BOULDER CREEK >> San Lorenzo Valley Water District leadership has agreed to make John Kunkel, a former chief of police and experienced city manager, the district’s new interim general manager.

The district’s Board of Directors unanimously approved Kunkel’s contract at its Oct. 17 meeting and his first day on the job is slated for Oct. 28.

“He (John) brings a wealth of management experience,” said Board Member Mark Smolley. “We have a very competent staff on operating a water system. We’re looking for a manager to help guide staff, board … through this time until we can find a permanent general manager.”

The district, which serves more than 7,900 metered connections in the San Lorenzo Valley, has been without a permanent general manager since last November when Rick Rogers retired after serving the district for almost 50 years. The district hired civil engineer and Felton resident Brian Frus to replace Rogers on an interim basis, but Frus resigned from the role in August.

According to the board’a agenda packet, Kunkel will be paid at an hourly rate of $96.15 and the contract will last for 960 hours of service—that’s a salary of $92,304—or until the board appoints a permanent general manager; whichever happens first. The contract also includes $3,000 per month in housing cost reimbursements.While addressing the board and the public via a remote appearance Oct. 17, Kunkel said he served 19 years as chief of police for the city of Exeter in California and later became its city administrator. He went on to become city manager for the cities of Kerman and Buellton and interim city manager for the cities of Manzanita, Oregon and, most recently Huron in Fresno County.

“I do have an open door policy,” said Kunkel. “That extends to board members, staff and citizens. If I’m in the office, you don’t need an appointment to come see me. Please stop by and talk to me with any concerns you might have or just poke your head in and say ‘Hi.’”

News of the board’s interim appointment comes as district customers are making a couple of important decisions of their own. Voters will select two candidates for full terms on the district board, choosing from appointed incumbents Alina Layng and Bryan Largay as well as challenges Bruce Holloway and Bill Smallman.

District voters will also weigh in on Measure U which seeks to repeal newly-passed fixed water charges and limit future increases to regular water service charges to 2% per calendar year until 2049.

All this is also happening with the district embarking on a $13 million comprehensive water system upgrade effort through its Safeguarding San Lorenzo Valley program, according to a release from the district. The project aims to fix aging infrastructure and replace undersized pipelines, harden the system against wildfires, improve water infrastructure reliability and establish additional fire hydrants to increase firefighting capabilities.