Editorial

Running a water district can be a thankless job.

People just expect that they will always be able to turn the tap and

have good, clean water come out of it. Anything less would probably cause

a revolution.

So it is with a compliment that we say for some 20 years Karl Kemp,

for the most part, ran the Mesa Consolidated Water District without

creating many ripples.

That’s not to say he didn’t have his share of rough waves, even some

gushers to contend with.

He came under fire for proposing a massive 23% rate hike and for

having a private bathroom built in his office during the water district’s

renovation of its headquarters, which through no fault of Kemp’s just

happened to coincide with the economic recession of the 1990s.

In the mid 1990s, he felt more barbs after two employees filed formal

complaints of sexual discrimination and harassment, claims that cost the

district $170,000. And the district later engaged in a costly lawsuit

after a deal to purchase the small Santa Ana Heights Water Co. fell

through.

But Kemp rose to the challenges and garnered the respect of many of

the members of the Mesa Consolidated water board.

He cleaned house after the discrimination claims, spearheaded an

effort to tap into the district underground colored well water and make

it drinkable and guided the water district and its personnel through

years of change, making sure water pumps as well as workers were ready

for future challenges.

“It’s been a wonderful experience,” Kemp said. “It’s been good for me

professionally and good for my family.”

The best thing we can say about Karl Kemp is probably the easiest

thing. He made sure the tap worked when we turned it on.

And for that we owe him a debt of gratitude and a wish for great

things in his retirement.