January 27, 2013 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon’s Centennial Historical Speaker series continues for 2013.  The next speaker is Ms. Kate Breece from Helix Water District, with a presentation titled “From the Flume to the Ozone.”

This talk is scheduled for Thursday, February 7th, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Downtown El Cajon Library, located at 201 East Douglas Avenue.  Talks are scheduled for the first and third Thursday of the month.  Light refreshments will also be provided.

August 2, 2012 (La Mesa) – The Board of Directors of Helix Water District will conduct a Public Hearing on proposed Water Rates August 15 at 6:00 p.m. at the Helix Water District Administration Office, 7811 University Avenue, La Mesa.  View the proposed water rate hikes here.

July 7, 2012 (La Mesa)—Helix Water District invites the public to a public informational meeting on a proposed water rate hike. The meeting will be held July 10 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive in La Mesa.

If 50% of ratepayers object in writing, the rate hike can be halted.  Written protests must be submitted by U.S. mail or in person to 7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 91942, or written protests may be turned in at the Public Hearing on August 15 at 6:00 p.m. before conclusion of the public comment portion. (E-mailed comments are not allowed.)

By Miriam Raftery

June 27, 2012 (La Mesa) – By a 4-1 vote with Director Kathleen Hedberg dissenting, the Helix Water District board of directors voted to approve a water rate study that recommends rate hikes.  The increase would average 4.7 percent, or $2.75 a month for the average water user, though owners of larger properties face substantially heftier increases.

If half or more of all property owners n the district send written objections, the increase would be blocked.  Protest letters must be sent by standard mail or hand-delivered to Helix. (ECM is protesting the District's unreasonable refusal to allow e-mail comments.)

In addition, a public meeting on the rate hikes will be held July 10 at 6 p.m. in the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive.  A final vote is expected at a Board hearing on August 15 at 6 p.m. at Helix Water District’s hearing room, 7811 University Ave.

By Miriam Raftery

June 27, 2012 (La Mesa) –Helix Water Board director Chuck Muse sought to have the District prohibit fellow Board directors from speaking to  reporters, ECM has learned.  

Board President DeAna Verbeke stopped short of such drastic measures, but  did chastise directors to refrain from “negative personal comments” about board members or the District,” admonishing that during past rate hike considerations, “discussing the District’s business did not reflect well on the individual of the District.”

November 15, 2011 (La Mesa) – To encourage every student to read more and raise student consciousness of water issues, Helix Water District has distributed 60,000 water awareness bookmarks—enough for every student in all public and private schools within the Helix District. Additional bookmarks have been given to public libraries, locally owned bookstores, and the Water Conservation Garden.

November 1, 2011 (Mt. Helix) --As part of a larger cast iron pipeline replacement project, Helix Water District crews will replace two 60-year-old valves at Mt. Helix Drive and Vivera Drive and install a new valve at Mt. Helix Drive and Alto Drive on Thursday, November 17.

Much of Mt. Helix is served by a single pipeline. As a result, construction activity will create a 10-hour water shutdown between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 242 customers on 20 streets in the vicinity.

By Miriam Raftery

"How they will conduct the search is a decision that the full board is entitled to vote on. " - Terry Francke, general counsel, Californians Aware

“Transparency in this case is not only questionable but sends the wrong message to the voters…Does the selection process pass the smell test? The voters should decide that.” – La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid

October 27, 2011 (La Mesa)— Without calling for a vote, Helix Water District Board Director DeAna Verbeke announced during the October 19 board meeting that a subcommittee of two board and two staff members, not the full board, will handle screening applications to replace retiring General Manager Mark Weston. Verbeke then appointed herself and board member Chuck Muse (who was absent), to comprise the subcommittee charged with narrowing the field of applications to a handful for the full board to review.

Her announcement drew gasps from the audience and was made over the persistent objections of board member Kathleen Hedberg and the public.

Taking the action without a vote puts the jurisdiction in legally murky water, an attorney specializing in open government laws has informed ECM.

October 18, 2011 (La Mesa)-- After 10 years as General Manager of the Helix Water District, Mark Weston announced he will retire on December 30. On Tuesday at 6 p.m., the Board will provide staff with directions on recruiting a replacement. The meeting will be held at 7811 University Avenue in La Mesa.

