The Board of Directors of the Twentynine Palms Water District gathered last night for their monthly meeting where the agenda included a recent service review, employee retirement and wastewater.
Last night’s meeting of the Twentynine Palms Water Districts’ (TPWD) Board of Directors began with the board receiving and filing the final draft of the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Service Review.
Typically, LAFCO conducts the review every five years, but this particular study was initiated by the city to check for redundancies. Though some board members disputed aspects of the study, LAFCO did not make
recommendations and the TPWD was described as “solid in all aspects – governance, management, finances and operations.”
The board then easily passed a resolution to make an exception to the 180-day waiting period usually required between when an employee retires and when they can return. The TPWD was specifically thinking of Irene Hull-
Beard, who after 33 years with the TPWD, will retire next month, though she will return occasionally to help with employee training.
Next, there was a discussion on the Wastewater Ad Hoc Committee meeting held on October 19. Twentynine Palms City Manager Frank Luckino was in attendance to answer questions from the board about the proposed wastewater treatment facility, still in the early stages. A possible site was determined at Desert Knoll Avenue and Gorgonio Drive, just east
of the post office. The plan, which is divided into several phases, was initially priced at $90 million but now stands at $158.5 million and the city hopes to fund it through governmental grants.
The next meeting of the Twentynine Palms Water District Board of Directors is Tuesday, December 14.
