AGIT DOGS.  AGIT COGS.  AGITATOR CATCH GEARS.  Whatever- they are necessary components for the successful “CA-CHUNK” cycle in your washing machine. 

COGS? DOGS? (Recall the Sewing Senior LAME? Bottom “feed dog?” of the sewing machine?)

Well in this case, they are little plastic tear-drop looking pieces that allow the top portion of the agitator to move freely in one direction while locking it up (top portion of agitator) and preventing it from moving in the other direction.  This process creates the “CA-CHUNK” portion of the “CA-CHUNK CHA CHA CHA” process (only my interpretation of the traditional noise produced in my type of a properly functioning washing machine).

I noticed last week that although there was still “washing machine noises” indicating some agitation was occurring, something wasn’t right.  After a couple of experiments with carefully placed clothing in the tub and repeatedly opening and closing the door to see the reaction of the material in the water, (did not want to “dig into the machine” to override the safety switch which stops the motor every time the door is opened) I tried turning the agitator by hand and noticed the traditional “locking in one direction” no longer worked.  Big clue. The top portion of the agitator was free spinning in both directions. (The bottom agitator portion was working fine, but alas, no “CA-CHUNK” with my CHA CHA CHA CHAS! lol)

I WANT MY “CA-CHUNK” BACK!

Almost as simple as make, model and serial number.  Enter those on the manufacturer’s webpage then read various descriptions of common agitator problems, select the situation most fitting, watch a couple of repair videos, order repair parts and then wait for their delivery.  This is the hardest part for me…..the waiting for new parts.   Once again I found it quite helpful to reassemble the agitator with the old parts for two reasons:  1) Needed parts for the ultimate repair don’t get misplaced or lost, and 2) by reassembling the equipment soon after disassembly (with the old parts when possible) I become more familiar with the unit and how it operates so the eventual “repair” goes much easier.

Here are some photos of the repair project:

BELOW: Agitator in center of washing tub

BELOW: Removing liquid softener container (Note: Parts were often difficult to separate due to years of trapped and accumulating lint and soap film/scum. Yes rather gross but I kept telling myself…..heck, it’s probably clean gross stuff anyway. lol)

BELOW: Cap with black rubber o-ring seal that prevents water from seeping down to motor spindle. (In this model the cap is removed by pulling on the two finger bands (10 o’clock position to 4 o’clock position running through the center of the seal cap. Pull it out just like a tub drain plug. REM these parts were pretty gross at first – might have to wiggle it around to get it out of the agitator housing.)

BELOW: Cap and seal removed exposing bolt holding agitator to spindle.

BELOW: Removing 7/16″ bolt.

BELOW: Remove entire agitator unit (there are two pieces, upper (with the spiraling vanes, and the bottom with the four vertical vanes) that will be later separated.

BELOW: Gently hold the bottom portion on the floor with your feet and lift the upper portion of the agitator off the bottom part (once again, these parts will be held together with years of lint, soap film, etc., so a little wiggling while lifting will probably be necessary to separate the two pieces)

BELOW: There we go! Upper and lower agitator pieces separated. We will be concerned with the upper portion so you can place the bottom part somewhere else so you don’t accidentally step on it and break and/or slip on the sucker resulting in some other personal injury. (The DIY setting of broken bones is not recommended or covered in this post. lol)

BELOW: Inside the upper part you will see a circular plastic piece that fits into the agitator housing like a doughnut in a coffee can. IMPORTANT NOTE: this plastic container retains the four AGIT DOGS held in place (upside down) by a large yellow plastic washer like piece. BEFORE DISMANTLING THESE PARTS make sure the sink drain is covered or anything else where small parts might get dropped and lost. Top of the closed door washer with a towel over it is perfect as the towel will help prevent pieces from bouncing off the lid and ending up behind the machine – or worse – down an open drain!

BELOW: So if the geared cogs are also called “dogs”, couldn’t this unit be called the “DOG HOUSE”? lol The yellow washer like piece just slips over the middle column and the rounded yellow lobes hold the dogs in their individual rounded compartments. (next photo)

BELOW: With the yellow “washer-like cap retainer” removed you can see where the small end of the tear drop replacement cogs/dogs drop into their individual compartment. You can also see by the design of the housing these cogs can wiggle in place because they are “hinged” in the rounded compartment, if the other end wiggles outside the container, the gears on the cogs catch the plastic gears within the agitator causing it to abruptly stop (start?). CA-CHUNK! More on that later. PLEASE REALIZE – when reassembling: the geared portions of the “tear drop cogs” must be completely inside the outer rim of the holder, or the cogs will be pushed out of alignment by the circular gear teeth inside the agitator. (upon which they catch when working properly) IN OTHER WORDS – REMEMBER the doughnut example? Well, inside the coffee can (agitator) there is a ring of small plastic gears that the above “DOG HOUSE – DOUGHNUT” must slip inside.

(BELOW) Maybe this will help explain

So basically, the bottom agitator is going one way, but the top portion repeatedly suddenly stops (due to the cogs catching the agitator housing) but as the gear grip releases due to sudden lack of motion (or is it the opposite? that the dogs suddenly engage and are pushed to release? don’t know, don’t care right now. lol), the cycle only begins again due to the continuing motion of the bottom agitator – yup, you got it…. CA-Chunk Cha Cha Cha, CA-Chunk Cha Cha Cha …

BELOW: OK, here’s another tricky part, lining up and reassembling without knocking the DOGS in the DOGHOUSE out of position!

