Ahhh, rain. I cannot keep putting off some of this work, but I still do. This is the best time to start digging in the rock laden ground and upgrading my aging irrigation infrastructure, most installed twenty years ago. Nothing lasts forever. Repair and replacement of leaking valves and bird pecked drip lines, inadequate coverage requiring line extensions, etc.. Multiply this many thousands of times and appreciate what your water district faces with its labyrinth of piping and inventory of processing, treatment and storage equipment. This is a very big job requiring expertise and knowledge by experienced trained professionals.
CHECK OUT THESE COMMENTS FROM THE CAL & JULIA LIMBOCKER SHOW:
Cal and Julie Limbocker:
September 20
….and the “infamous blog” is at it again. Something strikes me as odd when a man cannot stand on his own merits without slamming others…. As many have probably noticed , his blog is closed. He goes on and on about senseless comments……giving no one an opportunity to interact. In my book this is typical of the dillusional school yard bully…
Vicki Keefe Can anyone tell me one positive thing he has done for the district in the 2 yrs? I won’t hold my breath…..LOL
September 20 at 10:29pm • 1
John Turner He supports his IGM. He helped to ensure that our water rights were not taken away by MID, by monitoring and helping to eliminate the outside place of use customers. He is known for bringing high energy and encouragement to the LDPCSD. NOT NEGATIVE B.S. He has worked very hard for the District, in attending meetings in many instances in Mariposa County for the District. Financial Committee, helped many times to keep the Board informed and stood strong against the very few members in the Community that cause so much distress. He brings a network of “Good” to the Community. The most trusted one – on the Board.
October 1 at 9:23am
Cal and Julie Limbocker Vicki….you are absolutely right, he has done absolutely nothing that can be considered positive. @John, your behavior on 08/02 was unacceptable for anyone….especially in your position. Although I respect your opinion, I find it highly unlikely that most people are going to find your comments as credible…..
October 1 at 9:37am
John Turner You were not there. You did not almost get run over by someone whom was waiving at a construction worker while driving dangerously through a cone zone. I stand behind what I said. And if that driver or anyother driver comes that close to causing physical damage to me, they will likely here more unfavorable remarks towards them. Don’t like it? Drive right!
October 1 at 9:47am
Julie Limbocker @John, yes we were all aware of your attempt to make a false police report and your stories. The problem with you is you cannot step up to the plate for your own misdeeds. Be a man and accept responsibility for your actions. Yes, I was not there but the minor that you verbally abused was…… . All we wanted was accountability….but you chose to resign. The resignation was accepted by the Board with the exception of the “blogger”….so of coarse you think he is great. You are two peas in a pod. Now I am not going to get into a verbal match with you…..so if you have something to say to me or us….please contact us by phone. I would love to talk with you….but you are only opening a Pandoras Box……via your comments.
October 1 at 10:00am • 1
Vicki Keefe He is known for many things none of which you have just posted.
October 1 at 10:19am • 1
Cal and Julie Limbocker @Vicki…you said it perfectly…..
October 1 at 10:21am
John Turner You are very judgmental about people. The things that I have posted might not be known by all, but are factual. There was no false police report (again with misinformation). The Seargant at the CHP Office in Sonora/Jamestown was my contact. Ask him about the incident with the female in the blue jeep, in a cone zone, in Don Pedro area. He will remember… He asked me if I wanted to file a report, but I said no, not at this time. And after you didn’t want to speak with me anymore about the issue (remember?), you wanted to speak with the Board instead of handling this with you and I, or your husband and I. This is what YOU wanted. Have a good day.
October 1 at 11:18am
Ruth Smith John, I think you should have come to the next meeting in August after the incident to face the people in question in person. I was not there but the kind of language you use is just not professional especially to a young female. You could have said “OMG you scared me”. or something similar that type of language is unacceptable. As for the blog I have been a victim of it because I dis agreed with the writer at a CSD meeting so I got blasted, sad when a rate paying member cannot voice an opinion at a meeting in fear of retaliation. Some people can be book smart but no common sense.
