RURAL WATER NEWS
January, 2013 - Vol 8, Issue 1 |
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Staff |
Eric Volk, Executive Director
Lisa Schatz, Finance Manager
Kathy Berg, Admin. Assistant
Chuck Mischel, Op Cert Program
Mike Ritteman, Circuit Rider-East
Tom Sieg, Circuit Rider-West Les Sigette, Wastewater Tech
Rod Stroh, Drought Mgmt Specialist
Andy McDonald, Training Specialist |
Executive Board |
Keith Nilson, President Michele Schommer, Vice President LaVonne Althoff, Secretary Joe LaFave, Treasurer Jon Nelson, Director at Large John Bearman, National Rep.
Geneva Kaiser, Managers Rep.
Gordon Blixt, Past President |
Contact Us |
NDRWSA
2718 Gateway Ave. #201
Bismarck, ND 58503
Phone: 1-800-349-6951
Fax: 701-258-5002
ndrw@ndrw.org
www.ndrw.org |
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Mission |
The mission of the North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association is to educate, support, and lead its members in providing quality service to their customers.
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27th Annual Water EXPO & Conference |
The North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association invites you to be a part of our 27th Annual Water EXPO and Conference. It will be held February 12-14, 2013 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck.
Tuesday, February 12
EXPO 2013 will once again feature a Pre-Conference Tour for our attendees. The National Energy Center of Excellence at Bismarck State College will be the feature of this year's tour.
The official Opening Ceremony will begin at 1:30 PM, followed by the Exhibit Hall Opening, Meter Assembly Competition Preliminary Round, and concluding with the Legislative Reception and Exhibitor Appreciation Social.
Wednesday, February 13
The second day of EXPO 2013 begins with informative Exhibit Hall Demonstrations and a thrilling final round of our Meter Assembly Competition. The Exhibit Hall Prize Drawing will wrap up the vendor portion of the EXPO at 11:30 AM.
The afternoon session kicks off with simultaneous Operation & Maintenance Tracks, a Board/ Management Development Track, and a Rural Development Track.
The evening begins at 5:30 PM with a Social Hour immediately followed by the Awards Banquet. Our banquet features our Annual Awards Ceremony, Corporate Elite & Diamond Sponsor Recognition, 2013 Water Taste Contest Finals, and the Fifth Annual Patrick Denne "Live" Scholarship Auction.
Thursday, February 14
The final day of EXPO 2013 will include an Operation & Maintenance Track, SRF Track, Defensive Driving Course, and the Closing Session and Grand Prize Drawing.
Visit our website for additional EXPO information and registration |
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Nonprofit Day at the Capitol |
Come join the North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations (NDANO) and fellow nonprofit leaders at the State Capitol in Bismarck on February 4, 2013. Nonprofit Day at the Capitol was established to highlight the diversity and vibrancy of North Dakota's nonprofit sector. This event is free but registration is required. Additional information and registration can be found by following the link below.
Click here to view agenda and register |
Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) |
Believe it or not, that time of year is rapidly approaching; time for you to begin gathering information for your annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Water systems that supply water to other systems should provide consecutive users with all relevant information by April 1, 2013. The 2012 CCR must be delivered or made available to customers and a copy forwarded to the NDDOH by July 1, 2013. Contact NDRWSA for free assistance in the completion of the CCR.
EPA is in the process of modifying the delivery methods for CCRs. A webinar will take place January 17, 2013 from 1:00-3:00 PM, to discuss these upcoming changes. The objective of this webinar is to explain the CCR electronic delivery framework outlined in the CCR Delivery Options memorandum (soon to be released). Panelists will discuss electronic delivery methods and approaches appropriate to meet CCR Rule requirements to "mail or otherwise directly deliver" the CCR to customers. The webinar is intended for community water systems, state and federal drinking water regulators and other interested parties. The webinar will also provide an opportunity for attendees to ask questions of the EPA representatives regarding delivery requirements.
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Operator Certification Training |
The date, time, and location of the Operator Certification Exam Training sessions are provided below. Coffee, donuts, and lunch will be provided on site. Attendees need to bring a calculator as there will be a significant amount of math problems covered during the training sessions. Operators in attendance will receive 4 CEUs. Registration can be completed by following the links provided below. Attendees can also register on site, between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM prior to the start of each session.
