RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Unlike most sparsely attended Rancho Murieta Community Service District Board meetings, the Aug. 21 meeting drew a crowd of about 50.

The primary reason for the increased attendance was the board’s consideration of will-serve letters to provide water and sewer to 240 lots in two subdivisions already been approved by Sacramento County. (For more details on that discussion, see the separate story in this issue.)

The meeting began with General Manager Mimi Morris presenting a longevity award to Utilities supervisor Ron Greenfield, recognizing his 10 years of service to the district. 

"Your continuous contributions and unwavering support have made a significant impact on our team and our organization as a whole," Morris said.

Board President Tim Maybee also commended Greenfield for his round-the-clock dedication to the district, saying, "Your 24/7 commitment often goes unnoticed but we see it and deeply appreciate it."

In addition to honoring Greenfield, the board discussion touched on a range of issues, including security concerns, an outstanding loan to Rancho Murieta Country Club and a report about repairs to the community's most critical water pipe.

Security 

Director Linda Butler requested an update on security following the general manager's report, which noted the unexpected resignation of Sgt. Mel Outram and the decision of a new hire not to report for duty, leaving the district with only two active patrol officers.

Board President Tim Maybee responded first, explaining that district staff are in the midst of negotiating a new contract with the Rancho Murieta Association regarding patrol services and those negotiations are ongoing.

This prompted Butler to inquire about plans for the vacant security chief position. Maybee, along with Finance Director Mark Matulich, explained that the decision not to replace former Security Chief Kelly Benitez was made during the budget process to allocate funds for a fourth patrol position. Matulich noted that with four patrol officers, including a sergeant, the district would have been just eight hours short of achieving full coverage.

Butler asked if the board could reconsider the security chief position, stating, "I don’t think we are doing well without one." Maybee agreed to place the topic on the agenda for an upcoming board meeting.

Audience member Jay Solomon also voiced concerns about security, questioning the district's recent decision to hire for an Information Technology (IT) position. 

"It seems like security and infrastructure should be our top priority when it comes to our expenses,” Solomon said.

In response, Maybee addressed three key points regarding the current security situation. First, he noted the grand jury's recommendation that the district use only Measure J taxes to fund security. Second, Maybee referenced the 2021 rejection of a proposed rate increase, which likely cost the district about $1 million in potential funding. Third, Maybee highlighted that Measure R, which would have fully funded security operations, was also rejected by voters.

Director Steve Booth clarified that the grand jury report was advisory, not a mandate. Booth also expressed his opinion that both the proposed rate increase and Measure R were premature, citing "inadequate financial records and accountability that preceded this board."

In previous board meetings, Booth had indicated his satisfaction with the efforts of General Manager Morris, Finance Director Matulich and other staff members in working to get the district back on track financially.

Country Club Loan

Audience member Richard Gehrs expressed concern to the board about a loan that the district made to the Rancho Murieta Country Club, which is reportedly on the verge of bankruptcy. Gehrs asked what steps the district is taking to ensure the loan is repaid.

Morris said the country club has been consistently making payments and Matulich reported that the club still owes $45,000 with the loan term ending in June 2026.

Gehrs said he had read the agreement. 

“The loan specifically says if they declare bankruptcy, they are in default, and we can demand payment,” Gehrs said. “If they don’t pay, we can cut off the water.”

District counsel Patrick Enright told the board he would review the loan agreement.

The loan dates back to 2021 when the board voted to loan the Rancho Murieta Country Club $115,816, drawing the funds from sewer reserves. The loan was intended for emergency repairs and upgrades to the Bass Lake Pump Station, which is critical for irrigating the north golf course with reclaimed water from the district.

During the original discussion, it was noted that if the pump station failed, it would impact both the country club, which would lose its ability to irrigate, and the district, which would be unable to dispose of its reclaimed water. This was a significant concern, as a similar issue occurred in 2006 when the state fined the district after reclaimed water from Bass Lake spilled into the Cosumnes River.

Broken Pipe

Interim Operations Manager Travis Bohannon provided an update on the repair of the 2½-mile water line, which has been in place for about 50 years and conveys raw water from the Cosumnes River to Calero Reservoir.

The issue was first discovered on June 20 by resident Roger Brandt, who noticed water leaking through a concrete slab in the Clementia Dam spillway. A subsequent investigation revealed that the likely cause was a break in the 33-inch raw water line beneath the concrete. By Aug. 1, TNT Industrial Contractors had exposed the water line and used a camera to inspect it from a nearby manhole. Further digging led workers to the exact location of the pipe break.

Bohannon explained that the repair couldn't use the same type of pipe because it would take a year to acquire. Instead, they opted to replace the 10-foot damaged section with a 36-inch wide pipe, using flanges to connect the different-sized pipes. Bohannon anticipated the work would be completed by Sept. 13.

Butler asked if the rest of the pipe could be inspected with cameras. Bohannon responded that it wasn’t feasible because there is only one other inspection manhole near Clementia and Bass Lake and the camera could only travel about 45 feet in either direction, limiting the ability to inspect the entire line.

Butler told Bohannon that his report wasn’t very reassuring. 

“If we can’t pump from the river, we are done,” she said.

Butler said that the issue should be addressed as an emergency.  

“My take on this particular topic is that we need to find some money to figure out how fast we can fix that pipe and make it new,” Butler said. 

In Other Business:

Audience member Janis Eckard raised concerns about a Public Records Act request she made at the July board meeting. While the district did provide some documents, Eckard said, her key question remained unanswered: how drought conservation measures were determined in the Integrated Master Water Plan, which has yet to be finalized. Eckard also said that she was challenging nearly every aspect of the study.

The board approved a new contract with Domenichelli & Associates for engineering services. Only one other firm submitted a bid when the district recently put out a request for proposals. 

Bohannon reported that utility employees had been dealing with “leak after leak after leak.” Fortunately, all of the leaks have been in service lines and not water mains.

Bohannon reported that some residents had issues with the taste and odor of their water, which he attributed to high temperatures. In response, staff treated the water at Plant 2 with activated carbon and flushed nearby lines. Bohannon said that resolved the problem.

Audience member John Merchant, a former district board member who will be returning in December, reported that he and Save Our Lakes and Open Spaces (SOLOS) had obtained 1,400 signatures on a petition demanding the board declare a moratorium on development.

Morris apologized for her absence from the July board meeting, explaining that her vision was impaired due to eye surgery she had undergone the week before. Morris also mentioned that Matulich was unable to attend as well, as she had approved his family reunion trip when he was hired.

Morris formally introduced Andy Lee, the new district’s IT manager, who began work in April. She said that Lee was well-equipped to handle the district’s IT issues.

Morris thanked Matulich and Bohannon for taking on extra work created by the resignations of Operations Manager Micheal Fritschi and Security Supervisor Kelly Benitez.

The board unanimously voted 5-0 to direct Butler to vote in favor of an agreement to build an 8-foot dirt trail in a section of the Residences subdivision. Butler serves as the district’s representative on the five-member Parks Committee. (For more details, refer to the Rancho Murieta Association meeting story in this issue.)

The board will hold its next meeting at 5 p.m. Sept. 18.