The Brown County Water Improvement District appointed Jimmy Jones Tuesday to fill the seat on the board left vacant by Stuart Coleman’s resignation in November.
Board member Dennis Graham made a motion that was followed by unanimous approval to appoint Jones to fill Coleman’s unexpired term on the board of directors. This decision followed a two month process of considering and interviewing possible candidates for the position, according to General Manager Dennis Spinks.
“The board has taken a number of candidates into consideration over the past two months and held an interview process of five candidates,” said Spinks.
He explained that this was no easy decision. “The length of time it took for the board to come to a decision shows the quality of the candidates.”
Jones was sworn in by Board President Mark Campbell at Tuesday’s meeting. Spinks stated that Jones’ appointment gives the board of directors a full complement, with the recent addition of General Counsel Henry McGowan.
Jones addressed the board and stated he was honored to be appointed.
“It’d be my pleasure and honor,” said Jones as the board approved his appointment. “I don’t make a fast decision on anything, but I consider it an honor to serve on the board.”
Jones stated that he knew he has some “shoes to fill” but that he was “looking forward to serving the citizens of the area who live at Lake Brownwood.”
“I know I have shoes to fill, but I am looking forward to serving the people at the lake who now have representation,” said Jones.
Jones spoke of the responsibility this new position holds in management of the Brown County area’s main water source, Lake Brownwood.
“Water is a very precious commodity and the climatologists predict that the drought will continue through 2020,” Jones stated. “We’ve all got to work smarter, all work together to conserve water and find ways to collect more water. I will vote the way I see things and for what’s best for the district.”
When asked what helped the board to decide on Jones, Spinks stated that Jones had met three very important qualifications. First he was a property owner within the Brown County Water Improvement District. Second, he is a lakefront property owner, and third, he is an irrigation customer. These three qualifications, according to Spinks, made Jones a representative of three different groups covering all of the areas of BCWID.
“He has lots of past business experience,” said Campbell of Jones’ qualification. “Hopefully, he will bring some wisdom for us as well.”
Campbell thanked all the candidates who interviewed for the position and stated that the board “couldn’t make a bad choice” with any of the candidates considered.
“It was a hard situation but a good situation to be in,” said Campbell of the tough selection process. “We appreciate all of the candidates’ willingness to serve.”
Other candidates considered included former Brownwood Mayor Bert Massey, Dr. Chris Stephens, Steven Wilson, and Vanessa Stewart Gordon. Spinks thanked the candidates and encouraged them to run when seats currently filled by Mark Campbell and Ted Simpson come up for election in May.
“I’ve served on the board for 24 years,” said Director Ted Simpson. “This is the first time we have had to go through this process.”
Coleman had served a total of 40 years, which according to BCWID General Manger Dennis Spinks were not continuous years due to having served on the state’s Water Development Board for several years. The unexpired term Jones fills expires in May of 2016.
Pictured at top is Jones (left) shaking hands with board president Mark Campbell.
