Perhaps this is just another waste of time and effort but considering the numerous legitimate questions and suggestions that have gone unanswered, or have not been discussed, for months at meetings by way of PUBLIC COMMENT – why not try again?

What do I have to lose other than another $4.60?

Besides, the typical district proffered excuse for their inaction is that the issue was not put on the agenda.

Ohhhhh, I get it, even though some of these subjects and proposed solutions have been mentioned many times before and are indeed important subject matters of jurisdiction for the district, management is reluctant to place them on the agenda regardless of how legitimate, reasonable, prudent, etc. they might be?

Humm, who knows?  Maybe GM Pete Kampa and Board President Danny Johnson, who are the only two responsible for setting agenda items per district policy incidentally, might just see their way clear to approve such discussion topics, and dare I dream, possibly some solutions might actually materialize?

Guess stranger things have happened, right?

BIG BOO BOOS ON THE PAGE BELOW –

Will you catch them?

I sure as heck didn’t – multiple times!  lol

 

NOTES TO ABOVE, Yup, sure enough I left out a couple of important words while rushing to get done before the CSD office closed at 1430hrs.  Heck these are only two I just discovered!  WHAT NEXT?   (darn “cut and paste revisions!  lol)

The word “of”

Sentence should have read:

“Suggest the Board of Directors instruct management to investigate the feasibility of preventing transfer OF outside place of use property water service accounts to new owners of record in an effort to reduce current groundwater substitution dependency.”

AND MOST IMPORTANT…..

“Such a policy will incrementally reduce the financial liability of the 99% of legally entitled customers of Merced River Water (in the subdivision) from continued additional costs associated in providing a special benefit water service they did NOT require, request or approve.”

I actually recall that bonehead move, I had written “…service they didn’t require, request or approve.”  and wanted to change it to,

“…did not require, request or approve.”

Evidently I only deleted the contraction and failed to add the “NOT”!  I really dislike rushing these things but I had an ongoing project I wanted to finish today and daylight was burning!

Yes, excuses, excuses.  lol

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

Tuesday, January 24th, 2017

While re-publishing some of the corrupted links and files something occurred to me as far as chronological history and ANY IMPORTANCE that SEWER SERVICE AREA MAP might have represented. (above)

NEW EXCHEQUER DAM

The new exchequer dam was completed in 1967 and undoubtedly many uninformed,  and likely intentionally misinformed, property purchasers were led to believe a tremendous amount of MERCED RIVER WATER would be available for miscellaneous developments, both public and private.  The area was crazy with speculative developments near the “under construction” Lake Don Pedro subdivision.

SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT

In 1968 Boise Cascade constructed the surface water treatment plant and it was governed by its subsidiary Pacific Cascade, in March of 1968 the Merced Irrigation District assigned the 5,000 acre feet of MERCED RIVER WATER per year to Sierra Highlands Water Company, then in September the California Public Utilities Commission approved water service to Tuolumne Unit 2 with a certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.  T2 was the first LDP subdivision unit to receive approval for water service.

FOR US, NOT YOU

Unfortunately, as things progressed it became quite apparent to other property owners that only the Lake Don Pedro residential subdivision was planned to receive the impounded MERCED RIVER WATER behind the new exchequer dam.  Property owners and investors outside the subdivision were furious that their plans could not be achieved without access to that water!  So much was going to be stored and they wanted some!

HUGE LDP SUBDIVISION GROWING

In October of 1968 portions of the LAKE DON PEDRO subdivision were still being developed as clearly documented by virtue of the Sturtevant agreement for placement of another water tank on their ranch property to serve that area of the blossoming subdivision.  That written agreement provided 10 water meters for future service to that specific ranch property in exchange for land and easements necessary for the water tank placement yet several unrelated properties to that agreement somehow obtained meters and/or service between the years 1972-1993.

Those water meters were subsequently, and wrongfully, charged against (subtracted from) the Sturtevant 10 meter agreement on file with the district.  [Actually the District could not locate and/or produce those records when requested by the Sturtevant Ranch which had to produce their copies and have them re-entered into District records.  This is called a clue.]

Because of the fact those wrongfully appropriated meters were not discovered until 2002 the water service was evidently permitted to continue for those properties even though clearly not intended to receive the Sturtevant meters.  District records are sketchy regarding the actual acquisition and to this day contain inaccurate information regarding how, when and where water service was approved and furnished for many properties in that immediate area – even outside the Sturtevant meter agreement.

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (CPUC)

Between 1968 and 1971 the CPUC approved a number of unit additions to the Lake Don Pedro residential subdivision to be served by the Sierra Highlands Water Company.  This naturally further infuriated owners outside the service area who desired some of that massive amount of MERCED RIVER WATER collecting behind the new dam.

HERE IS WHERE THE 1971 MARIPOSA SEWER SERVICE MAP MAY BECOME IMPORTANT:  December 1971 the County of Mariposa had engineer Raymond Vail create the Lake Don Pedro Sewer Zone service map (above).  Surely the County was aware of the numerous property owners in the general area who were very angry they could not obtain water.  Some undoubtedly unaware of the MERCED RIVER WATER designation and its implications –  they just wanted water for their land development projects.

Then in October 1973 there was an agreement between Sierra and the Lake Don Pedro Owners Association for use of Lake Gregoris, however, information ultimately furnished to the State of California Water Board apparently incorrectly detailed the existence of that “Lake”, which is actually a pond, because it surely was not created and maintained by the creek stated in paperwork.

In 1975 Pacific Cascade transferred all remaining facilities and assets to Sierra Highlands Water Company.

The June 15, 1978 Merced Irrigation District Map for domestic water consumption clearly identifies the Sierra Highlands Water Company service boundaries which were, again, essentially the LDP subdivision and golf course.

In February of 1980 Mariposa County LAFCo recommended approval of the Lake Don Pedro Community Services District (LDPCSD) on condition that the CSD create a zone of benefit for sewer service (the 1971 map by Raymond Vail above) for future development needs.

Sierra Highlands then petitions the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to transfer all its assets to the LDPCSD and on August 19, 1980 Mariposa County approves the LDPCSD as a public agency.  (Tuolumne County recognizes LDPCSD on August 26, 1980).

