JOSHUA BASIN WATER NAMES INTERIM G.M., TO APPOINT VACANT BOARD SEAT

In Joshua Tree last night, directors at the Joshua Basin Water District, given the choice to appoint a director to the board seat left vacant by the passing June 9 of long-time board member Mickey Luckman or to call for a special election in order to fill the seat, opted to appoint a new director. Here’s reporter Mike Lipsitz with more about that meeting …

With director Geary Hund excused, attending board members Bob Johnson, Mike Reynolds and Rebeca Unger last night voted to appoint a director to fill the seat left vacant by Mickey Luckman. The board has 60 days from June 9 to name that appointment.

Also last night, the board made official the decision to promote Assistant General Manager of Operations Mark Ban to the position of Interim General Manager, effective tomorrow. Ban’s promotion comes with a 5 percent pay raise; the “interim” designation will be reevaluated by December 31 when the six-month probationary period ends.

The board also set the appropriation limit for 2018-19, and adopted both the Emergency Response and Local Hazard Mitigation plans.

Last night’s meeting was the last for retiring General Manager Curt Sauer, who expressed his gratitude to the district board, staff and customers, and passed a lucky offset wrench to Interim General Manager Ban. Last night’s meeting was tearily adjourned in Mickey Luckman’s honor.