The PINECONE REVIEW

Spring 2005

News and Views from Pine Forest

Annual Membership Meeting

Coming up soon, on May 28th at 3PM is our Annual Membership Meeting, scheduled at Sun Mtn Lodge. At this meeting we will present for membership approval, our Water System Budget, and will elect members to our Board of Directors. This year, two current members are up for possible re-election and another person has indicated interest in serving on the Board. We also welcome any nominations from the floor during the meeting for consideration and will vote on all the candidates. In addition, there will be short presentations of various projects in the work surrounding Pine Forest, and we certainly hope that as many as possible of you attend this meeting. It generally does not take too much time out of your vacation schedule, so we encourage all to attend.

Board Member Candidates Personal statements:

Lynn Lewicki – incumbent
“I have had the privilege and pleasure to serve on the Pine Forest Board for several years. Although I have been involved in discussion and decision making for many issues, I have been most actively involved with the Forest Stewardship program since the mid-90s, including oversight of the Forest Stewardship Plan's development, the forestry project (thinning) along with consulting forester Arne Arneson and Pine Forest manager Charlie Segale, and $110,000 in state and federal grants. The next step in the Program is review of forestry work to date and development of a long-term forest management plan. I would like to continue to serve Pine Forest as a Board member and remain involved in planning efforts to maintain our forest in a healthy condition.”

Robert Steiner – incumbent
“My wife, Kim Leatham, and I have owned property in Pine Forest since 1996, and I've served as a member of the Pine Forest Board for 2 years (since 2003). I would welcome the opportunity to continue service on the Board for an additional term and offer myself as a candidate. I have a strong interest in two areas that are of importance to the homeowners' association.  First, I would like to assist our ongoing efforts to reduce the fire hazard in Pine Forest. I will work with Lynn Lewicki (a current Board member) and our forestry consultant, Arnie Arneson, to continue our forestry stewardship practices and efforts at fuel reduction in Pine Forest. I will also help make additional applications for grants from State and Federal agencies that support initiatives to reduce the risk of catastrophic forest fires. Second, I will continue to act as a liaison for the Board to the attorneys who provide legal counsel on various matters to the Pine Forest Board- including protection of our water rights, resources, property values, and quality of life. I also support the Board's position to be proactive to improve the water system and other aspects of the infrastructure in Pine Forest, through the wise use of our dues and low interest loan- following the axiom that a stitch in time saves nine.”

Larry Harris – by personal interest
“When it was suggested to me that I consider running for a seat on the board, I was honored. Prior and current board members have been hard working, and practical, and have major accomplishments to their credit. I am generally in accord with the direction Pine Forest is going. I have definite ideas as to the kind of place Pine Forest should be, and these ideas are consistent with the letter and spirit of the covenants. Otherwise, my primary concerns are maximizing the natural beauty and tranquility of Pine Forest, keeping the cost of Pine Forest living affordable, and working toward a community of trust, cooperation and friendship.”

Doug Wolfe – by personal interest
“My name is Doug Wolfe, and I am running for a seat on the Pine Forest Board of Directors.  My family and I have been full time residents of Pine Forest for the past seven years.  As a Professional Land Surveyor I believe that I have knowledge and experience of land issues that could be beneficial to the Pine Forest Board.  If elected, I would like to see the Board move forward with efforts to maintain its fiduciary responsibilities to the property owners of Pine Forest.  I would also encourage continued efforts by the Board to improve the transparency of their plans and actions in order to assure that all Association Members are aware of not only current actions, but also potential future actions as well.  I believe that it is the responsibility of the Board Members to represent the property owners and not just their own interests, and, as a Board Member, I would work hard to do just that.”

Pine Forest Water Quality Report

(Note: the following document is a requirement from the State of Washington Dept of Health, and is on record as of this date)

The congressional re-authorization of the Safe Water Drinking Act requires water utilities to provide Consumer Confidence Reports to its customers. This information will help you make informed choices about the water you drink and gives Pine Forest Water System an opportunity to communicate with it’s customers about the water they provide.
Pine Forest is classified as a “Group A” system and the tests which are required for this classification are Coliforms, Lead and Copper, Nitrates, Inorganic Chemicals, Volatile Organic Chemicals, and Synthetic Organic Chemicals.
Pine Forest draws water from two sources. The main wells are located in the N.E. corner of Pine Forest. These wells average 42’ in depth and pump an average of 20 gallons per minute. The other well is located in South Central Pine Forest on what was previously Lot 148. It is 54’ in depth and pumps 13 gallons per minute.
The Coliform Bacteria Test is done monthly, while the other tests are taken at three, six and nine year intervals. Pine Forest was re-classified to a Full Time “Group A” system in 2004, so we have performed all of these tests in 2004. If you have any questions or concerns, please come to any Pine Forest meeting, the next being May 28th at 3:00 PM at Sun Mtn. Lodge.