September 2, 1980 the former general manager of Sierra Highlands is appointed as the LDPCSD’s first GM and on September 19, 1980 an application was filed with the CPUC to authorize Sierra to transfer and assign all property to the LDPCSD.

THIS APPEARS VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL

Curiously, LDPCSD Meeting minutes from September 2 1980 to July 2, 1981 were mysteriously condensed without adequate explanation as to the major operations being conducted.

Then on October 11, 1980 a request for a special hearing was made to the CPUC because of a Lake Don Pedro Owners Association (LDPOA) change in the board of directors, and the LDPOA was apparently prepared to withdraw support for the transfer of assets to the new LDPCSD by Sierra Highlands. 

This is also very interesting because it was through the LDPOA that the whole concept of changing Sierra Highlands Water Company which was a private company into a PUBIC AGENCY was developed and pursued.  Apparently those pushing for the “TO BE FORMED CSD PUBLIC AGENCY” were extremely disappointed with the vast property holdings which would not be served water due to the legal description of the SIERRA HIGHLANDS SERVICE AREA TO BE APPROVED BY THE CPUC.  Apparently, what areas could be served and how much it might cost customers of the newly formed district were issues that threatened to “pull the plug” on the whole deal if acceptable answers not provided.  The CPUC refused the special hearing and ultimately approved the transfer.

On January 21, 1981 the CPUC approved the Sierra Highlands transfer to the LDPCSD and immediately after many adjacent and nearby angry property owners wanted to annex into the new district for water service.

JUNE 1981 CSD ATTORNEY OPINION

Yet in June 1981 meeting minutes the LDPCSD attorney confirmed that properties outside the CPUC approved previous service area of Sierra Highlands could not be served water by the new public district.  There were provisions to possibly make minor changes, but for the most part, the MERCED RIVER WATER was to be used exclusively within the LDPCSD approved service boundary.  Not only were local property owners angry they couldn’t receive this accumulating vast storage of MERCED RIVER WATER but those downstream of the new dam also voiced opposition to any further diversions of “their water” for farming, industry, recreation, environment and other uses.  The war over MERCED RIVER WATER in Lake Don Pedro was only beginning.

NOW finally to my point, consider this:

Mariposa County commissioned the same engineer who drew up the sewer service map for the Lake Don Pedro area in 1971, Raymond Vail, to also perform a survey for the newly forming LDPCSD and to create a water service boundary map. (Which disappeared shortly after the district was formed and has been missing for near 40 years!  Many would call this a “clue”.)

QUESTION:  How could Mariposa County possibly later contend it wasn’t aware of the service restriction problems with MERCED RIVER WATER in the Lake Don Pedro subdivision area? 

WORSE YET, how could Mariposa County (and Tuolumne) reasonably approve annexations to the LDPCSD after August 15, 1983 when all those prior water service regulatory restrictions were consolidated in written form in the State issued water license 11395 still held by the Merced Irrigation District?

LET US BUILD IT HERE

Further, the County of Mariposa was evidently aware it would eventually require more land for a larger sewer system in the Don Pedro area and indicated that two approximate 40 acre parcels of land (bottom left corner of map) would be utilized – one already owned by the County and the other to be acquired in the future as documented in the above 1971 map.  The system was to provide sewer service for the homes that would be constructed around the golf course.

What is more, why would Mariposa chose to develop property clearly OUTSIDE the permitted service area of the LDPCSD for a sewer system which it (not surprisingly) made a condition of acquisition by the then proposed CSD in order to even achieve formation as a public entity in 1980? 

(And the Mariposa County Grand Jury later had the audacity and gall to characterize the LDPCSD as the “problem child of Mariposa County?” 

Who the hell did it think were its frigg’n parents?!)

In other words, why attempt to force a proposed Community Services District into accepting a sewer plant (as a condition to formation) that was clearly outside the legal service area of the CPUC approval, and later water license 11395, and would constitute a stumbling block for future operations?

Was the county merely passing that “hot potato” to the new CSD and to all the current and future unsuspecting property owners of the subdivision that were legally the “MANDATORY AND FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE CUSTOMERS” of that proposed CSD?

NOT EVEN PAYING FOR WHAT WATER USED

Recall also that it was discovered many years after the sewer treatment facility was operational that it was not paying for the water actually being utilized for treatment, and it was financially failing due to a lack of paying resident-customers around the golf course.   This of course forced the county to pay the difference to keep the system operational.  Why did this happen you might ask, because those speculative and model homes were permitted to be constructed despite the clear violation of existing LDPOA CC&Rs which were designed to prevent homes from being built without “move-in ready residents” all set to start paying fees for the sewer service.

(Oh yeah….and that little issue of disposing of “leachate” [leachate defined] from the Mariposa County Land Fill with numerous tanker loads quietly dumped into that treatment facility in Don Pedro and the costly replacement of system components in such a short period of time.)

LDPOA OWNERS TO BE STUCK WITH THE BILLS

So once again, it sure seems like innocent property purchasers in the Lake Don Pedro subdivision were essentially “set up” victims in the sense that there were numerous invisible financial strings attached to their property purchase which were not clearly made known to them at the time of purchase.

Wouldn’t such facts constitute “known disclosures” now for a prospective property purchaser?  You would think so.

YOU KNEW WHEN YOU BOUGHT

Ironically, the LDPOA’s traditional response to an owner who complained about the unfairness of a particular CC&R (or its apparent selective enforcement) was inevitably answered with “you knew when you bought your property” which is patently untrue.  Sure, they may have been provided governing documents at the time of purchase (however, some clearly were not), but other hidden financial responsibilities certainly were not explained such as the “Groundwater substitution program” that is now required for all properties annexed into the Community Services District outside the place of use under 11395 which obviously are precluded from receiving MERCED RIVER WATER. 

NOT OUR FAULT

Another piece of evidence to support the allegation that there was knowledge as to these facts are  the “no liability disclosure statements” inserted into some of the property annexations approved by the County of Mariposa during the early years of the district’s operation.   In the mid 1980s a statement was included in approved property development annexations to the CSD that made it clear the county would not be held liable if the property owner ultimately could not receive water from the CSD for their project.  That was an issue between the property owner, the LDPCSD and the Merced Irrigation District, which again, is the holder of water license 11395.

