DIXON, CA (MPG) – Councilmember Tom Bogue shut down a resolution to seek bids for a new city water system. 

On Aug. 20, City Attorney Douglas White said since officials met last, the city has gone through the Proposition 218 process, and the new water rates are being implemented and put in place.

"In terms of going out and finding out what entities might be interested in operating our water system and what the value of that might be to the city in general," White said, bringing attention to the Rate For Proposal (RFP) in front of them. 

According to the city attorney, the unbinding RFP is a means to attain information from companies on "what they would do and how they would operate to begin a discussion."

But there would be no discussion, according to Councilman Tom Bogue. 

"Does the city even have the authority to sell this water district without the approval of the ratepayers,"  Bogue asked.

Said White, explaining it cannot go to vote unless the council approves, "No, this would just be the process of getting proposals. The vote would be the essential sale of a water system."

Bogue posed a question for consideration: since the 218 process passed was a minimal challenge and rates went through, why would we actually be considering selling that water system? 

"That's a real question because it is going to take time for that district to raise the money to start doing actual repairs to it," Bogue said. "Do we really want to continue going through this, draining that fund more than it is now?"

Now that the rates are in place, Bogue said officials have no business selling the system, calling it "pointless to continue spending money and time on this."  

White did not see it that way, saying he sees "no reason we should not be exploring all possibilities."

White's opinion became mute when Bogue denied the resolution altogether, with council members agreeing with their peers. 

With no public comment, which was the opposite of the last meeting regarding the water rates, officials shut the matter down before addressing Valley Glen. What Vice-Mayor Kevin Johnson called a repeat problem is costing the city hundreds of thousands to fix again.

In May, Johnson and other officials were told the well installed in 2003 needed to meet its 80- to 100-year guarantee, costing the City of Dixon more than a quarter of a million dollars to fix. 

Since Johnson said he "doesn't feel right" about spending more money on the well in May, city officials passed a controversial water rate increase, causing a public protest at a July 16 council meeting. 

At the podium again, Dixon's Water Distribution Division Operations Maintenance Supervisor Josh Hudson told officials the fix would cost more than $500,000 from reserves, including the $456,000 in Valley Glen well repairs that come with a $12,000 inspection and a $70,000 contingency fee. 

Johnson was not present at the Aug. 20 meeting; however, officials heard Hudson say, "I know most of you are familiar with the ongoing woes we have been having at the Valley Glen facility."

However, time is of the essence, according to Hudson, who said emergency repair must occur.

"We must get it back online and up and running," Hudson said. "We are very vulnerable right now."

Hudson offered a brief and costly background beginning in 2022 when issues began to rise. Though planning to address the problem by repair or replacement to no avail, Hudson said as the project continued, it was realized some of the system's older parts would not comply with newer adjustments. 

Bottom line: immediate repair needed.

Officials must act now while the other three water districts are running "hard" with the Valley Glen well pump down. 

"If we were to lose another site, there is a pretty good possibility we would buy water from Cal Water," Hudson said. 

Mayor Bird and the council unanimously passed the immediate improvements.