Board of Directors

Members

MWA Board Members

The Board of Directors serves as the decision-making and policy-setting body for the agency. The agency has seven divisions, each represented by one Board member that is elected by the public to serve a four-year term. Led by the Board of Directors, community members are encouraged to participate in the Agency’s mission.

Kimberly Cox
President

Kimberly Cox was first elected to the Board of Directors in 2003, representing Division 1. As a resident of the High Desert since 1985, she brings professional experience in city government and special districts, as well as expertise in water management to the Mojave Water Agency board.

Currently, Dr. Cox serves as the General Manager for the Helendale Community Services District, a position she has held since 2007. She previously worked for the cities of Hesperia and Victorville, and as an instructor at Victor Valley College.

A recognized water expert, Cox was appointed in 2013 and reappointed twice by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. to serve on the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board.  Lahontan RWQCB is responsible for protecting water quality within Region 6 of the state.  There are nine RWQCB regions in California.

Additionally, Dr. Cox has served on the San Bernardino County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) since 2004 representing special districts. She has also served on the San Bernardino County Solid Waste Task Force representing special districts.  Cox was a contributing author for the Special Districts Formation Guide available through the California Special Districts Association (CSDA).

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a Master’s degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Water Resource Management and a Doctorate in Public Administration.

Marina West
Secretary

Marina West was elected to the Board of Directors for Division 2 in 2022. She is a fifth generation Californian whose family pioneered in farming, water science and management, as well as environmental protection.

A professional, licensed geologist, West earned a Bachelor of Science degree in geological sciences from California Polytechnic State University of Pomona, and holds a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, San Bernardino.

She has worked in the water industry for more than 35 years. She is licensed by the state of California as a Water Treatment Operator and holds the highest-level certification offered by the state in Water Distribution.

West serves as vice chair of the California Water Systems Alliance, an initiative to provide a voice in Sacramento for water systems serving disadvantaged communities that are reliably and affordably providing water to low income and income limited residents such as seniors.

Since 2021, she has also served as a director/treasurer to the CalMutuals/Joint Powers Risk and Insurance Authority which secures affordable insurance for 400 water systems that mostly serve rural and smaller communities.

Kathy Hoffman

Kathy is in her second term with the Phelan Pinon Hills Community Services District (CSD). Having served as Vice President and President, she sits on several committees including the Pinon Hills CSD Engineering Committee, Parks & Recreation, Finance and Legislative Committees. She has also been a Board Member of the San Bernardino County Tax Assessors Tax Appeal Board for the past 14 years and is currently in her second year as the Board Chair of Board #1.

Kathy has also served as the area coach administrator for the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) region 538 and is the Director of the Phelan Chamber of Commerce.

Kathy was installed to serve on the Mojave Water Agency Board to represent Division 3 on April 13, 2023. In addition to her Division 3 responsibilities, Kathy also serves on the Legal, Legislative and Community Partners Committee (LLCP).

Mike Page
Treasurer

A long-time resident of the High Desert, Mike Page has dedicated his career to community issues. In November of 2001, he first ran for the Mojave Water Agency, was elected and subsequently re-elected, and has since represented Division 4. This division encompasses Spring Valley Lake, and most of Victorville.

He serves on the MWA Planning, Resources, & Technology Committee and the Personnel, Finance, & Security Committee. An advocate of taking a long-term approach to water sustainability, Page supports the recharging of local basins with State Water Project water, as well as augmenting water supplies through conservation, and water purchases.

Currently, Page is a Director with St. Mary Medical Center Foundation. Previously he worked in the telecommunication industry for more than 25 years including serving as the Director of Governmental and External Affairs for Verizon. An active community member, Page participates with local chambers of commerce, and is a member of the Victorville Rotary Club.

He graduated from California State University, San Bernardino with a double major in Political Science and Business Management. Page resides in Spring Valley Lake with his wife Sharon and their three daughters.

Rick Roelle
Vice President

Rick Roelle joined the Mojave Water Agency Board in November 2020 and represents Division 5 that encompasses most of Apple Valley. A life-long Apple Valley resident, Roelle graduated from Apple Valley High School and has dedicated his life to public service.

Rick chose a career in law enforcement, and joined the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department holding a number of positions that spanned his 32 years with the department. Roelle worked as a Detective in the Narcotics Division for many years. He was an Investigator for Internal Affairs, and a Supervisor for the Detective Division for the City of Victorville, as well as other assignments.  Upon retirement he had earned the rank of Lieutenant.

In addition to service in law enforcement, Roelle served the citizens of the Town of Apple Valley as a Council Member from 2004-2012. While serving on the Council he was voted by his fellow Town Council Members to lead as Mayor from 2006-2007 and from 2008-2009, and also served as the Town’s representative on the Board of the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority for eight years. Currently, he is member of the Apple Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees.

Roelle’s goal for MWA is to maintain reliable water for the area. “Our service area is diverse, and each community is unique, but we all share the need for a reliable water supply for today, and for our future.”

Roelle and his wife Angela Valles enjoy living in Apple Valley. They share four children and seven grandchildren.

