End of the Rainbow

Less than a decade ago, Rainbow Municipal Water District was a sad, dysfunctional water district. General managers had departed; management and engineering were being outsourced. Employee turnover was routine. Rainbow trained people, and as soon as they had certification, they moved on. Mandated reservoir covering was being fought by part of the board. The budget process was a nightmare. This proved very expensive.

Then, over a few years, Rainbow got it together. It hired its own engineer, then a new general manager. It started work on the long delayed reservoir covers. It created ratepayer committees on communication, engineering, and budget and finance.

The budget process was improved and streamlined; a method of prioritizing capital improvement projects was developed. The reservoir covers were done, the budget reduced, employees stayed on. Plans were made to serve the new development at I-15 and SR76. There was light and a bright future at the end of the tunnel. But also at the end of the tunnel were FPUD and its new general manager who wanted what Rainbow had.

Somehow, he enlisted Rainbow’s general manager and a majority of the board to sign on to what can only be described as a takeover. There is no evidence that any money will be saved, or that Rainbow’s interests will be served.

The moral of this story is that if you clean up your act and become successful, somebody else will enjoy the rewards of your hard work.

Maureen Rhyne