Cute huh? 

Approve developments and instruct the newly formed CSD to provide water which it legally could not – but the county washes it’s hands as not responsible?

MID WAS NOT THE PROBLEM

FURTHERMORE, the MID obviously could not willy nilly change license restrictions without State Water Board approval which is often a very complicated and expensive proposition due to the numerous entities dependent on that water downstream.  (Farmers, industry, recreation, wildlife, etc.)

HERE IS YOUR REWARD FOR TRYING TO HELP

In fact, the onetime MID did legally change those restrictions in Lake Don Pedro (for the South Shore Project – 2,010 acres with 772 acre feet of water per year that never developed anyway and our District was not adequately reimbursed for costs) they (MID) ended up with a water audit by the State due to information discovered during those proceedings which indicated the MID was not following the current requirements for environmental releases of water for wildlife.

Geez.  Bet they were not too happy – especially since it was reluctant to support the LDPCSD formation at the start due to the anticipated lack of financial responsibility.  Boy! Were they right on the money – so to speak.

AND FOR YOU….

The water audit basically required the LDPCSD to use the original Ranchito Drive ground water well production to replace all the MERCED RIVER WATER that was illegally leaving the approved place of use.  MID, as the responsible holder of the license, certainly did not want any expensive State fines for allowing continued misuse of MERCED RIVER WATER regulated under their license.

(Kind of like a parent being held civilly responsible for the damaging actions of their “problem child”.)

GROUNDWATER WELLS NOT A GOOD IDEA HERE

Please also realize, the LDPCSD only had that one well for many years until PETE KAMPA’s board orchestrated return to the LDPCSD in October 2014.  Purpose of that “unethical” closed recruitment process?  To insure creation of an “ALTERNATE SOURCE OF WATER” with a number of groundwater wells desperately required for further PRIVATE THIRD PARTY outside MIDPOU expansion – YET ALL DEVELOPED WITH PUBLIC FUNDS in the form of government grant money – and intended by the state and federal government grantors for existing customer use during unprecedented drought!

Even the LDPCSD’s hard saved 1 million dollars in four years (after near bankruptcy) was used to leverage those grants.  PUBLIC MONEY FOR PRIVATE SPECIAL INTEREST BENEFIT USE AND PROFIT? 

What a scam.

MISREPRESENT AND MISAPPROPRIATE

It also certainly appears as though facts of LAKE DON PEDRO’s situation were intentionally misrepresented to secure those grants and once furnished, used for intended expansion purposes rather than the drought threatened existing customers.   Also, many people do not realize that the original developer, Boise Cascade, had drilled numerous water wells in an attempt to circumvent those long established restrictions on MERCED RIVER WATER use but abandoned them for lack of sufficient quantity and quality of water.

Yup, sure seems like a good argument can be made that property owners of the Lake Don Pedro Owners Association subdivision have been intentionally set up by a number of entities and individuals to be financially responsible for the special interest benefit of private land developers who were never intended to receive MERCED RIVER WATER – despite what they might proclaim in defense of their decades of repugnant and obstructionist activities harming this district and its paying customers.

 

 

Recall my thank you in December of 2014?

<link> STILL BELIEVE IT

and I think it still applies!

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

Monday, January 23rd, 2017/1548hrs

This new software is a real time saver as it searches and identifies damaged and/or missing links and files.  Sure saves me from having to explore all my blah, blah, blah over the course of years.

Here’s another one viewers could not access that is one of the most important documents regarding this issue: – the MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE MAP PER WATER LICENSE 11395.  MID holds the license and the LDPCSD has pumped MERCED RIVER WATER from Lake Mc Clure since formed as a public agency.

 

JANUARY 23, 2017 update

GOLLY GEE!

SOME NEW SOFTWARE WAS INSTALLED TODAY TO CHECK FOR OTHER SUSPICIOUS LINK FAILURES

(UPGRADED SOME WEBSITE SECURITY ISSUES AS WELL)

FOUND ANOTHER INACCESSIBLE DOCUMENT THAT KAMPA & KOMPANY TWICE ATTEMPTED TO ABOLISH SO THAT THE NEWLY PRODUCED  GROUNDWATER

(THIS “ALTERNATE SOURCE OF WATER” WAS PRODUCED WITH NEW GROUNDWATER WELLS CONSTRUCTED WITH PUBLIC FUNDS FROM STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS SPECIFICALLY INTENDED TO ASSIST EXISTING CUSTOMERS DURING THE DROUGHT – AND NOT TO CREATE NEW SERVICE)

COULD BE USED IN A GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM TO FURNISH WATER TO SPECULATIVE LAND DEVELOPERS OUTSIDE THE PLACE OF USE RESTRICTIONS OF WATER LICENSE 11395

(HELD BY THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT)

WHILE CONTINUING TO HAVE THE LEGAL USERS OF MERCED RIVER WATER IN THE LAKE DON PEDRO RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION PAY FOR THIS SPECIAL BENEFIT WATER SERVICE PROGRAM FOR PRIVATE THIRD PARTY LAND DEVELOPERS! (NOT OTHERWISE ENTITLED TO LDPCSD WATER)

WHAT IS A GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM? 

SINCE MERCED RIVER WATER CANNOT LEGALLY BE DIVERTED AND SERVED OUTSIDE THE LDP SUBDIVISION, FOR EVERY UNIT THAT IS DELIVERED OUTSIDE THE LEGAL PLACE OF USE IN THE SUBDIVISION, AN EQUAL OR GREATER UNIT MUST BE PUMPED FROM GROUNDWATER WELLS TO REPLACE WHAT WAS DELIVERED OUTSIDE THE PLACE OF USE.  

IN OTHER WORDS, IF AN ACRE FOOT OF MERCED RIVER WATER IS DELIVERED OUTSIDE THE SUBDIVISION TO A PROPERTY THAT IS NOT LEGALLY ENTITLED TO THE MERCED RIVER WATER UNDER WATER LICENSE 11395, AN ACRE FOOT OF WATER MUST BE PUMPED FROM THE GROUND TO REPLACE THE ACRE FOOT DELIVERED.