Coliform Bacteria
Microorganism found in the feces of all warm blooded animals including humans. In water, the organism can also be present. Pine Forest tests for Coliform monthly and if an unsatisfactory sample is collected, four repeat samples for the month are required. Out of the 15 samples taken so far we have had 2 positive tests. These were in the upper part of the system near lot 112. Some work was being done on pipes in the area and so the system was sanitized and the problems were corrected.

Lead and Copper
Consumption of Lead or Copper is probably more harmful to children than adults. However, it depends on the doses which are consumed. The most likely source for Lead and copper in our water system comes from individual home plumbing, especially in homes built more than 5 years ago, wherein it was common to use Lead solder. Even today, copper tubing is commonly used in home plumbing setups. Our system test was taken 12-06-04 and the results were satisfactory.

Nitrates
Most Nitrates are added to the soil as fertilizer. While it may be good for the soil, they are not good in your water. Infants below the age of six months, who drink water containing Nitrate in excess of the MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) can become seriously ill and if they are not treated, may die. Usually it is only shallow wells that have Nitrate problems, and these are attributed to nearby fertilization. Our last test was conducted on 9-07-04 and the results were satisfactory.

Inorganic Chemicals
Any chemical compound not classified as Organic. Composed of matter that is neither animal of vegetable. Not having the organized structure of living things. Most inorganic compounds do not contain carbon and are derived from Mineral sources. Our last required test was 9-08-04 and the results were satisfactory.

Volatile Chemicals
These are manufactured carbon based chemicals that vaporize quickly at standard pressure and temperature. Our last required test was 09-08-04 and the results were satisfactory.

Synthetic Organic Chemicals
These are manufactured carbon-based chemicals. Our tests came back N.D. which means that no compounds were detected. Our last test was 11-09-04.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small mounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the E.P.A.’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immune-compromised persons with cancer and undergoing chemo-therapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders; some elderly people and infants, can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.
Thank you,
Charles Segale
Water System Manager

Water Budget and Water system improvements

Enclosed is a copy of our proposed water system budget for 2005-2006. If you have any questions about the budget, you may bring these up at the meeting on May 28th or in writing to Charlie Segale charliesegale@pine-forest.org

At long last, our Water System Improvement Loan application has cleared and we are eligible for well over $400,000 in low-interest loan funds from the State Revolving Fund. This money will be used to upgrade and totally revamp most of the Pine Forest water storage and delivery system, and will include the installation of water meters on all homes built before last year, or that do not otherwise have meters already installed. These meters are a part of the requirements for the loan and will do three things for our system. Consider that we have a FINITE amount of water available to us, thru our water right granted in 1975. That finite amount is sufficient to serve all the homes that have been projected on all the lots in Pine Forest. However, when our system was first built nearly thirty years ago, it was done with inexpensive materials which have caused us considerable expense to replace over the years. We will now be able to locate and stop most if not all the leaks the system experiences, improve our storage system and be able to deliver water more reliably. The leaks impair our ability to use the allotted water for our personal benefit, and this factor becomes more of a concern as we face the consequences of the on-going drought of recent years.
Water meters can therefore provide us with the following information:

  1. We can determine what each of us is using over time which we will share with the homeowner.
  2. It will help us determine what average usage ought to be, and what changes might need to be made to our life style that might contribute to water conservation.
  3. It will provide us the needed information to curb potential leaking problems in our domestic system. Note that most of the problems in the past have been found in our personal connections and home delivery system.
Therefore, we will be charging back to the homeowners who do not have meters currently, a charge for installation of those meters. They will be required of every home. We expect the price to be about $1000. We will strive to make the payment terms as easy as possible to meet. For those homeowners affected, you can expect to see those invoices over the course of the next 4-6 months, as installation is accomplished.

Fire Evacuation Routes

As requested at a previous meeting, we expect to have an Evacuation Plan in place by the May meeting. In any case, we will mail one to every member.

Fire Management Plan

As reported by Lynn Lewicki, we are still waiting at this date for the funds for 2005 to be finally approved and allocated. The total amount is around $115,000. When that approval comes (and we are anticipating it will come soon), work will begin in the Fall on areas that have been identified.
For the future, we will be required to present for approval by the Forest Service, an on-going Fire Management Plan, before any more funds can be allocated. We are in discussion about this and our hope is to have our plan in place for approval by Fall, so that we can become eligible for funds for the 2007 season. We will be talking about this more so stay tuned.

Weed Control

We would like to thank those who have already contacted Charlie Segale, our manager, about weed control on your property. If you have not yet responded to him, feel free at any time to let him know your interest in controlling weeds. His number is 509-996-3685.

We hope to see as many of you as can attend our Annual Spring Owners Meeting;
Saturday, May 28
3PM
Sun Mtn. Lodge

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