By: Libi Uremovic | Original Article at patch.com
Beaumont’s Renewal of Waste Discharge Requirements and Master Reclamation Permit and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit
The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board met today at 9:00 am at the Irvine Ranch Water District, 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine, CA 92618
Board will approve Order R8-2016-0026 regulating Beaumont’s Sewer Plant. One of the requirements of the Order is the identification of Employees. Hisam Baqui, a former employee of Urban Logic that is currently being hidden in Wildan.
Six (6) Representatives of the City were in attendance at the expense of the Taxpayer:
Mayor Knight,
Councilman Orozco,
City Manager Urtiaga,
Kyle Warsinski ‘Program Analyst’
Keran McKernan, and
Hisam Baqai.
Brenda Knight stated in her Official Position that she was certified as a “Water Treatment Plant Operation Specialist” from Cal State Sacramento even though the City has refused to release a copy of the Certification stating that it was private.
When asked to identify her Staff Mayor Knight referred to Kyle as the “Program Analyst”. Hisam Baqai and Keran McKernan also was identified as “Staff”.
When asked what was the City’s Credit Rating City Manger Elizabeth Urtiaga stated: “I don’t know today.”
Urtiaga stated that a Finance Director was hired, will start on Monday, and “came highly recommended”. “Came highly recommended”, but not by Public Bid as required by State Law and the City’s own Ordinance passed just last week.
Urtiaga also stated that the Investigation is only the Riverside D.A., not the FBI and that the City ‘hadn’t heard anything since April 22nd”.
City’s Press Release:
Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board Approves Beaumont’s Permit Renewal
Beaumont, CA – The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board unanimously approved the City of Beaumont’s renewal of Waste Discharge Requirements and Master Reclamation Permit and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES No. CA0105376) for the discharge of tertiary treated wastewater to Cooper’s Creek and for the distribution of recycled water to various users. The 5-year permit is effective from August 1, 2015 to July 31, 2020.
Mayor Brenda Knight and Council Member Mark Orozco attended the meeting on behalf of the Beaumont City Council, and were accompanied by Acting City Manager Elizabeth Gibbs-Urtiaga and Development Services Director Kyle Warsinski.
Mayor Knight spoke on the agenda item before the Board urging them to approve the permit and thanking them and their staff for the continued support. “I would like to thank the Regional Board and staff for their hard work on assisting the City of Beaumont through the NPDES process. This is a major step in ensuring that water is used for the maximum benefit of the citizens of Beaumont and our surrounding communities,” Knight said after the meeting. Council Member Orozco said “I am pleased that the City of Beaumont and its Wastewater Treatment Facility is able to continue to operate above permit standards of the Water Regional Board, and appreciate city staff and partners hard work. I look forward to great progress!”
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/santaana/board_info/agendas/2015/07_24/R8_AA_07_24_15_English.pdf