Surprised to see this in our March 20th, 2017 Agenda Packet but am glad I did.

Perhaps there may be those concerned about the “lack of respect” Pete Kampa and his group have shown for the legally entitled MERCED RIVER WATER users of the LAKE DON PEDRO OWNERS ASSOCIATION (LDPOA) SUBDIVISION, who due to that property ownership, are also MANDATORY CUSTOMERS of the THE LAKE DON PEDRO COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT (LDPCSD) which is an INDEPENDENT SPECIAL DISTRICT.

Sorry, but after reading it for a third time I am afraid it all smells like the same type of garbage Pete Kampa has been pushing at the Lake Don Pedro CSD since his board orchestrated behind the scene appoint to that GM position without any semblance of a traditional employment background check. I had hoped maybe the CSDA had been hoodwinked by an imposter, someone who’s actual character was not known to their association but now must wonder if KAMPA is just merely a glinting reflection of what the CSDA truly represents?

We all know why a typical employment process was not required, right?   psst- but just for new viewers let’s hit it again:

KNEW WHAT THEY BROUGHT IN

Because the board already knew exactly what they were getting with “ringer” PETE KAMPA – a PRO OUTSIDE MIDPOU EXPANSION ADVOCATE with experience, NOT ONLY WITH THE LAKE DON PEDRO CSD, but MOST IMPORTANTLY – in obtaining GRANT MONEY with which to develop a MUCH LARGER ALTERNATE SOURCE OF WATER to fuel a GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM TO REPLACE MERCED RIVER WATER that ILLEGALLY LEAVES the WATER LICENSE PERMITTED PLACE OF USE.

HERE’S THE MONEY – NOW GET MORE GROUNDWATER WELLS WITH GRANTS

That NO BACKGROUND CHECK process was also done to expedite the timeline for KAMPA to immediately begin accessing the over $1 million dollars LDPCSD had saved after near bankruptcy four years earlier.  The drought emergency “short-cut rules” wouldn’t last forever.  KAMPA used that money to leverage grant money allocations so as to construct more groundwater wells (greater alternate source of water) to begin further OUTSIDE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE water service to properties which are prohibited MERCED RIVER WATER under MID’s water license 11395.  All under the guise of helping existing water customers for whom those grants were entitled to assist during the drought.

GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION or GROUNDWATER CIRCUMVENTION?

This GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM is nothing more than a way to circumvent the MERCED RIVER WATER RESTRICTIONS IN THE WATER LICENSE while simultaneously, FORCING THE ENTITLED MERCED RIVER WATER using customers of the LDPOA SUBDIVISION TO PAY FOR A SPECIAL BENEFIT WATER SERVICE TO LAND DEVELOPERS OUTSIDE THE MIDPOU FOR WHOM THE LDPCSD HAS NO LEGAL DUTY OR MORAL OBLIGATION TO SERVICE WATER IN THE FIRST PLACE!   (Does the use of capitalized letters and color font help emphasize? lol)

CSDA ADVISED OF MISLEADING MAPS ON LDPCSD WEBSITE

Regarding CSDA mapping project on the LDPCSD website.  When I first observed the maps Kampa had posted on our LDPCSD website (what the CSDA was posting per KAMPA information) I emailed the CSDA in July of 2016 explaining some district history, our water license restrictions, and how those maps were not current and correct.  Even provided copies of three maps as well.    What was CSDA’s response in correcting the matter?  Absolutely nothing.  Only response I recall was an acknowledgement of receipt of my communications, which I had to request on the second email to them just to make sure the information was received!

Surprising?  No really when you consider Peter Kampa sure appears to be one of their own.  I believe KAMPA was actually going to be President of the CSDA one year if he had not been fired from the employment position that qualified him for that position.  I believe he has been a CSDA Board Member and even an instructor at various educational opportunities offered by the CSDA.  KAMPA admits to being a government “insider” on important water use issues and has no doubt made (and trained) many influential authorities and regulators.  Certainly Kampa has friends in high places.

Frankly, if Pete Kampa represents the caliber of individual CSDA believes a good example of their efforts, well I must now also doubt the motives and goals of the CSDA.  Let’s see…..CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATION?  If there are NO SPECIAL DISTRICTS in the future (as has apparently been suggested in meetings discussed in the letter), that means NO CSDA right?  How could there be an association of special districts in California if there were no more special districts?  (yeah, that redundancy again)

Could it be the CSDA (just like KAMPA) is far more concerned with their own special business interests rather than their advertised lofty goals of assisting communities with obtaining necessary and/or desired services?  Humm

Not sure how to word this comment, but something to the effect of:

A sad realization it is that the individuals, entities, even public agencies we once essentially believed to be honest and dedicated to the assistance of regular citizens, ARE IN REALITY NOT what we were educated,  trained, and encouraged to trust and support.

