The Board of Directors welcomes you to the Olivenhain Municipal Water District (OMWD) website. We hope you find it interesting and informative. Our five-member elected Board of Directors works diligently to set policies that govern this water distribution agency. We take pride in our ability to carry out our responsibilities in a spirit of cooperation and consensus, aided by an experienced and competent staff.

To achieve its goals, OMWD maintains a philosophy of a rewarding working environment, high level of customer service, open communications with the public, and a strong financial position. These elements are imperative for achieving long-range infrastructure plans to provide a sustainable water supply for generations to come.

 

Please visit the OWMD website often and watch for information on the many programs and services offered to OMWD customers.

 

The five-member elected Board of Directors, each representing one of OMWD’s five divisions, charts OMWD strategic direction and sets policies and guidelines. 

 

Edmund K. Sprague, President.

Mr. Sprague was appointed Board President in January 2009. He had been actively involved with the District, attending Board meetings and participating in various District events, when he was appointed by the Board in 2008 to fill the unexpired term of the former Division 5 Director. He has a background in residential construction. Mr. Sprague is currently a Battalion Chief for the City of Carlsbad Fire Department for which he has worked for 23 years. He is a lifetime resident of northern San Diego County and, since 1999, resides in Carlsbad with his wife, Monica, and their three children. Mr. Sprague holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from San Diego State University.

 

Robert F. Topolovac, Vice President
Mr. Topolovac serves as the representative of Division 1 on the District's Board of Directors. He is a contributing member of the District’s Personnel, Safety, and Conservation Committees, and is a tireless proponent of local government’s need to protect the environment while tenaciously pursuing alternative, local water supplies. Mr. Topolovac retired from a 35-year career in higher and secondary education and presently serves as a Volunteer Sheriff with the Encinitas Sheriff's Station. He has been a resident of northern San Diego County since 1965 and currently lives in Rancho Santa Fe with his wife, Ellie. Mr. Topolovac holds a master's degree in human relations and school administration from Ohio University.

 

Mark A. Muir, Treasurer
Mr. Muir is a native of San Diego who has committed over 30 years to public service. He is a strong supporter of the special district form of government and believes that local agencies can and must provide the best public service our communities can receive. Mr. Muir has an associate’s degree in Fire Science and a bachelor’s degree in Emergency Planning. He has served as a firefighter for more than 30 years and was named "Firefighter of the Year" by the San Dieguito Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1992. In 1994, Mr. Muir became Fire Division Chief for the City of Encinitas. He was promoted to Fire Chief of the City of Encinitas in 2006 and, that same year, was appointed as Chair of the North County Fire Chiefs. In 2008, Mr. Muir received the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce Community Hero Award.

Since 2001, Mr. Muir has represented Division 2 on the District’s Board as both Director and President. He currently holds the position of Treasurer. He also serves on a number of District committees, including the District’s Finance, Legislative, and Conservation Committees. In addition, Mr. Muir is a SANDAG Representative and a board member of the California Special District Association’s San Diego Chapter, most recently serving as their past president. He currently serves as the District’s representative to the board of the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) and is the past Chairperson of the Imported Water Committee at SDCWA. Additionally, Mr. Muir serves on many of SDCWA’s committees, including the Colorado River Programs Ad Hoc Committee, Outreach Committee, and Water Planning Committee. He was also instrumental in forming VOCAL (Voice Of the Consumer At the local Level), a consortium of retail water agencies and various stakeholders that seeks to give local urban retail water agencies a voice in Sacramento, as well as CIRC (Cooperative Interagency Resources Coalition), a forum wherein information and resources are shared among member agencies.

Mr. Muir resides in Encinitas with his wife, Maureen, who currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Encinitas Union School District, and their son, Scotland.

Jacob J. Krauss, Secretary
Mr. Krauss was sworn in at the May 24, 2006 Board meeting to represent Division 3. He was appointed by the Board to fill the unexpired term of the former Division 3 Director and was subsequently elected to serve his current four-year term. Mr. Krauss is actively involved with the District, attending board meetings, sitting on a number of District committees, and participating in activities of the Association of California Water Agencies, the California Special Districts Association and the Council of Water Utilities. Mr. Krauss retired from General Motors after 26 years and additionally worked for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Kelsey Hayes Co., and the Chrysler Corporation. He currently resides in Encinitas with his wife, Fran. Mr. Krauss has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Johns Hopkins University as well as a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. In addition, he holds a master’s degree in automotive engineering from the Chrysler Institute. Mr. Krauss is a registered Professional Engineer and a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Gerald E. Varty, Director