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RUBA Status Report

Community: Kwigillingok RUBA: Yes
Staff: Ken Berlin Agreement: Yes
DCA Region: Bethel Agreement Date: 5/22/2008
Region: Lower Kuskokwim Exp Date: 5/22/2010
Govt Type(s): Tribal Council
Borough: Unorganized Assessment Date: 12/28/2010
Population: 361
Active Community: Yes Date Updated: 4/3/2013


Community Sanitation Overview: The village council operates the central watering point and washeteria. A new water treatment plant is almost completed but is producting potable water now. Water is derived from snow, ice melt and rain from a new man made lake reservoir and treated. They also have a wastewater lagoon. A new land fill site is being worked on and should be completed soon. About fifty percent of the residents are on the flush haul system, the remainder use honeybuckets. Honeybuckets are disposed by residents at private pits. The school operates its own surface water treatment facility but shares the wastewater lagoon with the washeteria.
RUBA Status and Activities This Quarter: RUBA staff traveled to Kwigillingok on April 9 to 11 and worked with the administrator, bookkeeper, and administrative assistant on budgeting, finance reports, and updating the water and wastewater ordinance. The budgeting work for CY12 was started in November 2011, but was not completed and approved until March 2012. RUBA staff trained and assisted the administrative and finance staff on the budgeting process and how to use the DCRA budgeting manual and formats. Staff used the CY12 budget that was approved by the Kwigillingok IRA Council in March 2012. RUBA staff showed the bookkeeper how to transfer revenues and expenditures to the budgeting manual formats, and went over the financial reports generated through QuickBooks Pro, Profit and Loss, budget vs. actuals. RUBA staff met with the IRA Council President and explained the RUBA report, describing how it affects their community. The RUBA report will be put on the agenda for the next council meeting. The IRA Council has two new water and wastewater ordinance drafts to work on and RUBA staff has copies of both drafts. All of the administrative and finance records of the water and wastewater utility were separated from the Kwigillingok Light Plant records. 10/12/12 RUBA staff attended a TAP meeting on October 11, 2012 with DEC, Kwigillingok administrative and water and wastewater operators to get updates on the water and wastewater system. After the reports were given the following were identified as action items: RUBA to provide TAP group the monthly collection rates for 2012. Water operator to monitor overdue samples week of October 15th and update DEC via phone. DEC to follow up with ANTHC on operator's questions (WST chlorine and onsite training). DEC to follow up with DEC's Operator Certification staff in Juneau on operator's options. 11/08/12 Staff attended a TAP meeting with DEC and the water operator for the Kwigillingok IRA. Staff updated the group with the current RUBA report. Staff informed the group that the September finance report and meeting minutes and a current collection rate was needed from Kwigillingok IRA. The Kwigillingok IRA administrative and finance staff were unavailable due to an emergency meeting ongoing in the community. 12/05/12 Staff participated in a TAP meeting with DEC and Kwigillingok IRA water and wastewater operator. The administrative and finance staff for Kwigillingok IRA were in an emergency meeting and could not attend. After DEC and Kwigillingok IRA water operator made their reports, staff gave an update on the RUBA report. Finance reports need to be updated to October 2012 and a new collection rate for 2012. March 14, 2013 RUBA Staff participated in the Kwigillingok TAP meeting with Kwigillingok IRA Council and DEC staff to get updated information on the water and wastewater project in Kwigillingok. From the RUBA side: a calendar year 2013 budget and finance reports up to November have been completed but the reports need to be reviewed and approved by the Kwigillingok IRA Council.

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.
No 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.
Yes Budget amendments are completed and adopted as necessary.
Finances Comment: The CY13 budget and monthly finance reports are completed according to the bookkeeper but the Kwigillingok IRA Council needs to review and approve them. The utility is current on their electric bills according to the last billing statement. Fuel is bought from a local vendor. The new washeteria is subsidized from general fund accounts, mainly from equipment rental. The flush haul system is subsidized from Kwigillingok Power Company. A new water treatment plant is almost completed and once completed will be conveyed to the Kwigillingok IRA Council. The current flush and haul rates are low and are being reviewed by staff to raise rates to cover operation and maintenance costs. A new business plan is being created for the new water treatment plant and washeteria. A rate study for the flush haul system is being considered for next quarter.

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.
Accounting Systems Comment: Kwigillingok IRA Council has a collection policy, but it needs to be updated. Customers are billed every month. Accounts receivables, accounts payables, payroll system, cash receipts and cash disbursement system are computerized in QuickBooks Pro 2012. The flush haul system is managed by the Kwigillingok IRA Council and the Kwigillingok Power Company is managed by an advisory board. The washeteria is managed by the tribal administrator. A chart of accounts is on file. Accounts are reconciled every month. A purchase order system is in place.

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.
Tax Problems Comment: The IRS confirmed compliance on April 3, 2013. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported that Kwigillingok has filed all required employment security reports up to December 2012. January-February 2013 Lien Watch indicates no liens against the community.

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.
Personnel System Comment: Kwigillingok IRA workers compensation insurance coverage is valid until May 2013 with Alaska National Insurance Company. The Bethel regional office has a copy of the personnel policy, which includes job descriptions. This personnel policy is currently being updated. All staff are evaluated each year. The utilities director emphasized that the operators are on a performance based evaluation and their hours are based on their workload. The utility personnel files are complete and contain I-9s. The personnel policy contains provisions for an employee probation period, which is followed. When training opportunities become available for employees, they are allowed to attend.

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.
Organizational Management Comment: The utility is operated by the Kwigillingok IRA Council. The council meets regularly each month and is active in policy making for the utility. The council complies with the Open Meetings Act for each regular meeting they hold. The meetings are posted three days in advance with written flyers throughout the community. The utility manager has worked for the Kwigillingok IRA Council since 1983. The bookkeeper has been working for the IRA Council since 2004. A new water treatment operator was hired recently and is currently being trained on the job by ANTHC. The water operator is scheduled to go to a water treatment training, in order to acquire certification. The bookkeeper and utility manager attend training sessions when they become available. Utility Ordinance number 2005-10-01 was submitted to the Bethel regional office, as was an organizational chart. These documents are in the community file.

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.
Yes 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.
Yes 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.
Operation of Utility Comment: The Kwigillingok IRA Council operates the new washeteria. Community members use rain water and ice for drinking water. The tribe provides services to empty wastewater tanks and water haul services. The utility operator was recently hired and is being trained on the job. The preventative maintenance plan for the new water treatment plant and the new washeteria is outlined in the operations and maintenance manual. The utility manager does spot checks to the washeteria and verbally receives information on maintenance and other issues which is written and presented to the council at their monthly meetings. The utility manager stated he holds safety meetings once a month but did not submit a written safety manual. The utility has not suffered any major problems or outages due to management issues to date. The utility ordinance states that the primary service shall be to provide water haul service and wastewater tank evacuation of homes. No inventory control or critical spare parts lists were provided, but the ANTHC engineer told administrative staff the new systems will come with both.


RUBA Activities for the Coming Quarter: Staff will continue to work with the utility manager on improving operations and assisting when requested.