THE LDPCSD SPECIAL INDEPENDENT DISTRICT.   Where does the deceit stop?  Who has the power and authority to correct obvious and intentional wrongs against innocents who have done nothing wrong with the exception of purchasing property with which to build a dream?  Why should honest hard work towards that dream be transformed into a working nightmare due to the greed and selfishness of others demanding something clearly not legally theirs to demand?

HEY!  I DID NOT MAKE MERCED RIVER WATER DIVERSION AND USE REGULATIONS – BUT I CAN READ, AND SO CAN PETE KAMPA AND THE CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATION MEMBERS WHO APPARENTLY SUPPORT WHAT KAMPA HAS DONE, IS DOING, AND WILL DO TO OUR LDPCSD FOR THIRD PARTY BENEFIT.

Why are unethical practices rewarded through the apparent apathy of its victims to take action?  Is is due to lost hope for long overdue change?  Recognition that “standing up for your rights” also “makes you a larger target”?  I don’t care for being forced to subsidize private special benefit water service for land developers where the LDPCSD has no legal duty to do so, but if that is what is going to continue such needs to be documented as A DISTRICT POLICY and made public in all property purchases, transfers, disclosures, agreements and official recordings.

There needs to be a clear “meeting of the minds” between the seller and buyer.  An agreement which would demonstrate a property purchaser knowingly assumed the increasing:  UNKNOWN FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES for that water service benefiting an UNKNOWN NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENTS,  for an UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME. 

Yup, after reading that CSDA letter a tune started bouncing around my skull but I don’t have the skill to produce the music – so here are some lyrics.

They talk about cooperation and dialog

And working together as a team

Continually use the word community

All just part of their scheme.

–

To separate us from our money

Funding for their devious plots

Go right ahead – speak up at meetings

Pay for it with a stomach in knots.

–

Legitimate questions go unanswered

A special benefit direction quite clear

So similar to enemies all over the globe

But it is our local conspirators we should fear.

My best to you and yours, Lew

No need to comment on the highlighted material, but check it out.  Does the CSDA know what is happening at the LAKE DON PEDRO CSD?

the CSDA either. 

#18.  Another power failure today just after 0900hrs, not bad – only a few minutes.  Lost some of the material for this post even though I regularly save while working – there’s always something I’ll later scratch my head over and say to myself “I thought I had a comment there?”  (Yes, I know.  I comment on everything, almost.)

So when I started up again I decided to just mess around experimenting with the program for awhile so if the power went out again I would not freak out with what was lost – if anything.  (Short interruptions are often back to back.)

Learned some new things – sure wish I had more time to mess with it – think I missed a beautiful day.   Anyway, after feeling reassured of no further power interruptions, I started to work on #18.  Heck, I already had the intro done (I know I can make a template for that, but right now I’m still re-creating everything for each post from scratch) so I figured – why not use my practice stuff in the real #18?  SO, we shall see.

I noticed after an hour or so into the presentation that the dreaded “wide aspect ratio issue” had resurfaced.  Went back and made corrections – may have missed a few.  Evidently some of the “still shots” I pulled from the original “wide aspect recorded video” (Old Olympus camera) were involved with resetting the option somehow.

Heck I’m still not sure why, but even right now I can switch over to the other open window and see for myself that rather large file uploading smoothly and much more rapidly.

Not a YOUTUBE employee feeling sorry for me?  May be someone from AT&T?  Some extra Guardian Angels assistance when needed?  Oh yes, of course the strong supportive psychic power from all viewers focused intensely on the problem always helps.

Whatever!  Uploading nicely for a _______ long posting!  Guess how long?   Nope! Not going to tell you now.   You’ll find out later.    Incidentally, I do truly care what these other folks think – I was just trying to pull a laugh out of you at the  _______ mark.)

