Board Updates 

Quarter 4, 2024 Board Updates

At our most recent board meeting, Jake Fitzgerald, manager of West River/ Lyman-Jones Rural Water Systems (WR/LJ), was elected president, and Jim Martin, manager of Colonial Pine Hills Sanitary District, was elected secretary/ treasurer. Both bring extensive experience and a strong commitment to WDRWS’s mission. 

Jake joined WR/LJ as an operator, later advancing to general manager. Under his leadership, the system earned South Dakota System of the Year in 2013, and Jake was named the 2016 South Dakota Rural Water Manager of the Year. He has served on several boards, including the National Water Resources Association, Missouri Sedimentation Action Coalition, and Haakon County School Board. A South Dakota State University graduate, Jake holds Class II water treatment and distribution certifications and a Utility Management Certificate from the National Rural Water Association. 

Jim represents small systems on the WDRWS Board. He served over 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, specializing in B-52 Avionics Maintenance and B-1B Advanced Weapons Delivery Systems, with assignments across the U.S. and abroad. After retiring, Jim continued to serve his community as a church administrator and financial assistant before becoming manager of Colonial Pine Hills in 2001. His operational expertise and leadership continue to benefit both the district and WDRWS. 

We look forward to their leadership as we continue working to provide clean, reliable water for the region.