Union Sanitary District will be interviewing applicants to fill a vacancy which occurred effective May 16, 2024, on the Board of Directors of the Union Sanitary District.

The vacancy is in Ward 3, which boundaries are depicted in the map linked below. It encompasses the City of Fremont with the exception of the area west of Interstate 880 and north of Highway 84.

The requirements to apply are being a registered voter and residency in Ward 3. Interested persons may contact the District’s Board Clerk at (510) 477- 7503 or reginam@unionsanitary.ca.gov for an application or any other information.

The deadline for applications is June 17, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Interviews will be scheduled for Special Board meeting(s), dates to be determined. The District Board must make an appointment by July 15, 2024, or choose to call a special election.

USD Board Vacancy Application
USD Service Area Ward Map

It is with great sadness that Union Sanitary District shares the news that Director Thomas R. Handley, 72, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Kaiser Permanente Fremont Hospital, surrounded by his family. Director Handley served the customers of Union Sanitary District for 24 years with distinction and dedication. The Union Sanitary Board of Directors and staff offer heartfelt condolences to the Handley family; his loss is deeply felt by the organization and USD community.

Tom first served as a USD Director for seven years beginning in 1995 before a job transfer took him out of state in 2002. He was appointed in 2007 to fill a retiring Director’s seat, then ran uncontested in 2008 and served consecutive terms until his passing. Most recently he served on the Board’s Audit, Budget and Finance, and Investment Portfolio Ad Hoc committees.  Tom also served as the District representative to the Southern Alameda County Geographic Information System Authority and was instrumental in negotiating the most recent East Bay Dischargers Authority JPA.

As a USD Director, Tom modeled being a good fiscal steward with ratepayers' interests in mind. He prioritized USD’s delivery of services in a cost-effective manner while ensuring the District met all environmental regulations and focused on maintenance of USD’s infrastructure as key to protecting the environment while being fiscally conservative. Tom recognized the need to balance business interests while meeting environmental standards, encouraging collaboration with business customers to develop mutually agreeable and cost-effective guidelines and timeframes.

During Tom’s tenure, he provided guidance and direction through major District initiatives and upgrades to USD’s Union City treatment plant. The latest program benefiting from his support is the District’s Enhanced Treatment and Site Upgrade Program (ETSU), the largest capital improvement program in USD’s 106-year history. Tom’s many years of leadership have been integral to important programs that will serve the District’s customers now and for decades to come.

It’s a triple-crown win for Union Sanitary District (USD) Collection Services workers: They recently recovered a treasured ring thought to be lost in a sewer line – the District’s third ring rescued in recent years.

Union City customer Bonhellita Ancona left the District a distraught voicemail noting she’d lost the wedding ring she’d worn for 74 years down her toilet several days previously. “If it’s found, please, please let me know,” she said in her message.

When Collection System Workers Johnny Powell and Chris Ybarra inspected the sewer main in her neighborhood the next day, their remote-controlled maintenance camera revealed the ring caught on a bit of debris. The cleaned-up ring was then reunited with its grateful owner.

Bonhellita’s son Leonard Ancona addressed USD’s Board of Directors at a recent meeting to thank staff members on behalf of his mother. He described working in Bonhellita’s yard as Powell and Ybarra tried to retrieve the ring, then hearing one of them call out “Bingo!” “An incredible find or a miracle was truly witnessed,” said Ancona. Hearing of two other rings rescued by Collection Services workers in previous years, Ancona smiled and concluded, “the trifecta is complete.”

“The steep terrain of the street and slope of USD’s main lines at that location make the ring a very lucky discovery considering it was lost many days earlier,” said Collection Services Manager Jose Rodrigues. “We’re glad to return something that means so much to the owner and family."

The National Weather Service reports a major storm to impact the Bay Area with excessive rain, flooding and high winds in effect Wednesday, January 4 and Thursday, January 5, 2023. Following are resources for the Tri-City area:

In case of emergency, call 9-1-1
Weather Updates: https://www.weather.gov/
Live Road Updates: https://511.org/
Sign up for Alameda County Emergency Alerts: https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612570/login

Alameda County Water District
Report Water Main Breaks: 510.668.6500

Union Sanitary District
Report Sanitary Sewer Emergencies: 510.477.7500

City of Fremont:
Fremont News with winter storm update:
https://www.fremont.gov/Home/Components/News/News/322/1067 
Sandbag Pickup Locations:
https://www.fremont.gov/government/departments/maintenance-services/sandbags
Fallen Tree and Debris (on side of road):
Public Works: 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (510) 979-5700
After hours: Fremont Police Non-Emergency (510) 790-6800, ex 3.
Flood and fallen tree/obstacles in middle of road:
Fremont Police Non-Emergency (510) 790-6800, ex 3.
Report a traffic signal outage:
City of Fremont's Transportation Engineering (510) 494-4745 or email transportationengineering@fremont.gov

City of Newark:
News and information – notes city facilities currently closed:
https://www.newark.org/residents/storm-season-is-here
Public Works information:
https://www.newark.org/departments/public-works/maintenance-division/flooding-and-sandbags
Newark Service Center:
During regular business hours: 510.578.4806
Police Department’s non-emergency line: 510.578.4237
https://www.newark.org/departments/city-of-newark/business-hours (see news and information link for closed facilities)

City of Union City:
Submit a Union City Public Works Service Request and Reporting Form:
https://fs27.formsite.com/unioncity/publicworks/index.html
Public Works: 510.675.5308
Sandbags:
Union City Corporation Yard Front Parking Lot – 34650 7^th St.
(Limit five pre-filled bags per Union City household)
https://www.unioncity.org/345/Emergency-Preparedness

PG& E:
Report a downed power line:
https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/report-emergency/downed-power-line.page#
Report a power outage: https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outagecenter/

Alameda County Flood Control & Water Conservation District:
Alameda County Public Works Agency:
Alameda Creek and Flood Control Channels
510.670.5480
Info@acpwa.org
Road Closures: https://www.acpwa.org/about-us/roadclosure.page
Prepare for Winter Storms & Sandbag Locations: https://www.acpwa.org/prepare-for-winter-storms.page 

USD will receive $1,569,183 in COVID-19 fiscal relief funding from the state to address impacts to its budget while maintaining 24/7 wastewater collection and treatment operations for its Fremont, Newark, and Union City service area during the health emergency. The funding is made available from a $100 million allocation provided by the State Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom in the 2021-2022 State Budget and will be distributed by Alameda County in early 2022.

“As an essential service to the community, USD is dedicated to providing continuous daily operations with no interruptions and remained so during the pandemic,” said General Manager Paul Eldredge. “Staff worked hard to modify schedules and complete critical work in the safest ways possible. We appreciate this support from the state to alleviate unanticipated costs USD incurred during the health emergency as we strive to keep rates as low as possible for our customers.”

This funding arrives after special districts across California experienced budget and staff impacts as a result of the COVID pandemic. Throughout 2020 and 2021, California’s special districts provided essential services to their local communities, maintained a large portion of the state’s critical infrastructure, and employed thousands of front-line workers, but initially received none of the COVID relief funding available to cities and counties.

“Special districts are addressing our biggest statewide challenges, all at the local level,” said Neil McCormick, CEO of the California Special Districts Association (CSDA). “We applaud Governor Newsom and our Legislature for recognizing this and responding to our requests for partnership.  Special districts make a difference throughout California and this funding will make a difference in the communities special districts serve.”