October 1 at 11:52am • 1
Julie Limbocker @John…The problem is I just dont take to well to liars, people who cannot take responsibility and cowardly bullies. When you threaten people, use foul language and detain inappropriately….in this case a minor, you are treading on different territory sir. You called CHP….(I dont doubt that at all)……but you knew no one could confirm your story. You admitted to your inappropriate behavior…and then tried to lie about it at the same time. Simply put, you tried to get by through intimidation, threats, etc. and are too cowardly to take responsibility. Why didnt you show up at the meeting in August? I think most of us know the answer. …and you knew that a false police report could make the situation even worse…. Hey, its time to man up….because your statements are not doing you any service at all. Also, this isnt about being judgmental, it is about inappropriate behavior of a GM. Again, you chose to resign….hmmmm, odd coincidence?
October 1 at 1:12pm • 1
Vicki Keefe Whenever I read anything from our “resident bully blogger” I am reminded of this quote “That a lie which is half truth Is ever the blackest lie of all”
October 1 at 1:43pm • 1
John Turner @ Ruth … I was not at the meeting because of Doctors orders and that I wasn’t going to set there quietly while the circus went on. It was best that I didn’t be there. JL wanted to go to Syndie and to the Board, and not deal with me. * @ Julie … from what I’ve been told, knowone really likes you, so why do you continue the drama? My Supervisors always told me that my honesty gets in the way…lololol. I sleep with knowing that to whom it really counts, I am extremely honest. I sometimes have a Marine Corps mouth, but it’s never meant to be harmful. My goals were to get the place in order, run a lot more efficient, reduce water rates, and improve water quality so that we don’t have those red stains anymore.
October 2 at 12:32pm
John Turner I can see why you stay mostly to yourself. Everyone that has met me knows that I am no bully, and definetly no coward. You are being a very rude B****. NICE KIDS?????????? I don’t see anything nice in your whole statement.
October 2 at 1:17pm
Julie Limbocker @John..since I really dont know that many people in La Grange (have stayed to myself pretty much), I really find your comments typical of your mentality and attempts to bully. If you had gone to the meeting like a mature adult man, you could have stated your reasons, etc. Instead you felt it more appropriate to stay away….as most cowards do when “sh**” hits the fan. As for your doctors note??? Anyone can get a doctors note….but the stress was just too much for you. You crumbled like the weak person you are. I know it and you know it….so why not admit it? A person like you will never take accountability or act like a mature adult. Instead you get through life with attempts to intimidate, criticize, bully and lie. That is all you have….because you cant make it on your own merits. What I think is amazing is that you obviously have no remorse for your vulgar behavior….because a few days later you displayed it again. You, with your hot headed attitude and lack of self control, even tried to intimidate me on the phone….and then hung up on me. You made sarcastic comments, laughed and lied to me on the phone ….followed withy threats. Now now, John, quit acting like such a little cry baby….do something for yourself and get some counseling.It appears your vulgar behavior is a part of your character….and this time, you didnt expect someone to voice their concerns. While at the Board meeting, when we mentioned that all we wanted was an apology, your little “blogger” boyfriend stated, well, he wanted to but he was waiting to see if he would get hired back. LOL, a conditional apology? Are you kidding me? John, go play and leave the nice kids alone…
October 2 at 1:18pm
Julie Limbocker No John, it is not about being rude….but about telling it like it is. I guess it makes you feel powerful to use that word….. Now, it is time for you to stop your postings. You said I keep the drama up….you were the one that posted again today. Like I said, go play
October 2 at 1:40pm • 1
Carolynn Bartholomew You go girl.
October 2 at 5:53pm • 1
HERE ARE MY COMMENTS ABOUT THIS MESS (didn’t think you’d get away that easy – did you?)
UNBELIEVEABLE, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THIS LIMBOCKER NONSENSE
1. Cannot stand on my own merits? You know, this election reminds me of something someone told me decades ago. I was fresh out of college with a BA degree in my hand (magna cum laude honors incidentally) and working in public service (hired at the top of a very long list of applicants) and excited about the future. I remember questioning a supervisor one day about an illogical procedure and why such was allowed to continue considering the routine negative outcome. I will never forget his quick humorous comment: “the public gets what they deserve”. This comment troubled me for some time. Although I understood the meaning at the time, the concept is sadly still valid.