SO –

WHY HAVE LAKE DON PEDRO OWNERS ASSOCIATION PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE SUBDIVISION (FOR WHOM THAT SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT WAS DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND INTENDED TO SERVE) BEEN PAYING FOR THIS SPECIAL BENEFIT WATER SERVICE FOR THOSE NOT ENTITLED TO MERCED RIVER WATER IN THE FIRST PLACE? 

LOGICAL QUESTION:

WHY DON’T THESE OUTSIDE MIDPOU PROPERTY OWNERS JUST CONSTRUCT THEIR OWN GROUNDWATER WELLS FOR THEIR LAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS?

(WHICH THE MAJORITY OF “MANDATORY” LDPCSD CUSTOMERS IN THE SUBDIVISION ARE PROHIBITED FROM DOING)

ANSWER:

BECAUSE GROUND WELLS IN THIS AREA ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND TRADITIONALLY UNRELIABLE AND THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY WITH THEIR DEVELOPMENTS IF THE UNKNOWING PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE SUBDIVISION JUST CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THIS SPECIAL INTEREST/BENEFIT WATER SERVICE! 

AND PLEASE UNDERSTAND, THAT DOESN’T JUST MEAN DELIVERING THE WATER, BUT ALSO THE MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, UPGRADES, TESTING AND EVENTUAL REPLACEMENT COSTS AS WELL – ALL PAID FOR BY THOSE IN THE SUBDIVISION WHO DO NOT REQUIRE THIS SPECIAL BENEFIT GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM!

INSTITUTIONALIZED FRAUD AGAINST

THE INNOCENT PROPERTY OWNERS

IN THE SUBDIVISION FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS!

 

Apr 15 2013              RESOLUTION 2013-4  (Prohibiting further expansion of outside MID POU water service)

PLEASE ALSO NOTICE THAT THE TWO REMAINING LDPCSD DIRECTORS WHO ORCHESTRATED PETE KAMPA’S RETURN TO THE LDPCSD IN 2014

(TO CREATE THIS ALTERNATE SOURCE OF WATER WITH GOVERNMENT GRANT FUNDS)

DID NOT SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION WHICH WAS THE ONLY LOGICAL OPTION AVAILABLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THIS CONTINUING CORRUPTION AND FRAUD AGAINST INNOCENT LDPOA OWNERS.

BOTH DIRECTOR EMERY ROSS AND CURRENT BOARD PRESIDENT DANNY JOHNSON HAVE CLEARLY ADVOCATED EXPANDING WATER SERVICE EVEN FURTHER OUTSIDE THE LEGAL PLACE OF USE UNDER 11395.

IN FACT, PETE KAMPA WAS INVOLVED WITH SUCH OUTSIDE MIDPOU EXPANSION 20 YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS FIRST EMPLOYED WITH THE LDPCSD WHEN STARTING HIS INFAMOUS WATER CAREER – APPROXIMATELY 10,000 ACRES WORTH!

EXISTING DOCUMENTATION CLEARLY ILLUSTRATES PETE KAMPA HAS APPARENTLY MISREPRESENTED DISTRICT INFORMATION MANY TIMES TO COUNTIES, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND EVEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PURSUE HIS (AND HIS SUPPORTERS) DREAM OF A  “WATER EMPIRE” IN THESE DROUGHT PRONE SIERRA NEVADA FOOTHILLS.

TODAY IS JANUARY 23, 2017 AND CUSTOMERS ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE ORIGINAL LDPCSD WATER SERVICE BOUNDARY MAP WHICH DISAPPEARED SHORTLY AFTER THIS DISTRICT WAS FORMED IN 1980.  PETE KAMPA EVEN LEFT HIS FIRST TOUR OF EMPLOYMENT HERE WITHOUT SECURING AND PROVIDING THIS MAP AS HE SAID HE WOULD.  HE HAS NOW DEVISED A PLAN WHERE THIS SIMPLE MAP (WHICH WILL CLEARLY SHOW WHICH PROPERTIES ARE OUTSIDE THE ORIGINAL INTENDED SERVICE AREA) IS GOING TO COST LDPCSD CUSTOMERS OVER $10,000!

THIS IS BULLSHIT MY FRIENDS.

COMPLETE

UNADULTERATED

AND

HIGHLY CORRUPT

BULLSHIT!

AND WE CONTINUE TO PAY FOR IT!

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

A Saturday, Sunday morning, January 21st, 22nd, 2017 from the heart update note:

  I discovered yesterday afternoon (Saturday) many more important documents and postings were not accessible from TIME LINE links and when selected only reported the error:  

“Sorry you are not allowed to preview drafts”,

which is quite interesting since they were not “DRAFTS” but “PUBLISHED” working links to pages until some peculiar difficulties occurred outside my control.  Those responsible are no doubt the same type of low-life characters who would burn down a public agency office, fabricate, misrepresent, and destroy official government records, have the ability to prevent United States Postal Service certified mail from being properly delivered, and have an intimate “hands on” interest in creating and continuing the apparent fraud against the legal MERCED RIVER WATER customers of the LDP subdivision for whom that surface water treatment plant was designed to serve.

OK, I’ll play their game and just republish them in an easier to see and access format so they will stand out better.  

Despite the many hours of extra work perhaps I should be appreciative that some one fu@%1ng a$$hule(s) has/have been (unintentionally) kind enough to identify which documents they believe important enough to sabotage.

You will obviously recognize which links were nonfunctional due to the strike out of the old link and the new white WordPress boxed links inserted for easier visibility.

Hundreds of millions of dollars at stake?  Conceivably under estimated.  Hell, could be far more than that when you consider the entire issue and how many entities and individuals (public and private) would be required to create and maintain decades of “INSTITUTIONALIZED FRAUD & CORRUPTION” the LAKE DON PEDRO COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT appears to represent.  Consider also how such corruption might dovetail into other facets of business and government that most of us might otherwise consider completely legitimate.

Geez, when you think about it fu@%1ing with a low level, nonprofit, private, individually operated website is child’s play to such crooked and unethical a$$hules, but more on that later, back to the Time Line clean up.