September 7, 2011 (La Mesa) –Today the Helix Water District Board of Directors voted 5-0 to suspend the El Monte Valley Mining, Reclamation, and Groundwater Recharge Project in Lakeside.

“The El Monte Valley Project halt is primarily due to a delay in the availability of advanced treated recycled water and increased project cost,” said Helix General Manager Mark Weston in a statement issued to media.

By Jeremy Los

August 19, 2011 (La Mesa)--Water rates are set to increase yet again after the Helix Water District board voted Tuesday to raise the district water rates yesterday. The board faced a firing squad of comments from concerned and angered citizens about the rate hikes scheduled to be implemented on September 1, 2011.

The board passed the increase by a vote of 4-1 with the lone opposing vote cast by Director Kathleen Hedberg.

By Jeremy Los

July 28, 2011 – A community information meeting held by Helix Water District last week turned into a discussion of employee benefits and pensions amid public outcry over raising water rates.

District officials provided citizens with a Power Point explanation and breakdown of the statistical reasons behind the proposed increase.  Those explanations didn't wash, however, with some irate residents who argued that the District should cut expenses rather than impose another rate hike on consumers in today's challenging economy.

July 19, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Helix Water District will hold an informational public meeting on the proposed water rate increase on July 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive in La Mesa.

June 8, 2011 (La Mesa) – Helix Water District’s Board of Directors voted 4-1 to approve a preliminary water rate study that would impose new rate hikes starting November 1st. The Board will weigh approval of a final rate study on June 15th that would impose new rate increase starting November 1st.

By David Smyle

April 23, 2011 (La Mesa)--On Wednesday April 20th, the Helix Water Board on a 4-1 vote approved the two year MOU negotiated by the employees for the employees with no rate payer representation. That’s right! Mark Weston and Lisa Irvine, employees of Helix Water were appointed by the Board to represent the ratepayers’ interest in the negotiations with the employees.

Retirement benefit cost-sharing for employees also on the table

By Miriam Raftery
 

April 18, 2011 (La Mesa) – Metropolitan Water District declared the drought over after heavy winter rains. But Helix Water District' general manager Mark Weston, in a report to the Board, recommends that staff prepare a Water Rate Study which could lead to rate increases in the fall.

District Partners with Borrego Solar and CCSE to deploy 290 Kw solar system at  Nat L. Eggert Operations Center

April 4, 2011 (El Cajon)--Helix Water District has activated a 290 kilowatt (KW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the Nat L. Eggert Operations Center (OC) in El Cajon. The zero-emission system was deployed through a partnership with Borrego Solar Systems, Inc. and the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE).

To celebrate, the District hosted a ribbon-cutting event for the new system on March 30th.

Editor's note:  On April 6, Helix Water District will hold a hearing on smart meters for water district customers.  Susan Brinchman believes two smart meters installed on her home by SDG&E are causing health problems including headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, heart palpitations, sleep loss and more. Her efforts to have SDG&E remove the meters have been unsuccessful. Brinchman has compiled data on safety concerns including complaints to the Califiornia Public Utilities Commission from residents with smart meters claiming health issues. ECM has asked Helix Water for records on smart meter safety and complaints and will publish once received.

"Show me the proof that my doctor is incorrect in stating that exposure to rf radiation from smart meters is causing me health problems, aggravating my medical condition." - Susan Brinchman

By Susan Brinchman, M. Ed

Founder, American Coalition Against Smart Meters and Smart Meter Dangers website: www.smartmeterdangers.org 
 

By David Smyle, La Mesa

February 11, 2011 (San Diego's East Count)--On Thursday February 10, the SD County Taxpayer Association held an informative breakfast on 401(k) plans for public employees. All County and City leaders were invited to attend for free--but only representatives from the City of San Diego, San Marcos, Oceanside, the Port Authority, SD County Water Authority and the SD Firefighters and Police Associations were present, besides the public.

