Relatively sane

 

Why would I find myself sitting in front of a 3 person panel, under fluorescent office lighting, answering questions about my background and agenda? I'll just leave that question out there for a minute. I voluntarily subjected myself to 45 minutes of grilling and "education" on a subject that I was completely unaware of until 3 weeks ago. Given my recent state of mind, one would assume that I was in a psych ward, getting my head examined. That may be next, but no, this was not the case.

A few weeks ago my neighbor told me there was a vacancy at the locally operated Browns Valley Irrigation District. The position is for Director, district 5. I didn't know anything about a board of directors or even that I was in district 5, but I listened to my neighbor as he explained the job to me. 

"You go to meetings twice a month, a couple of hours in the evening. Vote on things occasionally. Look at finances and discuss policies. You get paid $500 a month."

He had me at $500 a month. Why not? I didn't suppose I'd be qualified, but he kept insisting that it wasn't something you have to know anything about going into it. Just fill a seat and kind of absorb what you can. He had done the job previously but that was back when it only paid $40 a month.

I looked on their website, downloaded the application, filled it out and mailed it to them with the following hastily composed statement:

Board of Directors, Division 5

I have been a resident of the Browns Valley/Loma Rica area since 2008. I enjoy the rural atmosphere and the tight knit community we have here. I am interested in learning its history and try to stay current on issues that affect us. Since the Cascade Fire, I have been trying to find ways to strengthen our community and help keep us safer from the continued threat of wildfires.

Irrigation water was a big factor in my home being spared. Water is a valuable resource and will only become more valuable in the future. I would like to help make sure that resource is being utilized effectively and is available to all who need it. I was an auto technician for 15 years, now retired. I have a continued interest in learning how things work, fixing things that are broken and trying to make improvements where possible.

Additionally, as a taxpayer and a BVID customer, I am interested in making sure my money is being well-spent. Since I don’t have a background in government, water resource management or accounting, I would defer to those more knowledgeable than myself, while I educate myself on the issues involved in running such an enterprise.

Thank you for your consideration,

Andrew Golding

Actually, there were typos that I just now noticed and corrected in that statement. God, really? How embarrassing. But despite that, I found myself in their office getting interviewed for the position. I guess, technically, they have to consider all applicants because it is a public utility. There are only 3 other applicants that I am aware of. The reason I know this is because they furnish a log book on the front desk with copies of all their applicants' statements. There mine was, typos and all, for the whole world to see.

I doubt I'll get the job. One of the other applicant's statement was far more enthusiastic and showed a background that would give them the edge. If they are going for obsequious butt kisser, he appears to be a shoe-in. I really am not that invested either way. I wanted to find out what kind of a job paid $500 a month for a couple hours work. 

And I did. I went down there, got asked questions and asked a few of my own, revealing my total ignorance of state and local infrastructure in general and water management in particular. It was ok, they said. It takes about 3 to 4 years to really get a handle on what is going on. The position gets voted on every 4 years in a general election, but most of the members have been on the board more than 20 years. The vacancy in district 5 was created when its board member died during his term. 

That was my Monday. I suppose, being relatively sane, I thought I could at least investigate the world out there. It was a bit weird, but it didn't kill me. We'll see whether or not my interview was sufficient to convince them that I am up to the task of sitting in a chair, discussing water 2 nights a month. Re-reading my applicant's statement gives me pause on this whole writing thing. I hate typos.