Transitioning to an internal management structure

In the mid-2000s, the Association began the transition to an internal management and operating structure with the Board’s desire to provide “a well-considered set of checks and balance, self-governance & operation and transparency”. Previously, Satellite Management Services was the contracted business manager and certified water system operator of the Association. Satellite Management Services was a family-owned business (Renny and his brother “Butch” Lillejord along with Renny’s daughter and son in the later years). They serviced many of the water associations and small water systems in the upper and lower Snoqualmie Valley for years. Satellite Management Services also provided services for the Sallal Water Association, a “sister” federally funded water cooperative formed under the Farmers Home Administration. The Sallal Water Association also transitioned to a new self-governing and staffing basis concurrently with ALWA.  A mutually beneficial back-up system still exists in this long term “partnership” between Sallal and ALWA.

The Board proceeded to initiate detailed business and engineering analyses of the system and to directly hire in house personnel to manage the business office and field operations. First, Sharon Bakke was hired as a part-time administrator to serve the Association and the Board of Directors. The Board initiated the transfer (from Satellite Management Services) of the Association’s business records and office operations directly to the Association. Scott Mitchell was brought on in fall of 2005 as the water system Manager/Operator.  The following summer, Scott Hemingway succeeded him as the Field Operations Manager. The Board has also continuously relied on a number of consultants: Richard Jonson has provided excellent legal counsel to the Association and Board for many years; several professional engineers including John Hastig of Gray & Osborne, Warren Perkins and after Dick Heintz the original engineer for much of the early stages of the Association; a hydrogeologist, Robert Pancoast, who worked on numerous groundwater and water rights related issues; and various economic consultants on an as needed basis.