By Andrea Calcagno
 
June 30, 2009
 
SHADY COVE, Ore. - The incumbent Shady Cove Water District Board of Directors is refusing to step down, even though a newly elected board is set to take office this week.
 
The SCWD was formed in 2002 with the task of bringing a water system to Shady Cove. The district struggled to obtain grants, and found tax payers unwilling to fund federal loans. In 2005, Shady Cove residents voted by a margin of more than 3 to 1 to shut down the district rather than face paying assessments, but the vote was overturned by a judge.
 
The five new people who ran for board positions in the May 19th Special Election won collectively by 87 percent. All five ran on a platform to dissolve the district.
 
"I thought it was unfair that the water district should continue even though the voters decided not the continue with the water district. So I ran on the platform of dissolving the water district," Newly elected Water District Board Member Phillip Keith said.
 
However, about 30 days after the new candidates had declared to run for board positions, the current water district changed the qualifications for running and successfully excluded all the candidates.
 
"if you don't have a private well on your property that would disqualify you. If you hadn't paid the water fees which have been declared illegal by the court system, that would disqualify you," Keith said.
 
Meanwhile, until action is taken, the current water district board plans on staying put.
 
"The law says that until a new board is sworn in, the old board is supposed to be able to function until they have been replaced by new members sworn in," Current Water District Manager James Collier said.
 
The newly elected board members say that besides having all five members declare the district dissolved, there is one other way to dissolve the SWCD. Members say they will participate in a petition process that could also result in dissolving the board.