Our speaker Brian Veerkamp was the chair of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors and El Dorado County Water Agency until very recently, and is a newly elected director for the EID (El Dorado Irrigation District).  He is a 5th generation resident of El Dorado County.  Other organizations that he has served on or been affiliated with are: Camino School Board; 17 years of Rotary in EDH; Kiwanis; two terms as a County Supervisor; the Sacramento Area Governing Board; and the Veterans Commission.

Brian is proud of these accomplishments during his County Supervisor terms:  improving the education for incoming county department heads and employees to provide "good governance"; planning and obtaining financing for a new public safety facility in Diamond Springs which he expects to last at least 50 years; a Healthy Communities initiative which paid dividends when the COVID-19 pandemic hit; and continuing the battle to bring economic development to our county which means jobs and a stronger tax base.  Affordable housing is an element needed for economic development to provide housing for employees which has been a very tough battle mainly due to strong "not in my backyard" protests on this issue.

Even though Brian has only been on one EID Board meeting so far, he has 8 years of experience as our County Water Agency Chair, and thus he gave us his perspective on water system developments and challenges.  He is proud that as that chair, the Agency secured the Fazio Allotment of 15,000 acre feet out of Folsom Lake, an effort that took 29 years.  Next the EID is working on a rights acquisition effort trying to get approval for another 40,000 acre feet of water rights. This will help serve increased agricultural use and secure supply to the South County which is very dependent on wells.  The EID also is pursuing an Alder Reservoir plan to add 180,000 acre feet of storage by building what would be the first new dam in California for about 50 years.

Q&A:  Dave S.:  What is needed to enhance economic development in the county?  A.  Affordable housing.  Young people can't afford housing in the county.  It's even causing reduced school enrollments.  Mike D.:  What about the costly or unavailable fire insurance in the county?  A. For two years we have had a vegetation management ordinance in effect countywide.  If someone doesn't maintain their property, the county will come in and do the job.  We have improved from 20% in compliance to 50% with this program.  As we improve, insurance companies will return to write policies in the county.  Roger H.:  Status of the Costco plans for Silva Valley & Highway 50 -- and status of road improvements?  A. We are attempting to fast-track a 2-year build for Costco, but a few approvals are still required.  Roads:  Working on ways to get more tax revenue from tourists who visit our county but don't stay long.

All were very appreciative of Brian's very wide range of knowledge on the issues and work to find solutions in our county.  To review Brian's talk, the introduction and his presentation start at the 1:10 point at this FaceBook link - drag the progress marker dot to that time.