In Landers last night, a representative from the California Special Districts Association awarded the Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence, a distinction given only to the top 7 or 8 percent of California’s more than 2,000 special districts. The honor paled in comparison to the other award presented. Here’s reporter Mike Lipsitz to tell us about that…
The California Special Districts Association’s Senior Public Affairs Field Coordinator, Chris Palmer, attended last night’s meeting to award the Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency the District of Distinction Certificate. Palmer said the honor goes to only the top two percent of special districts statewide. Among the criteria for District of Distinction are clean audits, fiscal responsibility, emphasis on continuing education of staff and board, and more importantly, sound policies for governance, board conduct, transparency and reserves.
Following the presentation, directors at the water agency looked at options aimed at minimizing costs of satisfying the district’s unfunded liability associated with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, or CalPERS. It is the nation’s largest public pension fund and the district anticipates this year’s CalPERS liability will be just under $55,000.
Also last night, the board authorized a $90,000 agreement with Engineering Resources of Southern California to assist in the refurbishing of the district’s two oldest reservoir tanks.
And in other business, the board approved purchase of a new 4X4 pickup truck.
