Indian Hills manager likes the challenge

Dennis Longhofer became general manager for the Indian Hills General Improvement District about six weeks ago.

He said the budget and a proposed sewer rate increase have kept him busy, but he enjoys the challenge.

He lauded Indian Hills General Improvement District staff, which has been very supportive during this transition.

"This has been more than a full-time job," he said. "Hopefully, after I've been here awhile, I'll be able to cut back the hours a little."

Before taking the job, Longhofer was operations supervisor for the wastewater treatment plant at South Tahoe Public Utility District for 29 years.

In that time, the plant received the national Environmental Protection Agency award twice for operations and maintenance excellence.

He holds grade 5 wastewater and grade 3 water certifications.

Longhofer said Indian Hills has expended a lot of energy in previous efforts to attain cityhood, but he will be focusing on other issues.

He hopes to work closer with the county, especially with respect to the water system and streets.

Indian Hills still hasn't received a bottom line from the state with respect to how much in property taxes Indian Hills will receive, but he thinks the district is in good shape.

"I want to build they reserves so we don't have to scramble in emergencies," he said. "And next year, I want to change some of the ballfields at the park so we can bring softball here."

He feels the change would bring more participation at the park. Softball is the No. 1 adult recreational sport in America, he said.

Longhofer grew up in the Huntington and Manhattan beach areas of Southern California. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1971 and served in Vietnam with the First Cavalry Division, the last combat unit in that war, he said.

After being discharged from the Army, he took at job with the U.S. Post Office in Huntington Beach.

Longhofer enjoys skiing at Lake Tahoe. Shortly after he purchased a second home there in 1976, he decided to stay.

"There was an opening at the South Tahoe Public Utility District at the wastewater treatment plant," he said. "So I took it."

He moved to Carson City in 1987 with his wife to split the commute because she worked in Reno and then moved to Indian Hills.

He and his wife, Gale, have two grown children, Delila and Danny.

n Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.