Jesse Ramirez

A Barstow High School graduate, Ramirez began his career as a Water Distribution Operator and has been the Operations Superintendent for Golden State Water Company since 2005. He holds his Grade-5 Water Distribution Operation Certification as well as a Grade-3 Water Treatment Operator Certification.

Ramirez has served as a Board Member of the Barstow College Foundation since 2019, and on the Barstow Cemetery Committee since 2020. He is the past president of the Barstow Kiwanis Club for the 2018-2019 year.

Michael Limbaugh

Michael Limbaugh was elected to the MWA Board in November 2020 and represents Division 7 that includes Hesperia and the far southeastern portion of Apple Valley. He is no stranger to the water industry, or serving as an elected official, and brings extensive experience as an engineer in the public and private sector.

Among his goals as a new Director is to provide a successful level of service. “Where water flows, community grows. We are charged with managing the region’s water resources, and I believe we can best accomplish this based on value, quality, integrity, and preservation,” Limbaugh says.

The new Division 7 Director entered the water industry working with MWA as the Project Engineer with Bechtel Corp. for the Morongo Basin Pipeline Project. He then joined the Agency as a staff member in 1994 as an Engineer and served in that capacity until he retired in 2009.

Prior to a focus on water, Limbaugh’s career included serving as the Project Engineer and Construction Engineer for various power generation and oil refining projects. He was also employed as a Civil Engineer with Caltrans and lead the Measure A Riverside County Route 91 project.

Dedicated to public service, Limbaugh was elected in 1998 to the Board of Directors of the Hesperia Recreation and Park Board and was reelected four times serving until 2018.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of California, Davis. He is also certified as a Desert Tortoise Biological Monitor.

Limbaugh and his wife Leania have been married 43 years and have lived in Hesperia 34 years. They share two married children and two grandchildren.

Committees

About the Committees

The Mojave Water Agency’s Board of Directors uses the committee format where in-depth discussion, debate, and deliberation occur on matters which the Board must decide. The committee does not vote on matters and only makes recommendations to the full Board. Committee members shall serve a term of one year or until such time as successors are appointed.

Legislative and Community Partners Committee

This committee meets at 9:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month and reviews items related to:

  • AWAC & Conservation
  • Community Partners
  • Legislation
  • Morongo Basin Pipeline Commission
  • San Bernardino County Special Districts Association

Planning, Resources, Engineering and Operations Committee

This committee meets at 9:30 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month and reviews items related to:

  • Basin Management
  • Imported Water
  • Infrastructure and Asset Management
  • Water Management Planning

Personnel, Finance, Security and Technology Committee

This committee meets at 9:30 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month and reviews items related to:

  • Personnel
  • Technology and Security
  • Finance

Morongo Basin Pipeline Commission

The Commission is comprised of five officials, one from each of the member entities of Improvement District M, including: Mojave Water Agency, County of San Bernardino Service Area 70, Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency, Hi-Desert Water District, and Joshua Basin Water District. This Commission addresses issues of interest to the residents in the Morongo Basin and pertinent to the Morongo Basin Pipeline project. The Commission meets quarterly beginning with February, May, August and November on the 2nd Wednesday of that month.

Technical Advisory Committee

This Committee to the Mojave Water Agency (TAC) is an independent, voluntary group of water purveyors, pumpers, and other interested parties located within Agency boundaries. The TAC meets in a public forum to discuss common concerns and acts to assist the MWA with technical, professional, economic, and community recommendations and counsel concerning policy decisions relating to management of water resources. The TAC also assists in determining the needs, desires, and financial capabilities of the MWA with respect to management of water resources and, upon deliberation, shall convey recommendations to the Board of Directors of the MWA. Additionally, the TAC serves at the Mojave Integrated Regional Water Management Plan Implementation Support Team (IST) as defined in the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. The committee typically meets the 1st Thursday of even months at 10:00 a.m. (subject to change)

Watermaster

MWA was appointed as Watermaster in 1993 pursuant to the Court Judgment which adjudicated the rights to pump groundwater in the Mojave Basin Area. The Watermaster’s main responsibilities are to monitor and verify water production for approximately 475 parties (1,700 wells), collect required assessments, conduct studies, and prepare an annual report of its findings and activities to the Court. Watermaster also acts as the clearinghouse for recording water transfers, maintains records for all such transfers, and reports changes in ownership of Base Annual Production rights to the Court. The Watermaster typically meets the 4th Wednesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. (except April, June, August, November, and December unless needed).

Find Your Director

Lead by the Board of Directors, community members, stakeholders and strategic partners are encouraged to participate in the Agency’s mission. Please visit our calendar page for a list of upcoming meetings and events.

Board Policies

The policy of the Mojave Water Agency is to maintain the highest ethical standards for its Board members. The proper operation of the Agency requires decisions and policies to be made within the proper channels of governmental structure, that public office not be used for personal gain, and that Board members remain objective and responsive to the needs of the public they serve.  Accordingly, it is the policy of the Agency that Board members and Agency employees will maintain the highest standard of personal honesty and fairness in carrying out their duties. This policy sets forth the basic ethical standards to be followed by the Board of Directors of the Mojave Water Agency.

Meetings and events may be rescheduled from their previously scheduled time. Please check the Agency Calendar for the most current meeting information.