sewer

The South Tahoe Public Utility District Board of Directors extended the COVID-19 Rate Relief Program to assist residents and businesses that are facing financial
hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The District’s COVID-19 Rate Relief Program offers a 50% credit up to $3,000 for the next quarterly sewer bill for customers in need.

“We’re extending the rate relief program because our community just entered another phase of restrictions, which could cause economic hardship for our customers,” says Randy Vogelgesang, Board President.

Dear Voters: Everyone knows what goes downhill, but the South Tahoe Public Utility District knows how to recycle it into 381,000 kilowatts of electricity per year. A recent feature article by the Association of California Water Agencies pointed out that STPUD is one of only a handful of utility districts in the entire world that can claim 100% reuse of wastewater and bio solids. Here’s how. We use centrifuges instead of the usual pollution causing burners. That allows us to make fertilizer for ranch land.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are three open seats on the South Tahoe Public Utility Board of Directors this election season, two for a four-year term and one for a two-year term.

South Tahoe Now reached out to the candidates and below are their answers to a set of questions. For the two four-year terms, incumbent Kelly Sheehan is running for reelection, Duane Wallace is running after being appointed to fill Jim Jones's spot on the board until this election, and they are joined by David Peterson.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of the long term and short term projects the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has scheduled for the week around Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra and El Dorado County.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - - The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) continues to work on area highways. The following is their current project list at Lake Tahoe and in the Sierra.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic started,
the South Tahoe Public Utility District Board of Directors approved waiving late fees for water and sewer bills due at the end of June.

“We recognize that some in our community are financially struggling,” says Randy Vogelgesang, Board President. “Waiving late fees for bills due during COVID-19 provides customers some relief.”

Customers with questions or those facing hardships are encouraged to contact the District at (530) 544-6474 to find out about various services and payment options available.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On May 7, 2020, South Lake Tahoe lost a steadfast advocate for safe, clean drinking water and reliable wastewater services. James R. Jones, 77, a local engineer and avid sailor, served on South Tahoe Public Utility District’s Board of Directors for 39 years (1977-1989, 1993-2020). During his tenure on the Board, Director Jones focused on building for the future, instead of 'kicking the can down the road.’

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) will work on projects through the Sierra, as weather permits this winter. There are no major projects going on in the Lake Tahoe Basin until the building season begins in May. The following is their weekly schedule:

Please remember to stay home except for essential needs.
California is under a Stay-at-Home Order and only essential travel is permitted.
~ Avoid travel ~ Stay-at-Home ~ Beat COVID-19 ~
Learn more at covid19.ca.gov
#StayHomeSaveLives

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - At its last meeting, the California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) authorized $912,000 for grants to advance climate change adaptation and improve community sustainability in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The Conservancy Board approved three climate adaptation grants, all funded by Proposition 68:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Most major work by Caltrans on Sierra highways is on winter suspension, but some temporary work can be completed, weather permitting. Here is the week's schedule for Caltrans:

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

U.S. Highway 50 (El Dorado County): Work is winter suspension on a $5.2 million project to upgrade metal beam guardrail and construct concrete barriers at 89 locations from the Red Hawk Undercrossing to 1.9 miles west of the junction with State Route 89 in Meyers. Completion is expected in late spring 2020.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Caltrans will continue roadwork projects in El Dorado County and Lake Tahoe as weather permits. All grading has been completed in the Lake Tahoe Basin until Spring 2020.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

TAHOE CITY, Calif. – A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Monday, December 16 to celebrate the opening of the State Route 89 realignment, including the new Truckee River Bridge in Tahoe City.

Attendee parking will be located at the Tahoe City Transit Center along West Lake Blvd. The public should plan to arrive by 9:45 a.m. to park and walk to the ceremony location, which starts at 10:00 a.m. The bridge will be closed for the event.

TAHOE CITY, Calif. - What many have been waiting for is now open to traffic on the North Shore. The long-anticipated new quarter-mile segment of State Route 89 includes a new 153-foot bridge crossing over the Truckee River, a roundabout on the south end next to the Tahoe City Transit Center and another roundabout on the north end near the Caltrans Maintenance Station, allowing a second entry/exit route for Lake Tahoe’s West Shore.

The new Truckee River Bridge and realignment of SR89 are meant to ease congestion in the Tahoe City area.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's been a long summer of road construction in South Lake Tahoe and it is coming to an end, leaving behind a new Sierra Boulevard and Highway 50 and synchronized lighting on the highway.

Both Caltrans and the City of South Lake Tahoe applied for an extension to the October 15 seasonal grading end and they have through the end of October to finish up their projects.

Paving operations are nearly complete on Sierra Blvd. The contractor, Herback General Engineering, will be performing some corrective paving work through the week.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are about so left of scheduled roadwork around the Lake Tahoe Basin before winter hiatus. Most traffic-interfering work will be limited from 6 a.m. Friday, August 30 through 8 p.m. Tuesday, September 3 for Labor Day weekend. Exceptions may be granted depending on the work and route.

The following are the Caltrans projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin and El Dorado County:

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

The South Tahoe Public Utility District board meeting has been moved to July 3 at 9:00 a.m. since their normally scheduled meeting for the first Thursday of the month fell on the 4th of July.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For the past few months, the South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) has been meeting with staff and the public to discuss rate changes needed to improve the water, sewer and recycled water systems to their customers.

To start the process of raising rates each year for the next five years, STPUD followed a set of rules outlined under Proposition 218, one of which was to send notices to their ratepayers on how much the proposed increase could be.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) is hosting a public meeting on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room at 1275 Meadow Crest Drive to discuss proposed rate increases.

Most of South Lake Tahoe’s water and sewer system was built in the 1950s and 1960s. Much of this infrastructure needs to be upgraded, repaired or replaced.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Customers of the South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) may be looking at an annual increase on their water and sewer bills of 5.0 to 8.5 percent to cover costs of replacing aging infrastructure and enhancing local fire protection.

During last week's budget workshop, STPUD staff showed the Board what a rate increase could provide to their customers:

- Replacement or rehabilitation of 725,354 feet of steel pipe, water mains, wells and tanks
- Extension of the life of assets
- Replacement of 100,000 feet of pipe used for fire protection

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A rate increase for the next five years is being considered by the South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) to fund the replacement, repair or upgrades to the local water and sewer system.

With much of the system building in the 1950s and 1960s, there are problems that need to be addressed to ensure reliable delivery of high-quality drinking water and provide adequate fire flow for our community.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has several road construction projects in the Lake Tahoe area. The following is their list for the week of October 28-November 3, 2018, including alerts on special events in Apple Hill and on SR49.

SPECIAL EVENTS

The following is a Letter to the Editor from South Tahoe Public Utility District Board Member Jim Jones, a candidate for re-election:

To the Community:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Each of the nine candidates for City Council answered the same ten questions that were given to them by South Tahoe Now. For nine consecutive days the candidate's responses will be shared in the order received.

Today, Hal Cole gives his responses as he attempts to return to the South Lake Tahoe City Council:

My name is Nick Exline and I am asking for your vote on November 6th for the South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) Board as I will bring a higher level of commitment, leadership and vision to the STPUD Board.