Tom Jovanovich was sworn in last week as a new commissioner of Water District 49.

Water District 49 provides service to downtown Burien and surrounding residential neighborhoods.

Jovanovich was appointed in August to fill a vacancy on the three-member commission created when Commissioner Jim Henry resigned effective July 1.

Henry, who had four years remaining in his current term, stepped down in protest after Commissioners Ray Brickell and Jim Henry decided not to renew the contract of district Manager Dale Cap when it expires in November.

Jovanovich must run for election in November 2007 to complete the balance of Henry's six-year term, which ends in December 2009.

He was a commissioner of Lakehaven Water District in Federal Way until earlier this year, when he resigned after moving to Burien.

Jovanovich, who Cap said is "going to be great," owns a lumber business in south Seattle and has been involved in commercial fishing.

Brickell and Henry also voted last month to hire Mike Harris, who currently is on the staff at Water District 45 in White Center, as the new manager of Water District 49.

The formal announcement of his hiring is expected to be made at the commission's Sept. 27 meeting.

While Water District 49 has received good marks for its service, it has been embroiled in controversy in recent years.

Three years ago, the district stopped collecting payments from its customers for street light service provided by Seattle City Light. In 2005, City Light threatened to shut off street lights in the part of Burien served by Water District 49 if the delinquent balance was not paid. The city of Burien eventually covered most of that bill and the lights stayed on.

Last December, the district again found itself in the spotlight because of connection to provide service to a homeowner in Highline Water District.

Cap took responsibility for permitting that connection, which was removed.