BCVWD Designates Special Districts Week May 17-23

Press release from Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District: At its meeting on May 13, the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District (BCVWD) board of directors adopted a resolution that acknowledges essential local services and encourages residents to be involved in their community and civically engaged with their local government.

The resolution observes the second annual Special Districts Week, May 17-23. More than 2,000 special districts in California provide millions of people with clean drinking water, sanitation, fire protection, healthcare, transit and other indispensable public functions.

“Today’s challenges with the coronavirus pandemic have shown residents that the work special districts do is vital to maintaining public health and safety and day-to-day activities,” said BCVWD Board President John Covington. “Civic engagement in these services plays a key role in sustaining a thriving community.”

Special districts are local government entities created, funded and overseen by a community’s residents to provide specialized services and public works projects such as water treatment facilities, street lighting and airports. Residents govern them through locally elected or appointed boards.

BCVWD was formed in 1919 to provide irrigation water to local farming lands. What began as a small, privately-owned company to support development in the District’s service area evolved into a public water system that now serves a population of approximately 58,000.

Special Districts Week is expected to be established by the State Legislature this year with bi-partisan approval of Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 179. The approval has been delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 on the legislative schedule. ACR 179 was sponsored by the California Special Districts Association (CSDA).

This press release was produced by Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District. The views expressed here are the author's own.