History

Excerpt from Booklet - Chapter One 1960-1961

Attorney Denslow Green was retained by the Water Association to assist in forming a water district. A petition was prepared to be signed by 42 landowners in the area, dated December 5, 1960, proposing formation of the Gravely Ford Water District. (The spelling was later corrected to "Gravelly") On March 23, 1961, an Undertaking on Petition, executed by Wallace E. Emmert, George Andrew, and U. Gendron, pledged $1,000 to pay all costs in the event the district was not organized.

On April 17, 1961, the first of three legal notices appeared in the Madera Daily News-Tribune announcing a hearing to be held on May 9, 1961 on the proposed formation of the district. At this meeting, relevant evidence in support of the petition was presented and there was no opposition. The boundaries of the district were established, and an election was set for June 6, 1961 to be held at the home of George Andrew for the purpose of determining whether or not the district should be formed. And if so, electing persons to fill the offices of five directors and a treasurer-tax collector-assessor.

A ballot was prepared showing the following nominated to serve as directors: Kenneth Seibert, George A. Pope, Jr., Urgel Gendron, George Andrew, and Charles J. Emmert, Jr. Wallace E. Emmert was nominated for treasurer-tax collector-assessor It was then ascertained that the Andrew home would be unavailable on June 6 and the election date was changed to June 20, 1961.

A Board of Election was then formed consisting of Gladys Andrew (Mrs. George Andrew); Kathryn Emmert (Mrs. C. J. Emmert); and Eleanor Emmert (Mrs. Wallace E. Emmert). The election was held, and it was then discovered that the required Notice of Election had inadvertently not been published, therefore, it was necessary to have another election.

The new election was scheduled for August 8, 1961. New petitions were circulated, and new ballots mailed time and place as before. The Board of Supervisors ordered the County Clerk to loan a voting booth and ballot box to be used at the election. The ladies were re-administered the Oath of Office, with Gladys Andrew as Inspector; Eleanor Emmert as Judge; and Kathryn Emmert, as Clerk, and the second election was then held. Fifteen ballots were cast totaling 257,730 votes. The formation proposition and the election of officers passed unanimously. All ballots and papers were handed to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors for certification.