.
• Presentation made on consumptive use; looking to standardize the criteria.