BELOW: Install agitator unit with the 7/16″ bolt

BELOW: Replace the cap and seal and the liquid softener dispenser,.

BELOW: Well, at least it looks nice and clean now….but what about…….

COULD I HAVE A DRUM ROLL PLEASE?……..

Pressed for time so could you please imagine a crappy almost music accompaniment for me?  – lol

Think I’ll call this,  ”TOP OF BULLSHIT PYRAMID”

CONSIDER: Democrats are so darn upset about a Supreme Court Nomination (and hopefully expedited appointment) by a duly elected and entitled President of the United States – really? THE SAME PRESIDENT WHICH CROOKED DEMOCRATS ATTEMPTED TO IMPEACH THROUGH AN EXPANSIVE CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND POLITICIANS BASED ON KNOWN FALSE INFORMATION WITH THE HIGHLY UNETHICAL (AND CRIMINAL) ASSISTANCE OF DEMOCRAT TAINTED LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES –  ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES LONG CORRUPTED BY THE DEMOCRAT PARTY MACHINE UNDER THE TWO PRIOR OBAMA-BIDEN ADMINISTRATIONS?

OH YES, IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE ALRIGHT.

YES INDEED.  

ALL RIGHT – CHANGE!

MORE DISHONEST ANTI-AMERICAN SOCIALIST LEFT DEMOCRATS VOTED OUT AT THE LOCAL, STATE and FEDERAL LEVELS

with

A CONTINUED AND EXPANDED

MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN PROGRAM

LED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND VICE PRESIDENT PENCE!

Every single legal option, alternative, possibility, etc., to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN and replace the Anti-American socialist left democrat bullshit that has hampered this country and her citizens for so many years should be pursued with all the vigor and determination it is unquestionably worthy.

Think about it – all our CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS hang precariously by the “interpretation” of those rights by a majority of the justices, so for example, more PRO-second Amendment voices on the bench would likely bring an end to the Socialist Left Democrat advancing goal of completely abolishing a citizen’s right to own and responsibly use firearms and other self defense weapons. We’ve all just watched on TV what happens when “mob mentality” is permitted to rule the streets. The evil just moves into other areas with impunity. I’m curious, what would anti-gunners do to defend themselves and their families when attacked by an organized Anti-American group breaking into their property and/or home? (Forget police – they’ve already been de-funded under a Biden-Harris Mis-administration.)

Think citizens are already victims the way things were going recently? Take away their right to defend themselves and they could easily just cease to exist. What does every oppressive government have in common? The people have been disarmed and their ability for self defense has been greatly reduced if not completely eliminated.

Every Presidential election is obviously important, but this one coming up will surely rank as a turning point regarding American Freedoms and Protections granted under the Constitution which have been relentlessly attacked by the left. Look at the concepts of Rule of Law and equal enforcement under the law and think what these Democrats almost got away with during that SHAM OF A PRESIDENTIAL IMPEACHMENT. (Democrats are now feverishly trying to force an investigation into the current investigation because they’re worried about the information being discovered that implicates them! (Hummm….just like the crooked FBI officials deleting all information from their phones which might have provided EVEN MORE EVIDENCE OF THEIR DUPLICITY! Wait a second???? Didn’t the FBI go out of their way to cover up HILARY CLINTON’s lies about her missing communication files and use of non-government devices which were likely hacked by adversaries? Hell, these Democrat crooks are terrified of a court that could AND WOULD punish them like the rest of us for obvious wrongdoing! IT IS THEIR SWAMP AND THEY DON’T WANT IT DRAINED BECAUSE THEY ARE THE RULERS THERE WITH COMPLETE IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION – but as other swamp creatures are removed from office their cumulative power and authority is also reduced and minimized. EVERY SINGLE POSITION MUST BE FLUSHED OF ANTI-AMERICAN OFFICIALS who continually chip away at the fundamental values of what it is to be an American citizen. Reducing the significance of your vote is a primary example, but I digress as is so usual.

Got to get out of here much to do…..started another repair project also, this time with the clothes washing machine! Later.

My best to you and yours, Lew

I have my doubts because I truly believe that in any fairly constructed debate President Donald Trump will eat Joe Biden alive and that is something Democrats certainly do not want America to witness any more than they already have.  

Humm, perhaps the question should be rephrased?

How many believe a legitimate Presidential debate will actually take place?

Unfortunately, not much imagination is required to envision a debate corrupted with the further typical Democrat nonsense that has harmed Our Country for such a very long time.   Follow me?  A debate that gets hi-jacked with a bunch of ridiculous last minute rules carefully calculated to benefit a shaky “Quid Pro Joe” while simultaneously hamstringing the continuing success of a confident President Trump.

Imagine…..President Trump is obviously mopping the debate floor with “Burisma Joe” through a bombardment of facts and examples as to “China Joe’s” collusion with America’s adversaries and the continuing betrayal of all American Citizens, when suddenly the former VP gathers a thought that has been defensively drilled into what grey matter he still commands by his handlers.  Biden is quite excited with his wide eyed apparent “brainstorm” evidenced by his typical (and often inappropriate) increased volume of speech while ranting.  While waving his arms like a wind battered scarecrow he stammers out the equivalent of a bell signaling the end of a boxing round with a frantic desperate cry of  

“FACT CHECK!     I DEMAND A FACT CHECK!”

whereupon his scripted entourage of Leftist gamers point the “debate” in an entirely different direction.

