John Grivich, head of the Arcadia Water Department for the past 26 years retired June 7. He is proud of the quality of Arcadia's water, its low rates, good equipment and the stable number of Department employees.
The five year Capital Improvements program will be reviewed by the City Council on March 16. The total dollar amount reflects a major reduction over previous years. Specifics are outlined.
Describes a new telemetering system that permits the most efficient service to customers while keeping costly personnel at a minimum, especially on weekends. It is a sophisticated complex - a centralized watchdog over Arcadia's water system.
Beginning October 1, Arcadians will pay more for their water. The increase will be in two steps. The first will be an increase of 6% per 100 cubic feet. The second will be dependent on possible increases in the Edison rates for pumping.
A summary report of the Water Department operation for 1974 shows that the Department made a "profit" of $300,000. Water usage was 4.56 billion gallons. Also describes Arcadia's three natural underground water basins.
Grace Clark has retired after more than 21 years with the Arcadia Public Library. She was City Librarian for a number of years and has been head of the Technical Services Department for the past 15 years.
Robert Berlien, who has been head of the Glendora Municipal Water Department for 9 years, has been named Water Manager for Arcadia, replacing John Grivich, who retired in June.
Water rates in Arcadia will be lowered by $.04 per 100 cu Ft effective July 1, 1979. The burden of the water tax, now split 50% each by the city and property owners, will fall 100% on property owners. However, the increased property tax is tax deductible.
Arcadia City Council must decide how to pay the Metropolitan Water District taxes for 1979-80. Currently the city pays 50% and the property owners pay 50%.
Arcadia has received a domestic water permit from the State. In 1973 the California State Health Department inspected Arcadia's system along with 240 other systems in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and only 15 systems received permits.
Because of California's intense two year drought, water rates will need to go up to cover the costs of getting outside water. Also, pumping costs are greater due to soaring energy costs.
The first reading of a water conservation ordinance was undertaken at the City Council meeting June 8. Five phases of the measure are given. Water rates will increase $.06 per 100 cubic feet as of August 1.
Robert Berlien, the new Water Department Manager, is a native if Indiana. He says that the assumption of his duties has been fairly easy because of the fine job done by retrying manager John Grivich. One of the problems facing ALL Water Departments is the availability of electrical power to run the pumps.
Annexation by Arcadia of the unincorporated area in the northern part of the city (of which Anoakia is the largest piece) is closer to reality than at anytime in the past.
Senior citizens and handicapped persons will pay less for Arcadia's Dial-A-Ride. The reduction is possible because of a grant from the federal Urban Mass Transit Administration.
After months of work, 25 Arcadia Rotarians, Rotaryanns and friends formed a Christmas caravan, carrying more than 350 gifts and better than 800 pounds of food, clothing and shoes to 227 orphans in Tijuana, Mexico.