My best to you and yours, Lew

#7 When I glanced at the audio last time it must have been in the “zoom out” view – there was more to it than I had initially believed – so, one more blah blah blah will be required after this one. The thing that jumps out most about this one (at least to me-trying to remember what it was about – lol) was the discussion of management evaluations. Basically, referring back to The Treasure of the Sierra Madre movie spoof ….,,,, “I don’t need no stink ‘n evaluation – just confirm WE ARE HEADED IN THE GENERAL,  you know, moving forward towards the lofty goals we established together as a team several months ago – so all WE REALLY HAVE TO DO now is affirm in as many words as possible that we are indeed heading in that vague and unspecified direction – but certainly on track as we anticipated, so, who’s up for another committee?  Preferably outside public view?” ….. lol – later, Lew  (wild spring growth is calling me!)

My best to you and yours, Lew

CHECKS FOR OUTSIDE MIDPOU EXPANSION

My best to you and yours, Lew

#16.

Well, I believe we have another example of the tag team effort with the Danny Johnson lecture-question-comment series (think a comparison video of older material might be interesting) and KAMPA’s traditional continuous canned material.

Naturally I had something to say when Danny requested suggestions for management performance.

ARE YOU FRACK ‘N KIDDING ME?

YOU MEAN LIKE WHAT CUSTOMERS SHOULD EXPECT FROM THEIR PUBLIC AGENCY MANAGEMENT?

HOW ABOUT THE TRUTH RE DISTRICT OPERATIONS? 

I ended up reading a sentence in a letter written in 1996 by Pete Kampa when he had to “backtrack” on MISREPRESENTATIONS HE HAD MADE to County agencies regarding proposed future district plans (versus his own personal water service expansion plans for outside POU which was pretty obvious, then, and now.)  Evidently the board back then caught wind of Kampa’s “end-run attempt” in recruiting county departments to sign up for something not officially approved by the district.  (Hum, guess in this current situation he figured it was better to BECOME THE VOICE OF THE DISTRICT (as Danny Johnson dubbed him) so anything he might MISREPRESENT might be accepted and supported?)

Wes Barton once again makes some great observations and that’s where we stop in this presentation.

Not sure but I think only one more episode will be required judging by a quick look at the audio track.  I once said I wasn’t going to do this “word for word stuff” anymore because of the time (finishing just before the next monthly meeting!) but made an exception for the audit report presentation and Board Approval and the second run-together Special Meeting that followed.  Glad I did it, no regrets, just very taxing.

Yes, I did indeed establish some more fire breaks with the weed eater and rake.  Sure can feel it today but it is a good pain, feels like accomplishment towards a worthy and necessary project.

Because after all, say it with me  …..

Anything valuable requires protection.

My best to you and yours, Lew

I wonder— could someone at YOUTUBE have taken pity on this tired old blah blah blah blogger and made some adjustments to compensate for my D.A.C.O. mistake with the aspect ratio on that old Olympus camera?

Something sure has happened…the previous hours and hours and hours of upload time have been dramatically reduced.  If not a result of greatly appreciated compassion and human intervention, perhaps the planets have come into alignment to mitigate that technical issue?   I don’t know…. but sincerely, THANK YOU VERY MUCH – WHOEVER or WHATEVER is responsible!

Speaking of cameras and settings….I had an idea for a new video camera setup for our LDPCSD meetings.  (are you ready?)  The new camera will incorporate an on-board polygraph with instant digital recording and readout through the viewfinder.  Lol!  The deluxe model will eventually boast a mild but unpleasant corrective electrical shock for tough and resistant cases.  Yeah, I know, probably won’t hit the market for a while but just imagine the demand for those documenting highly suspicious political activities?

Hey!  At least I did not suggest waterboarding the waterboard.  (actually, afraid I did years ago)

OK, put your food tray up.  Fasten your seat belt and prepare for another dose of repetition.

Board President Danny Johnson and GM Pete Kampa also repeat themselves – stating that monthly board meetings are for the board to conduct district business and the public’s only role is to observe and comment when permitted.  And I agree.  (Seat belt?)  Well, I would agree except for one major issue which is responsible for this continuing nightmare – month, after month, after month……

The decision to move forward with a “GRANT MONEY ANSWER” (to the decades old problem of OUTSIDE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE (MIDPOU) per water license 11395)  was apparently made outside the normal public meeting environment by sitting directors co-operating with Pete Kampa and his management company prior to his GM “appointment”.

This is the driving force for so much of the current controversy and for JOHNSON & KAMPA to now play the “NOT ON THE AGENDA THEREFORE NO DISCUSSION” card, while they control agenda preparation, is just another painfully obvious technique to limit constructive discussion while simultaneously covering their apparent wrongful past activities.

