It was supposed to be a special closed session meeting at which the Hi-Desert Water District board of directors would name John Vega from Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District as the interim general manager to replace Ed Musik, who is on administrative leave. However, reporter Keith Bailey says that’s not what happened, and there were some fireworks to boot…
After about an hour of closed session, the board of directors of the Hi-Desert Water District and the district’s attorney, John Brown, came out to announce the new general manager. Much to the room’s surprise, Tony Culver, the district’s current assistant general manager, was named as the new interim general manager, a decision that did not sit well with Jennifer Poland, who made public comment on the decision.
“I disagree with the board’s decision of assigning Tony Culver as Interim General manager of the Hi-Desert Water District. I don’t believe he’s qualified to take on that role. And I think the district will greatly suffer.”
Brown added after Poland was done speaking that she was speaking as a resident of Yucca Valley and not as an employee of the water district.
Brown added that Vega will be providing mediation and personnel service to the water district in the coming weeks.
