Legal Formation
The Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority (Authority) was
formed via an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) among the
City of Centennial, Arapahoe County, the Arapahoe County Water
and Wastewater Authority, East Cherry Creek Valley Water and
Sanitation District, and the Inverness Water and Sanitation
District. The Authority is a political subdivision and a public
corporation of the state, falling under the guidelines of
Colorado state statute for a “drainage authority”
(29-1-204.2 C.R.S.).
New Authority Board Structure and
Staff
The Authority (SEMSWA) is governed by a board of directors
representing the entities that are part of the intergovernmental
agreement. Board members are appointed by elected persons
of the City of Centennial Council and the Commissioners of
Arapahoe County, as well as the special district representatives
of the intergovernmental agreement. The SEMSWA Board is comprised
of six members and two alternates. The Board member appointed
by the special districts is a non-voting position on the Board.
Current Board Members
| Board Member |
Appointed By |
SEMSWA Position |
| Bart Miller |
Centennial City Council |
Chairman |
| Rod Bockenfeld |
Arapahoe County Commissioners |
Chair Pro Tem |
| Ron Weidmann |
Centennial City Council |
Secretary and Treasurer |
| Andrea Suhaka |
Centennial City Council |
Board Member |
| Jim Dyer |
Arapahoe County Commissioners |
Board Member |
| Linda Lehrer |
Special Districts' representative (non-voting) |
Board Member |
 |
| Frank Weddig |
Arapahoe County Commissioners |
Alternate Board Member |
| Jacque Wedding-Scott |
Centennial City Council |
Alternate Board Member |
Authority Staff
The Authority Board and staff are committed to excellent
service to our community. They are well acquainted with the
issues and challenges the area faces, as well as the measures
needed to improve our stormwater management. A listing of
the Authority staff is shown below.
| Staff |
Position |
| L. Scott Tucker, P.E. |
Executive Director |
| Dave Agee |
Director of Administration and Finance |
| |
| Amber Law |
Stormwater Inspector |
| Anthony Link |
Drainage Crew Technician |
| Ashley Byerley |
Land Development Coordinator |
| Beth Bradley |
Receptionist/Customer Service |
| Bob Winzent |
Drainage Crew Leader |
| Carrie Powers |
Stormwater Specialist |
| Curtis Arnold |
Drainage Crew Technician |
| Dan Olsen |
Stormwater Inspections Supervisor |
| Emery Strole |
Stormwater Inspector |
| Jeremiah Unger |
Drainage Crew Technician |
| Jeremy Eckenroth |
Drainage Crew Technician |
| Jerry Hutchings |
Stormwater Inspector |
Jon Nelson, II
|
Land Development Engineer |
| Jose Barraza |
Drainage Crew Technician |
| Kevin Heck |
Drainage Crew Leader |
| Kelly Leutbacher |
Drainage Crew Technician |
| Lanae Raymond |
Water Quality and Special Projects Program
Manager |
| Mason Staub |
Maintenance Program Manager |
| Mike Vinson, P.E., C.F.M. |
CIP Program Manager |
| Molly Young Trujillo, P.E. |
CIP Project Manager |
| Monica Bortolini, P.E., C.F.M. |
Floodplain and Master Planning Program
Manager |
| Peggy Vana |
Water Quality Technical Assistant |
| Quang Nguyen, P.E., C.F.M. |
CIP Project Manager |
| RoxAnna Jones |
Office Manager |
Scott Palmer, E.I.T.
|
CIP Project Manager |
Formation of the
New Authority
The Authority was formed via an intergovernmental agreement
that was signed on September 19, 2006 after public meetings
held by both the City of Centennial City Council and the Arapahoe
County Commissioners. This agreement was the outgrowth of
several years of studies by the IGA members, a local task
force, and a steering group which recommended the formation
of the Authority as the solution to the area’s stormwater
challenges.
The formation of the Authority and potential stormwater fees
were discussed at the public meetings of the City of Centennial
Council and the Arapahoe County Commissioners in the summer
of 2006. The Authority also made presentations to homeowner
groups and Centennial City Council Ward meetings. Public communications
about the Authority, stormwater fees, and stormwater projects
will be ongoing.
Stormwater Advisory
Committee Recommends a Solution
The Stormwater Advisory Committee (SWAC), a local advisory
committee, met intensively throughout 2002 to study stormwater
issues. The SWAC was comprised of local government staff and
representatives from homeowners associations, businesses,
schools, churches and environmental groups. The SWAC met intensively
throughout 2002. They researched and studied the extent of
the stormwater runoff problems in Centennial and unincorporated
Arapahoe County, estimated costs involved, and explored the
most cost-effective solutions.
The SWAC proposed the formation of a new independent authority
to manage stormwater runoff and to implement the many remedial
and capital projects that are needed to maintain and upgrade
our stormwater infrastructure. Current identified stormwater
improvement projects are estimated to cost $76 million. The
SWAC found that other local governments across the state and
country have created stormwater utilities, such as this Authority,
as a successful approach to solve stormwater problems.
Stormwater Steering Group Solidifies
the Move to an Intergovernmental Agreement
After the recommendation of the SWAC, representatives of
the City of Centennial, Arapahoe County, and the special districts
formed a Stormwater Steering Group (SSG). The SSG met during
2005-2006 to begin formation of the Authority. The SSG helped
lay the groundwork for the drafting of the intergovernmental
agreement (IGA) that became the final IGA. The final IGA was
ultimately adopted in late September of 2006.
Intergovernmental Agreement
Forming SEMSWA
To view and read a copy of the Intergovernmental Agreement,
click
here (PDF)
|
