Yup, it was eating away at me last night – that I had glossed over at least two errors in my AGENDA ITEM REQUEST for the February monthly meeting submitted yesterday at the LDPCSD office. So, if someone out there bet this blah, blah, blah blogger was going to try and make corrections, you were absolutely correct. TOSS THAT VIEWER A REWARD FOR OBSERVATION!
This morning I re-submitted the request with the two corrections inserted into #6 and #7, as indicated at the top of the below page. (Note: If there are any more – they stay! lol). Yes, I know, probably insignificant but with such a great lead time before the final submission date, why not correct what I at least knew to be wrong?
Actually there was a bit of good news concerning this never-the-less. I was advised by Syndie, the Office Manager, that a discussion with GM Pete Kampa has evidently resulted in an interest in correcting that policy of requiring 10 copies with the original.
I believe this good news as the exact purpose of the copies is somewhat confusing and could perhaps represent a deterrent to those who forego submitting agenda requests because they don’t want the additional expense. The cost of ink jet cartridges is always a concern for me personally so I paid the $4.60 to have the CSD office make the copies instead. No biggie. If that is the policy why risk those requests being rejected at the last minute for failure to follow “policy” whether it makes sense of not? Heck, Syndie even suggested I might be reimbursed for that expense which I said was thoughtful but not really necessary as the main issue is that the policy will likely be addressed and changed. Humm, half the cost of a fast food lunch anyway!
When I returned home I scanned and uploaded the resubmitted/revised agenda request. I was looking around the LDPCSD website to make sure I had not missed the GM’s letter to the SWRCB somewhere (the public was advised a couple of meetings ago it would be posted for viewing), however, during that search I unfortunately noticed a few other pieces of advertised District information whose “links” still have not been repaired/updated but are indeed still missing from the website. (Or in the alternative…intentionally being concealed?) Actually all eight (8) links under NOTICES are broken with no information provided. They were:
OPU Letter for Res No 2013-4
OPU Res No 2013-4
Water Conservation Requirement, Calculator table
Summary of Water Use Restrrictions
Outside water use restrictions
Water Supply Warning Declaration Presentation
Drought Questions
Water Conservation Resources
[ALL RECEIVED: PAGE NOT FOUND]
(Note: OPU evidently stands for OUTSIDE PLACE of USE)
Naturally the one with which I am concerned……
WHERE OH WHERE IS THE 2013-4?
(can you hear the music? – sing along!)
OH WHERE OH WHERE COULD IT BE?
As you may recall, Resolution 2013-4….(below) was a prohibition of further water service to outside place of use properties. This resolution was primarily created due to clear service restrictions under water license 11395 held by the Merced Irrigation District by which our district has always pumped MERCED RIVER WATER from Lake McClure since formation in 1980.
But the resolution also mentions the fact that the original Ranchito Drive groundwater well could not possibly have any further water demand placed on it (as was being proposed by some directors who desired further expansion) due to a resulting and very poor capacity test conducted to ascertain the actual status of our only groundwater well at the time. (Observing the momentum of the board at the time leaning towards approving even more water service outside the MIDPOU I suggested they would be “putting the cart before the horse” without knowing the well’s production capacity. The capacity testing was therefore scheduled.)
Following those poor capacity tests I recall talk of the district constructing more ground wells which I adamantly voiced opposition because it was an unnecessary and substantial expense intended only to provide further special benefit water service to properties our district had no legal duty or moral obligation to supply. Prior to the end of my four year term I also recall rumors that someone had been located who knew how to write grants for government money and proposed new ground wells could be constructed with those funds.
I was specifically asked by Danny Johnson how I could possibly be against such a plan since it would not cost the district money for the new ground wells. I replied that even if grant money could be used to construct the wells I was still opposed as the management, maintenance, testing, repair, and eventual replacement of those extremely expensive wells would still be a financial liability for the majority of legal MERCED RIVER WATER using customers of the LDP Subdivision which was absolutely wrong. Those customers should only pay the costs necessary to provide their water service. That is what a special district was intended to do.
Well, as you know, through a director’s misuse of confidential privileged information (GM vacancy was going to occur and that information was not to be released to the public by directors -heck the position was never even advertised as was being set up by the current GM who would be leaving) a “behind the scene” board orchestrated closed recruitment process was developed to insure Pete Kampa and Kampa Community Solutions, LLC, would be immediately appointed to the IGM position at the very next meeting without any semblance of a background or employment verification check at all. (This resulted in my “sick to my stomach” meeting walkout after almost 4 years of never missing a portion of ANY MEETING – even those with the horrible personal attacks instigated and performed by the SO GOSIP – aka Same Old Group Of Special Interest People. I was quite embarrassed about that meeting walkout for a long time until one day realizing I was actually pleased with being absent during such betrayal to the district and its legal customers.)
OUR “PLACE OF USE SAVIOR” IS IN THE BUILDING!
Danny Johnson’s previously mentioned mysterious “grant writer”, who could obtain funding for additional water wells, had been surreptitiously returned to Lake Don Pedro. Our district was immediately directed towards obtaining that required ALTERNATE SOURCE OF WATER with which to create a GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM in order to continue expanding water service OUTSIDE THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE (MID POU) per their water license 11395.
Geez, still seems like a never ending nightmare.
During the few meetings I had left at the end of my term I continued to hold my ground despite KAMPA & KOMPANY’s obvious misdirection of our district business towards providing a special benefit to private third party land developers outside the Place of Use. (Even involved some of the properties Kampa was working with almost 20 years ago when advocating annexing another 10,000 acres for future water service.)
I almost withheld my vote regarding an emergency water order resolution because groundwater wells were mentioned in the recital but I was assured by Kampa, Ross and Johnson that those wells were not going to be used for expanded service outside the MIDPOU. (Righ………….t, as Austin Powers would say.)
This reassurance was obviously disinformation to secure an affirmative vote because after the new wells were prepared to start producing more water the board attempted to rescind Resolution 2013-4 twice, but for one reason or another was not successful.
The resolution remains despite management’s apparent clear and continuing refusal to post it on the LDPCSD website for those interested to view and understand.
Well, need to get outside…..I’ll check for more mistakes later. LOL
My best to you and yours, Lew
ok….I mean it this time….I’m gone!
