Whoa.  If anyone ever told me I would be involved with such a procedure I would have not only doubted their prediction but been rather shocked with the concept   …..   Oops!  Wrong expression!  Geez, even the thought of such a little insignificant…..

What can I say?  Ready for some blah, blah, blah?

The proposed procedure had been thoroughly researched on the internet with field professionals contacted and surveyed for opinions regarding prior diagnosis and prognosis for a full recovery.  The decision to proceed as planned was unanimously supported by those interviewed. An adequate working environment for the procedure was determined, selected, and cleared of potentially contaminating objects.  Sufficient lighting was present and functioning.  Necessary tools and instruments were prearranged on the adjacent procedure tray.  With the transplant present, unpacked and prepped for placement, the patient was situated on a recommend elevated surface, prepped, and opened to expose the procedure area.   I must tell you, I was not just apprehensive, but extremely concerned about all the documented potential negative complications with such a technical procedure.  One little slip and it could all be over.  Yes, I was very nervous but I had waited too long already and it was time to finally just “suck it up and get it done once and for all”.  No question it had to be done.  Just hope I didn’t wait too long – only time will tell.

POTENTIALLY UPSETTING MATERIAL DISCLAIMER

please take a moment and consider…..

IF A BIT SQUEAMISH AND “INSIDE VIEWS” OF THINGS ARE UPSETTING TO YOU –

PLEASE DO NOT CLICK THIS LINK!

Golf.  Haven’t played in years.  Once thought I’d have the opportunity to take it up again in my (hopefully) further advancing years but unfortunately we know how that has turned out so far for Lake Don Pedro.  They never should have changed the name from “Hidden Hills”.   Perhaps the best for me personally since jumping into that game again after all these years would probably have resulted in a torn muscle or ligament or other such common recreational injury – especially when a significant amount of my time may have been spent in the rough, sand and/or water hazards.  For the price of a round of golf I’d likely get my money’s worth with the enhanced scenery and exercise.  lol

WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED?

The Lake Don Pedro CSD website has finally been updated a little with correct information and removal of several broken links (Haven’t viewed that information yet but it may be “in progress” or tucked away somewhere else on the site.)

TUCKED AGAIN

Speaking of being tucked, (Yes, with a “T” but an “F” would work just as well) any of you happen to notice the OFFICIAL MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF  USE MAP  PER WATER LICENSE 11395 RESTRICTIONS THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TO BE POSTED ON THE LDPCSD WEBSITE?

Like a golf ball secreted in deep rough, you’ll have to search a bit, the information will not jump up and scream “Here I am!  Over by the flat rock by the coiled rattlesnake”.

Yup, not really a prominent subject display like all the self congratulatory “atta boys” for ostensibly saving a community from a disastrous drought while the actual goal was quiet service expansion to the benefit of land developers known to Kampa 20 years ago when he first began his infamous water career here at the LDPCSD and advocated district expansion beyond the MID Place of Use.

OPU.  REALLY?

Even the “OPU” title suggests an attempt to discourage locating and viewing the material.  Then add to that the unnecessary multi-stepped “clicking process” to secure, read and/or view the information.  Why wasn’t it posted and displayed on the site like information Kampa does want folks to see?

YOU KNOW, LIKE THAT LDPCSD MAP WITH THE RECENT AND HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS EXPANDED BOUNDARIES OF WATER SERVICE AND SPHERE OF INFLUENCE FOR FUTURE SERVICE OUTSIDE THE POU? 

(As you may recall my fellow mushrooms, I was to attend that Mariposa County LAFCo meeting, in fact I was catching a ride to Mariposa with an alternate commissioner but was told I could not attend because I was a director on the board and it would violate the Brown Act.  What?  I disagreed but was told “no” multiple times by different individuals.  I did not go and what resulted from that meeting were unsupported major district map changes which I would have challenged on the spot!  A map which I LATER DID, DO, AND WILL CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE as special interest garbage.  Yet there it is on the LDPCSD website right now— much, much easier to view than the official MID MAP and resulting prohibitive CSD resolution.)

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF “KAMKPA & KOMPANY’s” LACK OF SINCERITY AND DESIRE FOR THE PUBLIC TO FINALLY UNDERSTAND THIS DECADES OLD FESTERING AND UNRESOLVED SPECIAL INTEREST DECEPTION.

FRAUD? 

