The Imperial Irrigation District board is talking out of both sides of its mouth again.
On Sunday, the board ran an advertisement that dismissed the idea the district was “a rudderless ship,” and insisted that recent changes were positive and more will be shared with the public in coming weeks.
That same day, the public did learn that the district was considering paying $175,000 to a board member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to help the district with its Energy Department and possibly other duties as well.
On Tuesday, the board discussed the idea before tabling the item until its next meeting.
We encourage the board to drop this ridiculous plan. The MWD has been and still is a rival to the IID. While the organizations have a longstanding water agreement in place, the MWD continues to eye water from the Alamo and New rivers that now flow into the Salton Sea.
So what does the IID do with this traditional adversary? It invites the vice chairwoman of the MWD to help it reorganize its operation. There were even preliminary discussions about her helping the district select its next general manager, although that terrible idea has apparently — and thankfully — been dropped.
But we are still uncomfortable with the idea of bringing this person on as a consultant. What the IID is saying, in effect, is that contrary to the advertisement it ran, it is indeed a rudderless ship that needs someone from the outside to come in and help it make decisions. This move simply proves to us that the IID cannot function in its proper form.
That was even more apparent at Tuesday’s meeting, when interim General Manager Mike Campbell said the district is in “somewhat” of a crisis mode. That doesn’t seem to jibe with the board saying in the advertisement that the “picture of turmoil that has emerged in the media doesn’t square with reality.”
Actually, it squares perfectly with reality. And it’s time the board not only admits there is turmoil at the IID, but that it caused the turmoil. But bringing in a person from MWD to fix the problems is obviously not the answer.
The district cries loudly that it wants to remain an independent body, but this proposal says otherwise.
" If this board of directors knew the business they were in they would know who in the industry is worth going after...and not rely on someone else's recommendation. In my industry we know who the talented and upcoming people are so that they can be approached when a position becomes available. Thats part of the job of running a company or in this case a large public organization. Granted these are not full time directors and may not have several years of experience in the power industry but for crying out loud it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that there are power utilities all over the nation who must have no. 2 and no. 3 people who aspire to be the GM of a utility themselves. On the other hand perhaps the industry insiders have the idea that running the IID is at best a temporary position and would rather not leave their present position for a risky one. "
oldfarmboy wrote on Sep 26, 2007 3:16 PM:
" Four board members, President Stella Mendoza, Mike Abatti, James Hanks and Anthony Sanchez, voiced their interest in contracting Edwards. They said she comes “highly recommended”
One wonders "highly recommended" by who? "
joselopez wrote on Sep 26, 2007 10:43 AM:
" Right-on...The IID Directors have put their foot in the mouth again. How much money was spent to run that ad full of bull? "
0207 wrote on Sep 26, 2007 9:17 AM:
" This is the first editorial about the IID that I agree with since Brad Jennings became editor. It makes sense throughout; what is recommended is obvious to any thinking person; and it is firm in what it is recommending. The reporters need to report more news, in a more-indepth manner, and the editor needs to read up on the subject---including past editorials--in order to provide a coherent, logical, historically-oriented opinion. "
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ricocafe99 wrote on Sep 26, 2007 3:29 PM: