OAK PARK : Sewer District Wants to Buy Water Firm

A publicly owned sewer district in eastern Ventura County has proposed buying a private water company that supplies Oak Park.

Triunfo County Sanitation District directors plan to discuss a proposal tonight to buy the Beverly Hills-based Metropolitan Water Co., Manager David Burkhart said.

Burkhart said the agency is interested in acquiring Metropolitan because the water company has asked the Public Utilities Commission to approve a 39% rate increase. Rates were last raised six years ago.

“The whole object is to bring water in at a cheaper rate than a privately owned water company can,” he said.

Burkhart said he does not know how much the acquisition will cost but said it would be several million dollars. If approved by the district, the deal could be financed through the sale of revenue bonds, he said.

Metropolitan’s president, Keenan Behrle, said his company would consider the deal.

The acquisition would be a change for Triunfo, which does not sell water. It treats sewage for the communities of Lake Sherwood, North Ranch, Bell Canyon and Oak Park.

The meeting will be held at 5:45 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. Janss Road.