The players
Some of the players involved in this unnecessary drama.
Name | Abbreviation | Description |
---|---|---|
20/20 Network | 20/20 | PR firm hired by TOAV to promote the takeover. |
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corporation | APUC | Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. owns and operates a diversified portfolio of clean renewable electric generation and sustainable utility distribution businesses in North America. |
Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce | AVCoC | Has proposed a forum where TOAV and AVRWC can each present its side of the water issue. |
Apple Valley Citizens for Government Accountability | CFGA | Opposes the hostile takeover of Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company by Town of Apple Valley. Apple Valley Citizens for Government Accountability is made up of Apple Valley residents with the express purpose to shine a light on finances and activities in our local government. Citizens for Government Accountability is opposed to the hostile takeover of Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company by the Town of Apple Valley. |
Apple Valley Country Club | AVCC | Apple Valley Country Club, now known as Apple Valley Golf Course since its purchase by TOAV. |
Art Bishop | Currently a councilmember for TOAV. Has repeatedly stated that he AVRWC is for sale, all evidence to the contrary. | |
Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company | AVRWC | Descendant of the original 1945 Apple Valley Mutual Water Company, it has played a prominent and appreciated role in our Town.(Town of Apple Valley, April 28, 2015). After the purchase of its parent corporation Western Water Holdings / Park Water, AVRWC has changed its name to Liberty Apple Valley. You can find them on Facebook here. |
AVH2Ours | A website set up by the Town of Apple Valley to promote the hostile takeover of AVRWC. | |
Barb Stanton | Currently mayor of TOAV. Campaigned on a platform of opposing TOAV intervention and/or involvement in the free market. Once in office, voted for the purchase of the AVCC, and now supports the seizure of AVRWC. | |
Bartle Wells Associates | BWA | Hired by the Blue Ribbon Water Committee and the Town of Apple Valley to evaluate the purchase of Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company. |
Best Best & Krieger | BBK | Law firm working for TOAV. |
Blue Ribbon Water Committee | BRWC | Formed to evaluate the purchase of Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company by Town of Apple Valley. In 2006 and 2011 it issued reports that recommended against the purchase. The members of the 2011 BRWC were: Chairman Carl Coleman, Vice Chairman Rick Piercy, Bernadette McNulty, William E. BillMcDaniel, David Christman, Jack Collingsworth, Jim Chandler, John Bernier, Joseph Tartaglini, Lawrence McCarthy, Pat Orr, Rob Turner, Robert Sturges, Ronald Barbieri, Wilson So. |
California Public Utilities Commission | CPUC | Oversees public utilities such as Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company, but has zero oversight for municipal utilities. Works in conjunction with the Office of Ratepayer Advocates (ORA). |
The Carlyle Group | CG | A global alternative asset manager with more than $193 billion of assets under management across 130 funds and 156 fund of funds vehicles. Founded in 1987 in Washington, DC, Carlyle has grown into one of the world’s largest and most successful investment firms, with more than 1,650 professionals operating in 40 offices in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Sold Western Water Holdings, LLC, which is the holding company for Park Water Company, to Liberty Utilities (LU). AKA Carlyle Infrastructure. |
Cramer Family Park | CFP | Originally known as Mountain Vista Park, CFP is now derelict and nameless under the current TOAV Parks and Recreation Department. |
Curt Emick | Currently a councilmember for TOAV. | |
Hayward Consulting Group | HCG | Hired by the Town of Apple Valley to provide an analysis of the fair market value of Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company (AVRWC). |
High Desert Community Foundation | HDCF | Local charitable group, which at one time was the owner of the Apple Valley Country Club. |
Krause, Kalfayan, Benink & Slavens, LLP | KKBS | A legal firm in California that has become famous for going after local municipalities for infractions of the Prop. 218 process. |
Larry Cusack | Council member of TOAV. | |
Liberty Utilities | LU | Liberty Utilities, whose parent company is Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., is a values-driven company. Their brand values shape their corporate culture and unite their national, collective efforts to deliver quality water, gas and water distribution services to small and mid-sized communities across the United States. AKA: Liberty Utilities Co., Liberty WWH, Inc. |
Mojave Water Agency | MWA | Mojave Water Agency is a regional wholesale water provider created by High Desert voters in July of 1960, and governed by a seven-member elected Board of Directors. It serves 4,900 square miles. It is one of 29 state water contractors with access to California’s State Water Project. |
Mountain Water Company | MWC | Serving Missoula, Montana. Condemned by the court in June 2015 at the request of Missoula. Currently still owned by Park Water, which has been acquired (along with other assets of Western Water Holdings) by Liberty Utilities (LU) |
Office of Ratepayer Advocates | ORA | A division of CPUC, the statutory mission of which is to obtain the lowest possible rate for service consistent with reliable and safe service levels. In fulfilling this goal, ORA also advocates for customer and environmental protections. |
Park Water Company | PWC | A Class A, private investor owned, public water utility that operating under the regulatory oversight of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the State of California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Until late 2015, it engaged in the collection, storage, distribution, and sale of water to customers located within its certificated service areas. PWC’s certificated service area is divided into three separate water systems: Compton/Willowbrook (Compton West), Lynwood/Rancho Dominguez (Compton East), and Bellflower/Norwalk. PWC provided water service to about 28,000 accounts in these water systems. In addition, PWC wholly owned two subsidiary water utilities. One was Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company and the other was Mountain Water Company in Missoula, Montana. PWC was held by Western Water Holdings, LLC, which in turn was a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Carlyle Group (CG). It (and Western Water Holdings) have since been acquired by Liberty Utilities (LU). |
Rincon Consultants | RC | Hired by TOAV to perform Environmental Impact Reports (EIR) regarding the seizure of AVRWC. |
Scott Nassif | Currently mayor pro tem for TOAV. | |
Tony Penna | General manager of AVRWC. | |
Town of Apple Valley | TOAV | Includes town council members, staffers, the town manager, and all other materials from those in official positions. |
Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority | VVWRA | Formed by the Mojave Water Agency to help meet the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act and provide wastewater treatment for the area. Now a joint powers authority and public agency of the state of California. |
Yermo Water Company | YWC | Made of of three smaller companies, Yermo Water Company eventually failed, leaving its customers high and literally dry. Fortunately, AVRWC offered to step in and provide service. This action was, of course, opposed by the TOAV. |