Editor’s Note: In an effort to promote good management and leadership, the Special District Association is highlighting special districts that exemplify these much needed community concepts.
As SDA looks towards 2012, we acknowledge that several issues have been foisted upon the special district world, including the economy, a decline in volunteerism, as well as how to find the best person for the job for providing services to Colorado as many special district board members and managers retire.
Focus on Leadership
These issues have stirred the SDA Board and staff’s imagination, and the concept of leadership kept rising to the top of the ranks of how special districts would adapt in the coming years. The second part of the equation is how will SDA assist our members in finding the resources to adapt? The SDA Board and staff believe that special district boards and staffs improve the quality of life for Coloradoans, and it is SDA’s mission to assist our members in training and mentoring leaders, hence the SDA Leadership Program began.
The SDA Leadership Program was premiered at the 2011 SDA Annual Conference-SDA University lunch by SDA’s Executive Director Ann Terry and Maureen Ediger, Director of External Affairs, University of Colorado Denver, School of Public Affairs, Buechner Institute for Governance, SDA’s program partner. Many of you have taken the time to encourage SDA to move forward with this important program. With your input, we hope to provide the topics and resources to address this vital part of special districts.
The SDA Leadership Program will help special districts define “What makes a good leader.” According to Harvard Business School professor John P. Kotter – a distinguished authority on leadership – “Leadership is very much related to change. As the pace of change accelerates, there is naturally a greater need for effective leadership.” If taken to the logical conclusion, it would appear to be a “chicken vs. egg” type question ... does change bring leadership or do leaders bring change?
Eagle River Water and Sanitation District
In 2007, the Eagle River Water & Sanitation District re-examined their organizational structure to prepare for changes ahead. After focusing on building capacity in the District’s management team, District General Manager Dennis Gelvin next planned for eventual change at the executive level.
A new “assistant general manager” (AGM) position was created to support Gelvin in his role while it would also oversee the District’s operations departments; a move supported by the Board of Directors. That set the District up to plan for and work with change.
Board Chairman Rick Sackbauer attributes Gelvin’s willingness to “lead” the Board through the next phase of planning as one of Gelvin’s outstanding qualities. District staff prepared a succession plan focused on retaining institutional knowledge and reducing knowledge gaps between departments and staffing levels.
The plan was set in motion in December 2007 when Linn Brooks was promoted to serve as the District’s first AGM. The new role allowed Brooks to learn the “ins and outs” of everyday life for the Board, staff, and communities within the District service area. The District serves a population of about 27,000, with a jump to more than 50,000 during high lodging times; the District’s service and quality are fundamental to the Vail area. Over the next four years, Brooks straddled the roles of leading operations managers and taking on executive duties. In Gelvin’s absence, the Board and staff had a clear go-to person.
Last July, the District Board approved a plan to give Brooks the benefit of a 90-day on the job training program where Gelvin took time out of the office to allow employees and department heads to interact with Brooks on a daily basis. The District enacted the “succession planning exercise” in August and the Board conveyed all authorities of the general manager to Brooks as the acting general manager. At the end of the exercise, Gelvin, the District’s general manager of 18 years, retired. The Board immediately named Ms. Brooks as the new general manager.
The District Board noted her readiness for the position was in part due to Gelvin’s succession planning efforts. Board Chairman Sackbauer said, “The process the Board put in place is one that I would encourage other government entities to do, whether your manager is close to retirement or not.” Brooks, a 12-year employee, had four years of being the AGM under her belt by the time she took over in November.
Others in the Vail community have joined in on praising the District in their leadership and succession planning. Brooks has worked closely with local governments on water and wastewater matters. “I’ve learned a lot about water management from Linn. She is a professional,” said Eagle County Commissioner Jon Stavney, who also serves on the board of the Colorado River Water Conservation District. “I can’t imagine a better leader for the district for the future.”
Originally hired as the Staff Engineer, Brooks developed a proactive approach to upgrade and replace most of the water and sewer mains in Vail Village during Vail’s redevelopment and streetscape improvements. Later, as Technical Services Director, she initiated a comprehensive upgrade to the District’s information technology services. Once she became AGM, water and wastewater operations also came under her purview.
Red, White and Blue Fire Protection District
In 2011, Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District was faced with many of the same issues as Eagle River Water and Sanitation. The Fire Protection District’s Board is known for being conservative and thoughtful by the Breckenridge community, so when the District looked to replace Chief Gary Green, they knew they had the support they needed to keep the District operational and well managed. The Board approached Lori Miller whose history with the District included battalion and training chief for over eight years. Lori was just 30 days away from retiring when she made the decision to become Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District’s Chief.
Chief Miller is quick to point to the Board’s leadership in the success of the 2006 campaign to position the District to fund a long-range capital improvement plan that includes replacing fire equipment to maintain service and safety for the District. Another critical part of the Board’s leadership started in June 2009. The Red, White & Blue FPD began the endeavor of obtaining an International Accreditation Award through the Commission of Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). “The purpose of this process is for RWBFPD to achieve excellence through self-assessment in order to provide continuous quality improvement and enhancement of service delivery to our fire district,” said Chief Lori Miller. Miller also added, “Over the last 6 months, we have completed the Strategic plan, finished the Standards of Cover document, had a successful Peer Team review visit and will be heading to the Excellence Conference in March for the final step in receiving the Accreditation Award. It has truly been a team effort and a proud accomplishment for this Fire District.”
A Salute to Leadership
“SDA is proud to highlight these two outstanding organizations,” says Pat Mulhern, SDA’s Board President. The SDA Board understands the need to showcase examples of how boards, staffs and the community can work towards a better Colorado. Mulhern continued, “As SDA’s Leadership Program begins this year of programming, we will offer an overview of what used to be known as “Civics,” and we hope to promote and influence leadership in a positive way.”
Watch for more information on upcoming programs, and if your district has a leadership story to tell, please contact us…we’re anxious to hear from you.