YUP, SAD TO SAY THAT’S MY PERSPECTIVE: 

INSTITUTIONALIZED FRAUD

Of course I am a nobody and my opinion doesn’t mean squat.  I’m just a blah, blah, blah blogging customer who wants to understand how this can be legal.  I’ve wanted to know for years – while on the board for four years, and off the board now.

BUT HOW COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE FRAUD SINCE IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST FORTY (40) YEARS? 

IS THERE A TIME LIMIT ON HOW LONG FRAUD CAN BE COMMITTED BEFORE IT IS ACCEPTED?  YOU KNOW, LIKE A REWARD FOR BEING CROOKED? 

“normally this would be considered fraud against customers and immediate corrective action would be undertaken, however, considering the activity has been going on for almost 40 years and involves very influential “movers and shakers” of both State and County affiliations  it has been determined by this ___________ to be permissible.  Thank you for attending ladies and gentlemen, have a safe trip home, but if on the way out you spy a #6 Dunlop with a 2 iron cover smile —it’s mine – let me know and I’ll play it where it lies” 

SEEMS TO ME THE LONGER DURATION OF A WRONGFUL ACT ONLY TESTIFIES AS TO THE DIABOLICAL SUCCESS OF COVERT ACTIVITY WITH A GREATER NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS BEING HARMED. 

But if it is fraud (or some other legal definition covering such questionable activity) why hasn’t it been stopped before now?

I’m not sure but believe it may involve the State and Counties with their various over-lapping, co-jurisdictional, departments, agencies, commissions, boards, offices, officials, representatives, blah, blah, blah…..either do not want involvement in a challenge against powerful land development interests and their lobbying associates, etc. and/or, those complaining about the fraud eventually die, move, or just give up due to the overwhelming frustration, non action, and apparent apathy that has been intentionally and specifically cultivated by those receiving the benefit in its continuation.   (Of course there are many other methods and techniques of preventing, delaying, or corrupting legitimate investigations as well.)

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHY I HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY ACCEPTING THE LEGITIMACY OF THEIR OUTSIDE MIDPOU WATER SERVICE ARGUMENT. 

 

HOW CAN IT BE ETHICAL OR LEGAL FOR A PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCY TO FORCE 99% OF CSD “LEGAL CUSTOMERS”

(THE “MANDATORY CUSTOMERS” OF THE RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION WHO ARE ENTITLED TO MERCED RIVER WATER UNDER WATER LICENSE 11395 – HELD BY THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT – UNDER WHICH THE LAKE DON PEDRO CSD AS OPERATED SINCE INCEPTION IN 1980 AS A PUBLIC AGENCY – AND WHO ARE PROHIBITED FROM DEVELOPING THEIR OWN PRIVATE WATER WELLS)

TO SUBSIDIZE A SPECIAL BENEFIT WATER SERVICE TO PROPERTIES

(AND PROPOSED THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES)

OUTSIDE THE PERMITTED PLACE OF USE UNDER 11395WHOSE WATER SERVICE MUST BE PROVIDED THROUGH A GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM

(WHICH MUST REPLACE EVERY UNIT OF MERCED RIVER WATER THAT LEAVES THE POU WITH AN EQUAL OR GREATER UNIT OF GROUNDWATER FOR LICENSE COMPLIANCE)

UTILIZING EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, OFTEN UNRELIABLE AND ARSENIC CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER WELLS IN A TRADITIONALLY DROUGHT PRONE AREA

(THE ARSENIC REQUIRING ADDITIONAL WATER TREATMENT WHICH OUR LAKE McCLURE/MERCED RIVER WATER DOES NOT)

ABSENT A LEGAL DUTY OR MORAL OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE SUCH SPECIAL BENEFIT WATER SERVICE AT SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL COST TO THE LEGAL CUSTOMERS WHO DO NOT REQUIRE GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION FOR PERMITTED WATER SERVICE?

 

AROUND, AROUND, AROUND WE GO…… I’VE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE!  IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY OUTSIDE – I HAVE WORK TO DO.

 

A CLOSING POEM FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE

LAKE DON PEDRO OWNERS ASSOCIATION

REGARDING THIS OUTSIDE PLACE OF USE ISSUE:

 

 

IF MOTIVES & OBJECTIVES

WERE LEGAL AND SO TRUE

WHY DECADES OF DISHONESTY

ALL FUNDED JUST BY YOU?

