Tried to make this concise while keeping you informed. See below:
- SRP has lifted the suspension that was affecting our neighborhood system. The new schedule should be released this week. This problem was within the Leroy District IWDD, just a bit north of us on Cheery Lynn. We worked with the district, the repair company, and SRP, to ensure this was completed before our next run.
- A second repair on Avalon and 42nd street has also been completed (pic below).
- We are now on the summer schedule receiving irrigation every two weeks!
- Shari’s first two runs did not run water fully through the system, it is possible there are undiscovered system problems – please keep us updated if you notice anything odd. Brett has walked the system today to note visible issues.
- We are new district and have only received a half year of funding. The formation of the IWDD has reduced the future financial burden on our irrigation recipients by ensuring all properties contribute to repairs – including non-irrigated and commercial properties. We recently secured repair funding from the City of Phoenix and SRP of over $12,000 – money that would have otherwise had to be coughed up by residents. Until the end of last year, we had to go door to door to get money for infrastructure, an increasingly difficult proposition in a quickly changing neighborhood.
- As a reminder, our IWDD infrastructure is managed by three neighborhood volunteers, and our system is owned by the neighborhood. Between our directors and the accompanying support of our neighbors, thousands of volunteer hours have been contributed. IRRIGATION IS CHEAP BECAUSE OF THIS FREE VOLUNTEER WORK. Every neighbor that has been paying attention has been kind to recognize that the IWDD is what is keeping our system running. While most understand that neighbors can’t be held liable for the inaction of Shari, select few are demanding a new infrastructure of insurance, legal actions, and liability. This sort of bureaucracy is only sustainable by higher neighborhood tax rates, and it would not guarantee a refund from Shari any faster. We will not assume the irrigators liability.
- Securing refunds is the responsibility of homeowner. We will look for ways for the IWDD to encourage Shari’s refunds to individual residents in a fiscally responsible manner. As a start, the IWDD is compiling a list of the status of refunds to residents, to provide full documentation to SRP. This list, and our accompanying meeting minutes, will be used to (hopefully) progress her refunds. We understand that Shari has not yet provided refunds and that puts some in a tough spot…. We are all in the same spot here.
- If you have not yet paid Brett, plan to self irrigate, or want to stick with Shari’s services, you need to contact SRP to be on the self-irrigator schedule. You will receive your water at a run separate from the rest of the neighborhood (typically prior). As we have previously discussed, Shari’s failure to meet her renewed commitments to the neighborhood at the February 28, among two failed irrigation runs, prompted the Board to remove her as neighborhood irrigator. The neighborhood irrigator does more than just deliver water, they communicate system status to the neighborhood so that we may properly maintain infrastructure.
- We were able to convince Brett to stay on for another year, and hope we can continue with him beyond 2023. We want everyone to receive their water, and Brett’s proven service record has served the neighborhood well. Last years search for a new irrigator from SRP’s list of irrigators only received two interested callbacks from a list of 70. Options are slim. The neighborhood pulling together to increase neighborhood safety will increase these odds.
2023 has been a rocky start. We thank all the residents who have supported us along the way. We are happy to have the repairs complete, and have Brett back!
Your neighbors and IWDD Board,
Jeff, Nathan, and Laura
