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A special meeting on Tuesday night of the board of the Georgetown Divide Public Utility District went for almost three hours with no action taken regarding the district’s looming staff problems.
The meeting was called by General Manager Hank White to discuss what actions were available to the agency in the face of the loss of almost all of their administrative staff coupled with a hiring freeze. Two administrative staff are retiring at the end of this year and a third, Dolores Barron, notified White that she will be retiring in 2013.
“Once Barron retires next year, that will complete the exodus of employees in the office,” said White. “All that will be left will be myself, one administrative assistant, and the Assistant Operations Manager. I don’t know how we’re going to service 5,000 to 6,000 accounts with just one (office) person,” he said.
White presented the board with different options for handling the personnel issues, including hiring a human resource firm to manage previous activities handled by the business-finance manager who is retiring in December; working with employment agencies to bring in administrative staff on a temporary basis; and recruiting two administrative aides.
White also presented the board with different options if nothing is done to replace the departing staff including closing the office two days a week and cutting back on customer service.
Rather than make a decision, the board, on a 4-1 vote, will take up the issue at the regular meeting Nov. 13. Board member Norm Krizl cast the lone no vote.
White noted in a phone interview after the meeting that he was concerned that the loss of staff could affect the ability of the agency to respond to emergencies as well as ordinary requests for service. Barron, for example, not only handles payroll but also researches real estate issues and handles existing accounts. When asked why staff were leaving, the general manager said retiring employees told him it was due to the hostile work environment created by some board members.
White also gave an updated presentation on the goals and objectives achieved for the year. Among those achievements are progress on the Auburn Lake Trails Water Treatment Plant retrofit, including completion of an expanded Proposition 218 process; securing a $1.2 million grant from the USDA; securing a $685,000 grant through Proposition 50 funds; providing 90 percent plan comments on the plant; and starting the bidder pre-qualification process. Five-year budget projections were completed and information technology improvements were made, including updates to the agency’s Website. Water conservation efforts were implemented at different locations. Employees were trained to use the new GIS/GPS mapping program. In addition, 482 million gallons of water were treated and delivered to customers on the Divide.
Contact Dawn Hodson at 530-344-5071 or dhodson@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @DHodsonMtDemo on Twitter.
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Dink LaneNovember 01, 2012 - 3:49 pm
The attorney sat through the meeting, racking up $2000 in taxpayer's money, reading a magazine. What are the Incumbents on this Board thinking?
ML JonesNovember 01, 2012 - 3:51 pm
This meeting if called by the GM and not the Board is a violation of the Brown Act. A special meeting can only be called by the presiding officer or a majority of the Board.
Hank didn't mention his number one achievementNovember 01, 2012 - 3:55 pm
GM Hank White is too modest. He neglected to mention achievement of his number one goal...his $250,000 compensation package that, by itself, accounts for 10% of GDPUD's rate revenues. Perhaps the employees are leaving because of Hank White's greed and motto "Hank for Hank, and All for Hank".
Maria CapraunNovember 01, 2012 - 4:21 pm
Being at the meeting I did find it odd that the Board was not aware of the last day of one of the office employees. A date of December 7 was presented and doom with a hit of disater on the side was also found in the GM's statements. This meeting was very strange. The GM has it within his authority to correct the looming problems with new ideas to create a more effective office. Not one idea of improvement was given only cut in days the District will be open due to the cut in staffing. All this relates back to the fact that the Board will not hire any new employees until the retirement contract is finalized. This was requested by the Board to have been started in 2011. The General Manager stated that he was not given directive by the Board to complete this. Yet, this was discussed at a meeting and the General Manager stated that Pers was behind on the paper work. So somewhere more incorrect information has been presented. Did or did not the GM contact PERS? Written in the MOU is the new contract with PERS. For those of you that do not know PERS is the retirement system and to change the contract it is simple, you contact PERS request a change in contract. Then PERS presents you with the information on how to complete the change along with the dollar costs. You do not have to go through with the change, making your decision on the cost. It is proper business practice to find out the cost of something prior to completing a contract. This needs to be addressed. The District is in negotiations with an employee unit but this has no effect on contacting PERS. What is going on? This all needs to be clarified. Apparently someone dropped the ball with this issue.