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

HHBC (HardHeartBeatingCards) is a Subsidiary Concept Project of Tarantu-Rattle Publishing & a first cousin nonprofit to parent entity lakedonpedro.org  which is currently ascertaining precisely within what parameters it will continue communication with the “outside world”.

 

 

 

My best to you and yours, Lew  🙂

Again reasonable questions

Postponed for 30 days

But it doesn’t really matter

They’re never answered anyway.

.

They believe they are invincible

Their plans so clean and neat

Indeed superb examples

Of how some people cheat.

.

They cheat their own community

Their neighbors, friends and foe

But worst of all they cheat themselves

And I wonder if they know?

My best to you and yours, Lew

Nitrate and arsenic testing results not sent to the State as required?  Oh well, stuff happens right?  But I sure would have preferred the opportunity to read that official correspondence for the particulars myself.  Seems nitrates and arsenic levels are included in the same testing requirement but who knows when everything has been sanitized through the GM and explained second hand.

Come on now.  Most of us can read and are capable of understanding the material.  (Kampa presented 34 pages of boiler plate AT&T legal contract material in the agenda packet – for what purpose?  Notice to, and understanding by the public?)

Why isn’t information regarding the quality/safety of our drinking water included under an agenda heading like DISTRICT CORRESPONDENCE as it had in the past?  Doesn’t that make more sense?

If contained in the agenda packet and noticed ahead of time according to the Brown Act, then the public would have adequate time to study the material and present legitimate questions and/or comments at that next Board meeting.   Seems like a fair and logical process so that per-  ti   nent,…  ahh,… dis — cuss ion could ..ahh…be..ahhh…..oooooohhhhh KRAPA! …..

I see…..no information to the public prevents pesky questions for the GM not to answer……. wow.

What a system!

Isn’t there a religion orbiting that concept?  Church Of Ignorant Bliss?

Think I’ll skip the tap water and have a beer – I can read the quality assurance on the can.

lol

My best to you and yours, Lew

{NOTE:  MEETING VIDEO AT END OF THIS POST}

OK, LET’S TRY THAT AGAIN!  lol

Below is the list of proposed operational changes for the District that resulted from the “NON PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT MEETING” GM PETE KAMPA arranged.  Everyone in that Boardroom was aware the request was for a public meeting where Wes Barton’s questions could be asked openly and directly without interference from Pete Kampa or particular members of the board.   (President Johnson was not at the “accountant meeting” planning Board Meeting incidentally) – yet instead a private meeting was held in Modesto.

Another Kampa controlled inferior substitute” for what was requested and expected by the public attendees and some directors. (Emery Ross’s statement of missing the “eyes rolling” during any potential public questioning was quite humorous but made a valid point.  A lot can be learned from body language and how an individual responds to questions asked in a “real time” public setting.

What the public receives from KAMPA & KOMPANY are carefully constructed

NON-RESPONSIVE WRITTEN SUBSTITUTES FOR TRUTHFUL ANSWERS.)

Essentially just the same old stuff.  Recall the POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL BENEFITS issue which greatly increased District liability after several years of accepted policy change (other later employees were denied the additional benefits which had been discontinued by previous board action) until PETE KAMPA and KAMPA COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS LLC showed up and started turning over every  issue looking for ways to increase District costs and complicate matters which would then naturally required KAMPA’s professional expertise to remedy?  That issue was also going to be reviewed by an objective third party but ended up going to our CSD attorney.  And then, to conceal matters even further from the public, our own attorney’s comments/advice was closed from public view and understanding.

Transparency?

Although not a Brown Act quorum issue, since only two directors (Board President Danny Johnson and Vice President Dan Hankemeier) attended the “PRIVATE ACCOUNTANT MEETING”, it still raises a question…..How can two of five Directors, during a GM orchestrated PRIVATE MEETING with the accountant, decide the best way to respond to Wes Barton’s financial questions asked of GM KAMPA in PUBLIC BOARD MEETINGS for so many months ?

ARE NOT LEGITIMATE PUBLIC QUESTIONS (REGARDING DISTRICT FINANCES)

DESERVING OF HONEST PUBLIC AGENCY ANSWERS?

 How do two directors know what is best for the other 3 board members –  much less the public they are supposed to represent?

Transparency?

Oh please.

Just a word many disingenuous people use to obscure the facts of what they are really doing.

