PUD names new officers for 2006

EPHRATA — At the first regular meeting of 2006, the Grant County Public Utility District's board of commissioners named a new slate of officers.

On Tuesday, Commissioner Randy Allred moved up to president from vice-president in the annual rotation. Allred was elected to the commission in 2002. He is a 40-year resident of Grant County and currently serves on the Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District board of directors.

Commissioner Greg Hansen became vice-president in the rotation. He was first elected to the board in the fall of 2004. Hansen has lived in Grant County for the past 60 years and is retired from a real estate and insurance career. His District No. 2 position includes Moses Lake.

Commissioner Tom Flint was made secretary and Commissioner Vera Claussen was elected assistant secretary.

In other business, the commissioners agreed to a three-year payment option for the Washington PUD Association's new office building construction project in Olympia. The district would not be charged interest during the approved three-year payment schedule.

PUD attorney Ray Foianini described the building project's current lack of documentation as troubling and advised district participation be both subject to and contingent upon legal review of documents relating to the project.

Total costs and project plans were not provided by the association and have not been reviewed by Foianini.

Commissioner Hansen voted against the building project payment option. He believes the association doesn't adequately represent the hydroelectric power interests of Grant County PUD which along with four other hydropower focused PUDs pay more than 50 percent of the association's membership dues.

"We agree to a payment plan and it's going to be business as usual," said Hansen.

The association required the PUDs to make a decision on a payment option by Jan. 9, but it was unclear to Grant County PUD officials why.