A recall election by mail ballot has been scheduled for December 15, 2009 for three members of the Parker Water and Sanitation District [PWSD]. Ballots will be mailed to the approximately 22,000 registered electors in the District about November 25, 2009. The election will be administered by Jack Arrowsmith, Douglas County Clerk and Recorder.
This is in stark contrast with the roughly 500 PWSD voters who cast polling place ballots in last May's District elections.
Transparency Advocates for Water and Sanitation [TAPWS] is aware of at least 4 highly qualified candidates who plan to run for the positions that will be filled on the same ballot if voters elect to recall Mary Spencer, Shep Root and Mike Casey. Jason Mumm has already resigned and his position will be filled as well. The known probable candidates include people with serious engineering and finance backgrounds and water district knowledge. Each has many years of professional, budgetary and complex operations decision making experience.
The Parker Water and Sanitation District is a capital intense quasi governmental business of a scope and size beyond the awareness of most residents. Its long term success is necessary to maintain the value of homes and businesses of each PWSD customer. With the need to address serious long term water supply issues, complete the $165 million Rueter Hess Reservoir and related $50 million treatment plant a knowledgeable board capable of making difficult budgetary and capital expenditure decisions is required.
Parker Water and Sanitation District's Water Resource Management Plan (available on line) notes that it currently serves 16,000 single family equivalents. The District's 2008 Audit (available on line) reflects more than $165 million in long term debt or more than $10,000 for each customer! With the potential need to add another $5,000 in debt per customer by 2012 to build the Rueter Hess treatment plant the expertise and sound judgment required of our board members are even more important.
As customers we have historically been satisfied when water came out of our faucets and our sewer didn't back up. It was only after the public became shocked a year ago at large proposed rate increases that TAPWS was formed and began to ask questions about the funtioning of PWSD, about underlying expenses that required such large rate increases and about the wisdom of decisions of some members of the current board on numerous issues.
Supporters of the recall are under no illusions. No board will escape large expenditures for new water sources, wells, treatment plants, rate increases and even new debt. However, TAPWS concluded that PWSD needed a board that would constructively challenge staff and require justification for expenditures large and small in order to keep rates reasonable, and shun extravnce, even while supporting the infrastructure needs and, indirectly, the value of all of our properties.
It is fair to say that few PWSD customers are fully aware of their proportionate share of district debt, the scale of Rueter Hess reservoir or the need for a $50 million treatment plant to make Rueter Hess water potable. As stake holders each of us needs to be aware of the key issues and elect the most competent team to guide the District. Because many decisions facing the board in the future are prudent ones rather than popular ones, strong, intelligent board members who are not afraid to take and fully explain their actions are required.
The potential candidates that TAPWS currently foresees meet this criteria!
TAPWS is an issues committee and does not and cannot endorse any particular candidate.