Case in point:

STILL NO ANSWERS TO WES BARTON’S LEGITIMATE FINANCIAL QUESTIONS FROM GM KAMPA WHO IS ALSO THE BOARD TREASURER IN CHARGE OF THE MONEY!

Over a year now KAMPA has successfully side-stepped answering these questions – among others such as those dealing with the district service area mapping project and the Lake Don Pedro CSD website failures.

<<<<<<<<<<<<< I interrupt this blah, blah, blah with a current news flash >>>>>>>>>>>>>

_____________________________________

May 3rd, 2017

UPDATE!

JUST NOTICED this morning that the 8 out of 8 NON-FUNCTIONING REFERENCE LINKS on the LAKE DON PEDRO CSD website have been removed!

Now let’s see if the outside Place of Use Resolution (2013-4) is posted as it should have been a long time ago!

_____________________________________

<<<<<<<<<<<<< Now back to the regularly scheduled blah, blah, blah >>>>>>>>>>>>>

   (remember those old TV notices?)

Wonder if Barton’s questions gave birth to the below suggestions?

Without even receiving answers?

Are these “suggestions” an off-handed acknowledgement that

FINANCIAL MATTERS HAVE BEEN HANDLED INCORRECTLY FOR A VERY LONG TIME?

Same old story.

Those who intentionally violate known rules, regulations and standard operating policies/procedures when caught, or fear being caught,  always attempt to re-direct attention AWAY from their culpable activities and TOWARDS “making sure such {wrongful} activity never happens again”.

ALL WITHOUT EVER ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR TRUE CULPABILITY!

 

(“Gosh!  Don’t you also thank our lucky stars Mr. Fox has some excellent suggestions for protecting our district hens and eggs!”)

 

SO here are the “suggestions” contained in #4 FINANCE below –

 

 

NOTE: GM KAMPA identified the projects (also referred to as “tasks” on the second page) as:

1. Administrative costs
2. Groundwater well project
3. IRWMP  (Integrated Regional Water Management Plan) costs
   IRWMP INFORMATION link
   
4. Lateral service line replacement costs
   

(No answer at the meeting as to whether #4 included Outside Place of Use “private water lines” which often run quite a distance outside the permitted service area and could be designated a “lateral service line” for further grant reimbursement money.)

NOTE:  Only Projects 1 and 4 are requested for reimbursement.

 

 

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

Part 2 of the April 20th, 2017 meeting….some things never change while others constantly do.

CAN YOU HEAR THEM CALL?

I need to get outside for another rendition of the annual “weed slaughter” performance because those late rains really encouraged some wild growth. Where I had sprayed after weed eating – not too bad but where the rains caught me in between battles (no weed spraying) WHAT A MESS! Still easier than if I had done nothing, but a bit disappointing because I have to go over the same areas again.

SOS

Same old stuff at our meetings, questions avoided – continued, rarely addressed and when they are they receive totally inadequate explanation. Only excuse after excuse by our “remote GM”  – always the responsibility of another who is not present at the meeting. Then there is all that “busy work” distraction BS just to take up meeting time.

WASTE OF TIME?

Is this a big waste of time? I really wonder sometimes. Of course that is part of KAMPA’S method of operation – make everyone so frustrated they just give up and walk away from meetings leaving KAMPA & KOMPANY to do what they want without observers – much less reporters – regardless of how unprofessional the “reporting” might be.

You know, although weed slaughter is also very tiring (more physical obviously) I prefer the outdoor work hands down because I can see what needs to be accomplished and just get it done. No excuses.

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

Yup, I intended to include this in the first post of the LDPCSD April 20th, 2017 Special Board Meeting (containing the traditional futile exercise of PUBLIC COMMENT before a management board that apparently is not concerned with incorrect information being presented to the public) but in my hurry to get posted simply forgot.

Although a “rough outline” it follows Mr. Barton’s previously posted Public Comment. 

Please check out the upside down word at the bottom of the page – lol! 

Oh yeah, I added the frame and border to the page because it is far more deserving of acknowledgement than any AWARD CERTIFICATE FOR TRANSPARENCY THE CSDA (California Special District Association) MIGHT BESTOW ON OUR

“NOTAAWND GM”!

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

oh yeah….

?????????????

 “NOTAAWND”

General Manager?

?????????????

{Not On The Agenda And Will Not Discuss}

 

And who sets the agenda?

Transparency my ass.