The President’s successful verbal barrage of truth is immediately stopped thus breaking the momentum  which was clearly signaling the approaching end of a very short contest.   The bruised and battered Democrat excuse for a legitimate challenger wearily zig zags a meandering path back to the darkened corner where leftist supporters undeservingly praise him for his pathetic display while simultaneously attempting to fill his confused brain with easy to recall one liner attack quips.  Yup, quick and Joe-easy to remember one liners that again reveal Hide’n Biden’s entire campaign – attack the President personally while ignoring the fact President Donald Trump has done, is doing, and will do, more for the United States of America and her citizens than a Sleepy Joe Biden could ever dream of in his rapidly deteriorating brain.

Frustratingly triumphant, President Trump heads for his well lighted corner packed with supporters of every description to simply wait until the GO JOE support team deems China Joe recovered enough to reengage his eager opponent.  This process happens again, and again.   Joe is getting intellectually beat up so the fight is temporarily suspended to allow him to rest and prepare for his next downfall while President Trump’s exquisite performance is systematically interrupted again and again to prevent a decisive knockout blow for all America (and the entire world) to witness and appreciate.

My best to you and yours, Lew

PS:   Oh yeah…. another element to this parody:   elder abuse charges were ultimately brought and successfully prosecuted against members of the GO JOE SUPPORT TEAM for intentionally placing an incompetent has-been of an elder in a fight ring.   

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Please select the below link to view an UPDATED OLD POST WHOSE PRIMARY MESSAGE HAS BEEN REMOVED BY THE UPLOADER

WHY IS ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITES FROM “THE UNITED SPOT” NOW MISSING?

?

?

2020-9-21-Reg-Board-Mtg-Agenda-Cancelled

Fortunately the radical left has not yet been able to completely stop contrary opinions to their illogical plans with consistently dangerous results, but rest assured however, they are working quite hard on that little FREE SPEECH MATTER.

Any vote for that Sleepy Quid Pro Quo Crook Biden and his pathetic excuse for a running mate Harris is just another big step towards a Leftist Dictatorship where differing opinions will be legislated illegal and never heard from again.

California will become an annexation of the CCP! (Chinese Communist Party)

Environmentalists Destroyed California’s Forests

ZZZZZZZZZZZ

This (the above) is only an audio presentation of the official meeting CD with exception of the opening title; an April 2016 photo of the Ranchito Groundwater Well # 2 (which is non-producing once again); and a file photo of LDPCSD Board President Danny Johnson.

Such meeting recordings were supposed to be available on the LDPCSD website after Kampa’s big UPGRADE in the name of government transparency (like other CSDs provide for their customers) but of course our district “Board of Defectors” prefer customers remain ignorant as to their activities. 

Why do they still conceal the 1993 Merced Irrigation District shape file map which Peter Kampa used as the basis for his 5 year campaign (2014-2019) to misdirect government grants to the benefit of LAFCO ANNEXATIONS he set up 20 years ago (1994-1997 as a “rogue GM“ operating outside the approval of the board of directors back then) so those property owners  could receive a special benefit subsidized groundwater substitution service with which to develop their properties with all substantial additional costs paid for by the oblivious legal water users of the subdivision who do not require such water substitution?

Shouldn’t those who receive an expensive special benefit pay for that special benefit water service? A no brainer yeah?

The damage has been done.  So why continue to hide the material Kampa used to misdirect this district for over 20 years?  The material that was used to digitally fabricate a file that was to surreptitiously replace the legitimate official STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD DIVISION OF WATER RIGHTS JUNE 1978 MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE MAP on file for water license 11395? Sure looks like a serious criminal conspiracy to fabricate and replace an official government document with a self serving fake map created by Peter Kampa. Yeah, I can see how they would want to forget the whole matter, that’s what is wrong within our Nation right now – NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY USING PUBLIC FUNDS AND RESOURCES! But I digress….

Was it truly a Merced Irrigation District map for an old abandoned project (South Shore, 2,010 acres) or was it a map Kampa had fabricated through his CSDA cohorts and then simply attributed it to be one produced by Merced Irrigation District engineers?  There must be something else very interesting about this piece of evidence that is crucial to fully understanding exactly what transpired under the Kampa management of our district compliments of his acquiescent Board of Directors who only rubber stamped EVERYTHING KAMPA required. Heck the board didn’t even check his background history with the LDPCSD before handing over a million dollars in cash for Kampa’s 20 year criminal conspiracy to reconfigure our surface water treatment plant. Everything they did, purchase of a property with an existing well, drilling more very expensive groundwater wells, etc., was all from the 1990s play book. All waiting for the Kampa return in 2014 to make it reality.   Anyway…. Here’s another episode of the continuing fraud that is the Lake Don Pedro Community Services District.

Comments prior to the meeting start……

Apparently two large pieces of paper handed out to the board by the GM so they could more easily read some information (unknown what information GM was referencing at first but later identified by the board secretary who stated it would be provided to public on the LDPCSD website.   REF: May 19, 2020 quote for services.) 

Strange – the only thing our website was upgraded for while Kampa was here was to distribute KAMPA PROPAGANDA REGARDING HIS 20 YEAR LAFCO ANNEXATION PLAN THAT REQUIRED A SUBSIDIZED GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM PAID FOR BY THE MAJORITY OF LEGAL CUSTOMERS!

