Happy retirement to Frank Haahr

By Paul Franklin

With hearts full of gratitude, the GMMWC board would like to announce the retirement of Frank Haahr. Frank began his work with the Glen Martin Mutual Water Company (GMMWC) in June of 1997. Prior to Frank becoming our skilled and knowledgeable manager the water company was simply completely operated by the board. When projects needed to be done to keep the water system functioning well and seamlessly it was the board members who would have to get out in the field, with sometimes limited expertise, or they would hire out. When Frank was initially brought on, the board was confident as Frank came in as an adept field worker and for a year took care of all the operational needs of GMMWC.

As the impression of Frank's capabilities became obvious the board than offered to Frank the position to be the General Manager for the overall operation of the water company and he officially started in that role in June of 1998.

To give a brief history of all that Frank walked into, this mutual water company was established in fact, in the 1880's, as a crucial necessity for the residents of Angelus Oaks. It is unknown who managed those water rights until 1923. However, in October of 1923 the formal mutual water company of GMMWC was officially founded with a board of directors put in place to run the new company. Up until the 1950’s most of the water utilized was from one horizontal well and surface runoff water from the upper areas of the mountain. In around 1955 the first vertical well was drilled with the second vertical well going on-line around 1989.

Frank took over at a time where it was essential to have an in-house skilled worker and great company office manager. Working with the wells and the shareholders and all their dynamics was a strength that the board and the city certainly appreciated. Frank shared the changes he has witnessed over his 26 years with the water company. He believes the most significant development in his 26-year tenure with the GMMWC has been the increase in governmental oversight, while things were in line to allow for more compliance, sometimes would also certainly create more work, none of which Frank was not completely capable of completing. While there have been only around a dozen new service connections during Frank’s employment, the time required to test, monitor and report the water company’s day to day operations has grown exponentially, tasks that though excessive, he was able to get through though not without the shared-by-most dream of retiring.

Frank informed the board of directors in June of 2023 he had plans to retire in one year. Frank followed through with his retirement plans and in June of 2024 he retired his active service with the GMMWC. Frank was very instrumental in passing on his years of experience and assisting the board with his replacements. He in fact is still giving his time to our two new employees that are filling the big shoes of Frank Haahr. It was expressed by Frank that this company certainly means a lot to him still and will always be a big part of his life, and he does hope that the company will continue its good name and will be run smoothly for the sake of all the shareholder's and sweet residents of Angelus Oaks.

Frank has plans to move from the area with his family in the near future. He has hopes to experience terrific hunting seasons, build his retirement home and spend well needed relaxing days with his sons. We wish Frank the best of happiness in his retirement and again thank him for his years of service providing our community with the management of our water system.

If you are lucky enough to catch Frank before he leaves town, be sure to wish him the best.