Below is the material I REPUBLISHED on Saturday-Sunday (January 21-22) 2017.  This is not the first time I have had to go back and republish postings that have been compromised by an unknown third party.  Years ago I found out what the main problem was that permitted such interruption – I was not upgrading the software program regularly and known vulnerabilities were exploited by hackers with malicious material being inserted on the website server.  Since that time I have enlisted paid professional assistance with fantastic results but I know some of these links were working just a few months ago.  (Last December the Merced Irrigation District Place of Use Map suddenly disappeared from a posting and after replacing it I checked many of the other links and all were fine.)  I also am aware there were a couple of instances of the “server being down” due to some problems just before the first of the year and have inquired as to what could have happened at that level and am waiting for a response.

Years ago intrusion damage consisted of a wide array of material, important documents along with “fluff” photographs and writings, but I did not make a list of what was missing or damaged and just repaired what I could and moved on.  This time I made a list of what was messed up and it is quite interesting as to what it entails – far more specific information.   I figure if someone thought the material worthy enough to mess up, maybe I should not only republish it, but emphasize what it was.  Therefore, below is what has been republished recently.

Take some time, read the material and consider what someone did not want viewers to read or understand.

What do you think?

Is the information relevant to the apparent fraud and corruption I have been writing about for years now?

Yes, such destruction of many hours of work is extremely annoying, frustrating and it pisses me off, but you know what…?  It also makes me laugh because when you receive flak it indicates you are over the target.

Here is a photo of designer jewelry some might be sporting (again?) in the near future:

Dec   1971                     RAYMOND VAIL ENGINEER – SEWER ZONE NO 1 MARIPOSA COUNTY SERVICE AREA DO

RAYMOND VAIL ENGINEER: 1971 SEWER ZONE NO 1 MARIPOSA COUNTY SERVICE AREA DON PEDRO 1-M MAP

What a coincidence!  This was the same engineer that created the original LAKE DON PEDRO COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT AREA SERVICE MAP FOR THE COUNTY THAT MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED SHORTLY AFTER THE DISTRICT WAS FORMED BY MARIPOSA COUNTY LAFCo in 1980.  Strange isn’t it?  Why didn’t the LAFCos of TUOLUMNE and MARIPOSA have copies of this extremely important map for their mutually formed COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT?  LAFCo paid for the survey and map yet it has been missing for decades?  Then later the county requests the LDPCSD to furnish them a map of where the DISTRICT CLAIMS IT CAN SERVE MERCED RIVER WATER?  Maybe the map was unavailable because the counties were approving annexations to the new district for water service clearly OUTSIDE THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE UNDER WATER LICENSE 11395?  Yet these counties were directing the LDPCSD to serve MERCED RIVER WATER outside the legal boundary set by the CALIFORNIA STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD which is charged with controlling and regulating water licenses?  Think about that for a moment.

RAYMOND VAIL ENGINEERING CREATED ORIGINAL DISTRICT SERVICE MAP THAT IS MISSING

JUNE 15 1978 MID MAP SHOWS SIERRA HIGHLANDS WATER COMPANY BOUNDARIES        Could there be a Class Action Law Suit against LDPCSD?

DECEMBER 21, 2016 UPDATE:  Just discovered the MID Map to the above link was also detached from the post and AWOL (Absent without leave) although still present in the document library.  Pretty difficult to check everything written in all these years.  Very strange also because the insignificant photographs and documents never seem affected.  Oh well, just another one of those peculiar Lake Don Pedro related co-incidences.  (riiiiiiighhhhhht – as Austin Powers would say – lol) Anyway, the map is again available for comparison of what the CPUC approved as the District’s water service area (previously Sierra Highlands Water Company) and what the Place of Use is/was under water license 11395 held by the Merced Irrigation District under which the LDPCSD has pumped water from Lake McClure since formation as a public agency. 

STRANGE – exactly one month later it happens again — like a routine of some kind?

The former GM of the SIERRA HIGHLANDS WATER COMPANY BECOMES THE FIRST GM OF THE NEW PUBLIC AGENCY DISTRICT who had always advocated expansion beyond the Place of Use of the water license?

SNYDER GM SIERRA TRANSFER RESOLUTIONS SEP 1980

Admission by the District of the illegal service of MERCED RIVER WATER?

June 4 1981                 DISTRICT COULD NOT LEGALLY PROVIDE SERVICE OUTSIDE ITS AREA

DISTRICT COULD NOT LEGALLY PROVIDE SERVICE OUTSIDE ITS AREA

July 2  1981                 BUD RALSTON & BERT RAYNOR ANNEXATION MINUTES

BUD RALSTON & BERT RAYNOR ANNEXATION MINUTES

Sep  3  1981                 4 REQUESTS FOR LAFCo ANNEXATION TO DISTRICT

4 REQUESTS for LAFCo PROPERTY ANNEXATIONS TO LDPCSD

Apr 15  1996                  MARIPOSA CO LAFCo & US DEPT OF THE INTERIOR REQUEST CSD SERVICE MAPS – “WE” ARE TOO BUSY! lol

MARIPOSA COUNTY LAFCo & THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR REQUEST LDPCSD WATER SERVICE MAPS – WE ARE “TOO BUSY” TO RESPOND lol

OCT 2016 POST RE:   INADVERTENT ADMISSION TO ACTUAL LDPCSD MISSION?

20 YEAR OLD PETE KAMPA STATEMENT TO TUOLUMNE PLANNING WAS A LIE BACK THEN & WOULD STILL BE TODAY

Aug 2001                         DISTRICT ANNEXATION PROCEDURE – 2001

2001 DISTRICT ANNEXATION PROCEDURE

Feb 23, 2009                     LATE REPORT ON CSD FILTER EMERGENCY

CSD ENGINEER MEMO REGARDING CURRENT FILTER EMERGENCY

HUMM,…..CLEARLY A FALSE STATEMENT TO THE STATE WATER BOARD BY PETE KAMPA

May 6 2015                  ORDER approving Temporary Urgency Change Order: SWRCB TEMP URGENCY CHANGE ORDER – LDPCSD HAD NO ALTERNATE SOURCE OF WATER STATEMENT WAS INCORRECT ON PAGE 7

SWRCB TEMP URGENCY CHANGE ORDER – [LDPCSD no alternate source of water statement incorrect on page 7]

OCT 20   2016           CSD ENGINEER MEMO ON CURRENT FILTER EMERGENCY

CSD ENGINEER MEMO REGARDING CURRENT FILTER EMERGENCY

Well I’m beat.  Think I got all of the links from Time Line but many posts have links built into them as well – that will be far more difficult (checking all the posts written in so many years).  

