Last month it was a dismal report about the Greenville water treatment plant, and this month directors of the Indian Valley Community Services District will hear about proposed water and sewer rate increases, county projects and an easement around the historic Western Pacific Greenville freight depot.

They have a full agenda for their meeting tonight, Wednesday, May 9, in the Greenville Town Hall at 6:30 p.m.

The new water treatment plant cost more than $2.5 million, which was paid for by grants.

“It’s a zero sum gain,” former district manager Leanna Moore reported back in June 2009.

After 18 months of operation, chef water operator Jesse Lawson shut it down and switched over to the wells put in with help from the Greenville Rancheria.

In a March 14 letter to USDA Rural Development, he cited several system failures requiring specialized trade skills an operator would not normally have.

“I believe the membrane system to be a very good system where there is 24-hour manning and staff available to complete the more specialized repairs,” he wrote. “For a small underfunded, undermanned system such as ours, I believe this system to be too complex and expensive to run.”

Besides numerous failures, the maintenance hours and chemical expenses were much higher than with the previous system of sand filters.

The wells require even less, though “electricity costs have rocketed,” he added.

Since the wells required so much less time, Lawson spent his extra time constructing a small hydroelectric project near the plant to help defray those increased electric costs.

“Throwing money at a small community isn’t the only game in town,” Chairwoman Jane Braxton Little said, applauding Lawson and recalling past water troubles at Lake Davis.

Projects and parks

Plumas County Road Department and Community Development officials will give presentations tonight about various local projects, such as streetscape plans, underground utilities, a possible sewer project and replacement of water and sewer lines.

Directors will also form a park committee and possibly approve an easement giving the Tucker family access around the depot building to their property that adjoins the Greenville Community Park.

Barring special meetings, directors of the Indian Valley Community Services District meet regularly the second Wednesday of each month, at 6:30 p.m., on a rotating basis in Greenville, Crescent Mills and Taylorsville.

Agendas, minutes and other information are available online or at the Greenville branch library, located on Highway 89 near the corner of Mill Street.

Recordings of meetings are available on the website, where they are linked from the agenda pages.

For more information, call 284-7224 or visit indianvalleycsd.com.