By Sara Beth Williams–
A senior water district employee has been appointed as Acting General Manager of the Citrus Heights Water District, effective Sept. 24, after longtime General Manager Hilary Straus retired earlier this month.
Water District Engineer Melissa Pieri was appointed to Acting General Manager by a vote of 3-0 during the water district’s regular board meeting on Sept. 22. The board also approved a salary for Pieri of $21,793 per month.
During public comment prior to voting, a 36-year former employee of the water district and current Customer Advisory Committee member Paul Dietrich discussed what he called a steadily increasing Citrus Heights Water District annual budget, noting that the budget increased from $14 million to $47 million between 2016 and 2026. He also noted that Straus was appointed as General Manager in 2016.
In a statement responding to a Sentinel inquiry following the meeting, Citrus Heights Water District public affairs manager Mary Elise Conzelmann confirmed that the budget was $14.5 million in 2016, and is now $47 million. Conzelmann added that capital improvement investments have gone from $3.5 million in 2016 to $24.9 million in 2026.
In his comments, Dietrich also said water rates have risen significantly over the past decade and requested that the board “take some serious looks at this budget.”
In a 2016 article by The Sentinel, the water rate as of the time of publication was recorded to be $.87 cents, and was raised to $.99 cents that year, approved by a vote of 3-0. On its website, the Citrus Heights Water District states its current water rate is now $1.38 per unit.
Responding to comments about water rates, Conzelmann said over the past decade water rates have remained at or below the regional average.
“We review rates on an annual basis and strive to minimize rate increases for customers where possible. As demonstrated this year, the Board voted not to raise water rates for the remainder of 2026 and all of 2027,” Conzelmann said.
Dietrich’s remarks were followed by another public comment from Pam Tobin, who spoke via Zoom, to say that annual increases of around 3 percent are normal adjustments to keep up with inflation and noted that other figures going up could be due to the district’s Capital Improvement Projects.
“I have not known Citrus Heights to be unreasonable with the rate payers’ dollars,” said Tobin, who also sits on the San Juan Water District, the wholesale supplier of water to Citrus Heights Water District.
Board President Caryl Sheehan commented briefly to say she agreed with Tobin and said, “Project 2030 is likely a factor.” Director Ray Riehle recommended cutting short further responses to Dietrich and proposed instead that the board agendize the matter for future discussion.
According to a press release issued after the meeting, the district said its new acting general manager will oversee the district’s daily operations and ensure continued water service for CHWD’s approximately 70,000 customers.
“Throughout her tenure, she developed a strong understanding of the District’s infrastructure, operations, employees, policies, and strategic priorities, while building positive working relationships with local and regional agencies and community partners,” the district said in the release.
Pieri has served the water district for more than 14 years, beginning her career with the District in July 2012 and advancing to her recent role as Director of Engineering/District Engineer in June 2017.
Before working at the water district, she worked for 16 years at an engineering consulting firm, providing civil engineering services with an emphasis on water and wastewater infrastructure.
“We embrace this transition as an opportunity to look to the future and move the District forward into its next chapter,” Sheehan said in the press release.
