On May 2, 2017, the San Luis Obispo Department of Public Works mailed a letter to all residents of Whitley Gardens. The letter was concerning the Estrella River Bridge Rehabilitation Project.  The County will be removing the lead paint and moving the bridge to replace the abutment.  Since the water Company has a pipe that spans the bridge, which must be removed until completion, this project directly affects all of us.  There are financial considerations as well.  According to the County, our portion of the project is estimated at a minimum of $30,000. or as high as $60,000.  As a "For Profit Company" grants are no longer an option.

To determine the scope of the project and identify the water Company's options, The Board hired Wallace Engineering, who worked with the Board on the Highway 46 expansion.  This resulted in the Board sending a letter to the County.  We specifically explained the financial hardship that this project will have on the community and as such, requested financial assistance for all construction costs.  While the County has not officially responded, the County Manager responded in March via email that she is working on a request for a loan from the General Fund that GRMWC would need to repay over an agreed period of time.  

It was determined at the Annual Shareholders meeting that the option to cap the pipes would be the least expensive route to take.  This was approved by a unanimous vote of the Shareholders.