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

My attempt to divide the SO WWW? posts between 2016 and 2017 certainly did not work out as planned – guess we’ll just have to keep that slow loading page for now.  Alright, think I have it now…..sorry for the confusion.

The below was copied from the new SO WWW 2017 sub menu on the opening page.  (First one if I did this right.)  Yes, I know, I confuse myself with this computer stuff.

 

Friday

January 20th, 2017

Congratulations President Trump and Vice President Pence!  You got it, now use it to Make America Great Again.

A special congratulations to the Citizens of these United States of America because whether you individually appreciate it now or not, good things are going to be happening for all of us.

America and her citizens first?  What a long over due concept – for without such direction and dedication there would be no USA!  Yup, a long over due position for those who represent the citizens of this country.   And for those cry baby elected officials who boycotted the event…I believe their names, positions, and photographs should be widely publicized for easy voter identification.   Enough said.

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Well, Lake Don Pedro is getting pounded again with rain and high winds.  I can see one of my smaller pines has gone over a bit.  So long as the tap root is not destroyed it may be able to re-root in Spring and survive.  You know, some landscapers intentionally tie and brace trees to get that “weather beaten look” as they grow older.   Certainly not necessary here – a free natural service.  lol

Sure wish I could capture more of this water.  Look at McClure’s lake level – record setting for this time of year and we sure will appreciate it later with the inevitable irrigation season and routine environmental releases.   Catch it when plentiful and use it wisely when scarce. 

Oh, the meeting last Wednesday was OK, but unfortunately pretty much unfolded just as the agenda hinted:  another lecture by GM Kampa about things that could have easily been produced in written form (rather than a running narrative slide show) and provided to those interested for reading later.  As is usually the case, customer and former board president Wes Barton reiterated his serious questions regarding District financial matters which he has been requesting answers to for several months….if not over a year, without success.  What the heck is going on here?  Even the Board of Directors has voiced the opinion these questions should be answered once and for all.  Unbelievable.

Something is very wrong and I wonder if it revolves around the apparent misrepresentation and misappropriation of government grant money to expand water service outside the Place of Use with groundwater wells (that “alternate source of water” for the groundwater substitution program to replace MERCED RIVER WATER that wrongfully leaves the legal service area under water license 11395).  That grant money was intended to be used to the benefit of existing water using customers during the extended drought and not for expanding water service.  But who knows without honest answers to repeated questions?

I guess that is the most frustrating part about attending such meetings (like this last one) …serious legitimate questions are routinely ignored by management in favor of another installment in the Uncle Pete lecture series on how to burn precious meeting time without accepting responsibility for that already done.   District staff and personnel out numbered the audience again, this time 3:1.   (There were nine District representatives and three customers in the audience.)  No wonder such “distraction motivated” meetings are tolerated – who apparently cares?   Seriously.  Why on earth would management voluntarily discuss or explain issues that will likely only upset and financially harm paying customers when that bitter reality can be conveniently postponed with the utilization of another Kampa “cool the mark” meeting lecture?   (That isn’t to say the operational information presented was worthless, but just far less important than honest factual answers to festering financial questions.)

Well, need to get back to checking for wind damage, just wanted to say hey. later.

Monday is a holiday (Martin Luther King Jr.) so the regular monthly meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, January 18th, and reclassified as a Special Meeting.

 

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

 

FINANCING:  Have no fear…..you are going to be hearing plenty about Financing regarding KAMPA’s 14 Million Dollars in proposed District projects for many years to come.

PUBLIC COMMENT: Just like with KAMPA’S MAPPING PROJECT, a simple concept is perverted into a different argument to achieve the desired goal, and in this case that goal was to prevent any documented public comment.

Rather than following the established District Policy on Public Comment reporting for Meeting Minutes , the LDPCSD, following Pete Kampa and the California Special District Association (CSDA) policy suggestion (an organization in which Kampa has served multiple times and consults regularly for advice) decided to abolish public comment reporting all together.

Not like this decision made a big difference anyway since the District had been violating its existing policy for over a year anyway.  Although verbatim transcription was never the issue (as suggested in the policy change supporting material) but rather only a brief summary description, the Board never-the-less voted unanimously to prohibit all documentation of public comment in the minutes by  Directors and/or customers.    Actually kind of funny since Board Members have never lacked an adequate opportunity to voice (and have documented) their opinions regarding district  matters but only the few customers who regularly attended meetings and chose to make a public statement—that magically evaporated as soon as the words left their mouths.

Without normal newspaper coverage of meetings (like other Districts) Lake Don Pedro customers are effectively denied the opportunity to hear contrary or challenging opinions by their fellow neighboring customers.  No doubt just the way the district would prefer the situation – nice and quiet without documentation of any controversial comments.  I can certainly understand this policy change considering some of the outrageous things that have been intentionally misrepresented recently by our district management to other government agencies.  Geez, why put that in writing for other customers to see, appreciate or maybe even comment themselves?  Worse yet…..ask questions.

Just imagine, without the comments made in past meetings long ago none of us would have learned the truth about this district and the decades of apparent fraud (that fabricated CPUC document and lost official service area map regarding outside Place of Use restrictions under the water license and the special benefit water service for land developers paid for by the 99% of the legal customers in the subdivision) –  but then again, what difference has it actually made?  We are still going to pay for that deception.

Judging by the routine lack of meeting attendance no one appears concerned anway, that is at least until their rates jump dramatically and it will be too late.