The public will receive the quality of service they deserve due to the individuals they elect to represent and administer important public interests. There are few things as important as the quality and sustainability of our drinking water. I have publically stood by my opinions and convictions for over 8 years on LAKEDONPEDRO.ORG with fact and evidence but what some characterize as “slamming others” is simply the refusal to tolerate their pathetic attempts at rationalizing inappropriate (and sometimes criminal) behavior.
My website closed? Yes indeed it is –but why?
First of all because this is a BLOG (weB LOG), which is analogous to opening up a personal journal of thoughts and opinions for the public to view and understand my perspective. If you don’t like it, don’t log on and read. Why would ANYONE permit disingenuous political adversaries to write in their journal and corrupt personal expression?
Secondly, when LAKEDONPEDRO.ORG was open for viewer comments the SO-GOSIP [Same Old Group Of Special Interest People] flooded it with their typical disinformation and personal insults in an attempt to shut it down as they have for many years. (The truth is a very dangerous thing to the dishonest.)
Finally, I have been hacked a couple of times and it is expensive and difficult to clean up the mess unscrupulous people cause when they are determined to prevent the truth from being posted.
2. Senseless comments? School yard bully? Good Heavens! Poor Julia Limbocker and the SO GOSIP just can’t appreciate that it is they who participate in and perpetuate the exact behavior they wrongfully accuse others. [Impersonating an investigator from the State Attorney General’s Office to disrupt another business meeting of the district? Good grief – someone should have gone to prison on that illegal deception.]
3. Vicki Keefe asks what “one positive thing” I have done for this district? This is a good example of “bait” in a semantics trap upon which “Vicious Vicki” thrives in her continuing attempts to distort the truth (evidently she has not learned her lesson yet.)
No one director does anything without co-operation from others, whether within the Board room in front of the public, Closed Sessions, or working with other outside agencies and departments. There is no “I” in the word team. If I decline the challenge to list accomplishments with which I have been involved (many simply preventing the ridiculous special interest plans by Ross and Skoien) it will be interpreted that I have done nothing, but, if I list the work performed and the success achieved (like pursuing the $40,000 CSD obtained from the County regarding the Waste Water Facility under billing mess which Emery Ross wanted to negotiate down because it was unfair to demand what CSD was legally owed) – then I would be attacked for being arrogant and self promoting. Rather like the demanded “yes or no answer” to the question of whether someone has stopped beating their dog. If yes – spurious charges will be hurled that they previously mistreated their dog, if no, – accusations that they are still physically abusing an animal. Fortunately for this community there is no difficulty in establishing Vicki Keefe’s major contribution to this district – it was realized when forced off the board of directors for doing what she does best – not telling the truth.
4. Calvin and Julia Limbocker agree with Vicki Keefe (big surprise) that I have done nothing positive for this district? How would they know one way or the other since they admit to only recently becoming involved in CSD matters as a result of their juvenile Granddaughter’s driving through a construction zone and almost hitting our former Interim General Manager? They profess to “know” only that which has been furnished them by the SO-GOSIP who persist in relaying disinformation because their positions are meritless and fraught with the special interest of real estate and land development. Recall Julia Limbocker was less than candid on the youtube comments regarding her and her husband’s involvement with real estate. Why? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with such employment if honestly pursued.
The Limbockers have attended about three meetings and have not witnessed the times Emery Ross and Mark Skoien misrepresented information to the public and other board members. That’s the real reason LAKEDONPEDRO.ORG is vilified — it has documented such past behavior through accurate reporting which provides little wiggle room for their excuses of deception. EXAMPLE: The Limbockers were not present when an aggrieved citizen publically challenged and corrected Emery Ross for his verbal and written fabrications of truth regarding her personal life and property ownership activities. Was this victim of Ross’s dishonesty also “slamming” poor old Emery Ross, or simply setting the record straight when Ross was again playing fast and loose with the truth?
