Modesto Irrigation District to discuss solar plant idea for Oakdale

MODESTO -- Modesto Irrigation District leaders today will weigh whether Oakdale should get special treatment on solar plant rules.

The city wants to explore leasing its sewer plant property to a solar company that would not be eligible for a rebate because the company wouldn't own the project.

Other public utilities have similar ownership terms for incentives, partly to discourage a solar operator from easily pulling out, a report says.

The MID board additionally will meet in closed session to continue the selection process for an interim general manager. The board is interviewing five unidentified internal candidates and could name a successor to former General Manager Allen Short this week.

After November elections, which could seat as many as three new members of the five-member board, the new panel would choose a permanent general manager.

Today's agenda also reveals that 40 nonunion employees are forming a bargaining unit, referred to as the "proposed Modesto Irrigation District Employees Association."

Potential members, until now called "management and confidential" employees, had no seat at the bargaining table leading to a contract approved Dec. 18 for about 250 district workers but received the same terms. Board members are to discuss the fledgling unit behind closed doors.

Also today, the board will consider amending the lease of a cellular telephone company using an MID telecommunications tower at its Parker substation. Verizon Wireless-Air Touch Cellular is "never late on monthly rent" of $1,526, set to increase 20 percent in August, and needs to replace some equipment on the tower, a report says.

The MID provides water to 3,100 agricultural customers irrigating nearly 60,000 acres of almonds, walnuts, peaches and other crops. The utility also provides electric power to more than 113,000 customers and drinking water to residents and businesses in the Modesto area.

Today's board meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the district office, 1231 11th St., Modesto.

On the Net: www.mid.org/about/board/agenda/default.html.