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| Splash photo by Craig Howard |
Steve Skipworth has served on the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District Board of Commissioners since 2007, when he replaced longtime Commissioner Harley Halverson. A native of Spokane and graduate of Central Valley High School, Skipworth worked 32 years for Spokane Valley-based Vera Water and Power. He is pictured above at LLSWD headquarters next to a photograph of Liberty Lake, circa 1982.
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A Cup of Joe: LLSWD's utilitarian utility man
1/28/2015 1:42:27 PM
Skipworth shares vast experience with board
By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor
As someone who has spent most of his professional life in the water industry, Steve Skipworth understands the importance of a ripple effect.
He saw it at Vera Water and Power where he worked for 32 years, rising to the rank of director of operations for a utility widely respected for its quality customer service and community involvement. He found a similar degree of accountability at the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District when he was appointed to replace Harley Halverson on the Board of Commissioners in 2007, joining an effort recognized on a national scale for its priority on water protection and environmental stewardship.
Skipworth has run alone on ballots in 2008 and 2013 following his appointment as commissioner. He is now in the second year of his second six-year term.
A native of Spokane, Skipworth grew up in the Spokane Valley area and graduated from Central Valley High School in 1968. He moved on to Eastern Washington University, where he earned a degree in Industrial Technology Construction in 1972.
In 1974, Skipworth was hired by Vera Water and Power, a publicly owned utility that provides water and electricity to approximately 10,000 residents of Spokane Valley. Vera's roots go back to 1907 with a hand-dug well that was the source of irrigation for area farms and orchards. Skipworth called the utility home until his retirement in 2006.
Skipworth and his wife, Jill, are proud parents of two sons, both graduates of CVHS and EWU. They also have five grandchildren. Jill taught in the Central Valley School District for 33 years and is now retired, leaving more time for home design and construction. Steve and Jill have designed three of their homes and built two of them.
The Splash caught up with Skipworth recently to talk about watershed protection, the legacy of LLSWD and the realities of running alone on a commissioner's ballot.
Q: How did your experience at Vera Water and Power prepare you for your duties as LLSWD commissioner?
A: Two ways. First was the 32 years in the public utility business that gave me the knowledge to know the workings and operation of a public utility district. Second was that I had 19 years working directly with and for a district board. With over 40 years in the industry, not much surprises me anymore.
Q: What did you know about LLSWD before you became a commissioner?
A: The water industry in the Spokane area is a tight group. We work together in many ways. Because of that and because I lived in the Liberty Lake community, I was friends with LLSWD's (then) General Manager, Lee Mellish. I had been to the district office a number of times for meetings and to visit with Lee.
Q: Being a commissioner is an elected position. Other than a few races over the past decade, we really haven't seen much competition on the ballot, including the last two that you've appeared on. Why do you think?
A: I'm not sure. Hopefully the community has trust in the board. I know when we had to fill a board position after Commissioner Frank Boyle passed, we had five outstanding applicants.
Q: You took over for a well-respected leader in Harley Halverson, whose roots go back to Hewlett Packard and the early days of development in the Liberty Lake area. How challenging was that transition?
A: I had met Harley and knew what an outstanding person he was. I knew I couldn't replace the history he had with the district and the Liberty Lake community. Tom Agnew and Frank Boyle lived on and by the lake as did Harley. I felt that the lake was in good hands with them on the board. What I wanted to do was hopefully represent the folks within the city of Liberty Lake. That doesn't mean that I feel more city than lake. I have always felt that we are a community and have always made decisions that I thought was best for the people of the Liberty Lake community.
Q: Speaking of transitions, the district has had its share of change in the last few years with Frank Boyle passing away in 2012 and Lee Mellish retiring in 2013. How do you think LLSWD has handled these major shifts in leadership?
A: We have been blessed to have had two outstanding people step forward. Commissioner Kottayam "Nata" Natarajan is great. He really cares for the people and the community of Liberty Lake. He adds a lot to the board. Our new General Manager BiJay Adams was promoted from our lakes and water resource manager position with 10 years with the district. He also has been great. Because of them, the transitions have gone well. For Tom and I, we feel pretty lucky that the transitions have brought few challenges.
Q: Last year, the district was heavily involved in the debate over the proposed installation of ground source heat pumps at the Lakemore development in the eastern part of the city. The developer, Whitewater Creek, ended up withdrawing its application near the end of 2014. Looking back, how would you rate the district's response to this issue?
A: When the district found out what the developer was planning on doing with regards to the ground source heat pump system, we didn't have a choice but to get involved. When we found out that they were looking at penetrating the aquifer, steps were taken to take control. Aquifer protection is very high on our list of responsibilities, and we were concerned with the potential of contamination of our sole source of drinking water. That is why we assumed lead agency status. I have been to a few meetings both at the local and state level since where we have been discussing this situation.
Q: As a native of the area, what are you most proud of when it comes to themes like water protection and environmental stewardship?
A: Over the years, I have been able to see what many communities have to do to produce safe drinking water. We are so fortunate to have a clean reliable source of drinking water in our community. I want people to be able to live their lives without worrying about if their drinking water is safe. To do that, we need to be responsible for the environment we live in. I am very proud of the people of our community with helping us protect what we have.
Q: The district is working on the second phase of an upgrade to your wastewater treatment plant. How do you feel this is progressing and do you think the new facility will be able to meet the stringent standards that will be required by 2021?
A: We are on schedule for the upgrade of the reclamation plant. The numbers show that we will be close with what technology is available. I'm concerned with being able to attain the quality of effluent coming from plant that the Department of Ecology and the Environmental Protection Agency are asking of us. We all are concerned with the environment, but to the level that is attainable and financially responsible.
Q: The district and the city of Liberty Lake have had a roller coaster relationship since incorporation became official in August 2001. While things appear cordial now, do you think there are still any residual effects from the city trying to take over LLSWD over a decade ago?
A: I hope we have moved on. The city and district each have certain responsibilities to the people of our community of Liberty Lake. Today we work well together. The city and district staffs are communicating and know they need to serve the people.
Q: Those familiar with the history of LLSWD know it began with a grassroots effort to save Liberty Lake in the early 1970s, but it's clear this focus is ongoing. Last fall, the district worked with Spokane County to install three new units that filter out toxins from the lake. How would you describe overall lake health on the district's current priority list?
A: We can't ignore any of our responsibilities. We have comprehensive plans in place that give us a view of our needs for the future for our sewer, water and lake departments. Funding is always a concern, but we can't ignore our community needs or requirements. We have a very good lake manager who keeps us in the loop on not only the health of the lake but what is happening within its watershed.
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IF YOU GO ...
14th annual Regional Lakes Conference
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 7
Spokane Community College Lair, Student Union Building
N. 1810 Greene St., Spokane
What is it: The Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District is a lead organizer of this free conference covering topics like student research, state programs, local stewardship and invasive plants and animals. Call for more info at 922-5443 or register online at www.lakesconference.libertylake.org.
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