The Limbockers talk & talk – but don’t know squat. They are merely the most recent leaders of the infamous SO-GOSIP which has consistently obstructed district progress with their childish nonsense. Where are two of the most notorious former leaders of this group? One removed by legal action for dishonesty and the other facing multiple criminal charges for sexual abuse of children. Julia Limbocker has also claimed to have been some sort of law enforcement official in the past which really doesn’t carry much weight since there are many individuals of questionable integrity in every profession and career.
5. Julie Limbocker: “John, your behavior on 8-02 was unacceptable for anyone – especially in your position”.
Let me emphasize two points that Calvin and Julia Limbocker repeatedly refuse to acknowledge or understand: (1) I appreciate their love and concern for their granddaughter and wanting accountability for what they consider a great injustice to her, and (2) I do not condone (nor do I believe anyone else would) any CSD employee using inappropriate language towards ANY PERSON and such should not be tolerated. With that said, this incident, and the language used, is not the primary issue nor what is so disturbing about this whole matter.
The issue for me was, and is, the failure of the board to properly handle yet another complaint against an employee according to district policy.
The district complaint process was intentionally circumvented and the end result was the loss of an IGM with a 31 year professional history in water treatment who was making tremendous progress within this district. It was suggested by one director the entire matter could have been handled with a simple written reprimand and sending him to “charm school”, however, Turner’s failure to attend the meeting changed that. This sounds reasonable except for one thing, Mr. Turner resigned due to the traditional “micro-managing” investigations, drawn conclusions, and resulting actions by particular board members, some already determined to release him from service before the vehicle incident. Recall that shortly before this vehicle incident a recently resigned employee had quietly contacted three members of the board with her complaints against the IGM – no, no, no, no, no! — Most would consider this a serial meeting and a Brown Act Violation. [There is much more to this, but I digress.]
The point is, Mr. Turner had his hands full with behind the scene complaints by those unhappy with the way progress was being made in district operations and policy. John Turner was getting the job done in a very hostile environment.
NOTES FROM THE AUGUST 20th, 2012 BOARD MEETING
VP Richardson stated his understanding was the incident had been resolved at the scene but later others encouraged this juvenile to file a complaint. Mr. Limbocker stated he was one of those people because she was a child, didn’t understand her rights and was made to feel guilty like it was her fault. Limbocker continued: “I’m sure being 17 years old in whatever, compared to how old he is, I know how to manipulate her and make her feel guilty as hell – believe me, I’ve done it.”
Director Mark Skoien offered his opinion that John Turner was unstable based on the verbal complaints made to him. Skoien said he didn’t “give a damn” and the CSD needed to advertise for a GM because this man is not what we need – although admitting Turner had done a lot of good practical things that were long overdue for the district.
AT THAT LEVEL — THE LANGUAGE USED WAS OK?
Consider this, the alleged victim qualified that the inappropriateness of what was said to her was dependent upon who spoke the words (below). Emery Ross also even apparently felt the matter was OK until he received many complaints from undisclosed people.
EMERY ROSS VERY INVOLVED
Emery Ross acknowledged at the August 20th meeting he did not initially vote yes to hire John Turner, but it was because he didn’t know much about him at the time. Ross said he later felt the CSD had a really good manager because Turner was doing an unbelievably good job at meetings “but then I was getting all these complaints, you know, on the side, I, from everybody. And then, when I talked to him, about the incident with the car, I talked to him right outside the …”
VP Richardson: “The car?”
Director Emery Ross: “The Jeep, her’s, her Jeep”
VP Richardson: “Oh, oh”
Director Emery Ross: And I said, what you did, he explained how it – and that was that. He (Turner) said, but you know, I was wrong, I called her an “F’n B” and I shouldn’t have done that you know, at at that level it was OK then all these emails come around but to me it’s almost like there’s two different guys. The guy that was in here at these meetings I thought was good –
VP Richardson: Right
Director Emery Ross: – you know, but the guy that does that stuff
VP Richardson: Well I saw…
Director Emery Ross: definitely not good
VP Richardson: Well I saw an email from him saying he was willing to write a written apology
Director Emery Ross: and I vote no.
?????
MATTER OF SPONTANEOUS FOUL LANGUAGE USED OR WHO WAS INVOLVED?
