2 LOCAL WATER DISTRICTS ARE LOOKING AT MERGING. THAT’S IN AN EFFORT TO HELP OUT THE DROUGHT-STRICKEN LOMPICO WATER DISTRICT, WHICH WAS LISTED EARLIER THIS YEAR AS ONE OF THE 17 RURAL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE IN DANGER OF RUNNING OUT OF WATER WITHIN 120 DAYS. ALTHOUGH AN INTER-TIE BETWEEN THE LOMPICO AND SAN LORENZO VALLEY WATER DISTRICTS IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, AN ACTUAL “MERGER” IS FAR FROM A REALITY. TOMORROW (THURSDAY) THE SAN LORENZO VALLEY WATER DISTRICT WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO PROCEED WITH THE POSSIBLE MERGER. IF APPROVED, A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE SAME SUBJECT WOULD BE HELD IN AUGUST BY THE SANTA CRUZ LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION. IF HALF OF THE LOMPICO WATER DISTRICT’S 495 CUSTOMERS PROTEST THE PROPOSED MERGER IT WON’T BE ABLE TO HAPPEN; AND IF JUST A QUARTER OF THEM PROTEST, THE PROPOSED MERGER IS LIKELY TO BE PUT TO A VOTE IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION (AND BE DECIDED BY A MAJORITY VOTE).
