AGENDA ITEM h:
“APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION RESCINDING RESOLUTION 2013-4 REGARDING THE PROHIBITION OF COMMITTING WATER SUPPLY OUTSIDE THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT’S LAKE McCLURE WATER SUPPLY PLACE OF USE.”

Hello folks—-Wow!  Maybe not a surprise but it sure didn’t take very long did it?  not so lol

NO MORE OMIDPOU REPORTS?

NO MORE LIMITATIONS ON OUTSIDE SERVICE?

Even though the traditional MIDPOU reports (previously contained in the monthly LDPCSD agenda packets that identified where and how much water was being used outside the legal areas approved by Merced Irrigation District) STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PETE KAMPA took the reins of district leadership, I honestly thought he and his water thirsty friends OUTSIDE THE LEGAL USE AREA would at least wait until the drought emergency was over. Or did they actually wait?

Come on now Lew….that isn’t actually correct.  Sure sometimes the monthly agenda packet didn’t have the Outside MIDPOU figures (November 10th & December 15th), but hey, a lot was going on with this EMERGENCY WATER SITUATION AND THE DROUGHT!  Besides the January 20th packet filled in those numbers with a complete accounting from December 2013 to December 2014!  Relax dude, enjoy life.

HAVE FURTHER OMIDPOU CONNECTIONS ALREADY BEEN MADE?

Were further OMIDPOU water service connections already installed on properties but the public was unaware since the OMIDPOU reports were suspiciously excluded from the public agenda? (This could easily be researched if appropriate records were kept and allowed to exist as public business records – yet based on past funny business I certainly wouldn’t hold my breath.)

Who knows what is going on but again,  just because the agenda packets for the February 19th, (which was a special meeting to replace the regular meeting which was to be held on Feb 16th), March 16th, April 20th, or May 18th 2015 meetings didn’t have the OMIDPOU reports -that doesn’t necessarily mean anything sneaky was taking place.  Come on now.  Everyone was busy with this blasted drought and trying to conserve our precious water.  Besides, who really cares about how much water is being used outside the legal place of use?

Is this proposed resolution to rescind Resolution 2013-4 (which prohibited further expansion) merely a legal formality to cover up recent violations of that prohibition? Please do not forget Resolution 2013-4 was clearly supported by our attorney, water engineers, ground well sustainability reports, basic common sense, not to mention every bill paying customer who believes only those properties specifically entitled to Merced River water should receive such.

Whether or not there are current plans to expand the district’s boundaries with these expensive ground wells which constitute “an alternative source of water” unless work has been completed in outside areas with CSD funds or water is already being delivered, it doesn’t matter.

True, it does seem a bit strange that after not having the OMIDPOU REPORT for four months — suddenly there is a proposal to rescind Resolution 2013-4, but again, who really cares?  So what if the district is expanded into outside MIDPOU areas and must develop more ground wells to supply that need?  You must remember, most of the customers up here simply do not care and are willing to pay more money for their water service to encourage the growth that comes with subsidized water.   Again, take a deep breath, relax.  Enjoy life.

MAYBE MID AND STATE AUTHORITIES HAVE CHANGED RULES?

Unless MID (Merced Irrigation District) has already rewritten the water service contract with the district under Water License 11395 issued to it (MID) by the SWRCB (State Water Resources Control Board) and the former has reinterpreted the prohibitions against serving Merced River water to outside MIDPOU properties, why on earth would the district do such a foolish thing during one of the worst droughts in California history with such obvious risky and extremely expensive ground wells?

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE GREED OF OTHERS

I incorrectly figured Pete Kampa and the Directors that follow and support his district water service expansion plans (clearly evidenced prior to Kampa leaving LDPCSD service the first time in the 1990s) would have at least waited to see if our community had enough water to sustain it through this unprecedented drought. You know, until the next rains actually materialized.

Serving 35 – 36 OMIDPOU properties that are already connected is one thing, but why commit further water service into other currently prohibited areas during this nasty drought?

Perhaps I underestimated the audacity, arrogance and corrupt politics of those individuals trusted with the management of this communities’ liquid gold?  Where’s the fiduciary duty to the district and its current customers?

EMERGENCY GROUND WATER WELLS –good money after bad?

The apparent use of these emergency ground water wells (that were ostensibly constructed to guarantee legal Merced River water users would have enough water during this drought) to just add more properties outside the legal use area is EXTREMELY DISINGENUOUS and EXACTLY what I feared and warned against.