How soon such PRO CUSTOMER UPGRADES were forgotten while pursuing continuation and expansion of this special benefit SUBSIDIZED GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM.  How soon everyone, including MR WECs [Merced River Water Entitled Customers] forgot what HONEST TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT PUBLIC SERVICE was.   Certainly understandable that the victim legal users might forget with all the other government failures going on around them which no doubt makes it much easier for those public leaders without integrity to cheat and deceive customers they supposedly serve.   Yup, local, state, federal…..it is all the same without some semblance of accountability for the intentional wrongdoing and outright law violation committed by those who claim to serve the public.  

And to add insult to injury – all of their years of carefully planned cheating is disguised and camouflaged with the typical lame excuse of having the “best intentions for the community” while completely ignoring the clear criminal nature of their activities.  That’s why “they” never answer questions – because they can’t without pointing an accusatory finger at themselves.  Result? These “community leaders” just ignore legitimate questions and “play dumb” until complaints evaporate away just like their integrity and commitment to legitimate public service.    

Please appreciate that I am not referring to simple mistakes or oversights.  Not a temporary lack of judgment due to some sort of impairment.  Heck, we are all humans and mistakes are expected despite efforts to weed out corrupt public servants.   No mistake, I am talking about highly educated and trained individuals with many years experience who have INTENTIONALLY DECIDED TO VIOLATE THE LAW in order to pursue what they wanted to do, not what the majority of legal customers wanted, but what BOARD DIRECTORS WANTED TO DO WITH PUBLIC FUNDS and RESOURCES of a local public agency. 

A criminal conspiracy for sure. Simple as that – they knowingly violated the 1978 service boundary established by the State Water Board based on assurances from a previous rogue LDPCSD employee who was unethically returned in 2014 only to finish the special interest work of providing water service to LAFCO ANNEXATIONS INTO OUR DISTRICT  he set up twenty years earlier without board knowledge or approval at that time.

 Without any legal accountability such betrayal and diversion of public funds to “special interest movers and shakers” (to increase their private profit margins) will only continue.  While entitled customers are provided a lower quality water and must subsidize special benefit services – they can only watch as their surface water treatment plant is reconfigured into a groundwater substitution facility to benefit annexed properties that SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ANNEXED INTO THE DISTRICT BASED ON LAFCO’s OWN REGULATIONS.   Wild yeah?

ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHING!   Board President Danny Johnson must clarify “what time he is using to open the meeting” because a malfunctioning clock has remained in that boardroom for many years.  Heck a Grand Jury several years ago clearly suggested LDPCSD meetings should start on time.   So why hasn’t this inexpensive clock been replaced years ago? 

Answer:  Makes a great excuse for consistently late starting meetings.  

Prior to start of meeting…..chit chat, winds, COVID-19 shield vs mask, environment will become quite nasty soon, with the flu, harvesting, air quality, testing, having to answer questions honestly asked by COVID trackers, respecting quarantine restrictions, etc.  Director positions behind dais changed due to social distancing requirements.

[CD  COUNTER:  5:00 meeting start]  

Board President Danny Johnson:  Ladies and Gentlemen, one o’clock  on August 17^th,  call to order  Lake Don Pedro Community Services District, quorum, ABSENT DIRECTOR WARREN and HANKEMIER, appropriate staff present, stand for Pledge.   

 Director Emery  Ross (Outside Merced Irrigation District Place of Use commercial cattle rancher since 1993 -previously worked with Kampa back then as well) makes an immediate point of order.   

Board Secretary notes for the record that there are (again) no public members present at the meeting. Any surprise when legitimate questions are never answered?

(Board consensus to include the extra information….MARTECH May 19^th 2020 quote information will be placed on the website…but if presented at meeting as part of the agenda, why not already on website with the other material?) 

GM McGOWAN – GM mentions intake emergency on Friday.  Secretary suggests explaining situation.  Electrical problems affecting pumps …lots of damage to electrical panel, upgrade temporarily sufficient until complete replacement of existing intake equipment.

Hold off on Section 3 of agenda – Director Ross correction in Minutes…

CONSENT AGENDA – approved with corrections due to mis-identification of directors present at last meeting in the prepared Minutes.

P 19-25 PG&E Lease agreement.  

Director Ross questions location name of Granite Springs used by AT&T,  APPROVED.

(p 26-41) IRWMP Grant prelim report and grant information – helping with engineering study. $30K reimbursement for expenses already incurred.

Director Ross asked for clarifications on page 39 – (Regarding what GM referred to as “free money –no pay back”) and made comments.  Paying for rate increase study. 

Director Nelle Sperry – questions when it will be put into action.   APPROVED

Tank repair (pages 42-45) GM discusses cleaning plan.  APPROVED

JOHNSON: page 46, Standing Operating Procedures regarding water samples.

GM McGown, how to properly collect samples as policy.  Everyone now on the same page with these traditional standards. (Apparently, in the past a test sample could have a differing results depending upon where the sample was actually taken.)

Director Ross questions MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) meaning.  Discussion about where samples are taken.  State recognizes our water wells which now must also have water tested even if going to the water plant for final treatment before distribution.  (LEW: SURE WELLS SHOULD BE TESTED BECAUSE THEY INTRODUCE CONTAMINANTS INTO THE BLENDED WATER THAT IS NECESSARY FOR LAFCO ANNEXATION WATER SERVICE – SO ENTITLED CUSTOMERS MUST CONSUME AN INFERIOR PRODUCT. What would you rather have, quality Merced River water from the lake, or groundwater that must be treated for contaminants such as arsenic?)   APPROVED

DIRECTOR ROSS attempts to comment again…President Johnson back on agenda, page 57 –CEQA assessment, GM McGowan no further information than what GM now verbally furnishes. 