February 19, 2013 - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM MDT
Memorial Hall
925 Main St
New England, ND
February 20, 2013 - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM CDT
Mountrail County South Complex
8103 61st St NW
Stanley, ND
February 21, 2013 - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM CDT
Dakota Farms
308 Hwy 2 E
Rugby, ND
February 26, 2013 - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM CDT
City Hall
514 Briggs Ave
Park River, ND
February 27, 2013 - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM CDT
Veterans Memorial Auditorium
702 First St N
Casselton, ND
February 28, 2013 - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM CDT
City Administration Building
74 Santee Rd
Lincoln, ND
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Literary Corner: Drinking Water: A History |
When you turn on the tap or twist the cap, you might not give a second thought to where your drinking water comes from. But how it gets from the ground to your glass is far more complex than you might think. Is it safe to drink tap water? Should you feel guilty buying bottled water? Is your water vulnerable to terrorist attacks? With springs running dry and reservoirs emptying, where is your water going to come from in the future?
In Drinking Water, Duke professor James Salzman shows how drinking water highlights the most pressing issues of our time-from globalization and social justice to terrorism and climate change-and how humans have been wrestling with these problems for centuries.
Bloody conflicts over control of water sources stretch as far back as the Bible yet are featured in front page headlines even today. Only fifty years ago, selling bottled water sounded as ludicrous as selling bottled air. Salzman weaves all of these issues together to show just how complex a simple glass of water can be.
Drinking Water: A History can be found at your local book store if you are interested in purchasing a copy. |
Financial Corner: 2013 Updates |
As the calendar turns over to another year, once again there are a number of changes that will effect your 2013 finances.
On January 2, 2013, President Obama signed into law the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. As a result, federal income tax rates that have been in effect since 2001 have become permanent and a new 39.6% rate has been added for individuals with taxable income over $400,000 ($450,000 for married couples). The new law does not prevent the employee social security tax rate from returning to 6.2% for all wages paid in 2013, and that rate should be used as soon as possible. The IRS has issued revised withholding tables for 2013 based on the new law. A version based on the pre-2001 tax rates was issued on December 31, but those tables had to be revised now that the 2012 rates are being extended.
The IRS has announced that the business standard mileage rate for 2013 will increase by 1 cent to 56.5 cents per mile. The rate for moving and medical purposes will also increase by 1 cent to 24 cents, while the mileage rate for charitable purposes, which is set by law, will remain at 14 cents.
There have also been changes made to the state per diem and lodging rates that took effect October 1, 2012. The standard lodging rate was set at $77 per day and per diem was set at $46 per day. Maximum lodging allowances in Stark, Mercer, Billings, Ward, Williams, Mountrail, and McKenzie Counties vary from $90-$118, depending on the location and time of year. Per diem rates in those counties are set at $56 for the entire fiscal year. Traveler reimbursement is based on the location of the work activities and not the accommodations, unless lodging is not available at the work activity, then the agency may authorize the rate where lodging is obtained. The U.S. General Services Administration has provided a table that outlines the per diem and lodging rates for FY2013 across the state of North Dakota.
Finally, pension plan limits for 2013 have been announced. The limitation on the exclusion for elective deferrals under Sec. 401(k), Sec. 403(b), and Sec. 457(b) plans increases to $17,500 for 2013. Visit the IRS website for any additional financial information you may need for 2013. |
Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar |
January 24, 2013 - 5:00-7:00 PM
NDRWSA Legislative Social
Heart Room, Best Western Ramkota Hotel
Bismarck, ND
February 4, 2013
Nonprofit Day at the Capitol
Memorial Hall - State Capitol Building
Bismarck, ND
February 12, 2013 - 5:00 PM
Water Day at the Legislature/Legislative Reception
Dakota Ballroom, Best Western Ramkota Hotel
Bismarck, ND
February 12-14, 2013
27th Annual Rural Water Expo
Best Western Ramkota Hotel
Bismarck, ND
February 19-21 & 26-28, 2013
Operator Certification Training
See Above Article for Date and Location |
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Contact Information
ND Rural Water Systems Association 2718 Gateway Avenue #201 Bismarck, ND 58503 Phone: 800-349-6951 Fax: 701-258-5002
www.ndrw.org |
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