Perhaps District management should indeed be allowed to just do what it wants and run its course without ANY public opposition?  Give them enough rope to hang themselves?  They will obviously continue to do what they want anyway and if they happen to violate another policy they’ll just change it to conform to the activity.   Again, what difference does it make?  Corruption is all around us.  What can anyone do about it other than vote every once in a while when provided the opportunity?

This is something I need to seriously consider for 2017 because my own personal work regarding my house and property seems to always pile up and I’m not getting any younger so the work correspondingly gets more difficult.   (Sure am glad I “major pruned” my Pines years ago.)  There just isn’t enough time to get everything done and overall time is getting shorter with each passing day. <sigh>  Oh well, guess I’ll just have to address that next year (in less than 10 minutes), but until then, I hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year and as always –

my best to you and yours, Lew.

 

Here is the last of the video for the December 19th, 2016 Meeting….Alright!  Finished before midnight!  later.

Item 5a: Conduct the annual Board reorganization to include the appointment of the office of President and Vice-President.

Both Danny Johnson and Dan Hankemeier retain their previous positions as Board President and Board Vice President, respectively.  VP Hankemeier requested the Board Secretary to republish all the committees and members involved for future reference.

Personally I believe both Director Emery Ross and Board President Danny Johnson should remain on the Board of Directors for as long as PETER KAMPA remains as the General Manager.  I believe this because they are the only two directors remaining from the original board that orchestrated PETER KAMPA’s return to the LDPCSD to create the groundwater substitution program for land developers outside the legal Place of Use under water license 11395 and should “ride out” what they have created.

5b: Adoption of a Resolution approving a formal response letter to the State Water Resources Control Board opposing adoption of the Bay Delta Substitute Environmental Document.

Board President Johnson stated the information was between agenda pages 39 and 44 that has been previously discussed quite a bit in GM Kampa’s report and asked the board for a first motion.  VP Hankemeier made the first and Director Jim Sult seconded the motion which opened the issue to further discussion by directors prior to the opportunity for public comment.

Director Russell Warren questioned whether at some point after sending this document down the road (District’s support of the Merced Irrigation District’s  S.A.F.E. Plan (Salmon, Agriculture, Flows and Environment) which opposes the SWRCB’s proposal for greater water releases from Lake McClure) would our district have to eventually write a check?

GM Kampa stated the district would be asked (for financial support) when the time comes for the filing of the law suit which will be massive and represented by many water districts.   Kampa advised about every environment group will be suing for one reason or another and will be hung up for a while.  President Danny Johnson commented on a law suit with which he was personally familiar regarding the Friant Kern Dam which lasted over 25 years.

Yours truly, Lew Richardson, commented that the resolution appeared to only authorize the writing of a formal protest letter (which was director affirmed) and not authorization to send the one attached in the agenda packet, yet I was advised it was the letter to be sent to the SWRCB.  I suggested a number of corrections needed to be made first.

I do not have video of this part of the meeting but always an audio recording, so rather than just report on what was said, here is the audio portion of that discussion and the documents being discussed so I do not accidentally fail to properly represent what transpired. 

I must also again apologize to viewers for my vocal outbursts but it is so fracking frustrating to observe this same deceitful pattern of behavior by our alleged professional general manager who misrepresents facts to the Board of Directors, the public, and other government departments and agencies.

Since the referenced documents were too difficult to read on the “audio/video” I’ll post them here also.   Sorry for my meeting scribbles as well. -lol)

 

  

 

Now the audio (in a video format)

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

   

Where were we?  Oh yeah, back-tracked to Kampa’s over $10,000 ridiculous digital mapping project which is an expensive diversion from the primary issue of what the LDPCSD legal boundary was at formation in 1980.  Seems to me knowing what was legally approved as a service area when the district was first formed would be the starting point for any serious investigation as to how this district as arrived at such a contradictory, hodgepodge, checkerboard service area map which violates one of the most significant operational regulations you could imagine, ie, where our district could legally service MERCED RIVER WATER under license 11395 with which this district has always operated.

ANYWAY, back to the agenda….

Kampa started to address the AT&T Negotiations but President Danny Johnson pointed out he (Kampa) had skipped over the agenda item titled, WATER RIGHT VIOLATION RESPONSE.  Kampa indicated this was not a major issue as the state was only requesting information and the District has not received a formal complaint or even heard from the State in a while.

AT&T Negotiations.  Surveyors have been out at the site because both Mariposa and Tuolumne County evidently have an interest in the property and AT&T must decide within which county to initiate construction plans.   Due to Kampa’s having to spend time on the matter some expenses are beginning to materialize for the proposed project.  The matter will come back to the board before any major decisions are made.

SWRCB Substitute Environmental Document.  Kampa reported the meeting held in Merced this same date (Dec 19^th) had a very large audience with 26 elected officials speaking which took the majority of time.

Survey for water use efficiency.  The GM said the District needed more involvement by the community as it has only received about two dozen responses and there should be at least one hundred.  Board President Johnson asked if the “Homeowners paper” (still doesn’t understand the LDPOA is a “Property Owners Association” not a “Homeowners Association”) could be utilized in the effort.  Kampa suggested 10% of the customer base would be a good response, therefore, 1,400 customers – (minus) approximately 200 vacation rentals (according to Office Supervisor Syndie Marchesiello = 1,200 customers @ 10% = 120.

Board Member Best Practices Workshop and Attachment on leadership conference.  Information presented regarding CSDA workshops available for directors (Directors also receive email notifications of such training opportunities)  would assist in the district receiving a “TRANSPARENCY CERTIFICATE” {aka award}

State inspections.  Approximately every three to five years with the most recent being performed on November 22 and included the new groundwater wells in the review.  Kampa stated there were complimentary words and recognition that district has invested much in its infrastructure.

BACK UP TO PAST AGENDA ITEM PER BOARD PRESIDENT.

President Danny Johnson returned to the CSDA Conference information and asked if there was a fee involved.  Kampa replied there was:  $600 for first member $400 for the second for two and a half days for the Leadership Conference.  Costs varied depending upon particular training and location (Sacramento, Palm Springs, Napa, and Monterey) Kampa suggested directors give him a call because he “lives and breathes” the stuff and is pretty familiar with what is offered.

