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Asset Management Newsletter: Water Management District and Basin Board Appointments

Asset Management Newsletter: Water Management District and Basin Board Appointments

Water Management District and Basin Board Appointments
(As of June 9, 2011)

The Governing Board members of the state’s five water management districts are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. There are 9 Governing Board members of each of the water management district’s except for Southwest which has 13 members. The term of office is 4 years, commencing on March 2 of the year appointed. The terms are staggered to provide for consistency and experience on the Board.

A new appointment system was imposed by the Legislature beginning in January 2011. The Governor is to appoint 3 members to each district and 4 to the Southwest District in his first term with 2 and 3 respectively for the remaining terms. In addition, the governor appoints any vacant positions. Section 373.073(2)(a) describes the specific geographic regions for the Governing Board appointments. Some water management districts are appointed geographically by county, others by a basin or hydrologic unit. In addition, the Governor is encouraged to appoint members to represent an “equitable cross-section of regional interests and technical expertise” such as agriculture, development, local government, water utilities, law, civil engineering, environmental science, hydrology, accounting, or financial businesses.

As of this date, the vacancies are:

St. Johns River Water Management District – 1

Lowry “Lad” Daniels of Jacksonville, is president of Daniels and Associates and has served eight years on the Jacksonville City Council as well as president of the First Coast Manufacturers Association. He was appointed at large for a term running from April 21, 2011 to March 1, 2015.

Charles “Chuck” Drake of Orlando, is a hydrogeologist and senior manager for Tetra Tech Inc., a national consulting and engineering firm. He was appointed to represent the St. Johns River Basin above the Ocklawaha River Hydrologic unit at large for a term running from April 21, 2011 to March 1, 2015. Sitting Governing Board Member Arlen N. Jumper’s Term expires in 2011.

Suwannee River Water Management District

Governor Rick Scott has now appointed all the three 2011 vacancies.

Kevin Brown of Alachua is a chief appraiser for Farm Credit of Florida. He is appointed to represent Santa Fe and Waccasassa Basins for a term beginning June 3, 2011, and ending March 1, 2015.

George Cole of Monticello is a part-time adjunct professor at Florida State University. He is appointed to represent the Aucilla River Basin for a term beginning June 3, 2011, and ending March 1, 2015.

D. Ray Curtis III of Perry is a self-employed attorney. He is reappointed to represent the Coastal Rivers Basin for a term beginning June 3, 2011, and ending March 1, 2015.

South Florida Water Management District

Governor Rick Scott has now appointed all the six 2011 vacancies.

Daniel DeLisi of Estero is a self-employed planning and engineering consultant was appointed for a term running from May 10, 2011 to March 1, 2015.

James “Jim” Moran of West Palm Beach is a self-employed attorney. He is appointed to represent Palm Beach County for a term running from May 10, 2011 to March 1, 2015.

Daniel O’Keefe of Windermere, is an attorney with Shutts and Bowan LLP. He is appointed to represent Glades, Okeechobee, Highlands, Polk, Orange and Osceola counties for a term running from May 10, 2011 to March 1, 2012.

Timothy Sargent of West Palm Beach is the director of tax and operating company chief financial officer for Huizenga Holdings Inc. He is appointed as an at-large member for a term running from May 10, 2011 to March 1, 2014.

Glenn Waldman of Weston is a self-employed attorney and a returning member of the Governing Board. He is appointed to represent Broward County for a term running from May 9, 2011 to March 1, 2014.

Juan Portuando is the president of IP Group Inc. He is appointed to represent Dade County for a term running June 8, 2011 and ending March 1, 2015.

Northwest Florida Water Management District – 3

There are three Governing Board members with terms expiring in 2011.

Southwest Florida Water Management District – 1

Albert Joerger, of Sarasota, is the founder and president of The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. He is appointed to represent Sarasota and Charlotte Counties for a term running from April 26, 2011 to March 1, 2015.

H. Paul Senft, of Haines City, is a self-employed business and insurance consultant. He is appointed to represent Polk County for a term running from April 26, 2011 to March 1, 2015.

Doug Tharp of the Villages is a retired industrial engineer. He is appointed to represent Levy, Citrus, Sumter and Lake Counties for a term running from April 26, 2011 to March 1, 2015.

Basin Boards

Where Water Management District Basins exist, the Basin Board Members are also appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Big Cypress Basin Board is created by Section 373.0693(9) within SFWMD.

Big Cypress Basin Board (SFWMD) – 2

The Southwest Florida Water Management District voted on May 24, 2011 to disband its seven Basin Boards:

1. Coastal Rivers Basin Board

2. Hillsborough River Basin Board

3. Alafia River Basin Board

4. Manasota Basin Board

5. Peace River Basin Board

6. Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board

7. Withlacoochee River Basin Board