President Johnson last item, Page 58 tank inspection reports.  Secretary asks the board president to indicate for the record that the previously absent directors had arrived at the meeting.   President Johnson – Director Warren came in 1:18 at Hankemeier at 1:19, (and noted they did not participate in prior four matters)  GM discusses procedure and the anticipation of much work to clean up/repair the older concrete tanks.  Johnson brings up issue of securing the tanks and the installation of locking gates.

GO back to section 3 of agenda (explaining to Warren and Hankemeier what had happened prior to their arrival.)

President Johnson mentioned the required GM evaluation review and asked McGowan to write his own which the board would later review.

(35 min 32 seconds) GM REPORT on pages 3 -7.  McGowan – Higher rates must happen.  Regarding the company hired ($30,000?) to set up rate and fee increases, their suggested increases were astronomical – A FEW HUNDRED PERCENT!  GM stated he advised them to PUMP THE BRAKES on that plan as it wasn’t going to happen.  Must pull some CIP (Capital improvement projects) – and come up with some type of rate increase that everyone could “STOMACH”.  Also looking at other water company rates –  and their recent rate increases [boy, I bet Pete Kampa, now the nearby Groveland CSD GM and his CSDA buddies) have all sorts of helpful information to assist in raising our rates thanks to Kampa’s shameful misdirection for the entire time he was managing the LDPCSD while developing a LAFCO ANNEXATION SUBSIDIZED GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION POLICY where MR WECS continues to pay for special benefit water services for annexed property owners when the LDPCSD has no moral obligation or legal duty to furnish any service.]

Hear that before by any chance? lol

We get three “in person visits” from this PAID FOR GROUP OF CONSULTANTS TO ASSIST IN RAISING OUR RATES.  This “consulting company” stated we (district) are not moving in the direction we should – difficult to understand because the GM spoke so fast.  Sounded like perhaps more money –

Check it out: (37:43)  Unimproved lots?   Outside POU lots?  Really can’t tell because GM rushed through the words so fast.  Perhaps referencing the availability fees not collected from properties within the POU that lie outside the subdivision proper?  Like the “new service line” for the new home at Merced Falls Road x Ranchito Drive discussed at the end of this meeting.  Although not in the subdivision, the WL11395 1978 POU map certainly illustrates this property within the POU but not part of subdivision.  Have all properties in that area paid availability fees like the unimproved properties within the subdivision?  Or do these properties only pay the availability balance owed at the time of development?  Who knows?  I was asking for that information many years ago while a director on the board AND NEVER RECEIVED IT!   Lol  Big surprise huh?

PROPOSITION 218 vote ….. must attempt to convince public they need to pay more money?

(LEW HERE: while simultaneously avoiding any mention of responsibility and accountability for the last five years of mismanagement resulting in a Notice of Violation from the State Water Board and even more properties being added to the OUTSIDE Merced Irrigation District PLACE OF USE report –  which is still absent in the agenda packet since Pete Kampa removed it years ago?)

President Johnson suggested “we” should have done this a long time ago?  (RATE INCREASES)

(LEW:  Dear Lord.  Why didn’t they just call the State Water board during those 5 years to confirm if what they were doing was actually legal under the water license instead of BLOWING ALL THE GRANT MONEY ON A GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM FOR LAFCO ANNEXATIONS KAMPA SET UP 20 YEARS EARLIER?)

GM stated only $17,000 paid to consultants so far…..(yet $30,000 was approved by board, yes?)

(LEW: Danny Johnson talking about any sort of “reality” after what he has done to this district is absolutely disgusting.  The reality is the Board of Directors led by Danny Johnson pursued special interest activities rather than what was best for the legal customers in the LDP subdivision – pure and simple.) 

McGowan stated the district would have no problem in showing the need for the increase rates and fees.

[LEW  –which in some respects I might agree, HOWEVER, CONVENIENTLY OVERLOOKS BOARD ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WHY IT IS EVEN NEEDED.   Does this NEGLIGENT AND SPECIAL INTEREST BOARD DESERVE THE CONFIDENCE AND TRUST THEY HAVE BETRAYED FOR 5 YEARS WHILE KAMPA WAS PURSUING WATER FOR HIS 20 YEAR OLD SLEEPING ANNEXATIONS?   

Years of continuing lies to the public about some conclusive evidence that the district possessed (through Pete Kampa of course) in the form of a map that proved they had a right to continue expanding water service outside the PLACE OF USE OF THE RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION and MIDPOU MAP …. yet even after Kampa left when his plan was uncovered – they still refuse to provide this “conclusive” proof which brought us to this point of financial crisis? lol What a bunch of lying cheats!

 Ross and Johnson continue talking about spending the entire $50,000 to get the increase.  (LEW, I am confused, they must have bumped that number another $20K because I only recall $30,000 being approved for these “rate hike” consultants.  As always with this district, something appears incorrect here.)

LEW: Johnson argues because the district hasn’t raised rates in so many years, we need to now, yet fails to mention what his board did with the million in cash from the first successful PROP 218 —- spent it to assist LAFCO ANNEXED PROPERTY OWNERS and not the LEGAL MERCED RIVER WATER ENTITLED CUSTOMERS of the subdivision who have watched their former SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT be reconfigured into A GROUND WATER SUBSTITUTION FACILITY FOR OUTSIDE PLACE OF USE LAND DEVELOPERS WHO WILL ONLY INCREASE THE GROUNDWATER DEMAND WITH EVERY NEW SERVICE PROVIDED – ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE PROPOSED ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS — YET THE THOUSANDS OF LEGAL CUSTOMERS OF THE SUBDIVISION CONTINUE TO PAY MORE FOR THIS BETRAYAL AND ABUSE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES that benefit owners of land our district has no legal duty or moral obligation to provide DIDDLY SQUAT!

