BONITA NEWS
May 23, 2007

Yet another director leaves SFWMD’s west coast office

By Julio Ochoa

http://www.bonitanews.com/news/2007/may/23/yet_another_director_leaves_sfwmds_west_coast_offi/

The South Florida Water Management District’s west coast office is on its seventh director in as many years. Number six, Rhonda Haag resigned this week to take a job with The Quantum Leadership Group, Inc., headed by Alvin Jackson, a former deputy director of the water management district.

As vice president of outreach services, Haag’s new job won’t keep her too far from the district.

She’ll directly consult with the district to train workers and attract small business contractors for district projects, such as the massive C-43 reservoir being built in Hendry County, the Picayune Stand restoration and other Everglades restoration projects.

“I saw this position as an opportunity to learn a great deal about the west coast and use it as a stepping stone to do other opportunities and still remain connected with the west coast,” Haag said.

Since Chip Merriam left after about eight years to take a job in the district’s West Palm office in 2001, the Lower West Coast Service Center in Fort Myers has had six directors or interim directors. Other west coast directors have also moved on to other things. Carol Wehle is now executive director of the district. Bob Howard is director of operations for the district.

Many were surprised to hear that Haag was leaving so soon after taking over when Jacque Rippe left in November 2005. “I was absolutely stunned,” Lee County commissioner Ray Judah said. “I had been very impressed with Rhonda and her understanding of Lee County’s concerns on water-related issues.”

The constant turnover has created some instability on the west coast, Judah said. “There is no question its caused a lot of instability and a lack of responsiveness by the district to concerns in Lee County,” Judah said. “There is no surprise that we in Lee are struggling and working as hard as we can to gain attention from the district.”

Haag’s position will be absorbed by the West Palm Beach office, where leaders are trying to gain full-time positions for employees to work on Everglades Restoration.

Phil Flood, who recently took over leadership of operations on the west coast, including the Fort Myers and Big Cypress offices, will absorb Haag’s responsibilities.

Flood comes to the west coast from Tallahassee, where he worked in various jobs with the Department of Environmental Protection for 24 years.

Given the history on the west coast, some wonder how long Flood will last. “It does make it hard for sustainable relations,” said Wayne Daltry, director of Smart Growth for Lee County. “It’s like World War I pilots: You have a drink in the bar but you don’t get to know each other very well because the next time you fly in, they might not be there.”

Flood, however, says he’s not going to fly off any time soon. “If you go back and look at my history, I worked for the DEP for 24 years,” Flood said. “That’s probably as stable as you’re going to find anywhere. I have no intention of going anywhere.”