KAMPA is a smooth operator – absolutely no doubt about that and he can parse words “finer than a frog’s hair” but when he states things like,

“there have been no formal written requests for further outside POU water service since I became GM”

he may actually be telling the truth!

(Seat belt?)

LOOK FOR OPERATIVE and/or CONDITIONAL WORDS

The operative words in that above sentence are “FORMAL WRITTEN REQUEST” and “SINCE I (HE) BECAME GM”, because after all, things like that are usually agreed upon “OUTSIDE” normal operations, much less put into a written form which in such cases often end up being referred to as “evidence”.  Yes indeed, far detached from the concept of “transparency of public process” which JOHNSON AND KAMPA now frequently speak – as if it were a controlling factor in past activity.

The really important questions all revolve around a completely different time period which they are scrambling to avoid – what was discussed and agreed upon prior to KAMPA becoming the “appointed GM” –  through a 2014 board orchestrated closed recruitment process which garan..…..

(ok, ok, —– I’ll quit this time…..besides, you already know – right?).

My best to you and yours, Lew

Guess who’s going to attack hillside vegetation?

May the chlorophyll be with you!

You suggest I have OBSESSION

For how the district runs?

Can’t deny you may be right

The work is never done.

–

But IF obsession drives me

Can’t complain it serves me well,

Like the CK scent I often wear

Better than OPPRESSION HELL.

–

‘Cuz we all now reek of OPPRESSION

A dictator’s desired mark

Better tagged with work OBSESSION

Than remembered for a traitor’s heart.

My best to you and yours, Lew

#14 – Yesterday’s outdoor work certainly helped. My sore muscles remind me of what was accomplished as I groan getting up or sitting down today.  I chuckle to myself as to the cyclical nature of the chore but am appreciative of the ways I’ve been able to make the work a little bit easier each spring with experience.

I still look back at the last meeting with chagrin.  Perhaps an indication I should just step back from the stress of their absurd and contradictory activities?   I guess that’s the most frustrating aspect in attending these CSD meetings and spending so much time reporting on them – is anything actually being accomplished?

I often think about walking away from this mess but you know what?  That is exactly what cheaters want and depend on in order to continue their cheating of others.

Those who were excitedly bragging about their “grant money answer” to the outside POU problem in 2014 are certainly singing a different song now which doesn’t make sense either. They repeatedly state everything they’ve done was honest and for the community’s benefit but if that were true why the later denial of the “grant money answer” for outside Place of Use water service?

In other words, mistakes are mistakes and we are all human, if someone who is well intentioned does something but it is not successful or even proper, no biggie, “thank you for your honest attempt to help”.  However, when darker motives govern and a calculated plan of deceit implemented with further resulting harm to innocent customers of a public agency,  that same activity cannot be brushed off as a simple little mistake or oversight – it reeks of a betrayal and conspiracy to do wrong.

Sure I may be a pain in the ass repetitive blah blah blah blogger, but I am not trying to deceive anyone nor am I lying about the fact pattern to this continuing nightmare.  Heck, I wish I could just let it go but I can’t because I know in my heart and mind it is just plain wrong.   I am reassured that it was an intentional wrong due to the fact those orchestrating the deal are working overtime on damage control rather than just saying “hey, we thought this plan would work but it turns out it would not for the following reasons…..”,

Maybe I am missing something, but it occurs to me the only reasonable answer to what is going on right now is that KAMPA & KOMPANY knew it was wrong at the time.  Kampa was obviously aware of the legal issues of the situation from his employment 20 years ago when he also tried to expand Outside MIDPOU special benefit water service.

So if two or more people work together to do something illegal, and that plan comes to fruition with harm to others, doesn’t that constitute a form of conspiracy?

Who knows?  But we do know from the TIMELINE – this garbage has been going on since the District’s formation and I’m starting to wonder – Is that the precise reason the District was formed in the first place?

Creating the facade of a normal CSD with a mandatory customer base with which to spread the costs of providing special benefit water service to vast property holdings not otherwise entitled to water service under 11395?  Conflicting availability fee schedules?  The numerous “under the table deals”?  Fabricated records, missing records, then arson of the administration office and records?  Special Tax Rate Areas?  Gerrymandering elections?  Culminating with a 2014 closed GM recruitment process and guaranteed KAMPA appointment without any form of a background check?  When considered all together it is rather difficult to believe the “grant money answer” to the MIDPOU problem was a simple mistake.