Well, here we go again…..the April 20th, 2017 Special Board Meeting of the Lake Don Pedro Community Services District (LDPCSD).  It’s called a “Special meeting” since the “regular monthly meeting” fell on a holiday so the postponed meeting is designated special……isn’t that special? — lol?  The old Saturday Night Live routine?  There I go voluntarily dating my “old timer’s view” again  –  so what?  Yes I am old and hopefully will get older since the alternative is not yet desired— emphasis on yet.

SOB

Meeting was the same old bullshit – customers ask questions and GM Pete Kampa and the Board of Directors refuse to answer or discuss the matter since it is not on the agenda (sometimes in the manager’s report which is not subject to the typical discussion/action process) YET when agenda requests are made by the public the Board President and GM Kampa simply refuse to place the matter on the agenda and PRESTO! no discussion, no action, and maintain status quo regardless of how unethical and deceptive.

Sure is a cute little system of completely ignoring very important district failures and the potential avenues for correction.  This “selective agenda item process” alone is enough to encourage ANYONE to believe something far more unethical and underhanded is going on behind the scene  – even without the other garbage so liberally doled out to our traditionally apathetic customer base.  (Apathy can be cultivated like any other crop you know.)

THAT’S IT!  ENOUGH ALREADY

Often after one of these meetings I exit believing it will be my last because there are so many other things I would rather be, and need to be doing, yet by the time I get home (after a short drive contemplating the new set of outrageous refusals by the board and GM to address legitimate questions by the public) I slowly start working on the next LDPCSD meeting report.  (Omitting all the internal shorthand inappropriate language of course – lol)

I guess the primary reason I continue this frustrating exercise in futility is to inform the public, but I will admit to the, albeit dwindling, hope that someone/agency with the authority to compel corrective action might eventually become involved.  Hope springs eternal yeah?  The corruption within the Lake Don Pedro CSD has continued for decades and will likely just limp into the future without some sort of intervention by “legitimate authorities”.   If the LDPCSD is representative of other rogue special districts in this state, the proposal to eliminate them all within 10 years (evidently discussed at a Little Hoover Commission meeting recently) might be a very good idea.

CSDA MAPPING ON LDPCSD WEBSITE?

Is it surprising that the CSDA (California Special District Association) apparently continues to support Pete Kampa no matter what he does here at LAKE DON PEDRO (or has done at other districts)?  A chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link – and without all those special districts there would be no CSDA.    How sad it is to lose faith in organizations you previously believed to be trustworthy and honorable because of the unrestrained SPECIAL INTEREST ACTIVITIES of someone like a Pete Kampa.

Sure, CSDA posts a Disclaimer that their presented map information on our LDPCSD WEBSITE may not be accurate, but is that an legitimate excuse for continuing that display when provided information that it is incorrect?

SIMPLE QUESTION ONLY IGNORED

For several years now I have attempted to understand the theory, policy, law, process, etc. behind forcing MERCED RIVER WATER entitled users within the LAKE DON PEDRO SUBDIVISION (mandatory customers of the CSD by reason of that property ownership) into subsidizing a SPECIAL BENEFIT groundwater substitution water service to properties OUTSIDE THE LEGAL PLACE OF USE UNDER WATER LICENSE 11395 that OUR DISTRICT has no LEGAL DUTY to provide.

Seems like a reasonable query raising issues of PROPOSITION 218 and how taxpayers should only pay for benefits which they actually receive.  Is that not the whole concept behind SPECIAL DISTRICTS such as our CSD?  You know, that customers are only responsible to pay for the costs of providing the service which they receive – and in this case that means potable drinking water to the subdivision?  How was such a worthy concept corrupted into forcing the 99% of legal MERCED RIVER WATER users into financially supporting expensive special benefit substitute groundwater service to properties outside the legal Place of Use?

NEW INFORMATION ON THE MAPPING PROJECT?

KAMPA is still stalling on the official district water service map.  Remember?  His unnecessary +$10,000 mapping project in response to a request to produce what was actually approved by the County of Mariposa and State of California?   (And not just what KAMPA & KOMPANY have unequivocally desired since the 1990s.)   Recall that the map approved by MARIPOSA COUNTY LAFCo disappeared shortly after we became a public agency in 1980?  That the original engineer’s survey still exists but a new map was never created in substitution of what was conveniently lost?  (Most would consider that a BIG CLUE.)

What about the official water service map on file with the State of California?  Strange, when I called the SWRCB (State Water Resources Control Board) years ago requesting their official map I had one emailed to me within the hour!

