Idaho Board of Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals
Bureau of Occupational Licenses
1109 Main Street, Suite 220
Boise, Idaho  83702-5642

Minutes of October 7. 2004

The Idaho Board of Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals Board meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, October 7, 2004 at the Bureau of Occupational Licenses, Owyhee Plaza, 1109 main Street, Suite 220, Boise, Idaho.

Roll Call:                                  Bill Thompson – Chair

                                                Kevin Pfenning – Vice-Chair

                                                Barry Brunell, for Toni Hardesty

                                                Victor Coles

                                                Robert Hansen

                                                Mike Schroeder

Absent Board Member:        Ross Spackman

 Bureau Staff:                        Rayola Jacobsen, Bureau Chief

                                                Sandee Hitesman, Office Specialist II

                                                Patti Fanckboner, Office Specialist II

Others:                                   Nancy Bowser, Department of Environmental Quality

                                                Lance Nielsen, Department of Environmental Quality

Motion by Victor Coles that the minutes of August 25, 2004 Board meeting be approved.  Seconded by Mike Schroeder and carried .

Rayola Jacobsen presented the Board with the Legislative Report in detail with discussion.

Rayola Jacobsen presented the Board with the Financial Report. Motion by Victor Coles to accept the financial statement.  Seconded by Robert Hansen and carried .

Rayola Jacobsen presented the Board with the Investigative Report. There are no complaints to date.

Sandee Hitesman presented the Board with a continuing education report. The Bureau would like to phase in the continuing education process from DEQ to IBOL as of November 1, 2004. Beginning November 1, 2004 a sixty (60) day deadline prior to the seminar date will be in effect per Board rule. Clarifications will be placed on the web along with an application for approval. DEQ will send notification to the approved providers to introduce Sandee Hitesman to them as CEU Coordinator. Motion by Barry Burnell to direct the Bureau to follow the approved Idaho Drinking Water Operators Certification Program within EPA guidelines and changes are to be submitted to the EPA for approval.  Seconded by Victor Coles and carried .

The Board scheduled exam dates and application deadline dates for 2005, and into 2006.

Those approved dates are as follows:

Exam Dates:                                      March 16, 2005

                                                            July 13, 2005

                                                            November 9, 2005

                                                            March 8, 2006

Application Deadline Dates:            January 7, 2005

                                                            May 11, 2005

                                                            September 7, 2005

                                                            January 4, 2006

Board Meetings were scheduled as follows:

                                                            February 11, 2005

                                                            June 8, 2005

                                                            October 5, 2005

                                                            February 1, 2006

Motion by Kevin Pfenning to approve exam dates, application deadline dates, and Board meetings for 2005 and into 2006.  Seconded by Robert Hansen and carried .

The Board discussed the operator in training program when a classification of a system changes from a lower class to a higher class. In some cases the operator in training is asked to be the responsible charge operator for a class higher system, which would require a rule change. The system by rule has to have an operator who is the same classification as the system. If the current operator does not have the same license classification as the system, then the system may have to hire or contract a licensed qualified operator that is capable of properly operating the entire plant. Facilities that are planning upgrades should encourage their operators to take exams for upgrade.

Education requirements were discussed by the Board in regards to telephone calls received by Board Members from licensees. It was decided that information through these calls should be discussed with the entire Board at the regular meetings, and the licensees should be encouraged to call the Bureau for information or to be placed on the agenda. Facility questions should be directed to DEQ.

Motion by Kevin Pfenning for the Bureau to make business cards for the Board Members with the Bureau address, telephone number, fax number, email address, and website for distribution.  Seconded by Victor Coles and carried .

Bill Thompson met with the back flow assembly instructors to discuss the exam process. It was determined that the exam is to stay status-quo at this time. At a future date, the Board will issue a questionnaire to the licensed back flow assembly testers in the State to develop a series of exams for issuance of licenses. Also, there will be research on developing a nation-wide exam. Mr. Thompson will research the surrounding states to obtain information on their exam process. Discussion was then presented regarding back flow assembly instructors and whether there should be a separate license for instructors. This item will be placed on a future agenda.

Nancy Bowser would like the Board to place on a future agenda item the discussion of lagoon operator classification to match system classification. Mrs. Bowser will bring a form to the Board at the next meeting.

Kevin Pfenning presented the Board with a discussion of a continuance of the Joe Koon award, which is an annual award for Wastewater and Drinking Water Professionals for outstanding achievement. Motion by Kevin Pfenning for the Board to present 5 awards per year.  Seconded by Victor Cole and carried .

The Board reviewed one hundred sixty eight (168) applications: one hundred and fifty-five (155) applications were accepted for examination. Thirteen (13) applications were denied.

Motion by Mike Schroeder to schedule the next Board meeting for November 17, 2004.  Seconded by Robert Hansen and carried.

Motion by Kevin Pfenning to adjourn, the time being 5:00 p.m.. Seconded by Mike Schroeder and carried.

Last Modified - April 27, 2006