A coalition of former Douglas County commissioners, former county managers, and Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley have issued formal letters supporting the proposed Douglas County stormwater utility, calling for the establishment of a dedicated funding source to address long-term stormwater management, flood control, infrastructure maintenance, and public safety needs.
Former Douglas County Commissioners Dave Brady, Bernie Curtis, Jacques Etchegoyhen, Doug Johnson, Greg Lynn, Barbara Smallwood, Steve Thaler, and Larry Walsh joined by former County Managers Patrick Cates and Larry Werner, issued a joint letter urging the Board of County Commissioners to move forward with a dedicated utility to fund stormwater infrastructure needs identified through years of planning and study.
The joint letter represents both former elected leadership and former county administrative leadership responsible for long-term infrastructure planning and county operations.
“As former Douglas County commissioners and county managers, we write in support of establishing a dedicated stormwater utility and funding mechanism for stormwater management and flood protection throughout Douglas County,” the letter states.
The letter emphasizes that stormwater and drainage challenges have continued to grow over time and affect a wide range of public and private interests across the county.
“These issues affect residents, businesses, ranching operations, schools, transportation corridors, emergency response access, and the long-term health and resilience of our community,” the letter states.
Separately, Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley issued a public safety-focused letter supporting the proposed utility, citing the operational impacts of flooding and inadequate drainage on emergency response and roadway access.
“From a public safety standpoint, stormwater infrastructure is not optional,” Coverley wrote. “It is a critical component of emergency preparedness and response.”
Coverley noted that severe weather events can directly impact emergency response times and access to residents in need.
“When drainage systems are insufficient or overwhelmed, the risks to both residents and responders increase significantly,” he wrote.
He further emphasized that a dedicated funding source would improve system reliability and strengthen emergency response capabilities across Douglas County.
The former commissioners, former county managers, and Sheriff Coverley are encouraging the Board of County Commissioners to move forward with establishing a transparent, accountable stormwater utility dedicated solely to stormwater management and flood control needs.
“This investment is about protecting Douglas County today while preparing responsibly for the future,” the joint letter concludes.
(Douglas County contributed to this report.)
