Notice and Protests

Hillview notified customers of its Oakhurst and Sierra Lakes districts of the proposed surcharge by publication in the Fresno Bee on December 9, 2000, and by individual notice mailed on December 11, 2000. Eleven letters protesting the surcharge were received between December 15 and December 21, 2000. Some of the concerns raised by the customers were: no guarantee for adequate water supply nor better quality of water meeting the safe drinking standards set forth by DHS; the utility should bear the cost of the project; and customer bills are currently high.

Subsequently, a public meeting was held in Oakhurst on September 18, 2002 to address the $3.4 million project, the SDWSRF loan, and the proposed surcharge rate. The meeting opened with the presentation of the water system problems, the proposed solutions, the proposed loan, the surcharge rate to repay the loan, and the guarantees to ensure that the project will be monitored and completed. The customers raised questions on the integrity of the utility, the assurance for sufficient and drinkable water, the project cost, community takeover of the utility, and the forming of a municipality or water district. Having been convinced of the gravity of the water issues, the need to construct now, and the cost savings from a SDWSRF loan, the meeting concluded with a positive support for the project from the majority of the customers.

To date no further protests were received from other customers.

The System Improvement Projects