Ron Korman, longtime director of Fern Valley Water District.             Photo by J.P. Crumrine
Ron Korman, longtime director of Fern Valley Water District. Photo by J.P. Crumrine

On June 20, Ron Korman resigned as director of the Fern Valley Water District. He was appointed to the board just one year ago at the June 21, 2013, meeting to fill the term of Diana Johnson who had resigned.

Only 16 months remained in Korman’s term, which ends in December 2015. Next May, the Riverside County Registrar of Voters will begin accepting candidate papers for the August 2015 election.

In a June 20 letter to the district, Korman stated his reason for resigning: “I do not agree with the board’s decision to employ the services of an outside consultant to address rate and revenue issues, nor can I, as FVWD director, support and condone needlessly spending nearly $20,000 for a study.”

Idyllwild Water District will be considering water and sewer rate increases without resorting to the use of consultants, Korman stressed, and he feels strongly that FVWD should not go down the consultant road either.

When asked if he might reconsider before the FVWD August meeting, Korman responded adamantly, “No.”

“It’s too bad he resigned, he could have contributed,” said board Chair Robert Krieger.

Korman left with a total of 14 years on the board. He served from 1998 through December 2011, when he retired with plans for extensive traveling that would result in missing multiple meetings.

But when FVWD announced Diana Johnson’s vacancy in 2013, Korman was the sole applicant to complete her term.

The board will discuss plans for filling the vacancy at its Aug. 22 meeting, Krieger said. “We’ll seek candidates and have them apply and go through the process.”