PUD Director of Finance retires after 21 years

The Wahkiakum PUD commissioners met on Tuesday, April 15 and approved a resolution to accept the Department of Retirement Systems Deferred Compensation Participation, an alternate compensation option that employees had requested. Director of Finance Erin Wilson requested approval to apply for Planning and Engineering funding of $300,000 for the manganese treatment of Puget Island well through the Washington State Department of Health Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The commissioners unanimously approved the request.

During the meeting, the commissioners also unanimously passed a resolution designating April 30, 2025, as Erin Wilson Day in honor of her retirement after 21 years of service to the Wahkiakum PUD. General Manager Dan Kay read from the resolution, “Erin’s unwavering commitment to public service, fiscal responsibility, and operational transparency has contributed to the strength and stability of the district for nearly two decades.” In response, Wilson said, “I just want to say thank you. It really has been a pleasure to work with the three of you. We’re fortunate to have a board that behaves with such professionalism. You’re always so supportive of everything we do, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that.” The new director of finance, Shelby Garrett, has already begun training to take over for Wilson. “Shelby has really just hit the ground running,” Kay said of Garrett.

During public comment, Puget Island resident Jason Will asked PUD commissioners about the Puget Island water sample results that consulting engineer Antek Labs recently completed. Will asked about the uranium levels listed in the paperwork published by Antek Labs. In response, Kay read directly from the study, “There is no detection of uranium in the well water of the Puget Island sample; while the results of the sample we collected are on pages two through eight.” With the document totaling 57 pages, Kay tried to assure Mr. Will that the uranium numbers he saw were not from the Puget Island well water sample. “I want to be clear, there is no detectable uranium in the Puget Island Water system,” said Kay.