Placer hires new Tahoe liaison

By Joanna Hartman
Sierra Sun
May 9, 2007

Placer County has ushered in a new face to speak on behalf of Tahoe constituents.
Collier Cook, previously with Homewood Mountain Resort, was approved by the county board of supervisors in April as the new Tahoe field representative for District 5 Supervisor Bruce Kranz.

“It’s somebody that can represent me,” said Kranz. “... If you’re having problems getting something done, or problems with the county, or things you’d like to have me looking into to make things more efficient up there, talk to Collier about it.”

Former Tahoe field representative Rick Brown left big shoes to fill when he took the job as vice president for JMA Ventures, the San Francisco-based company that bought Homewood Mountain Resort last June. But county representatives are confident Cook has what it takes.

“I’m getting e-mails telling me what a good choice [we made]. I’m getting good feedback and I think I made the right decision,” said Kranz.

Cook will now be responsible for handling immediate concerns on the north and west shores of Lake Tahoe. He’ll be working with a span of organizations from Caltrans to North Tahoe Public Utility District to Squaw Valley Municipal Advisory Council, said Lisa Buescher, Kranz’s field representative based in Auburn.

Cook will serve as Kranz’s Tahoe eyes and ears, she said, to both speak and listen on behalf of Kranz for his Tahoe constituents, attend meetings and follow up on requests.

“I missed working for people,” Cook said. “... This job is going to offer greater challenges and more opportunities to work with the community in a guest services role.”