The four members of the Basin Water and Sewer District Board have resigned after a year marked by controversy over proposed upgrades to the community’s water system. The four members, MJ Williams, Joy Lewis, Mike Jellison and David England had all recently been served by recall petitions.
The recall petitions, signed by the required 30 individuals, accused the Board of violating their oath of office, incompetence and official misconduct. The reason stated concerned a vote taken in January to adjust water rates without public notice. Two petitions had originally mentioned a 2017 situation concerning the District finances along with rate change, but those were later revised so that all four petitions were the same, according to Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder Bonnie Ramey
Because the Board resigned before May 5, the Jefferson County Commission met April 16 and decided to schedule an informational meeting Wednesday, April 21, 6:30 p.m. at the Basin Community Center. The Commission is also planning to accept applications for Board appointments until April 28 and appoint new Board members at the May 4 Commission meeting, said Commissioner Cory Kirsch, who represents Basin.
The meeting is being held mostly to answer questions, said Kirsch.
A new member was already scheduled to join the Board on May 5 — Dede Rhodes. When fully appointed, the Basin Water and Sewer District Board has five members.
The resignations are the latest development to arise from the ongoing controversy over the Board’s efforts to address infrastructure issues with the community’s water system, and which have included water rate changes and the possibility of water meters. Opponents took issue with the rate changes, the possibility of the District taking on a loan to pay for system improvements and the water meters.
The District also has a relatively new clerk, as well as water and sewer operators.
Jefferson County Commissioner Cory Kirsch said the new clerk, Serina Eckman, has also stepped away from her job for the time being. The two new water and sewer operators remain on the job, he said.
The prior clerk, who also served as water and sewer operator, resigned last year due to the ongoing controversy.
In addition to the Water and Sewer Board resignations, Basin Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Gasch, who had served until recently on the Water and Sewer Board, resigned. Gasch, who had resigned from the Water and Sewer Board due to his job, said he “wasn’t compelled to volunteer for the community anymore.” Jellison also resigned as assistant fire chief.
There are a lot of people who seem to want to volunteer and here’s their chance, said Gasch.