Since no East County city or Other County officials or their representatives were in attendance, I guess they already had all the answers and had determined that this route was not for them. With Helix Water District currently under employee MOU negotiations and paying the most beneficial employee package of any public agency, it would have been nice to at least see one of the two negotiators in attendance for good PR even if they didn't plan to use the information.

By Miriam Raftery

December 10, 2010 (La Mesa) – At Tuesday’s meeting, Helix Water District’s board swore in reelected members DeAna Verbeke and Kathleen Coates Hedberg.

The majority also voted to name Verbeke president, replacing Richard Smith. In addition, John Linden was named vice president.

By Miriam Raftery

December 4, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Californians Aware (CalAware), the nonprofit center for public forum rights, has advised state associations representing most local government agencies that their members may be subject to short notice lawsuits for common violations of California’s open meeting law, the Brown Act.

Several local boards are among those recently accused of Brown Act violations by CALAWARE or other watchdog groups, including Grossmont Healthcare District, Grossmont Union High School District, Helix Water District, and Lakeside Fire Protection District boards.

October 30, 2010 (La Mesa) – Helix Water District’s Board of Directors has faced challenges amid an era of water shortages caused by drought and court decisions limiting our region’s water supplies from Northern California. Water rate hikes, budget cuts and development of new water sources for our region are all key issues the Board must contend with in the future.

Yet campaigns for this board have stirred surprisingly little attention among the public.  Only one seat is contested. Incumbent DeAna Verbeke is running against challengers Stephen D. Last and Jordie Lehr in Division 2. In Division 4, incumbent Kathleen Hedberg is unopposed.

Helix Water District raises rates in contentious hearing

By Kristin Kjaero

August 19, 2010 (La Mesa) – “Get used to it. We’re going to pay more each year,” Helix Water District Board member John Linden told the audience, shortly before the board voted 3-2 to raise the three-tiered rate structure an average of 8% more starting in November. Last year rates increased 21+%.

Discussion at the rate increase hearing was lively to say the least, as tempers frayed and the public, General Manager and Board members accused one another of not being truthful and of micromanaging. The room was filled to capacity, and occasionally members of the audience called out and were gaveled back to order. A La Mesa Policeman stood in the back quietly observing.

Public meetings set; first is July 14 at Fuerte Elementary

June 22, 2010 (La Mesa) – By a 3-2 vote, Helix Water District’s Board on June 16 voted to increase water rates as recommended by staff. Board members Kathleen Coates Hedberg and De Ana Verbeke opposed the rate hike, while members Richard Smith, John Linden and Chuck Muse voted in favor of raising rates.

By Miriam Raftery

April 12, 2010 (Lakeside) –Concerns bubbled up at a Saturday meeting between Helix Water District general manager Mark Weston and residents of Lakeside over a proposed El Monte Valley mining, reclamation, and groundwater recharge project.

By Miriam Raftery

February 18, 2010 (La Mesa) – By a unanimous vote, the Helix Water Board voted yesterday to disband an ad hoc committee on rate increases after several citizens objected on grounds that the process was not transparent.

“Your ad hoc committee has two board members on it,” Josan Feathers, a registered civil engineer, observed. “So when the ad hoc committee brings its recommendations to the Board , it only needs one more vote.”

By Kristin Kjaero

February 14, 2010 (La Mesa) -- How will water rates change as of July 1, 2010, and will individual water budgets be imposed as part of the process?

The Helix Water District (HWD) Board will discuss these February 17 and March 17, 2010 respectively.

“Why can’t we charge people the right cost at the right time?” – Board member Kathleen Hedberg

By Kristin Kjaero

November 27, 2009 (La Mesa) - - On November 18, the Helix Water District Board dived into controversial waters, voting to hold a public hearing in June on a proposal to raise rates 12.6% effective July 10, 2010 plus an additional 7.5% effective July 1, 2011. The proposal triggered a heated discussion whether to hikes rates before the Board knows how much its water costs will be raised.

By Miriam Raftery

September 24, 2009 (El Cajon) –Why was water left to flow for three days from a pipeline on Pepper Drive? After a reader e-mailed East County Magazine to say that Helix Water had failed to repair an apparently ruptured pipeline a day and a half after it was first reported, we contacted Helix Water District to find out why.