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Crystal Hendrickson, Minot
Step 1: Don't have an election.
The North Prairie Rural Water District cancelled their elections in 2020 because of COVID. Up for election were John Bearman, Maria Effertz-Hanson and Wilber Harsch. Just pretend they won, and are safe until the 2023 election. Except for Maria, who apparently resigned. Let's have her position up for election in 2021.
Step 2: Gerrymander the Districts.
North Prairie Rural Water combined with North Central Rural in May 2020, to form North Prairie Regional Water District (NPRWD). NPRWD asserts that since new bylaws were accepted, things that were before aren't the same as they are now. Combine the majority of the water users into one large area; Let's call it Unit 1D. Unit 1D should not come up for election until 2023. That's Bearman's unit, and he's only been part of the Water District for 32 years. Campaigning is tough. Give him a break this time around. Step 3: Chose your own election year.
Those people previously elected in 2017 automatically get renewed terms until 2023. Except the one who resigned. (See step 1.) Since we have one spot carry-over from 2017, just have one elector from the 2018 slate up for re-election in 2021. Now it looks like we have the same amount of electors, even though we changed the terms!
Justin Hanson was elected in 2019 to a 3-year term, but let's give him an extra year, because - you know - COVID. He's not up for election until 2023 now.
Step 4: Don't notify the public of steps 1,2, and 3.
No one is paying attention anyway. People trust us and ignore us. No one will find out or challenge our authority. We are in control.
Water is more valuable than gold or oil, but our local Water District is operating with very little public scrutiny. Rural water members would be wise to start paying attention, and asking questions. The way NPRWD is being run gives the impression that something is being hidden and creates doubt in the legitimacy of their actions. Last month, there was a "Prior Period Audit Adjustment" loss of a quarter million dollars. That's $50 per user.
Please nominate yourself to be a Director. It pays $100 per meeting. A rural water user must contact the nominating committee by dropping off a letter, in person, by March 8. If there is no one running, the nominating committee will choose who is placed on the ballot, and the vote is cast unanimously. There are 4,800 users and only 20 people are expected to cast votes.
Are you going to let the people in charge of our most precious resource select their fellow directors and hold quiet elections?