We are continuing our series this quarter with Mary Gardner.
Why did you initially want to serve on the BWD board?
I had acquaintances that asked if there was a conservative individual from Benton County interested in running for the board. At the time, I knew very little about Beaver Water District but had recently retired. I have a degree in Accounting/Computer Information Systems with a career in accounting management so I was interested in learning more about the water district and exploring ways I could contribute.
My experience was in the automobile industry and my husband’s experience was in industrial. So, one of the first things I was impressed with was the organization, teamwork, and cleanliness at the district. To top that, I was very impressed with most of the computer setup and staff training is done in-house. Outsourcing computer programming is very expensive and not as secure as you would want for a water district. It is impressive to see teamwork in action and the pride taken in a job well done. On top of that, the staff participates in nationwide water knowledge contests, winning awards, and setting Beaver Water District as a standard in the nation. The district even achieved an award for an international lab criterion, continuing to set standards for others. The water district also participates in the community by providing clean water for events, along trails, giving tours and educational materials to schools. Northwest Arkansas has a very diverse population. Many do not realize how great our tap water is and what we should do to keep it that way. Who better to educate than the people who actually clean the water, who know about the source, who send out the end product, and who know everything that was done in between?
What has been most fulfilling to you personally? Is there something that has really surprised you about the water treatment process?
Being on the board has been very fulfilling. There have been critical issues that we have had to address since the beginning of my term. The board has hired a new CEO, two CFOs as well as other management positions due to retirement. The population boom in NW Arkansas has been a big focus of the board. Time does not allow procrastination because plants do not expand quickly. The Founders of Beaver Water District were forward thinking individuals. We are a wholesaler of water to four major cities: Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville. The cities are responsible for their local utility services to end users with the responsibility of maintaining individual accounts. While the district can focus on water quality with only four customers. The cities can focus on taking care of their customers. The most shocking thing that I learned was how other cities and metro areas across the country do both. It is difficult to focus on the needs of water quality while at the same time dealing with customer concerns, billing, collections, connections, disconnections, and all other difficulties with high volume end users. NW Arkansas is fortunate to have Beaver Lake, and the cities are fortunate to have Beaver Water District managing their drinking water needs which allows them to better serve their customers.
“There is much to learn about water and it being a great asset for NW Arkansas. I’m proud to serve as a Board Member.” —Mary Gardner