IRWD Supports Transparent Government, Files Compensation Report
The Irvine Ranch Water District has submitted compensation information to the California State Controller’s Office Local Government Salary and Compensation Report. This report is designed to enhance government transparency by providing consistent and comparable data for special district public compensation.
“We believe in our customers’ right to expect transparent government and easy access to information,” said IRWD General Manager, Paul Jones.”
The entire report as well as specific IRWD information will soon be available on the California State Controller’s website. To find out more about IRWD and our compensation policies, please visit the IRWD website.
The California State Controller’s compensation report covers elected officials as well as public employees and includes:
- Minimum and maximum salary ranges’
- Actual wages paid
- The applicable retirement formula
- Any contributions by the employer to the employee’s share of pension costs
- Any contributions by the employer to the employee’s deferred compensation plan
- Any employer payments for the employee’s health, vision and dental premium benefits
California cities and counties are required to file similar information.
IRWD Crews Respond to Service Area Flooding
Irvine Ranch Water District crews have responded to a break in a domestic water main in Williams Canyon.
A portion of Williams Canyon Road was washed away during Wednesday's storm event. Approximately 900 feet of an 8-inch water main located within the roadway was destroyed. IRWD crews are planning to install a temporary above-ground bypass to restore water service to Williams Canyon. Because this work cannot begin until storm flows subside and access to Williams Canyon has been restored, we do not yet have an estimate of when this work will be complete.
IRWD staff is working to procure alternative sources of water, including bottled water and water delivery trucks, to assist IRWD customers who do not have water service.
The storm also damaged an 8-inch main break in Modjeska Canyon near Modjeska Canyon Road near Markuson Road. Water service to residents in the Modjeska Canyon area was briefly impacted by this damage. IRWD crews worked quickly to restore service.
IRWD hopes that customers impacted in these areas are safe. Check IRWD's website for updates.
Pedestrian Access Only to Marsh Week of December 27
Contractors will begin work to level out a portion of the driveway access into the Irvine Ranch Water District San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary on December 27. The work is expected to continue for approximately three days.
Access into the Marsh Campus, which includes the Audubon House, Duck Club, Learning Center, Sea and Sage House and the Marsh House Visitors Center, will be limited only to pedestrians while work is taking place. Vehicles may park in the overflow parking lot, which will be unlocked during construction.
IRWD Crews Working in Williams Canyon To Restore Water Service
Irvine Ranch Water District crews and the District's contractor Paulus Engineering were the first ones back in the Canyon area yesterday morning to begin the recovery efforts to restore water service to customers in the Williams Canyon service area.
A temporary road was cut through the lower washed out section of Williams Canyon Road to get in construction equipment. The first bypass has been trenched and is now about 50 percent complete and this section should be complete today, which will allow IRWD to put Williams Reservoir and Pump Station back on-line.
For those customers that remain without water, IRWD staff will be bringing in a 2,000-gallon water truck today, which will be placed as far back in the Canyon as possible. It will act as a terminal reservoir for the system until Benner Reservoir can be put back on-line. These customers will be able to get water from the truck for drinking, sanitation purposes, and animals.
The second bypass is expected to be completed by next week, allowing IRWD crews to put Benner Reservoir back on-line and restore water service to all remaining customers.
IRWD Receives Top Bond Ratings; Helps Keep Customer Rates Low
The Irvine Ranch Water District has received top bond ratings from Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s ratings firms, which allows the District to finance future capital improvement and infrastructure projects at low interest rates. Securing low interest rates for infrastructure projects allows IRWD to continue to provide its customers with high quality, reliable water supplies while keeping rates low and stable.
“We are very pleased with the confidence the rating agencies have indicated in IRWD,” said Debby Cherney, Director of Finance. “As a result, we were able to issue the bonds at historic low interest rates. This benefits our ratepayers by keeping their rates among the lowest in Orange County.”
Standard and Poor’s granted IRWD a AAA long-term rating for its $175 million taxable Build America Bond issue. Moody’s assigned an Aa1 rating to IRWD. Both firms cited IRWD’s strong financial performance and management, characterized by long-term capital planning, as a key component in IRWD securing favorable ratings.
Issuance of the bonds will help to finance a wide variety of projects over the next three years, including improvements to the Michelson Water Recycling Plant, biosolids treatment and disposal, water supply reliability projects, and the Natural Treatment System, which treats urban runoff.
Please visit the Finance section of IRWD website for more information about IRWD’s budget and financial planning.
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