Lompico water project nears a head

A five-year argument about repairs to a water main on Lake Boulevard in Lompico seems to be approaching a contentious conclusion.
Most recently, Lompico County Water District board president Rick Harrington has asked for help from San Lorenzo Valley Water District to oversee the repair of the water main on Lake Boulevard that was damaged in 2006. The SLV water board will discuss the repair at their Mar. 3 after Press-Banner press-time.
The main was fixed after it was damaged in 2006, but local residents were unsatisfied. An engineering design to repair the main was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the California Emergency Management Agency, which agreed to reimburse Lompico for the construction costs, estimated at about $50,000.
However, recently elected board member Sherwin Gott has stated stout opposition to the way the board has moved forward with this project. He denounces the way Harrington has moved the plans by calling a series of special meetings announced 24 hours in advance, which Gott describes as a lack of transparency on the part of the board. Gott also says the district will not be able to afford repairs to the Lewis Water Treatment Plant if it has to pay up front for the Lake Boulevard repair, as reimbursement from FEMA might take months.
The makeup of the board, however, leaves Gott in the minority regarding the project, and he has turned to local media outlets to air his opposition to how the board has handled its business. Fellow board member Shannar Abraham is on vacation and has not been able to attend the recent special meetings.
Harrington says that the district needs to move on the project this month.
“The FEMA funding runs out March 31. We need to get this done,” he said. “Everything Sherwin has done has been an attempt to delay.”
Attempts to verify the March 31 deadline before press time were unsuccessful; however, Gott suggested that Lompico should file for an extension on the FEMA money so it can complete the Lewis Treatment Plant repair for about $12,000.
San Lorenzo Valley Water District’s board of directors was scheduled to discuss Lompico’s proposition at its Thursday, March 3, meeting, after Press-Banner press time. In a staff report, general manager Jim Mueller said the SLV district’s staff has inspected the Lake Boulevard project and discussed it with the district’s design engineer. Because of its complexity, Mueller recommends hiring a contractor to complete the $50,000 repair under the district’s oversight.
Lompico’s board has not yet agreed to pay for repairs.
“We’re waiting to see what happens Thursday night, if SLV is actually going to manage the project,” board member Lois Henry said.