Commissioners approve Beards Cove water-leak credit and hear public‑works updates including pump replacement

Loretta Swanson, Public Works Utilities and Waste Management director, briefed commissioners on a large Beards Cove water leak and requested approval of a customer credit. Swanson said the leak totaled 16,500 cubic feet and that the recommended credit was $1,320; commissioners indicated support during the briefing.

Swanson also told commissioners a pump was installed in well No. 5 last week, restoring redundancy after the second well’s lower production had made reservoir refill slow. She said repair work on distribution lines is scheduled once school is out to avoid traffic impacts, and that staff are meeting with an engineering firm to update the small‑water‑system plan for Beards Cove.

Commissioners discussed whether to give directors more one‑time discretionary authority to approve slightly larger credits (one commissioner suggested raising the director authorization to $1,500 for a single‑occasion exception). Swanson said policy already limits credits and exceptions and that unusual cases still come to the board.

Swanson also relayed a citizen inquiry about preliminary roundabout designs for SR 3 (Cole Road to Arcadia) and said the county is in a preliminary design phase; no construction funding decisions were presented.

Next steps: staff will return any required formal credit paperwork for board action if the board chooses, continue coordination with engineering for the small‑water‑system plan and confirm any change to director authorization thresholds if the commissioners direct it.