Out and About
According to Holley Navarre Water Board President, Will Goulet, in published reports, “The Board, by a 5-1 vote, felt that Mr. Williamson’s unique experiences, relationships and skills best served the future of the water system and our Members. The Holley Navarre Water System is at a unique time in its history with complex, ongoing negotiations related to increasing our capacity to ensure we can support the expected growth in our area. Those negotiations require understanding of how the water system fits in with the county plans, local military bases and other area utilities. It also includes negotiating financial arrangements and potential bond issues that go well beyond the day to day operations of the water and sewer operations.” It certainly is a unique time in our water system – which is exactly why we need the very best CEO and it is not Rob Williamson.
Apparently, they don’t understand state statutes about former elected officials communicating or working with the government entity they left. They aren’t allowed to. Rob Williamson won’t be able to email the county much less negotiate with the county on “county plans.”
In what world is what happened even considered much less done? I know! Navarre. I mean what are you going to do about it? Get your water from another water company? No. Go off the grid and dig your own well and treat your own water? Maybe. Do the good people of Navarre stand up and say enough is enough? Or, are they all conflict avoiders and just look the other way. Heck – the water company made a million-dollar plus mistake last week and our rates didn’t go up…yet. We only report the news folks. We can’t be the watchdog and the muscle.
Back in January we asked Holley Navarre Water Board President, Will Goulet: Should Holley-Navarre Water System conduct its business in accordance with Sunshine Laws? Why or why not? His answer: “Yes, because the Members deserve transparency, honesty and fairness and that won’t happen as long as Directors can have closed door meetings and back room deals.”
But – I guess that all depends on if your buddy is fired from public office…then there can be closed door meetings and back room deals. Because that is exactly what happened in the hiring of Rob Williamson for CEO, Holley-Navarre Water System.
Quote of the week: “I have not served on the HNWS board before, and I am not part of any “good ole boy” networks. I have seen many different makeups of the board of directors over the years, and there has not always been a good level of trust in its leadership. The current board has had a good amount of dysfunction recently, and I hope to help bring some unity so that we can all work toward the same goals. I will make decisions based on what is best for the water system and its members and will have no ulterior motives.” Mark Miller, Director, Holley Navarre Water System and one of five that thought it was a good idea to hire Rob Williamson for CEO of the Holley Navarre Water System without any other applicants or even posting the job internally or externally.