According to the juvenile’s own statements during the highly emotional meeting , Mr. Turner had a flag in his hand acting like a “fairy”; he was not a man for using such language to a woman; that her CSD employee friends told her Mr. Turner always “flies off the handle” real fast; and that Turner had told board members at the Lumberyard Café and Brew that he had been injured in the incident. When I questioned which directors had been told this, Emery Ross stated he had. That erroneous information of serious injury was evidently passed on by Ross to other directors. The juvenile also stated something rather peculiar regarding the foul language:
“He (Turner) obviously flies off the handle because for somebody to call me that it is just ridiculous and it would have been different if it was maybe one of the guys that said that it I would have been a little more understandable”
(Emery Ross calling for the “confidence vote” in background)
VP Richardson: “It shouldn’t be any different if someone says that….”
Granddaughter: “No it shouldn’t but…..”
Emery Ross: “call for the vote”
PRIOR TO THE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
Wes Barton questioned if some previously claimed foul language used by an IGM to an employee (who resigned after an apparent ultimatum to particular directors that Turner be fired) was the same IGM being discussed now and asked for clarification. (The same resigned employee also had complaints filed against the IGM before Turner.)
Another member of the audience questioned Ross about the many people who called Ross with complaints and whether or not there was follow up or documentation of the matter because if there had been complaints they should be brought out to establish a basis, rather than approaching the matter as an isolated case. Here’s that interesting exchange:
Director Emery Ross: All of a sudden there was like this avalanche of complaints …
Audience Member: Have you documented any of them?
Director Emery Ross: All this happened pretty quick, you know, it, really fast, we, we meet once a month (inaudible-female coughing) and ah, but I’m telling you, that the guy that was over here where Randy sits never (inaudible) I, I couldn’t, I mean, it was hard to believe the things I was hearing.
Audience member: Well, I understand that, but you said there were other complaints.
Director Emery Ross: Ahhum (affirmative answer)
Audience Member: That doesn’t tell me anything.
Director Emery Ross: Well (mumbling) employees (sentences mumbled and inaudible)
Audience Member: OK
Director Emery Ross: I, I, it was a disconnect for me, you know? (inaudible mumbling) how can this be?
Audience Member: Alright, I’m not challenging your disconnect, (multiple voices, cross talk) I’m just wondering
Director Emery Ross: Well I’m just telling you (over talking audience member) to me …..
Audience Member: other complaints
Director Emery Ross: because how to do it, because of, of, how good I , because like I said I thought he was pretty good then came this big avalanche of this here and –(inaudible) — personnel stuff, this personnel stuff.
[NOTE: THIS AUDIENCE MEMBER BROUGHT UP VERY RELEVANT QUESTIONS: WHO WERE THESE COMPLAINTANTS? Ross never identified even one of the “avalanche” of complaints. What about the emails Ross said he received? Where are they?]
Director Bill Kinsella explained the process: gathering information, writing up the complaint and serving Mr. Turner with the admonition the entire board would hear the matter but it was never heard because Turner called in sick and ultimately submitted his resignation.
Sally Punte cautioned that the board was discussing matters in open session that they shouldn’t. She also stated any complaints should have been put in writing, turned into the office, and procedures would dictate how to proceed.
Director Mark Skoien defended the actions by individual directors saying sometimes complaints were inner house and the man (Turner) was still working here and you can understand why they wouldn’t put something in writing. Skoien confirmed the information about the IGM was word of mouth hearsay and not documented in written complaints. Kinsella stated the written report furnished to board members was the complaint by Julie Limbocker (the Grandmother who was not present at the incident).
Sally Punte reminded Kinsella of policies.
Director Emery Ross relayed his analogy of Director Victor Afanasiev being accused of beating someone up and giving them a black eye saying “some stuff just doesn’t make sense”. [This was an interesting comparison since Ross also months ago referred to Victor as being two completely different people when Ross could not decide which one to vote for – despite Afanasiev being the only applicant for an advertised open board position. WHAT?]
VP Richardson emphasized the agenda item mentioned any outstanding complaints that should be addressed by the entire board, not select board members passing hearsay on to others.
