Lucerne Community Water Organization reports that Clay Suskin, chief treatment plant operator for the Bakersfield treatment plant of California Water Service, is on a three-month assignment as district manager for the CWS Redwood Valley District.

Suskin will be based in Lucerne, where Bill Koehler left to become water master of Mendocino County's Redwood Valley County Water District near Ukiah on Dec. 11.

Suskin, whose home is in Bakersfield, said he expects to return there at least one weekend a month, and that the temporary assignment is flexible; it may last longer as the company seeks a permanent manager and he oversees construction of a new plant.

Koehler noted plant construction has encountered a new snag: Caltrans regulations will limit parking spaces at the Highway 20 plant to two, one of them ADA compliant.

Koehler said "all six systems [in the Redwood Valley District] are broken, but Sonoma and Marin are in very good shape compared with two and a half years ago."

Other changes at the Lucerne facility include the departure of customer service representative Elisha O'Neil, a five-year temporary employee, and retirement of field and plant operator Gordon Stark. Stark will be replaced by Ryan Jensen, who has strong family ties to Lake County and has purchased a residential lot in Clearlake Oaks. Bill Meisler remains as a plant and field operator.

Lucerne's customer service will be absorbed by Gay Guidotti, customer service manager in Guerneville. That customer center is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; phone (707) 869-0050. Customer service also can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more on Lucerne's water issues, visit www.lcwo.org.