Last week the Inyo County Supervisors and Water Director Tom Brooks parted ways, apparently asked to leave by the Board after a performance review. Who will take over this position permanently is yet to be seen. In the meantime, Inyo Water Department Hydrologist Bob Harrington will take over as the Acting Water Director.

At the Inyo Supervisors meeting Tuesday, the Board and county staff went into negotiations to hire Dr. Harrington as the Acting Water Director. By afternoon, the negotiations wrapped up and Dr. Harrington was hired at a salary expected to be close to $8600 a month.

As for why Brooks is no longer with the County, a terse press release stated that "the Inyo County Board of Supervisors at its regularly scheduled meeting of November 27th, decided to change the administrative direction of the Inyo County Water Department." The release goes on to say that Brooks "will be leaving employment with Inyo County to return to private industry." The Board thanked Brooks for his more than two years of service to the County.

Asked what issued led to the departure of Tom Brooks, Deputy CAO Kevin Carunchio said he could not comment because it is a personnel issue.

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