Rio Linda water board approves labor changes despite resident pushback

The Rio Linda Elverta Community Water District board approved labor negotiations with revisions on Monday. The decision came after residents voiced strong concerns about rising water bills and a large purchase for water treatment.

The district recently bought a chromium treatment plant for nearly $2 million. This purchase sits alongside proposed employee rate hikes and new remote-work benefits. These items were discussed during a closed session of the board meeting.

Stephanie Suela, a Rio Linda resident, attended the meeting to ask where the district’s money is going. She described herself as a money watcher who has attended many board meetings over the years.

Suela noted that her water bill reached $419, a level she has never seen before. She said many other attendees reported increases of $50 or $100 on their own bills. She expressed frustration that the district was negotiating employee benefits while customers faced higher costs.

Mary Nelson, another resident, argued that fixing the chromium issue should be the top priority. She stated that giving staff a raise should not come before repairing the water system. Nelson said she wanted assurance that the district’s funds were being used correctly.

Mary Garrison, a former board member, criticized the current leadership. She said the board has state mandates to fix chromium and repair wells but has not voted on actions to do so. Garrison claimed the current members prioritized the union and employees over infrastructure repairs.

Residents pointed to the smell of chlorine when they turn on their faucets as evidence that the water is not yet clean. Suela said there have been many complaints about the odor. She noted that the meeting room was full, which she found encouraging for community engagement.

The board reviewed public comment regarding the labor negotiations. They decided to approve the measure with revisions rather than moving forward with the original terms. The district will now adjust the labor agreement based on the board’s decisions.