Johnson calls for community support after 5 years of absolute betrayal and refusal to tell the truth or answer legitimate questions as to what they’ve already done to get us to this point? HA!

Where is the guarantee the BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL NOT SIMPLY BETRAY THE LEGAL CUSTOMERS ONCE AGAIN BY CONTINUING TO EXPAND OUTSIDE MIDPOU WATER SERVICE once things die down a bit? 

If the Board wants PUBLIC TRUST they should act in ways that encourage such, not by continuing to hide their past deceptions to the public when they arrogantly pursued Kampa’s unethical twenty year old annexation plan. 

SIMPLE LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS BY CUSTOMERS IGNORED FOR 5 YEARS – YET DIRECTORS NOW WANT TRUST and are demented enough to believe they deserve it as the self-proclaimed community saviors they pretend to be?  Lol

How can customers possibly understand the situation when the board CONSISTENTLY REFUSES TO ANSWER LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS?

WHY WAS THE OUTSIDE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE REPORT NOT RETURNED TO THE  AGENDA PACKET SINCE IT WAS THE ONLY METHOD FOR CUSTOMERS TO MONITOR SPECIAL BENEFIT SERVICE OUTSIDE THE WATER LICENSE APPROVED PLACE OF USE?

And this board wants – NEEDS –  public trust?   Wow

Danny Johnson states he is not a “spinner of facts”?   Dear Lord this meeting was full of wishful and incorrect statements such as that.

Perform a rate increase study “in-house”? Geez – either way important facts are being ignored.

LEW:  REAL REASON A RATE INCREASE WAS NOT PROPOSED OR INSTITUTED WITHIN LAST FIVE YEARS?

DISTRICT WAS BEING INTENTIONALLY MISDIRECTED INTO A GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM WHICH RECONFIGURED OUR SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT INTO A SUBSIDIZED GROUNDWATER SPECIAL BENEFIT FACILITY FOR MANY LAFCO ANNEXATIONS (outside Place of Use for Merced River water) that PETE KAMPA HAD WRONGFULLY SET UP TWENTY YEARS EARLIER WHEN OPERATING AS A ROGUE GM OUTSIDE THE DIRECTION AND APPROVAL OF THE THEN BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 

KAMPA RESIGNED IN 1997 (moving on to screw another community services district) ONLY TO BE UNETHICALLY RETURNED IN 2014 TO THE LDPCSD BY THE DANNY JOHNSON BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO SURREPTITIOUSLY FINISH THE JOB IN FURNISHING WATER SERVICE TO ANNEXED PROPERTIES  WITH EXPENSIVE GROUNDWATER DEVELOPED THROUGH GOVERNMENT GRANTS TO ASSIST CURRENT CUSTOMERS DURING EMERGENCY DROUGHT! 

THOSE GRANTS WERE FOR EXISTING CUSTOMER USE ONLY AND WERE SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED FROM BEING USED TO DEVELOP MORE WATER SERVICE CONNECTIONS!  CLEAR DECEPTION AND FRAUD HAS BEEN USED AGAINST THE LEGAL CUSTOMERS OF THE LDP SUBDIVISION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

Board President Johnson speaks of $50,000 to be used for the consultants to assist in raising rates, but when was it increased from the initially approved $30,000?

 GM stated Pete Kampa in 2015 started researching with consultants about raising our rates.  (Of course he did!  Kampa knew exactly where he had placed the financial security of this district – in the hands of special interest owners of LAFCO ANNEXED PROPERTY IN THE LDPCSD SERVICE DISTRICT – disregarding their own LAFCO regulations, state regulations, but most importantly –what was best for the legal customers of this chronically misled community services district.  “COMMUNITY” was a carefully chosen descriptive word for such an intentionally mismanaged local agency because of its vagueness.  “COMMUNITY” negatively strikes at the very heart of what a SPECIAL DISTRICT was, and is, advertised to be  – a limited service to a specifically defined area with a particular group of customers who are charged only for the cost in providing the service.  All of this intentionally violated through the creation of a FRAUD OF A SPECIAL DISTRICT.   The FINAL BLOW?  GUESS WHO was returned unethically through a “closed GM recruitment process” in 2014 to assist the LDPCSD? A 20 year CSDA (CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATION) board director and former rogue LDPCSD GM!   Much like hiring an active arsonist to manage CALFIRE incidents. 

LEW’S VIEW?  SIMPLE. NO MORE MONEY UNTIL LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT ACTIVITIES THAT BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT OF FINANCIAL CRISIS!

 Danny Johnson talked about a “NEEDS LIST” and a “WANTS LIST” for the district.

GM McGOWAN stated the primary intake pumps at the lake should be the main focus now.  (LEW: agreed, in fact, should have been the target for repair and upgrade with the first grants Kampa obtained – however, fixing those primary intake pumps at the lake would only assist the LEGAL WATER CUSTOMERS and would not help in providing what Kampa desperately sought  – a special benefit water service to all those LAFCO ANNEXATIONS pad for by the legal users!  Wow.  A 20 year California Special Districts Association board director violating every single characteristic of a California special district just so he could get water to his pet annexations set up 20 years earlier. 

