Kings County Supervisor Verboon retains chair position for second consecutive year, a rare occurrence driven by groundwater concerns. (SJV Water/Monserrat Solis)
- Supervisor Doug Verboon retains chair position for second consecutive year, a rare occurrence in Kings County.
- Decision aims to keep farmer leadership during state scrutiny of Tulare Lake groundwater subbasin.
- Probation measures for farmers are on hold pending lawsuit against state Water Resources Control Board.
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It was Kings County Supervisor Rusty Robinson’s turn to preside over board meetings as chair this year, but he declined, leaving the job to Supervisor Doug Verboon.
Monserrat Solis
SJV Water
This would be Verboon’s second consecutive year as chair – the first time in 17 years a supervisor was chosen to lead twice in a row.
Supervisor Joe Neves said the last time that happened was in 2007-08 when Neves was selected twice for the chair position.
“Thank you for the vote of confidence,” Verboon said to his colleagues, who unanimously voted for him.
Robinson’s motive? To keep Verboon, who is also a farmer, in charge while the Tulare Lake groundwater subbasin, which covers most of Kings County, faces scrutiny from the state.
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“My rationale is we serve on a lot of other boards, particularly the Mid-Kings River GSA, and farmers like to talk to farmers,” Robinson said during the Jan. 7 board meeting.
Verboon was also appointed chair for the Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA). The GSA is governed by his fellow supervisors and the vice mayor of Hanford.
The county was left to pick up the pieces the Kings County Water District left the Mid-Kings GSA following accusations that Mid-Kings managers were making decisions without input from local growers.
“They (the farmers) have a lot of respect for supervisor Verboon,” Robinson said. “He’s done a good job with it.”
Once the region sorts out state concerns, which have included placing the region on probation, and has a path forward for groundwater management, Robinson would like to see positions on the board shift.
“I just think it’s important to get through probation and then shift the offices,” Robinson said.
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Probation includes requiring farmers to meter and register wells at $300 each, report extractions and pay $20 per acre foot pumped to the state. Those sanctions are on hold, however, as a lawsuit against the state Water Resources Control Board by the Kings County Farm Bureau works its way through the courts.
About the Author
Monserrat Solis covers Kings County water issues for SJV Water through the California Local News Fellowship initiative.
About SJV Water
SJV Water is an independent, nonprofit news site covering water in the San Joaquin Valley, www.sjvwater.org. Email us at sjvwater@sjvwater.org.
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