Did they all commit fraud?November 01, 2012 - 9:32 pm
This usually happens for a couple of different reasons, which usually reflect directly on whoever is in charge of an employee's future or if there is some tom foolery going on. From observing wall street case this looks eearily close to cases where a group of people were involved in or were aware of fraudulent activities taking place that they do not want to be tied to so they cut rope when it's evident the walls are falling down. Speaking of walls falling down and from being an observer of the mismanagement of this district and ratepayer's money, when you see: a) $500 dinner bills popping up with GM Hank White and Henry Krizl and their spouses eating at Ruth Chris steakhouse on ratepayer money b) a clear barrier being placed in between the public and GDPUD records and other expense documents c) a frenzy when one of the public paid representatives actually starts looking at these documents carefully followed by d) a GDPUD employee led witch hunt with the intent and success of removing that rep from being on the treasury committee that audits district expenses and behavior, the writing is on the wall. Would you stick around and want to work for someone that is ripping off your neighbors????????????????? These employees expect months of scrutiny around what gifts they may have received, the fees they waived for community friends and the potential turning of the other cheek when superiors performed actions that may be deemed as disgusting as it relates to the use of public money, awarding huge contracts with no other bids where kickbacks may be involved and who knows what else. Would you stick around or take that retirement while you can???? Not to mention, it's pretty easy to get rich on the ratepayer dime up there. Check out the salary and benefit package that ratepayer paid lawyer, Bill Wright has setup for GM Hank White while Hank White was ensuring he received $2000 or whatever per meeting. See how that works? See how stupid ratepayers look? Just to be clear, ratepayers paid for a Bill Wright to spend time to actually negotiate a higher salary for Hank White. At the same time Hank White approved hour over hour for Bill Wright to sit at board meetings and collect a pay check. And Hank White had Bill Wright get paid to answer customer emails. And Hank White paid Bill Wright to investigate laws that would work around obstacles ratepayers brought to Hank White. Then Bill Wright negotiated a higher salary for Hank White, all while using ratepayer money to do so. Do I need to continue? Do you need to continue paying for this? This guy walks down the street and laughs at Georgetown.
Any respected GM, Manager, etc....November 01, 2012 - 9:37 pm
....will always know well in advance when an employee is going to resign or move on. And give that same GM/Manager plenty of time to be replaced. The employees of GDPUD have no respect for Henry White and I feel sorry for them. They are getting away from him as quick as they can. Or, of course I suppose Henry White knew about this and just didn't tell anyone. Doubt that would happen though. GDPUD seems pretty well run and honest.
A normal personNovember 03, 2012 - 12:32 pm
All of these comments are ridiculous. Why don’t you all get a life and let the General Manager of the Water Distinct do his job? Hank White is a good man in my opinion. He could be a better man if you loosers, (Including the freak on the board, Ottermat get the “F” off his back.) This in not rocket science here, its water! Hank, bless you for hanging in there this far. I would sue the hell out the district if I were you. Maria Capraun, was that you or Schnelling I saw at the corner of 193 in cool with that criminal Ottermat? What a disgrace to align with that creature. I hope you do not get elected!
EvelynNovember 03, 2012 - 1:24 pm
Dear "normal person" - a) Perhaps you wish to share some specifics supporting your position that all the above comments are "ridiculous". b) Calling Kathy Otermat "criminal" is serious business, perhaps even libelous. Is your evidence such that you would be willing to give your name?
James E.November 03, 2012 - 1:36 pm
I don't know the individuals involved, but calling someone a criminal on this site is libel. Of course, truth is an absolute defense, so if one can prove she is a criminal, then they will be home free and sure to win in court.
blissfulNovember 03, 2012 - 4:21 pm
normal person = our all time favorite person and bosom buddy of Hank & Paige White, MICHELLE BLISS