Water News: Southeastern Colorado Water District Volume 1 Issue 11

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SECWCD BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ROBERT T. SCHRADER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert T. Schrader - Bob Schrader is the Vice President of the Southeastern District Board of Directors and has served on the District Board since 1986. He is a thirty -year veteran of public utility and city administration, with a keen sense of how to get things done without all the red tape. But, that's only part of the story, and maybe not the most exciting part. When I asked Bob to tell me about his background, he started by saying he was once a logger in the northwest and a fireman, but once he learned how to fall a tree, split lumber, and fight a fire, he got bored with the day -to -day routine of the jobs. I can't imagine getting bored cutting down a fifty -foot tree, but if you had to do it ten times a day every day, the sawdust might get to you For Bob the sawdust and the daily routine were enough to convince him to move on to something more exciting-local government. After some education and on- the-job training Bob became Public Works Director in Sunset Hill, Missouri. He served in that capacity for ten years and then moved on to St. Charles, Missouri to take the job of City Manager. Bob then took a gamble, moved to Colorado without a job, and then happened across a job Robert (Bob) T. Schrader SECWCD Vice President of the Board of Directors. notice at the local employment office in Colorado Springs. The Security Water and Sanitation District was looking for a new manager. Bob interviewed with Ray Nixon (also a Southeastern District Board member), who had just retired from the City of Colorado Springs and was filling in as manager of Security Water and Sanitation District until they found a replacement. To make a long story short, Bob got the job at Security Water and Sanitation District, became very close friends with Ray Nixon, and served the Security District for nearly twenty years. The most significant and interesting part of Bob's service on the District Board of Directors has been the ever- changing dealings with the Bureau of Reclamation. When I asked Bob about the future he said, "We've been talking about enlarging Pueblo Reservoir for many years, now it looks like we actually have to do it." If you ask Bob about his career he will tell you that he loved the day -to -day challenge of serving the public. "There's something new and challenging every day." Bob is now retired, but he still likes a challenge. Bob and his wife Margie travel the United States looking for fun and adventure wherever they go. This fall you will probably find them viewing the color of Colorado's golden aspen on some mountain road, or traveling to the pacific northwest to enjoy the cool ocean breezes. Bob and Margie are doing what they love best, traveling and, "spending our kids inheritance." Written by: Steve Arveschoug, SECWCD, General Manager. 0 SECWCD 1JPDATES Ir New E -mail address: Steve Arveschoug -steve @secwcd.com Toni Gonzales - toni @secwcd.com Margie Miller - margie @secwcd.com Tom Simpson - tom @secwcd.com Philip Reynolds - phil @secwcd.com SECWCD Staff direct lines: Steve 948 -0061 Phil 948 -0069 Tom 948 -0083 Toni 948 -0085 Margie 948 -2400 (also the main line) Website: www.secwcd.org