Residents Appointed To RCWD Board Of Managers
Newly-appointed managers John Waller and Rick Mastell were sworn in to the Rice Creek Board of Managers at the Board's meeting of January 4.
Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah nominated Mastell as one of two board managers who represent Anoka County.
"We wanted to have a focus on what we can do so the environment is protected," said Sivarajah, "but also . make sure that proper drainage is occurring because, ultimately, it affects economic growth and development in the area. There needs to be a good balance."
She believes Mastell will help with that balance, and the fact that he is a hunter and fisherman as well as a businessman "brings that perspective to the Board."
Mastell owns Mastell Brothers Trailer Service in the city of Columbus, and moved to Lino Lakes from Circle Pines two years ago. He credits a recent experience with the Rice Creek Watershed District as motivating him to seek the position. "What drove me to do this is the old adage that if you are seeking change ... you have to step up and do something about it," he said.
Mastell experienced a "45 month" delay in constructing his new building in Columbus, and "re-engineered the project" multiple times. After hiring an attorney to help, the problem was resolved simply and quickly.
"I don't want anybody to go through what I did. A very simple problem cost me about $70,000."
Mastell attended St. Mary's College in Winona in business management but left school in 1988 to start Mastell Brothers with his brother. He has no prior government experience.
Mastell replaces Lino Lakes resident and former Board President Andy Cardinal, who served on the Board for 35 years. "Big shoes to fill!" said Sivarajah.
"We have appreciated so much [Andy's] service."
Washington County Commissioner Dennis Hegberg nominated Waller, who takes the place of James A. Leroux of Hugo, to represent Washington County. Leroux retired last month at the end of his second term.
"John's appeared before us for a long time on the subject [of drainage], and he's very knowledgeable," Hegberg said.
Waller is a family farmer who has served on the District's Citizen Advisory Board for over 10 years. He said his interest in drainage issues started early.
"When I got out of the Marines [in 1975], my parents started dragging me down to the watershed district meetings," Waller said.
In seeking appointment to the Board, Waller says his first priority is to "look at that budget," which has increased from $1 million a few years ago "to about $5 million. People don't notice that on their tax statements because it shows up as 'Other Tax Districts," he said.
"My second goal is to have people stop suing the watershed district over their property rights."
Waller has a degree in political science from the University of St. Thomas. Waller's mother, the late Margaret K. Waller, filed a request last year to intervene in a lawsuit brought by the city of Hugo over the construction of a dam on Hugo's Rice Lake. Although the city has since settled the case, Mrs. Waller's request is scheduled to be heard before the Minnesota State Court of Appeals this month.
Watershed Districts help conserve natural resources by taking an active role in protecting and conserving the water supply in their geologic area.
The Rice Creek Watershed District encompasses approximately 201 square miles of Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties in Minnesota. Two representatives each from Ramsey and Anoka counties and one representative from Washington County each serve three-year terms on the Board.