The Wrightwood Community Services District (WCSD) Board of Directors approved a new general manager contract, adopted a revised purchasing policy, and authorized facilities repairs during a special meeting Tuesday evening at the Wrightwood Community Building.
The board unanimously approved an employment agreement for incoming General Manager Ramona Evey, who will begin on June 12. The contract includes provisions for a previously scheduled vacation from June 19 to 27, during which she will remain available remotely if needed. The appointment marks a key transition for the district, which has been operating without a full staff for several months.
“I don’t want to put this off any longer,” said Board President Alexis Claiborne. “We’ve been without full staff for too long.”
In another unanimous vote, the board approved an update to its purchasing policy, increasing the general manager’s purchasing authority from $300 to $1,500. Purchases between $1,500 and $15,000 will now be permitted if they fall within board-approved project guidelines. All purchases must be reported to the board and made publicly available. The change is intended to improve day-to-day operations and avoid further delays in ongoing projects.
For example, the district is facing repairs to the failing public restroom septic system, which was also discussed during the meeting. A recent inspection by Daniel Meredith Plumbing revealed that the septic system was unable to pass certification due to two critical issues: a break in the main sewer line running from the building to the tank and a damaged leach line. Administrative Assistant Angela Rovida explained that until these problems are fixed, the district should not reopen its public restrooms, which have remained closed. Residents have raised concerns regarding the use of the restrooms versus the rented porta-potties currently located in the Community Building parking lot, particularly with summer events on the horizon, such as Music in the Pines and Mountaineer Days.
“The tank itself is in good shape, but without these repairs, wastewater would not be safely processed,” Rovida said. “Using the bathrooms now would risk polluting the ground.”
She went on to explain that the leach line must either be repaired or at least located and evaluated before the district can finalize its design for a larger, planned restroom renovation project. Currently, the exact layout of the leach field is unknown because the break in the line prevents the inspection camera from moving past the break. Meredith Plumbing offered two options: excavate and send a camera down to map the system for $1,200 or repair the leach line for $2,163. The latter option would allow immediate use of the restrooms and eliminate ongoing porta-potty costs.
The board agreed that even if future renovations result in a new system layout, the short-term cost of the repair is justified. The district is currently paying more than $1,300 per month for porta-potties, which board members noted could be avoided once the system is functional. The repair is expected to be completed quickly following approval.
The board also heard a presentation from Jamie Crooke Powell, founder of the Wrightwood-based nonprofit Drawing Together. Powell proposed a $10,000 collaboration with the district to conduct a detailed community needs assessment, which she said would expand on the district’s recent “Envisioning Wrightwood” workshop and provide more robust community data through surveys, focus groups and public outreach.
Powell also presented a second idea: the potential use of private property as a shared public space. The site, referred to as “Big Green Commons” and located at the corner of Highway 2 and Cedar Street, was previously included in a congressional funding request grant to purchase the building for use by the district. Powell revealed that the property owner has since decided not to sell but is open to donating the use of the space for public benefit. Drawing Together, which is preparing to move into the building, has initiated conversations about a public-private agreement that would allow the fenced outdoor area and indoor facilities to be maintained and used by the district when available.
Director Erin DeGroot noted that Powell had been involved in a letter of support for the earlier grant proposal and expressed concern that the shift in building availability could change the board’s plans. Powell responded that she remains committed to shared community goals and sees the arrangement as a flexible and developing partnership.
While no action could be taken on the proposal at the time of the meeting, board members acknowledged that the goals of the nonprofit’s outreach and the district’s strategic priorities appear to be aligned. The topic is likely to be agendized for a later board meeting for further discussion and posible action.
The board also discussed creating a formal contracting policy but tabled the item until the new general manager is in place. Separately, staff confirmed that district ordinances are being uploaded to the redesigned district website in response to concerns about transparency and accessibility.
In other action, the board approved a 50% fee reduction for the Wrightwood Property Owners Association to use the district’s freezer during the Music in the Pines event series.
During the directors’ comments, Vice President Rick Christensen and Director DeGroot expressed the need for better procedures to ensure the board packets include any supporting documentation for agenda items prior to public posting and sending to the board. Both stressed the need for a standardized process that balances transparency and operational efficiency.
In a surprise announcement, Director Kurt Watson submitted his resignation, effective June 30, after serving nine months on the board. “Thank you for letting me serve the town of Wrightwood in this capacity,” he said in a brief written statement.
The next WCSD meetings are scheduled for Monday, June 16 (special meeting), and Tuesday, July 1 (regular meeting), both at 5:30 p.m. at the Wrightwood Community Building.
