PIDmay eliminate health benefits for directors

The Paradise Irrigation Districtwillmeet at 6:30 p.m. tonight and will likely complete two areas of unfinished business from its September meeting.

The first itemwill be a decision to authorize a contract for the development of an after-action report following the Camp Fire.

Mickey Rich, information systems manager, is recommending that the PID hire an outside consultant to performan after-action report to analyze PID’s response to the CampFire, according to the agenda.

“The role of the consultant will be to gather and record information from those involved in the emergency response, provide unbiased observations and make recommendations for future revisions to our emergency response plan,” she wrote.

Lastmonth, staff was directed towork with Constant Associates, Inc., on a revised proposal for the development of an after-action report. Since then, according to the agenda, PID staff had communicated with the Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) regarding emergency planning.

The RCAC has offered to complete the after-action report, risk assessment and emergency response plan at no charge to PID.

The boardmust decidewhether to accept the RCAC offer, which will be using forms provided by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and Department of Homeland Security to evaluate PID’s emergency response or spend $42,850 to hire Constant Associates, Inc.

The staff recommendation is to hire Constant Associates, which will be done by March 2021 — if approved — while RCAC has no timetable for when it might complete its after-action report.

The second item is if trustees will vote to eliminate director health benefits starting Jan. 1. The board discussed it lastmonth and there seemed tobe a consensus for the elimination of the benefit.

The district will also discuss spending $314,609.13 on an equipment replacement purchase. According to the agenda, the district had equipment destroyed during the 2018 Camp Fire, including four backhoes, one loader and one skid steer.

In order to meet the operating needs, the PID has been renting three backhoes consistently at an average rate of approximately $2,100 per month, as well as a trencher on occasion. By buying essential equipment, PID reduce monthly rental costs while still providing staff with the equipment vital to field operations.

Trustees will be asked to buy:

• Peterson CAT

• Caterpillar float tractor $ 97,102.49

• 2Caterpillar backhoes $217,506.64

Following new business, the board will be asked by Tom Lando, interim district manager, to make Rich the temporary assistant district manager.

In doing so, Lando wants to increase Rich’s pay by $371 per payday and cut his the same amount.