November 1, 2011 (Mt. Helix) --As part of a larger cast iron pipeline replacement project, Helix Water District crews will replace two 60-year-old valves at Mt. Helix Drive and Vivera Drive and install a new valve at Mt. Helix Drive and Alto Drive on Thursday, November 17.

Much of Mt. Helix is served by a single pipeline. As a result, construction activity will create a 10-hour water shutdown between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 242 customers on 20 streets in the vicinity.

October 18, 2011 (La Mesa)-- After 10 years as General Manager of the Helix Water District, Mark Weston announced he will retire on December 30. On Tuesday at 6 p.m., the Board will provide staff with directions on recruiting a replacement. The meeting will be held at 7811 University Avenue in La Mesa.

By Jeremy Los

August 19, 2011 (La Mesa)--Water rates are set to increase yet again after the Helix Water District board voted Tuesday to raise the district water rates yesterday. The board faced a firing squad of comments from concerned and angered citizens about the rate hikes scheduled to be implemented on September 1, 2011.

July 19, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Helix Water District will hold an informational public meeting on the proposed water rate increase on July 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive in La Mesa.

By David Smyle

April 23, 2011 (La Mesa)--On Wednesday April 20th, the Helix Water Board on a 4-1 vote approved the two year MOU negotiated by the employees for the employees with no rate payer representation. That’s right! Mark Weston and Lisa Irvine, employees of Helix Water were appointed by the Board to represent the ratepayers’ interest in the negotiations with the employees.

District Partners with Borrego Solar and CCSE to deploy 290 Kw solar system at  Nat L. Eggert Operations Center

April 4, 2011 (El Cajon)--Helix Water District has activated a 290 kilowatt (KW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the Nat L. Eggert Operations Center (OC) in El Cajon. The zero-emission system was deployed through a partnership with Borrego Solar Systems, Inc. and the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE).

To celebrate, the District hosted a ribbon-cutting event for the new system on March 30th.

By David Smyle, La Mesa

February 11, 2011 (San Diego's East Count)--On Thursday February 10, the SD County Taxpayer Association held an informative breakfast on 401(k) plans for public employees. All County and City leaders were invited to attend for free--but only representatives from the City of San Diego, San Marcos, Oceanside, the Port Authority, SD County Water Authority and the SD Firefighters and Police Associations were present, besides the public.

Since no East County city or Other County officials or their representatives were in attendance, I guess they already had all the answers and had determined that this route was not for them. With Helix Water District currently under employee MOU negotiations and paying the most beneficial employee package of any public agency, it would have been nice to at least see one of the two negotiators in attendance for good PR even if they didn't plan to use the information.

By Miriam Raftery

December 4, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Californians Aware (CalAware), the nonprofit center for public forum rights, has advised state associations representing most local government agencies that their members may be subject to short notice lawsuits for common violations of California’s open meeting law, the Brown Act.

Helix Water District raises rates in contentious hearing

By Kristin Kjaero

August 19, 2010 (La Mesa) – “Get used to it. We’re going to pay more each year,” Helix Water District Board member John Linden told the audience, shortly before the board voted 3-2 to raise the three-tiered rate structure an average of 8% more starting in November. Last year rates increased 21+%.

Discussion at the rate increase hearing was lively to say the least, as tempers frayed and the public, General Manager and Board members accused one another of not being truthful and of micromanaging. The room was filled to capacity, and occasionally members of the audience called out and were gaveled back to order. A La Mesa Policeman stood in the back quietly observing.