My best to you and yours, Lew

YUP.  I have been dreading this for what? 22-23 days?

Having improper behavior recorded for later playback is one thing.

Having such publicly presented is another.

But having your poor behavior publicly displayed through your presentation on your website – which, incidentally, has frequently stressed the importance of “doing the right thing”?    Frack ’n priceless.

There will always be those with whom we strongly disagree who seem to safely operate in an environment ruled by a completely different system of standards.  Standards alien to those with which we were raised as children – when taught right from wrong and how to recognize and avoid the enticing trappings of evil in its many forms.

I’m looking at a brass plaque on my study wall right now which reads:

“If you are patient in one moment of anger

you will escape a hundred days of sorrow”.

Fortunately I believe three weeks will suffice.

Should have read that plaque just before the February 22nd meeting – eh?  Or put it in the truck for causal viewing on the way to those meetings?  Maybe take it with me to the next meeting?  Carry my paperwork and camera equipment with it?  Perhaps make a meeting briefcase out of it?   I know!  Why not wear it as meeting atonement jewelry?  That’s it….!  Where’s the brass polish?- I need an old towel!

–

I will polish the brass

Until that plaque shines like new

Attach it with large iron bolts

To heavy log chain

That will swing from my neck

During comments lacking insult

-Isn’t it strange? – I start out fighting an unequivocal wrong but in the process exhibit verbal expression which is improper and I also condemn.   BUT PLEASE REALIZE, however inappropriate or crude my comments, they were, and still are, factual.  Pete Kampa has not been truthful about the operations of the LDPCSD and this fact should not be ignored or overshadowed because of my uncouth, low class, illiterate, boisterous public display of absolute disgust and frustration for WHAT Kampa & Kompany have done, are doing, and will continue to do to our public agency water company and WHY.

Hope you have a great weekend, thanks for your time, — I’m looking forward to slaying more hillside vegetation – it’s therapeutic.

My best to you and yours, Lew

GETTING DARK OUTSIDE! 

#12) Must have used that old Olympus for some high resolution photographs and just never switched it back for the meeting. Darn it!  Always scrambling to get stuff together on time for the meeting and rarely check settings.   No biggie, just a little longer upload times because of a D.A.C.O. aspect ratio setting.  Right?  Hummm, I am thinking of a “lakedonpedro.org viewer exam”.  Oh yes I am.  Repeat myself too much, eh?  Tired of hearing the same old thing over and over and over, right?  OK, then recognizing and understanding miscellaneous acronyms and verbal “shortcuts” should be easy right?  I mean, I repeat myself so much.  OK, what is D.A.C.O.?   lol

Old Olympus set to the wide aspect ratio:  you can identify that particular camera by the two dark spots (upper left and, lower right quadrants – I believe) in the view.  I’m a Pack Rat remember?  If it works at all I keep and continue to use the equipment.  Looked the repair up a while back on the internet, common problem with digital camera imaging but not sure if I want to attempt the repair myself.  Sounded pretty complicated but if it gets worse why not?  What do I have to lose?  Until then –  “we” live with the spots!  #12 is pretty much 10 minutes of KAMPA discussing the groundwater wells and grant funding.  Is it just me or have we heard much of this same information repeated for several months?  Guess some things take a while to untangle.

You know, I do have compassion.  Too bad there wasn’t some way for “them” (K&K)  to protect their interests while simultaneously  coming clean about what was being attempted with public funds and why.  End this deceit-concealment crap because it doesn’t work anyway.  The attempt is rather obvious – as obvious as my obsessive reporting.

Everyone is frustrated on all sides of this POU issue.  (Test question hint).  Cop out, accept whatever consequences and move forward.  This refusing to discuss the facts and hiding public information is unhealthy for everyone concerned.   Ahhh, but both sides are entrenched….because they believe they are right?  OK….let’s honestly explain both sides in public.   I would like to know how decades of fabricated information can be accumulated like this without some legitimate authority drawing a line and saying ENOUGH!  This is embarrassing.   What was legally approved?  What happened after that? How are we going to remedy this situation?     ___

——–  Beautiful foothill day!  Weed eating and spraying on the hillside in the warm sunshine.  Guess it is rather pathetic to admit in some respects but I enjoy the work.  It’s outdoors, good exercise, results in a good fire defense, and improves the property appearance when completed.    Yup, this year’s firebreaks are forming!  — little by little.  Later, Lew

My best to you and yours, Lew