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Commissioners appoint Anthony Hampton to Deer Creek Water District board amid split views on candidates
Summary
Elbert County commissioners on Nov. 19 appointed Anthony Hampton to a vacancy on the Deer Creek Water District board after competing nominations and public testimony; the board cited operational capital needs and differing views about required qualifications.
The Elbert County Board of Commissioners voted on Nov. 19 to appoint Anthony Hampton to fill a vacancy on the Deer Creek Water District board after public testimony from the district president, candidates and residents.
Kevin Kirkwood, president of the Deer Creek Water District, urged the county to appoint Hampton, citing the district’s operational needs and the board’s current impasse. Kirkwood described recent capital work and an identified next project: replacing or refurbishing aged meter pits and installing meters with cellular transmitters. He said the district has roughly $250,000 earmarked for capital work in 2025 and that delays increase liability and operational risk.
Several residents and current or former board members offered competing views. Former director David Lunka (spoke as Dave Lunka) recounted previous service on the board and outlined financial analyses supporting a phased meter‑replacement approach that he said is feasible with funds available through 2025. Other current board members and residents recommended Hampton as a pragmatic project and program manager who could break a deadlock.
Commissioners debated whether the county should step into what some described as an internal board dispute. County legal counsel explained the statutory option: when a special district fails to fill a vacancy within the statutory window, the county may, after giving notice, appoint a replacement but is not required to do so. After discussion, a commissioner moved to appoint Anthony Hampton; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
The board did not specify the precise term length in the motion; the county attorney previously summarized that the board may give notice and then fill a vacancy after 30 days if the district has not acted. Commissioners asked staff and the parties to supply additional candidate information in future similar matters, but said the appointment was necessary to break the Deer Creek board’s impasse and allow work on near‑term capital projects to proceed.
The appointment took place during the Nov. 19 public meeting; the board did not send the matter to executive session and recorded the motion and voice vote as carried.
