ARBUCKLE, CA (MPG) – The Arbuckle Public Utility District will hold a community meeting Thursday, Jan. 29, to update residents on the state of the district and discuss recent and ongoing infrastructure challenges.
The special board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Pierce High School multipurpose room, 960 Wildwood Road. District officials will give a presentation followed by a town hall-style discussion and public questions.
APUD Manager Gary Felkins said the meeting is intended to provide transparency on the district’s wastewater and water systems, recent operational issues and plans moving forward.
District officials will address ongoing problems at the wastewater treatment ponds, which date back to 1954 and 1984. Felkins said aging infrastructure, rising flows and limited storage capacity have placed the district in a difficult position as it works to remain in compliance with state regulations.
The meeting will also cover recent discussions with Colusa County supervisors Merced Corona and Kent Boes, along with U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, who toured the facility earlier this month. Felkins said the visit focused on potential funding options and state or federal assistance to help stabilize the district and avoid costly emergency measures.
If long-term solutions are not secured, Felkins said the district may be forced to resume hauling wastewater out of town, an option that could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per month and require borrowing funds.
APUD officials will also address customer concerns following a recent precautionary boil water notice issued after a power outage caused water pressure to drop below required levels. Felkins said the notice was required by state rules and did not indicate contaminated water.
“The water was never unsafe,” Felkins said. “The notice was issued as a precaution.”
Future rate increases will also be discussed. Felkins said rising operational costs and needed repairs make increases unavoidable, particularly for sewer service. He said the district plans additional public meetings before any formal action, including a Prop. 218 process.
Felkins encouraged residents to attend the meeting, ask questions and learn more about the challenges facing the utility district. He also urged customers to sign up for district alerts through the APUD website https://arbucklepud.org to receive notices about outages, boil water advisories and other service updates.
“This is about keeping people informed and explaining what we’re dealing with,” Felkins said. “We want the community involved.”
Know and Go: APUD Community Meeting, Thursday, Jan. 29, 6:30 PM, Pierce High School multipurpose room, 960 Wildwood Rd., Arbuckle.