Morales Appointed New EVWD Chairman

The East Valley Water District welcomed the New Year with the annual board reorganization. On Jan. 3, the governing board voted to appoint James Morales Jr. as the new district chairman and Ben Coleman as vice-chairman. “I am looking forward to the continued success of the district as we move forward to meet the opportunities ahead,” said Morales, Jr. “With the completion of our new headquarters building approaching, East Valley Water District has a new chance to engage with this community regarding our water system today while preparing for the forecasted growth over the next five years. Morales, Jr. was elected to the East Valley Water District Governing Board in April 2008, served as the vice-chairman from 2011-2013 and has now been appointed chairman. Morales decided to become a leader of East Valley Water District because of his desire to serve as a role model for his family and his sense of civic duty. Maintaining a quality water supply within a reliable water delivery system remains a priority for Morales. Since becoming a board member, the district has implemented additional efforts to provide transparent and accountable information regarding finances and operations to the community. Coleman was elected to the East Valley Water District Board of Directors in August 2011. With transparency and fiscal responsibility as priorities for government operations, he wanted to be an active component to the decision making process and became a board member for EVWD. Having experience in both the public and private sector, Coleman said he strives to ensure accountability to the ratepayers and reduce spending where possible. In addition to the reorganization, the scheduled meeting time was also a topic of discussion. After much deliberation regarding the best day and time, the board voted to continue holding the regular meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Regular meeting agendas are available at the district offices and on the district’s website at www.eastvalley.org at least 72 hours in advance.