Residents' say in water supply shifts

VAIL- Because of the Vail Valley's escalating population, the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District recently drew new lines for its seven districts, which run from East Vail to Wolcott.

"The whole process is a little bit of science, a little bit of math and a little bit of art," said Leslie Isom, the district's election official.

The new districts will come into play this spring when voters head to the polls to choose fill five seats on the Eagle River Water and Sanitation Board, the agency that is responsible for providing clean water and keeping the valley's river and creeks healthy.

With five seats open, it was rumored district lines would be drawn to allow board favorites to run, but Isom said, "It's all number crunching."

"And then we have to look at it and see if it makes sense," said Isom, adding she spent six months perfecting the new district lines, aided by district staff and board members.

Isom said lines were drawn to include roughly the same number of voters in each district. Unlike other elections, both voters who live in the district as well as those who own property in the district can vote.

David Viele in District 2 and Bob Warner in District 6 aren't up for election this year, so Isom said she had to make sure they would still be in the same districts in which they were elected.

Kent Rose, District 1, Gordon "Hawkeye" Flaherty, District 3, Rick Sackbauer, District 5, and Patrick Dauphinais, District 7, are all term limited and will be replaced. Arn Menconi in District 4, who is also an Eagle County commissioner, was appointed to his board seat and is obligated to run for a full term.

Staff Writer Nicole Frey can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 14621, or nfrey@vaildaily.com.



Vail, Colorado