 WHOLE SYSTEM METERS – 10% of meters under registering, half way done.  Upgrading meter in the best way they can, replacing one at a time. 

Director Ross:  Board is ready to increase rates – need to make raising rates and fees a top priority.

(Too bad board wasn’t ready to answer legitimate questions regarding past activities leading to this financial crisis.)

Still dealing with bad meters and a bad auto-read tower system converted into a drive by auto read?  Brought to you by another former LDPCSD GM that refused to obey board direction and on his own authority purchased a system that WOULD NOT WORK IN HILLY LAKE DON PEDRO!  District customers have had to deal with this crap for many years.  INTEGRITY AND HONESTY OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF IS IMPERATIVE TO A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICT!

FOLKS, STARTING AT 1:06.08 of the meeting CD, you will have to listen for yourself as to what GM McGOWAN is saying because he is talking so fast.  Here’s what I got out of that ramble:  RANCHITO GROUNDWELL #2 (One of Pete Kampa’s new wells, which has already had to be repaired a few times) – Replaced the pump motor six months ago, ran for 14 days then fried, good news is warranty will cover yet evaluation of the system also calls for an upgraded motor. 

LEW VIEW: ALL THESE CONTINUING AND ESCALATING EXPENSES (IN ADDITION TO ALL PAST COSTS) SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY THOSE LAFCO ANNEXED PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ACTUALLY RECEIVE THAT SPECIAL BENEFIT OF GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION!

What is so damn hard to understand? Pay for what you use.

THEY ARE OUTSIDE THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE FOR MERCED RIVER WATER (LAKE DON PEDRO RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION AND GOLF COURSE) PER WATER LICENSE 11395 THAT OUR DISTRICT HAS OPERATED UNDER SINCE FORMATION, WHY HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON IN CLEAR VIOLATION OF STATE REGULATIONS FOR OVER 40 YEARS?

COULD THIS BE RELATED?  Why is a commercial cattle ranching director, whose property lies outside the legal place of use for Merced River water, able to receive an extremely expensive special benefit subsidized groundwater substituted water service for the same cost as the thousands of legal MERCED RIVER WATER ENTITLED CUSTOMERS in the residential subdivision?  Why are other proposed residential subdivisions adjacent to the LDP subdivision that are also OUTSIDE THE MID PLACE OF USE to be provided such expensive substituted water service that is perpetually paid for by the MR WECs of the subdivision?  How did such a noble concept of a CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICT become so corrupted and special interest focused from day one?  But I digress….

Board then pats itself on the back for developing more than one special interest groundwater well – saying to effect…..

“Golly gee, where would we be regarding water license compliance with the State Water Board if we didn’t have other groundwater wells developed?”  Pssst, hey “bored of defectors”…… you misused grant funds specifically provided to assist EXISTING WATER USING CUSTOMERS DURING AN EMERGENCY DROUGHT and NOT DEVELOPING MORE WATER SERVICES FOR PROPERTIES OUTSIDE THE LEGAL PLACE OF USE FOR WATER LICENSE 11395!

Sounds like they are essentially saying, good thing we misrepresented and developed what we had, because as these groundwater wells fail we have other wells to cover the water loss  for state compliance reporting!  WHAT A BUNCH OF DECEITFUL LYING CROOKS!

And to think PETE KAMPA’S PLAN – in his OWN WORDS, was to develop more of these extremely expensive and unreliable groundwater wells in our fractured rock drought prone geological area as the district continued to provide further expensive groundwater substitution to even more LAFCO ANNEXED PROPERTIES OUTSIDE OUR LEGAL PLACE OF USE UNDER THE WATER LICENSE! 

A NEVER ENDING CYCLE OF DEMAND-SUPPLY FUTILITY – FURNISH MORE WAER OUTSIDE THE MIDPOU – DEVELOP MORE EXPENSIVE GROUNDWATER WELLS—- all the WHILE THE LEGAL USERS WERE STUCK WITH THE EVER INCREASING BILLS AND RECEIVING LESS FOR THEIR MONEY!

Making upgrade adjustments to a well that should never have been developed in the first place and MR WECs continues to pay for such deceptions.

Board discussion as to their own opinions of what might have occurred resulting in a well we haven’t been able to use in sometime and that has been on the agenda for years.

DOES THIS FAILURE OF RANCHITO #2 HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE OUTSIDE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE REPORT FROM THE AGENDA WHEN KAMPA FIRST RETURNED TO THE LDPCSD?  THIS REPORT WAS THE ONLY REPORT CUSTOMERS COULD RELIABLY USE TO TRACK HOW MUCH AND WHERE THIS SPECIAL BENEFIT SUBSIDIZED GROUNDWATER REPLACEMENT WAS BEING USED OUTSIDE THE SUBDIVISION POU.

WHY WAS THE OMIDPOU REPORT REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC’S VIEW IN THE AGENDA PACKET? 

AND THE BOARD WANTS MORE MONEY NOW?   

GM reads aloud portions of the electrical engineer’s submersible pump report regarding the Ranchito #2 well motor.

ARE YOU VIEWERS READY FOR A “NOT SO BIG OF A SURPRISE”? …..

Regarding the protection relay on the control panel….“some configuration is not proper for the motor protection” had to change some parameters….. based on below….. “over current protection range has to be changed”….. “ground fault range has to be changed”……. “voltage on balance percentage has to be changed…….” blah, blah, blah —- essentially, not installed correctly.