This is a good example of how a public agency should operate. A request for public information results in receiving that public information.  Not like the LAKE DON PEDRO CSD where obstructionism reigns to obscure the decades of fraud and outright lies provided to the mandatory and financially responsible customers of the subdivision.  (Facilitated through the loss/destruction of authentic documents and replacement with fabricated special interest material – all intended to conceal the truth of what was legally approved in an effort to continue district water service expansion using GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION FOR THOSE MERCED RIVER WATER TRANSFERS OUTSIDE THE PLACE OF USE OF WL11395.)

Well, like everything else in this world that appears unethical, immoral, illegal or injurious to innocent others……just follow the money for the reasons how and why it started and continues.

Golly Gosh, who would want cheap potable water from expensive unreliable groundwater wells paid for by an UNREPRESENTED AND CAPTIVE-MANDATORY CSD CUSTOMER BASE located in a traditionally drought prone fractured rock geologic area in the western Sierra Nevada foothills of California where Oak and rock studded grazing land is much less expensive?

 

 

“Hummm, guess I’ll try real estate brokers and speculative land developers for $50 Bob”.

My best to you and yours, Lew

Perhaps, if you live in Mariposa County and use zip code 95329.

 

 

2013 CHANGE

Starting in 2013 (at least for me) the California Department of Motor Vehicles, for some unknown reason, changed the previous registration process for my old Chevy Camaro by adding a $22 County District fee and requiring a smog certificate.  This was a bit disconcerting since neither had been necessary since moving to, and residing in, Mariposa County.

PLEASANTLY SURPRISED

My old “grey ghost” always passed when I lived in the valley but occasionally required an inexpensive part or minor adjustment.  Still the examination was stressful.  This was especially so after reading how much work on the vehicle could conceivably be required in order to pass the exam and receive new registration IF there was a problem.

Yup, a bit stressful – turning over the ignition key of my decades old dependable one owner one driver vehicle to a stranger and anxiously waiting outside for that semi-behind the scene emissions check.

Though technically outside the garage (premises liability issues) I could still see her being maneuvered and prepped for the test with wired sensors and monitors and was within easy earshot of all the traditional metal clanks and crashes of equipment and tools being moved about in an active automotive shop.

Pacing back and forth outside the examination garage listening to her high RPM sustained revving and wondering ….. will this be the year she fails?  How expensive and/or extensive will the repairs be?  Could I do some of the work myself or will repairs necessarily require sophisticated electronic testing equipment like that found in the emissions garage?

So many questions floating about the grey exhaust laden air churned out by a thirty something year old high revving engine.  Geez, they sure did push sustained high engine revolutions per minute –  (personally I don’t believe my baby liked that much without the roadway generated wind gushing through her grill and carburetor intake – lol) but she tolerated the unusual treatment and always qualified for another year’s registration albeit diminishing use.

Yup, after moving to Mariposa County I never missed those trips to an emissions garage or that apprehensive wait for results.

AHhhh OHhhh

As most locals know, the 95329 Zip Code primarily applies to Stanislaus County, but also includes parts of Tuolumne County and Mariposa County.  I’ve heard parts of Merced County are also included but it is difficult to tell from the below posted zip code information site map.

ZIP CODE 95329 INFORMATION

Evidently in 2013 the DMV somehow changed the Mariposa County designation for zip 95329 to Stanislaus County resulting in the generation of the smog test requirement and the $22 COUNTY/DISTRICT FEES. [Curr Air ALT $18.00, CUR SJ VAPCD $1.00 and ALT FUEL RF $3.00]

You see, a smog test is only required in Mariposa County for change in vehicle ownership paperwork.

NO BIGGIE – A SIMPLE TELEPHONE CALL SHOULD SUFFICE

After a few telephone calls to the DMV and explaining the situation I was ultimately connected with an individual who had the proper “supervisory authority” to make such processing corrections.  PRESTO!  I was able to finish the renewal without a smog check or paying the extra $22.

2014 – registration went fine.

Unfortunately in 2015 the issue reared its ugly head again (bi-annual testing) with both the smog certificate and district fee required for registration renewal.   Once again telephone contact and explanation resolved the issue and renewal was processed without the smog test.    Since I had paid the additional $22 with online registration in 2015 the DMV also refunded the $22.

But again in 2016 the smog test and $22 fee was requested.  Again I made some telephone calls and explained the situation.  This time I wrote a letter with all the information and sent it with my payment.  Again I was advised it was corrected and the registration was subsequently issued.

