press release

October 31, 2002

THREE CENTURIES OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN 25 YEARS
(Photo below)

At its last October Board Meeting, Sweetwater Authority honored twelve employees who have served the public water agency throughout its entire 25-year history. Some of those employees, in fact, worked on the water system before the public takeover. The combined employee tenure represented by the group, according to General Manager Al Sorensen, totaled 351 years. Responsibilities in those 25 years ranged from meter reader and equipment operator to Water Quality Superintendent and General Manager.

Those honored were (in alphabetical order): Rick Bird, Dan Floyd, Richard Emerson, Stan Johnson, Steve Kessler, Ron Kuhn, Terry Morgan, Don Norton, Joe Orsini, Pat Rasco, Al Sorensen, and Don Thomson.

Sweetwater Authority is currently celebrating its 25th Anniversary as a public agency. The agency began operating in 1977 as a joint powers authority formed by the City of National City and the South Bay Irrigation District. A public vote and lengthy court case awarded ownership of the water system, previously held by California-American Water Company, to the South Bay Irrigation District.

Photo Information. Pictured are (back, l-r): Joe Orsini, Don Norton, Richard Emerson, Terry Morgan, Al Sorensen, Pat Rasco, Don Thomson; (front, l-r): Dan Floyd, Rick Bird, Steve Kessler, Ron Kuhn, Stan Johnson.

-END-