Board of Commissioners

As a water district, we derive our authority from the Revised Code of Washington, Title 57.  The CWD five member Board of Commissioners, elected by the customers, has limited power to set policy within the framework of the state statutes, city and county ordinances.  All actions of the Board take place in regularly scheduled open public meetings, which are held on the first Wednesday and the third Wednesday of each month at District headquarters at 6:30 p.m., or at specially scheduled public meetings.  Customers are invited and encouraged to attend. We are not regulated by the state utility and transportation commission, which regulates private and investor-owned utilities.

Commissioners:

David Knight	David Knight email: David.Knight@covingtonwater.com Commissioner David Knight took office in 1993, serving on the Board for the last 15 years.   He currently is Board President, and represents the District on the Cascade Water Alliance Board.  David is a 1982 graduate of Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma with a BA in Physical Education.  He had a successful 13 year career in outside sales in Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare and Industrial sales with various large companies throughout the Puget Sound area.   David has owned and operated Landman Inc. for the last 13 years selling real estate and developing land.  Commissioner David Knight and his wife Anita have 6 boys.   The family devotes much of their time and resources to local and overseas ministries.  David actively serves at Valley View Christian Church and sits on the boards of Northwest Biblical Counseling Center, Camp Woodworth, and Gateway Medical Alliance.
George D. (Dennis) Holden	George D. (Dennis) Holden  email: Dennis.Holden@covingtonwater.com Commissioner Dennis Holden took office in 1991, serving on the Board for the last 17 years.  He currently is Board Secretary, and says, “I am especially pleased that because of district management, the employees and the Board of Commissioners we have secured enough water to take care of our current and future customers into the next century”. With 50 employees taking care of a 56 square mile area, good clean water at a reasonable rate is still our number one focus.  However, it is becoming more and more difficult to achieve as environmental issues, stream flows, and exempt wells challenge our operations.  The Board is looking at other avenues of obtaining water, including the reuse of waters.  Terms like “purple pipe” catch basins, surface water runoff, and grey water are all common reuse terms.  We will not be able to use potable water for non potable purposes.  I look forward to these challenges as commissioner. Commissioner Dennis Holden and his wife Linda have lived in Covington since 1970 and have 3 daughters and 8 grandchildren.
Jeff Clark	Jeff Clark email: Jeff.Clark@covingtonwater.com Commissioner Jeff Clark took office in 2000.   Jeff is honored to have been elected by the rate payers of Covington Water District and to have the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors.  His goal is to make sure the District is focused on delivering safe clean water for today, tomorrow and into the future. “It is my commitment this will be done in a cost effective way while providing excellent customer service to current and future rate payers.  Furthermore, I believe growth needs to pay for growth and rate payers should not be burdened with the cost of development”, Jeff states. As the District moves forward we face challenges, such as controlling cost, water reuse, protecting the environment, emergency preparedness, managing development, internal growth and managing multiple regulations from multiple governmental agencies.  To address the challenges of today the District seeks to hire the most qualified, innovative employees and reward these individuals who come together as a team for the services they provide to the community. As your elected official, I will work continually to strive for excellence within the district, meet the community’s expectations and monitor the District which has been entrusted to me.
Jan Stafford	Jan Stafford email: Jan.Stafford@covingtonwater.com Commissioner Jan Stafford took office in 1998, serving on the board for the last 10 years.  Jan decided to run for office because there were practices she wanted to change.  After being elected it became apparent that many of her concerns were related to regulations mandated by the state or county, and not the District.  Commissioners’ authority is actually very limited.  They must practice due diligence, are unable to “gift” public funds to help individual customers, and must follow all state and county regulations.   Commissioner Stafford says, “I would like to give credit to retired General Manager, Judy Nelson, for her relentless dedication in obtaining water that meets our future growth into the second half of this century.  I would also like to give credit to Gwenn Maxfield, the District’s new General Manager, for her leadership regarding customer service and good public relations.  I am pleased with the new direction the District is taking”.   Commissioner Jan Stafford and her husband have lived in the District for over 30 years, and have 7 children and 20 grandchildren.  Jan is the owner of HomeWell Senior Care, a service that works with seniors who choose to live at home with assisted care.
Tom de Laat	Tom de Laat email: Tom.deLaat@covingtonwater.com Commissioner Tom de Laat was appointed to the Board of Commissioners in January 2008.  He was previously elected to the Board in 1993 and served through 2001. During that period he represented the District in the planning and development of long term water supply planning and beginnings of the Cascade Water Alliance.  Tom is a Registered Professional Engineer in Alaska, Washington, California and Wisconsin.  He is an Engineering Consultant and practices in the planning, design and construction of utility and transportation projects in Washington and the western US.    Commissioner Tom de Laat has been a resident of the Covington area and a District Customer since 1989.

Board Meeting Minutes & Agendas

District Mission Statement

To serve quality water with excellent customer service, commitment to strategic and emergency planning, fiscal responsibility, regulatory compliance, stewardship and partnerships.

Covington Water District Core Values

Service

Environmental stewardship

Reliable, quality water

Value, honor and respect in all relationships

Integrity, accountability and transparency

Customer courtesy

Employee support