GUESS WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR?

Yup, SMOG TEST and an extra $22 requested before registration would be renewed.  After explaining the situation again, I wrote a short note and mailed the registration back with a check for the correct amount.

A few days ago I received correspondence from DMV confirming the registration payment had been received but they still wanted a smog check and that other $22!

SLIGHTLY PISSED THAT 4 out of 5 YEARS WERE WRONG

I was a bit pissed at first because in addition to the traditional request for a smog test and an extra $22, the note stated the following:  (IN ALL CAPS TOO!)

“ACCORDING TO DMV MANUAL MARIPOSA COUNTY IS NOT SMOG EXEMPT AREA.  PLEASE PROVIDE COUNTY DOCUMENTS TO PROOF SMOG EXEMPT”

Surely they meant “prove” smog exempt, but that is beside the point.  Why should I be required to provide further COUNTY INFORMATION in support of my argument which was clearly detailed on the DMV WEBSITE already?

COUNTIES REQUIRING SMOG TEST

 

Did a person or computer generate that letter?

HOW CAN YOU BE UPSET WITH FOLKS TRYING TO HELP?

I would like to note for the record that during this entire process (2013-2017) the DMV employees I have spoken with have always been helpful, polite and seemed genuinely concerned with correcting the matter.  There have been a number of humorous points and laughs on both sides.

Actually, after all this time back and forth with this issue I was beginning to hone some comical observations, speculations and suggestions to emphasize the fact I was not upset with any DMV employee per se, but rather their evil computer system overlord which quite obviously rejects such error correction due to an inherent operational bias and extreme dislike for residents in the PEOPLES’ REPUBLIC OF LAKE DON PEDRO 95329.

I advised I had downloaded the DMV (INV19) PDF Fraud Complaint Form for the Investigations Division Office of Internal Affairs and was considering substituting “system error” for “Employee’s name” to see if that might correct the problem.

BUT THE REAL JOKE WAS ON ME

The other day, while speaking with a DMV employee on the telephone and theorizing that if there were many more folks who were experiencing the same “location difficulty” but did not realize it, they too were paying $22 more than necessary in combination with the additional time, money and inconvenience of an unnecessary vehicle emissions smog check.

(I know a few people who have wrongfully paid these additional fees and jumped through “smog testing “ hoops.)

I told him many folks just pay the bill amount requested without any thought to there being a possible mistake if there was no hint of something being wrong – like with me and the requirement my Ghost Camaro be revved into a dismantler’s bone yard due to another smog check.   lol

I continued by saying these unnecessary charges could add up to a fairly substantial amount of money – especially figuring 400+ residents and there likely being more than one vehicle per household——-

THEN IT HIT ME…….

HIT ME LIKE ……..

A TON OF RUSTY OLD ROTTEN EGG SMELLING CATALYTIC CONVERTERS……

……what about my pickup?

Although never receiving a smog test request….was I also paying an extra $22 in County District fees?

NO HINT – PAID WITHOUT THOUGHT!

YUP!  Without the SMOG TEST REQUIREMENT alerting me that something was wrong I had always just paid the requested amount for my Chevy pickup without thought to “COUSIN CAMARO’s” victimization by the evil DMV electronic overlord.

RIGHT PERSON FOR THE RIGHT JOB

Evidently those DMV employees who had assisted me in the past did what they could to immediately correct the problem and process the renewal.   Unfortunately, such corrections were apparently only exemptions for that specific year and did not delve into the incorrect county listing responsible for generating future renewal notices (the 2013 unknown change).

I have been assured the problem has been remedied and I will be able to use the online registration process for my Ghost Camaro next time.  We shall see.

AN EXTRA DMV BONUS FORM TO ARRIVE    

So this year in addition to receiving my traditional registration renewal for a vehicle that rarely moves, I will also get a refund form so I can claim 3 years of over payments on the pickup.  (Not four due to the month of expiration for the tags.)

What can I say?  $66 is $66.  Heck that will pay last month’s water bill!  (Speaking of water, maybe I should wash, vacuum, charge the battery, and see if the old girl still starts? CRAP!  It’s got valid registration!  lol)

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

PS:  And just to keep the record straight, my Ghost always received good clean fuel and never had that “rotten egg” converter smell.  The above was just an expression….

(she is so sensitive about that issue – lol)