[“Agenda Item I: GM/IGM Vacancy: Request by Director Richardson – Circumstances of recent IGM resignation and options of vacancy: Request Board “vote of confidence” for John Turner to continue as GM/IGM with understanding any pending written complaints will be addressed appropriately”]
Julia Limbocker stated she didn’t care or believed Mr. Turner had a 31 year stellar career in water. Cal Limbocker stated they cared about the district but there were other verbal complaints about Turner. Mr. Limbocker said they were there not just because of the recent incident with their granddaughter but because of missing water and the Grand Jury report.
Chuck Day suggested dropping the matter and moving on.
THE GREAT COMPLAINT ADJUDICATOR?
Emery Ross has been asking people to contact him for many years and has advertized this policy in his Foothill Express newspaper column “Ranching Don Pedro”, however, when concerning complaints and disciplinary actions against CSD employees this is absurdly wrong – especially when there is no documentation other than Emery’s word of what transpired. No individual director has that jurisdiction or authority. Such matters should come before the entire board for fair and impartial investigation and adjudication. It appears the “serious injury” rumor that spread like wildfire through the community started with Emery Ross at the Lumberyard Café and Brew [and Ross’s Cowboy Hall of Fame] where the juvenile is also employed.
DISTRICT POLICY WAS AGAIN CIRCUMVENTED
I don’t think it really matters what an employee might be accused of outside a public meeting through a whispering campaign of defamation because an employee is still entitled to the employment protections our district policy was meant to provide – a fair unbiased hearing based on fact – not an “avalanche” of mysterious undocumented complaints from someone like Emery Ross.
BACK TO THE LIMBOCKER SHOW IN RESPONSE TO MR. TURNER’S POSTINGS
6. Julia Limbocker: “John, yes we were all aware of your attempt to make a false police report and your stories.”
Who is this “we were all aware”? Obviously the Limbocker’s (and their new found mob of the SO-GOSIP supporters) went out of their way to contaminate any possibility of a fair hearing for Mr. Turner, but who else? As you can read for yourself in the comment by John Turner there was no false report to anyone. After the incident Mr. Turner felt there was no sense in causing the juvenile legal problems with a formal complaint about her driving because no one was hurt and the matter seemed resolved at the scene until “others” exploited that opportunity and encouraged the juvenile to file a complaint – which was never done according to district policy. John Turner already had a target on his back and this vehicle incident was blown out of proportion and used as a reason for his proposed termination: all of it outside the preview of the entire board of directors and the public.
7. Julia Limbocker doesn’t take to liars, irresponsibility, or cowardly bullies? I would suggest she avoid mirrors or reflection in any smooth surface. Here is a woman who has intentionally and publically spread fabrications of truth about me on the internet through Youtube and the Foothill Express newspaper (delivered all across the United States) yet falsely maintained both she and her husband were not involved in real estate when both possess current DRE licenses and are advertised on the internet. Want to talk about special interests and manipulation of the truth? Now she has the audacity to accuse our former IGM (and former United States Marine tank commander) of being a coward? Wow.
8. Amazing it is that Julia Limbocker makes such a scene about an admitted spontaneous inappropriate exclamation by Turner when he was almost hit by a vehicle driven by Julia’s juvenile granddaughter (who apparently only had a license for a few months, was inexperienced in driving a manual shift transmission vehicle in hilly terrain, and wasn’t paying attention to the road or John Turner while waving to her CSD worker friends) yet even with the advantage of time to think and compose her thoughts, Julie Limbocker viciously strikes out again by calling me Mr. Turner’s “little “blogger” boyfriend”. Good Heavens! This woman is a pernicious, disrespectful and nasty individual with an obvious penchant for jumping to conclusions based on her own self-serving faulty perception of facts. I don’t know what life experiences have been involved in creating and shaping such a hateful individual but one thing is for sure, she is an expert at portraying exactly what she is. I too thank you for starting the CAL & JULIE LIMBOCKER SHOW.
Well I’ve wasted enough time already discussing these pathetic excuses for “concerned citizens”. It’s a beautiful day after the rain and I have much more enjoyable work to get done. More later – until then, and as always, –
My best to you and yours, Lew
And to our former IGM and United States Marine………..Semper Fi !