One newly appointed and one reappointed Governing Board member took the oath of office today to serve on the Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board.
Pat Glass was appointed to the Governing Board. The Palmetto resident is retired and serves as a community volunteer. Glass will also assume responsibility as co-chair ex officio of the District’s Manasota Basin Board. Her term ends March 1, 2009.
Glass, a long-time Manatee County commissioner and chair of the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority, replaces Edward Chance who passed away in June 2006.
“Ed was a great champion of the water resources and a true friend. We worked together in many capacities to ensure a sustainable water supply and a protected environment. I look forward to continuing this work on the Governing Board,” said Glass.
Judy Whitehead was reappointed. She was first appointed to the Governing Board in March 2003. The Brooksville resident is the current Governing Board vice chair and chair ex officio of the District’s Coastal Rivers Basin Board. Whitehead is the owner of Residential Appraisal Service. Her term ends March 1, 2011.
Whitehead was pleased to be reappointed and is looking forward to continuing Chair Jerry Rice’s direction for a specific strategic plan for the District, as well as continuing to focus on alternative water sources.
“I am also very interested in developing partnerships to plan and meet the future water needs of the northern part of our District, to clean up and maintain our wonderful springs, and to assist counties and cities to develop ordinances that require Florida-friendly landscaping for all new developments Districtwide,” said Whitehead.
Governing Board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The Governing Board sets policy for the District, whose mission is to manage the water and related resources of west central Florida to meet the needs of current and future water users while protecting the environment. Each Governing Board member also serves as chair ex officio of a Basin Board.
The District has eight regional Basin Boards that provide guidance for local programs that are specific to the watershed basins they protect. The District’s ninth basin, the Green Swamp, is administered by the Governing Board. Basin Boards work with local governments and other entities on water resource projects that have an impact in local communities. Basin Boards often provide partial funding for these projects in partnership with a local government or local cooperator.