In
October 2004, then EID Board President George Wheeldon (center)
signed documents
that awarded
$6 million to El Dorado Irrigation District
under the federal Water Development Resources Act. The money
will help cover the costs of replacing an old, leaky water line
at EID’s
Sly Park Recreation Area and improving capacity at EID’s
Deer Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Congressman John Doolittle,
who
was instrumental in securing the funds, looks on.
Since 2001, when George was first elected to the EID Board,
the District has received millions of dollars in federal
and state
grants. “These
dollars are a real savings to our customers as we continue to improve
our infrastructure and service,” George says.
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George
A. Wheeldon was first elected in 2001 to represent Division 4 — the
Cameron Park/Shingle Springs area — on the El Dorado Irrigation
District (EID) Board of Directors. In late 2003, George was selected
by his fellow Board members to serve as Board President for 2004.
“I’m proud to be part of the new EID,” George says. “Over
the past several years, we have worked hard to put the District on solid
financial footing. We have also strengthened our workforce with talented,
very able people who are committed to the reliable delivery of high-quality
drinking water, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment systems, and income-producing
clean hydro-electric power production.”
Among the District’s many accomplishments since George joined the
Board are:
1. Bringing EID’s hydroelectric power production system, known as
Project 184, on line. In late 2003, the system — formerly owned by
Pacific Gas and Electric — began generating power for the first time
since 1997. “Revenue from the project is several million dollars
a year,” George says. “That’s a boon to our customers.
And we are sending badly needed energy to the California grid through a
clean, renewable source. This is definitely a win-win.”
2. Acquiring popular Sly Park Recreation Area, including Jenkinson Lake,
from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. “We are one of a handful of
organizations in the country,” George explains, “that have
successfully negotiated with the Bureau for both an outstanding recreation
area and a large body of water to help meet our customer demand.”
3. A five-year Memorandum of Understanding between EID’s Employees
Association and management. The MOU was achieved through congenial, focused
discussions rather than acrimonious negotiations. “I’m all
for that,” George states. “The agreement incorporates the principles
of trust, and partnership building. It is yet another win-win for EID,
our employees, and our customers.”
If
you are interested in learning more about EID,
visit www.eid.org |
George’s
vision for EID
“ My vision for the District is simple: We should continue to work at becoming
the best water utility in the nation.
“ To me, this means we must continue to keep our rates at a reasonable
level as we strive to meet and exceed the increasing number of regulatory requirements
for water quality and service delivery. And that means we must continue to seek
federal and state grants that even now are helping us upgrade outdated infrastructure
and improve our services to customers.
“ It also means that we must continue to ensure a stable, expert workforce.
The people at EID are the foundation of our success. They are also our neighbors
and friends who contribute much to the District and to the communities where
they live.
“ I can’t think of a better place to devote my energy and time than
to help EID achieve excellence.”
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