True, the newly installed ground wells are an alternative source of water, but they were clearly constructed (and the public was repeatedly told this) under the concept of an ALTERNATIVE EMERGENCY WATER SOURCE needed to ensure water for the current customers – NOT TO EXPAND DISTRICT SERVICE TO PROPERTIES WITHOUT WATER OR ENTITLED TO MERCED RIVER WATER!
STANDING ON NEW DAM – OLD EXCHEQUER PEEKS OUT FROM DROPPING WATER IN 2013

NOW COMPARE THE WATER DROP BETWEEN THE TWO DAMS IN 2015 [You will have to click on the photo and use the slide bar to position the image]

IS YOUR THINKING CAP ON AND FUNCTIONING?

SO what do you think will happen when many more properties are brought into district service using these “iffy” and expensive ground wells and they go dry? You got it! Once service is provided the district can’t take it away.  It will become a nightmare of reoccurring new well digging emergencies……

WELCOME GROUND WATER SUBSTITUTION FOR SURFACE WATER TRANSFERS FOR PERPETUITY!

Dig more wells, add more properties, dig more wells, add more properties, dig more….

All the while the basic honest customers (whose only mistake was buying property in an area where corruption and low information voting trumps common sense) will continue to pay the added costs for the increased property values of those OMIDPOU properties who finally got what they needed for exponential growth in business and personal wealth…..our water!  Best part for these water thirsty outsiders?  99% of the LDPCSD customers will continue to pay for the expansion – whether they want it or not.

TYPICAL BAIT AND SWITCH MODUS OPERANDII

Essentially, every legal water using customer in this district (along with the majority of availability customers- most out of area) will now be saddled with the added expenses of providing water to outside MIDPOU properties with a series of new ground water wells.

In other words: all district customers will subsidize this water service expansion WITHOUT EVER HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE MATTER OR EXPRESS THEIR OPINION.

Doesn’t that violate the concept of Proposition 218?

SPEAKING OF PROP 218 – DO YOU REALIZE NEW HIGHER WATER RATES ARE ON THE HORIZON?

Prior to completing my four year term on the board I specifically addressed this probability and received verbal assurances that such a BAIT AND SWITCH ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCE scenario WOULD NEVER OCCUR because the proposed wells were for emergency water only.  Even DIRECTOR Emery Ross said he would never vote for using well water to expand OMIDPOU service.   We shall see.

Liar liars your pants are on fire
How will you extinguish the flames?
Emergency ground water was just the bait
A distracted community will bare the blame.

Like I have said many times, I am not against water service to areas outside the MIDPOU service area so long as those properties receiving that extra benefit pay for the added extra costs in providing that water.  What is so darn difficult to understand?  Hiding behind this drought emergency and expensive unreliable ground wells to provide water to properties that have no legal right to Merced River water, yet expecting all legal customers to pay for it is just plain sneaky, underhanded and unethical.  And then to propose raising our water rates even further on top of that?  Insult to injury!  But of course this is just my opinion.  What do you think now?  What will you think when your water rates go up so others can build new subdivisions, cattle ranches, maybe water theme parks, or whatever nonsensical project is the proposed money maker of the day?  Wake up!  Smell the chlorine!

My best to you and yours, Lew

Resolution 2013-4

 

Please note which director voted NO on that resolution:  The very one who suspiciously obtained a second OMIDPOU water meter to supply chlorinated water for a cattle ranch he was developing despite being unequivocally advised PRIOR TO THE RANCH PURCHASE he had no right to LDPCSD water. Then, even after loosing that second meter (because it had to be returned to the rightful owner) he some how obtained another replacement. Think I’d characterize that as something for the COWBOY HALL OF SHAME.

Decades of continuous fighting in attempts to supply water to those properties that had no legal right to Merced River water rather than focusing on the sustainability of water for those who did have, and paid for, that right to water. Decades and hundreds of thousands of YOUR DOLLARS wasted in delaying what should have been diligently pursued back in the 1990s –

THE Mc CLURE POINT

DEEP WATER PROJECT !

 

Poor Lew, just can’t get it into his thick head that no one cares about what it will cost all customers to continue pursuing a ground water substitution plan for even more surface water transfers.   (Every gallon of Lake McClure water that goes outside the MID permitted area must come from an alternative source, and for the LDPCSD that is ground water.)  I keep telling him to kick back, enjoy life and to not let this water business concern him any more.   No one else seems to care, why should he? Life is short.  Enjoy it as much as possible. Gee, what else is there to say?

Our best to you and yours.