AT-LARGE MEMBER BACKED RESIDENTS WOULD ELECT ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR TO CASTAIC LAKE WATER AGENCY.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Residents would elect an additional at-large representative to the Castaic Lake Water Agency under a recommendation endorsed by board members and reviewed Tuesday night.

The additional at-large director position would replace the appointed position currently held by the Santa Clarita Water Co., which was purchased by the CLWA a year ago.

The Santa Clarita Water Co. is expected to be merged with the CLWA, and will therefore no longer exist, said CLWA General Manager Robert Sagehorn.

``This will make the board more responsive to the electorate,'' Sagehorn said.

Sagehorn said he anticipated that the board would pass the measure after speaking with several board members.

The purchase of the Santa Clarita Water Co. by the CLWA was controversial because many residents said a state water wholesaler, like the CLWA, should not be involved in retailing water to residents.

The CLWA is made up of 11 members, including four directors appointed from each of the water retailers in the Santa Clarita Valley. Six other directors are elected from three geographic locations, and one is elected at large.

But Ed Dunn, a member of the board of directors, said the position should be eliminated because another at-large member would be a waste of public money.

``It will cost a lot of money for the water agency to print up ballots and distribute them all over the district,'' Dunn said. ``And it is going to cost the candidate a lot of money to send direct mail to all of the homes in the district.''

The CLWA covers territory in both Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

The recommendation expected to be approved Tuesday night authorizes the agency's staff to request state legislation to change the CLWA's charter, Sagehorn said. It could take up to a year for that bill to be passed by the state Legislature and signed by Gov. Gray Davis.