| |
SAVE DONNER SUMMIT |
| Home | FAQS | News Coverage | Maps |
| What can I do? Who can I contact? | Opinions/Comments | Videos, Poems, & Other Contributions | Forum |
There are four candidates for two slots on the five member boards. You find below each candidate official statement presented in alphabetic order. We also publish supplemental letters from the candidates as we received them.
| Martin D.Bern | Wade Freedle | Joseph Gray | Al Le Bel |
STATEMENT OF CANDIDATE FOR SIERRA LAKES COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
MARTIN D. BERN
Age: 46
Occupation: Attorney
Education and Qualifications: As a Director for the past four years, I have worked to protect our precious water resource -- Serene Lakes -- from threats to its continued vitality as a quality water, recreational and fishery resource.
I have asked hard questions regarding proposals to dredge the lakes in order to increase water supply at the expense of water quality, lake health and recreation.
I am skeptical about the suggestion that we raise the dam on Serena Creek because it poses a threat of flooding to lakefront and other properties.
I support the Board"s action to exercise eminent domain to acquire the land beneath our lakes.
If re-elected, I will continue to serve as a voice for the protection of our important water resources.
As an attorney, I believe I bring an important perspective and skill set to our board in relation to issues of water rights and environmental review.
In addition, I support the phased upgrade and replacement of our aging underground water and sewer systems.
These efforts will save the District money by avoiding future emergency repairs, which are both costly and disruptive.
Thank you for your consideration.
STATEMENT OF CANDIDATE FOR SIERRA LAKES COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
WADE FREEDLE
Occupation: Incumbent
Education and Qualifications: I would like to present a brief resume of my background and qualifications for the position of director of the Sierra Lakes County Water District.
My work and education are in finance and I have an advanced degree in business administration. I am presently retired.
I have been a director of the District for the last eight years and have served as president for the last five years. During this period we have developed a comprehensive infrastructure repair plan that will be implemented over the next three years and will bring our facilities for both water and wastewater processing up to current standards.
During the past two years we have been assessing the capacity of our facilities and water resources to determine the ability of the District to serve additional development. I defined the guidelines and supervised the preparation of our water supply study that will be the basis for making this decision. In addition, I am also supervising the development of a water service master plan that encompasses all aspects of water service. Facilities for pumping, filtration, storage and transmission are added to water supply and permitting limitations to form an overall capacity analysis.
STATEMENT OF CANDIDATE FOR SIERRA LAKES COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
JOSEPH GRAY
Age: 55
Occupation: Retired Engineer/Executive
Education and Qualifications: I graduated from UC Berkeley with a M.S. in electrical engineering. I owned and managed a high tech engineering company prior to retiring in 2005. Since retiring, I have spent time studying Serene Lakes water issues and have become very concerned about the fragile nature of our water supply, the health of the lakes and of their watershed.
As a regular attendee of water board meetings, I am pleased by the current board's progress in rebuilding the community's water and sewage infrastructure. As a board member, I will use my engineering and management background to continue these efforts in a cost effective and engineeringly sound manner. In addition, I will emphasize protection of our water supply's health through the acquisition of the lake bottom and the proper management of its watershed and greenbelt. I oppose any unnecessary lowering or raising of the lake level.
I believe the district should continue water contingency planning, including reserving the contaminated district wells as backup sources, only to be used if unforeseen circumstances make the lake water unavailable.
I believe in transparent government. If elected I will strive to listen to everyone and to keep everyone informed.
STATEMENT OF CANDIDATE FOR SIERRA LAKES COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
AL LE BEL
Age: 64
Occupation: Retired Audit Administrator
Education and Qualifications: I have degrees in accounting and business administration, and I directed multinational audit and investigations programs for over 30 years. I have been a Serene Lakes property owner for 28 years.
If elected, I will work to resolve District issues, including leaking sewer and water lines, a substandard waste treatment process, a backup water supply (wells) not equipped for emergency use, providing service to existing vacant lots, and undefined issues related to future development.
Even with recent rate increases, the District is borrowing for current expenditures. Repairing the District's broken infrastructure and providing service to existing vacant lots is going to cost millions of dollars over the next four to five years. Large rate increases to service the debt will be unavoidable. I will focus on the business of providing water and sewer service, and minimize unnecessary spending, such as the $130,000 paid to lawyers over the past two years, when there was no pending litigation.
If elected, my goals will be to protect Serene Lakes - develop comprehensive water supply, storage, and waste treatment plans, including service to existing vacant lots - eliminate unnecessary spending - and improve communication and public disclosure of the District's administrative and financial operations.