Brewster approves surplus of public works vehicles

BREWSTER – The Brewster City Council approved a resolution to surplus nine city vehicles and heard a presentation from guest speaker Joseph Enzensperger of Oroville who has declared his candidacy for Okanogan PUD Commissioner District 3 at its regular monthly meeting last Thursday, Sept, 15.

Enzensperger explained his platform that includes a number of goals, among them:

• Avoid wasteful spending.

• Adopt best learned utility practices.

• Promote community solar.

• Increase high-speed internet.

• Create multiple charging stations.

• Use local contractors where possible.

• Keep rates as low as possible.

Enzensperger’s website is joseph4pud.com, and email jge4pud@gmail.com.

Council approved Resolution No. 2022-11 to surplus the following public works vehicles:    

• 2014 Dodge Charger (blown engine)

• 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe

• 2003 Mack Vactor 2100

• 2002 Ford F150 crew cab

• 1996 IHC dump truck

• 1996 GMC Jimmy

• 1979 tender tanker truck

• Homemade utility trailer

City finance director Misty Ruiz remotely delivered an update on the state and federal audit of city finances. The federal audit is required when the city spends in excess of $750,000 in federal money. Ruiz said the audits will cost the city in excess of $26,000 and the auditors are about 80 hours into the project.

“It is a cost of doing business and we have done millions and millions of dollars in projects,” Ruiz said.

Public works director Lee Webster reported that a well specialist from Butte, Montana, was hired by the city to try his hand at removing turpidity, sand, and silt from the State Way well water.

The contractor employs a device he invented using, among other materials, an old well pressure tank to blow microbursts of air at various depths down the well casing to stabilize the surrounding soil and source of water contaminants. Webster said a day’s worth of work at State Way resulted in a flow of clear water that should now produce 200-300 gallons of water for the $20,000 the city invested in the technology.

“It may not be a great producing well,” said Webster, “but it’s better than zero.”