North Marin Water District’s board of directors accepted Dennis Rodoni’s resignation last week as Mr. Rodoni prepares to join the Marin County Board of Supervisors in January. The board will appoint a successor during a public meeting that will take place by Feb. 18, and that person will serve until the district’s next general election, slated for next fall. 

Though the district’s seats are not designated for separate regions, Mr. Rodoni, who served for two decades on the board, “became thought of as a West Marin representative,” he said. The district provides water to about 750 West Marin customers, from Point Reyes Station to Oceana Marin, and Mr. Rodoni said it’s “really important someone from West Marin steps up and applies” for the position. He said he’s personally reached out to a few people about pursuing it.

He looks back at his tenure with pride, citing improvements to West Marin’s water system in particular. “We have new storage tanks and more water storage. We have improved pump stations for firefighting and improved pipelines for serving customers. We have a pipeline to reduce the salinity intrusion—and that part of the puzzle came free,” he told the Light last spring.

In 2015, the district installed the Gallagher well pipeline, which connected the West Marin system to a supply free from saltwater intrusion. North Marin had environmental documents ready for some time, Mr. Rodoni said, so when $1.5 million from a water bond became available, the district nabbed it, knocking the $3.5 million tab down to $2 million. 

Mr. Rodoni also helped streamline billing for West Marin customers, who were divided into three accounting groups as the district annexed different areas over the years. 

Chris DeGabriele, the district’s general manager, said so far no one has submitted an application for the vacated seat. Any registered voter living in the district is encouraged to apply by submitting a letter of interest by Jan. 20 to P.O. Box 146 Novato, CA 94948. Letters should describe previous experience, educational background and prior public service and outline exactly why one is pursuing a seat on the board.

Mr. DeGabriele said the district is now focused on replacing a water tank on the Inverness Ridge that has been damaged since the 1995 Mount Vision Fire. Also on the radar is the construction of a new water treatment center for Point Reyes Station. The current center is located on the Coast Guard facility; Mr. DeGabriele said the district will cooperate with the county to relocate the treatment center to another location on the property sometime in the next few years. The current center will remain in service during construction. 

Looking forward, Mr. DeGabriele also noted the impending challenges of sea-level rise and water quality and facilities protection.