They were told by the GM to replace the pump because all we knew then was it was brand new pump …..(some director: had only been in there 14 days)….GM – well this was the second time this happened –     The pump was just finaled two years ago.

READY FOR THIS?   NO PAPER TRAIL ON ANY OF IT!   (Missing records are often a good clue as to “funny business” taking place.)

Danny Johnson comments on his experience in such pump motor related issues – if they rotate the legs (apparently the wire connectors) improperly a motor will run backwards.  (Anyone check Danny’s legs? lol)

EMERGENCY BARGE RENOVATION PROJECT:  September of this year for completion date. (RECALL ALL THE $$$ SPENT PRIOR TO THIS CURRENT BARGE PROJECT? District threw away a lot of cash on abandoned plans.)

 Secretary response to Director Ross:  Only three director incumbents are running for election so they are automatically selected.  GOOD!  I’ve always said those directors involved with this 5 year special interest deception should remain directors until it is cleaned up! Rest of their lives probably, yeah? lol

Vehicle maintenance “in house” and going well.  (I really appreciate much of what GM McGowan has done.  Just a darn shame he is apparently still covering for Kampa’s past dishonest activities. 

WHERE IS THAT 1993 Merced Irrigation District shape file map that KAMPA BASED HIS RECONFIGURATION OF OUR DISTRICT UPON THE ENTIRE TIME HE WAS HERE—-FOR THE SECOND DISHONEST TIME AS WELL?)

LAST ITEM:  Two “atta-boys” (written compliments) from public regarding employee activity.  Also good news.

IN ANSWER TO DIRECTOR ROSS questioning about working on an owner’s side of a meter.  GM explained the district had moved a customer’s water line – abandoned old one, had new one installed.

CONFUSING COMMENTS:  Removed one of two meters on one property and then relocated a meter for new construction on the corner of Ranchito Drive and Merced Falls Road.  Service line was originally going to be over 1,000 feet from his house on a different street.  Owners paid the district to move the service line – by tapping into the Ranchito main.  This was a property that had a well but owner decided to hook into LDPCSD.      

VIEWERS, this is a bit confusing because of the term “availability” (fee) used in the GM’s explanation.  A standby fee (charged on property taxes for all unimproved lots within the LDP subdivision – entitled to water service by the LDPCSD) was changed to “availability fee” when properties OUTSIDE THE LEGAL POU OF THE WATER LICENSE were annexed into the district.  Two completely different animals that unscrupulous GMs, directors, staff, etc have used interchangeably for decades to confuse the issue. 

STANDBY FEE refers to properties that have a right to water service under the water license and they are clearly documented in the California Public Utilities Commission approval of the LDPCSD formation from a private company, as well as the MID 1978 POU map.   There were however, several properties outside the subdivision boundaries that the Merced Irrigation District and State Water Board allowed into the service area map of June 1978, so that fee should have probably been referred to as a standby fee since the property is entitled to Merced River water differing from later “availability named parcels” clearly OUTSIDE THE MIDPOU which could only hope to secure water in the future without a right to it under the 1978 POU map.  (Such as Pete Kampa’s slumbering 900 ac proposed residential subdivision east of Merced Falls Road towards Lake McClure, which is clearly outside the June 1978 POU map.  For this reason I do not believe this present case is a violation of the LDPCSD Resolution prohibiting further outside MIDPOU water service…..the property is clearly within the POU MAP BOUNDARY.

But this still doesn’t explain why the OUTSIDE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE REPORT has been removed from the agenda for public review – has the district already added further properties for groundwater substituted water service – other than those that were previously concealed but discovered during the State Water Board investigations?     (Sure backfired on Kampa yeah? He was lying and deceiving in an attempt to add more properties within the MIDPOU – not have other OUTSIDE MIDPOU PROPERTIES that skated by for decades finally included into the OUTSIDE MIDPOU COMPLIANCE REPORT!   Guess this only goes to show how cheating doesn’t always pay off for the cheaters, but still, MR WECs got stuck with all the added costs which is not fair at all.)

Director Ross: leaks, grant to fix leaks, will leaks every stop?  Good grief.  As I recall somewhere around $250,000 + was spent on replacing service lines that were not even leaking.  REM?  One of those “dog and pony show” construction projects of Kampa’s just before he resigned from the LDPCSD for the second time after being caught being deceitful? Some things never change.

Meeting concluded by Board President (according to the same clock this time – lol) at 2:21PM

Alrighty then, more blah blah blah about their unethical activities after the next monthly board meeting.

My best to you and yours, Lew

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_CH-47_Chinook

While headed downhill for some watering before the REAL HEAT ARRIVED (it was already 90 degrees F at 0630hrs) I heard a helicopter approaching from the northeast. Always wanting to capture local appearing aircraft I pointed at the treetops with my digital camera waiting to see what version might revealed itself because it sure sounded like a big twin rotor! Having seen many other similar helicopters (where they were assigned at a military base) I recognized and believed it to be a Chinook, but am no expert.

https://abc7.com/creek-fire-214-people-airlifted-from-mammoth-pool-reservoir-in-daring-rescue/6411589/

Later saw the above news report mentioning a Chinook helicopter rescuing people at the CREEK FIRE which just happens to be in the same general direction today’s helicopter was headed. But again, I do not know for sure but it sure didn’t appear to be wasting any flight time. Thoughts and prayers to all those involved.