Mission Statement
The mission of the Tomales Village Community Services District, a non-profit public benefit corporation, is to enhance the quality of life with a commitment to the health of the community by providing dependable wastewater collection, treatment and reuse in an environmentally friendly manner, maintain safe and reliable recreational park facilities, and provide a welcoming forum for active community participation and input.
What is TVCSD
The Service District was formed in 1998 after being acquired from North Marin Water District. The primary purpose of the District is to operate and manage the waste water treatment plant(WWTP) and the community park. The operation and maintenance of the WWTP is funded through service fees, while the capital improvements are funded through grants and low interest loans through the State Water Resources Control Board. Loans are repaid through an ad valorem tax voted on by the community. The operation and maintenance of the Tomales Community Park is funded through Marin County measure A, a .25 sales tax for Marin County Parks and Openspace, Agricultural land protection, and community parks such as ours. Additional revenue comes from donations, fund raisers, grants.
The Wastewater Treatment Plant was acquired in an 'as-is condition' with several problem areas due to lack of maintenance. The District embarked on an aggressive improvement project in order to bring the system up to professional standards and to improve the overall treatment process and the safety of the community and the environment. The District was able to garner a Small Communities Grant from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and a low interest loan through the State Revolving Fund. Phase one of the project involved the replacement of some worn and aged pipelines as well as switching from chlorine gas to the much safer liquid chlorine, the rehabilitation of the town's lift station, repairs to the collection system and a fully automated alarm and control system. The second phase, now complete, will take the treatment process to new levels of clarity, safety and performance. This phase involved removing 30 plus years of built-up sludge in the treatment pond, developing a three stage ponding system and replacing the aerators and pumps. The three stage system improves the performance of the aerated lagoons for the treatment of wastewater and provides an optional temporary configuration in case of emergencies.
The newly formed District also inherited the Tomales Community Park. The Tomales Community Park was built in 1979 and had served the community well for a number of years. However, after a state mandated inspection of the play equipment, it was determined that all of the equipment was unsafe and had to be replaced. The District investigated and acquired county, state and federal grants, private grants from individuals and foundations, material donations and in-kind donations of labor. The Tomales Community Park Renovation Project involved extensive grading and terracing in order to meet the strict accessibility regulations and large containment areas for play equipment and play structures for safety reasons, all conditions for receiving the grant monies. The first community bathroom was also included in the project for the benefit of the many visitors to our area.
TVCSD Staff Profiles
Mary Halley, TVCSD General Manager
Mary was born in San Francisco, lived in Lake Tahoe, Tiburon, and then Marshall on Tomales Bay for most of her life. She received a degree in Business Administration from Sonoma State University. Mary is a skilled project manager, water manager and Special District administrator and joined TVCSD in February 2022 in a part-time position as General Manager. She continues to serve in her current position as District Manager for the Muir Beach Community Service District in southern Marin. Mary lives at her home in Marshall and in her spare time (which is little) she has raised and shown Great Pyrenees, loves to hike, garden, play piano, do quilting, travel and spend holidays with her family.
Mary Looks forward to working with the Tomales Village Board, staff and community helping to make progress towards their steady stewardship in a tradition of excellence and community spirit.
Bonnie MacLaird, TVCSD Financial Services Manager,
Bonnie, a longtime Tomales community member, is the new Financial Manager for the Tomales Village Community Service District. Bonnie brings years of bookkeeping experience and is studying tax preparation at SRJC. Prior to this new role, Bonnie served for 10 years on the Tomales Design Review Board and was one of the organizers of the Tomales Farm & Flea Market.
Cynthia Hammond, TVCSD Administrative Support Services,
Cynthia lives in Inverness and joined TVCSD part time in September, 2015. A graduate of University of Arizona with a BFA degree in Graphic Design, she relocated to SF, until she discovered West Marin and has lived here for the past 38 years, raising her son who graduated from THS. Cynthia also works part time for the West Marin Scholarship Program and is responsible for TVCSD meeting minutes, records, board packets and various other district office support. Her hobbies include organic gardening, canning, foraging wild mushrooms, swimming, cooking, and anything that has to do with the beach.