Ousted TUD General Manager Ed Pattison
Sonora, CA – The Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) Board of Directors has voted to release its General Manager from his contract.
Thursday, after coming back from a closed session during a special meeting regarding whether to dismiss G.M. Ed Pattison, Board President Barbra Ballen revealed the decision.
“By a 3-1-1 vote, the board voted to terminate General Manager Ed Pattison’s contract without cause.”
The three in favor were Ballen, Board Vice President Ron Ringen and Director Lisa Murphy while Director Jeff Kerns voted against the firing and Director David Boatright abstained. That same vote by the board last Friday (March 26) put Pattison on paid administrative leave with his access privileges revoked, as reported here.
Pinecrest Lake
Sonora, CA A virtual informational session is planned for Thursday morning in which TUD officials will provide an update on efforts to acquire assets like Pinecrest Lake and Lyons Reservoir from PG&E.
We reported last March that TUD and PG&E are in exclusive negotiations regarding the potential transfer of the Phoenix Hydroelectric Project, Main Tuolumne Canal, pre and post 1914 water rights, and the reservoirs.
As for the history, The Phoenix Project dates back to the Gold Rush and is located on the South Fork of the Stanislaus River. It provides the majority of TUD’s water supply via the Main Tuolumne Canal, which was built in 1851 to support mining and irrigation needs. It generates 2 megawatts.