A group of concerned citizens in Parker is claiming financial irresponsibility among officials overseeing development of the Front Range’s largest reservoir project in 30 years.
Petitions began circulating Feb. 13 to recall four of five members of the town’s Water and Sanitation District board of directors. The district has been working for 24 years on the planning and construction of Reuter-Hess Reservoir, a $165 million project addressing long-term water shortages in Douglas County.
The petitions were filed by Transparency Advocates for Parker Water and Sanitation, a research committee registered with the state.
The group believes the four board members have been out of touch with the public and have shown questionable spending, including a luxury sport utility vehicle for the district manager.
“We’re not confident they’re acting in a fiscally responsible way,” said Franceen Thompson, a petition organizer. “We also feel there is a lack of transparency.”
One major complaint centers on the district’s 2009 budget.
A 28 percent rate increase was initially announced by the board at the end of last year, though it was lowered to 20 percent at a December board meeting.
In January, the increase was rescinded until a rate study could determine the best way to fund operations.
“In reality, when they rescinded that rate, they were just delaying it,” Thompson said. “I think they would have done the rate study before they even approved the 28 percent increase.”
On its website, the group insists the water board must show responsibility, especially given its control of Reuter-Hess. Filling the reservoir is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2011. It will allow for 72,000 acre-feet of storage and serve 25,000 customers across the district. It is designed to meet their water demands, even during peak summer months.
Jim Nikkel, the water district’s assistant manager, said the board’s meetings have always been open to the public and minutes are available for anyone to look over, ensuring transparency.
Nikkel said he does not understand the motivation behind the recall petitions.
“All the things they raised issues with were really cut out of the budget,” he said. “It makes it difficult to know what they, representing the public, really want.”
The group has 60 days from Feb. 13 to collect 300 signatures. The signed petitions would then have to be certified before a recall election could be scheduled.
George Plaven: 303-954-1638 or gplaven@denverpost.com
