A decision not to renew Wrightwood’s general manager has set off weeks of fallout, as the Community Services District board works through financial concerns, community division, and day-to-day service challenges.
That decision came during a March 9 special meeting, where the board voted 4–1 not to renew General Manager Ramona Evey’s contract following a closed session discussion. About a dozen residents spoke in support of Evey that night, underscoring how closely the community follows district leadership and how personal those decisions can feel in a town like Wrightwood.
Board members followed the vote with prepared remarks that offered some insight into their reasoning, even as key details remained confidential. Vice President Erin DeGroot said the decision was tied to concerns about financial oversight, including issues the board believed required further review. “The board has a legal obligation to provide financial oversight on behalf of every single person in this community,” DeGroot said. “When discrepancies arise in public funds, we don’t have the option to look away.” She also acknowledged the frustration surrounding the lack of public detail, noting that state law limits what can be discussed outside of closed session. “There are matters this board discusses in closed session that we are legally prohibited from sharing publicly,” she said.
Other board members emphasized the broader responsibility of their role, even when decisions are unpopular. “The board is tasked to see the big picture and to do what they believe is right for Wrightwood as a community,” President Dave Schoenwetter said. Director Alexis Claiborne, who said she will not seek reelection, described the role as difficult and said the decision was made with the community in mind.
The vote didn’t happen in isolation. Just days earlier, during the district’s March 3 meeting, board members began raising concerns about the district’s finances that would carry into the rest of the month. At that meeting, the board became aware of a projected budget shortfall of about $56,000 and discovered that staff had been operating from a draft budget rather than the version formally approved by the board. The district was also already behind on audits and lacked consistent monthly financial reporting, leaving board members without a clear, up-to-date picture of its finances.
By the time the board met again on March 17, it had become clear those issues were not limited to a single mistake. Board members and staff acknowledged that financial tracking problems have built up over time. The district is running roughly a year behind on audits, and regular monthly financial reporting has not been consistently in place. In some cases, past accounting adjustments were not clearly documented, leaving current staff without a full understanding of what had been corrected. “They are also not a substitute for monthly review of our finances,” DeGroot said, referring to past audits.
In response, the board approved moving forward with an independent financial review, with the goal of getting a clearer understanding of the district’s current position and improving oversight going forward. At the same time, the district is trying to keep basic services moving. Recreation programs — including youth activities that many local families rely on — have largely stalled due to the lack of a recreation coordinator. The board gave direction to move forward with hiring for that role, even with ongoing financial uncertainty, recognizing that delaying further could impact spring programs. “All of our programs are non-existing and we need someone on board,” WCSD Administrative Assistant Angela Rovida said.
The board also approved applying for federal funding to improve the community building and senior services. While the request could reach up to $1.5 million, typical awards are significantly smaller, and the focus has shifted to upgrading existing facilities — including accessibility improvements and needed kitchen upgrades — rather than expanding into new properties. Even as those decisions move forward, the tone of the March 17 meeting reflected a community still working through the impact of the general manager decision.
Public comment showed a clear divide. Some residents supported the board’s approach, emphasizing the importance of financial accountability, while others questioned how the decision was handled and called for more transparency, particularly given the limited information shared after the closed session vote. Board members responded directly to that criticism during the March 17 meeting, pushing back on the idea that the decision was personal or politically motivated. DeGroot said the board’s actions were rooted in its obligation to oversee public funds and ensure accurate financial reporting, not individual conflict.
At the same time, some board members expressed concern about how the situation has been portrayed publicly. “A small group of very vocal people… may not represent the larger community,” Schoenwetter said, referencing ongoing criticism and discussion surrounding the decision. The discussion also touched on a potential recall effort, adding another layer to an already tense situation, with board members noting that such an effort could carry a significant cost for the district, which is already working through financial uncertainty.
At the same meeting, the district also learned it will soon be without one of its longest-serving advisors. General counsel Steve Kennedy announced his resignation after nearly a decade, citing the growing demands of the role. Kennedy has been involved with the district since before its formation and played a key role in establishing many of its systems.
While the district works through internal challenges, broader issues in the community are still being brought into CSD meetings as residents look for answers wherever they can get them. At the March 3 meeting, representatives from San Bernardino County — including staff from Supervisor Paul Cook’s office and the county’s public works department — provided an update on the ongoing closure of Lone Pine Canyon Road. The road was heavily damaged during the Christmas and New Year storms that caused flooding across Wrightwood, Phelan, and Piñon Hills, and repairs will require a full rebuild.
During that discussion, residents raised concerns about what the closure means for emergency access. With limited routes in and out of Wrightwood, the issue carries added weight for a community that regularly thinks about wildfire evacuation. Even though the road is a county responsibility, the concern landed in the CSD meeting like many local issues do — as part of a broader conversation about safety, access, and how prepared the community is during emergencies.
In response to ongoing concerns about transparency, the board also approved a change earlier in the month to hold two regular meetings each month instead of relying as heavily on special meetings, giving residents more opportunities to follow district decisions.
Taken together, the March meetings show a district in a period of transition. Financial questions raised at the start of the month led to a significant leadership decision, and the effects are still playing out — both inside the boardroom and across the community. For Wrightwood residents, the outcome of these discussions will shape not just budgets and staffing, but how the district rebuilds trust and moves forward in the months ahead.