(Kampa has repeatedly mentioned our district obtaining the CSDA’s District “TRANSPARENCY CERTIFICATE” which is rather ironic considering the lengths he has gone to prevent legitimate public transparency of district management and operations information.  Go figure!  Guess they don’t have a district “NON-TRANSPARENCY” AWARD – lol)

SKIPPED DISCUSSION ON ITEM State Reports on Water Conservation and Annual Consumer Confidence Report Distribution.

AUDIT.  GM Kampa advised the audit was in progress and board would be advised upon completion.

Project Grants and Reimbursements.  Money is coming in but the State is pretty slow and the district is still furnishing boxes of requested information.  (Approximately $900,000 is still out there to be collected on (reimbursed); a $400,000 DWR (Department of Water Resources grant) and a $500,000 USDA (United States Department of Agriculture grant) Director Warren questioned our finances stating if we are owed $900,000 we are out of cash—  Kampa admitted some pretty sizeable transfers from our money market account to the checking account were required and the filter repairs are still outstanding and need to be paid but expected government reimbursement to be furnished in a couple of weeks.   The GM stated another 200 pages of requested information is to be delivered next Thursday for the USDA grant reimbursement.

DWR IRWMP GRANT.  Two project signs will be installed in the community to inform the public – which are required to obtain the grant.  Board President Danny Johnson suggested another sign/banner stating if customers wanted some of the grant money for reimbursement for water efficiency they would have to fill out the survey (mentioned above).  Also described as, if you want money for you new toilet – fill out the survey!

Skipped over Service Line Replacement Project item.  (Agenda stated Environmental review is complete)

Skipped over Emergency Well Project as already discussed per Board President Danny Johnson under Project Grants and Reimbursements.

Skipped over Water Treatment Plant Filters Cost and Upgrade Status. As already discussed per President Danny Johnson.  (Approximately $300,000 for the total project)

 

Skipped Meter Project Status item as already discussed per Board President Danny Johnson. [From agenda packet: “At last month’s Board meeting, an expenditure to troubleshoot and remedy the problems with the District water meter system was approved.  This work will take place on December 20, 2016 with the estimated completion in 4 to 5 days total.”]

Skipped EMERGENCY PUMP BARGE RENOVATIONS as already discussed per Board President Danny Johnson [without studying or acknowledging barge estimate repairs are apparently considerably over the board limit of $20,000.]

Ranchito Well #1 Renovations. Was not “caved in” as was a previous concern.  Engineer’s looking at inspection video of well.  Another $5,850 for cleaning and testing.  Then the board needs to determine a final fix for the well?

Maintenance Plan/Asset Management Program.  Attached schedule for implementation of the new SEMS asset management and maintenance software program.  Data entry approximately 50% complete.

NOTE:  I have never received an adequate answer as to what happened to the former system that was installed to track such maintenance and assets by a former GM.  Kampa only said it wasn’t completed correctly and it had to be rebuilt from the ground up.

Dave Worthley asked what caused the problem at Ranchito Well #1 (the original well constructed in 1992 and used to provide groundwater substitution for those properties outside the MID Place of use under 11395 receiving MERCED RIVER WATER).   Kampa advised it was due to the minerals in the water that build up with age and deteriorate equipment.

Wes Barton asked about the remaining work on the wells and how much it would cost and Kampa advised it was only SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) work and conduit and would be  approximately $56,000 for all three wells plus incidentals.

Victor Afanasiev asked about fire hydrant testing however President Johnson suggested he bring the matter up at the next public comment.  Victor said he would.

Board President Johnson said the next matter on the agenda was item 4 Approval of Consent Agenda with several meeting notices.  He also pointed out that he and Director Ross were not present at two of the meetings and could therefore not vote on those particular Minutes.

Meeting Minutes approved.

During the approval for the Treasurer’s Report Vice President Dan Hankemeier reiterated his expressed desire to have our contracted accountant appear before the board to explain some of the issues repeatedly brought up at meetings.    President Johnson stated the accountant already did attend a meeting once a year after the audit and suggested a “training session” for the board members.

Director Russell Warren reminded the board that they had promised the public to have the accountant attend a meeting.  I commented he was supposed to come and answer Wes Barton’s questions.  (Questions that have gone unanswered for months) Wes said something about there being two (different financial experts).   GM Kampa stated there was a difference between our accountant (CPA-Certified Public Account) and the auditor.

Both Directors Warren and Ross agreed that questions have persisted for over a year and needed answers.

I have a video clip of that remaining discussion  (Board’s previous agreement to have the accountant come to a meeting to explain some things Wes Barton has been asking about for over a year now, but first some more blah, blah, blah because I believe it important. 

Since the topic was financial I asked why the Board is allowing GM Pete Kampa to pursue a $10,000 plus mapping project when the only missing map is the original one created at the District’s formation in 1980 and approved by Mariposa and Tuolumne County LAFCos.

State of California Licensed Land Surveyor #3190, Keith Leonard performed that survey.  You know, it still strikes me as quite peculiar Mariposa or Tuolumne County doesn’t have a copy of that original water service area map.  How could a survey be performed and they not receive the final results of that required survey?

Perhaps their known possession would have raised many legitimate questions as to why both counties approved annexations outside the place of use under water license 11395 held by the Merced Irrigation district with which our surface water treatment plant had always pumped MERCED RIVER WATER from Lake McClure? (Even it’s predecessor Sierra Highlands Water Company too!)

Heck the LDPCSD has the original metes and bounds survey (engineering terms in compass headings, degrees, arc angles, distances, etc.] as documented and contained in the September 19th, 2016 meeting agenda packet [hand numbered pages 42- 52 of course].

Why doesn’t the Board just have that decades old missing map plotted for everyone to see and appreciate?  They could always add the expensive miscellaneous “bells and whistles” later if they wanted.  [Overlays of service expansions both with and without proper LAFCo annexations or even availability fees having been paid.  Heck if created to the same scale they could use the numerous existing overlays in our existing records….unless those too have also been conveniently “lost” in the last couple of years.]

Possession of the original map would assist folks in understanding how the political Gerrymandering process works in our district elections to facilitate and guarantee that regulations would never be seriously investigated and understood much less followed.

Well, I guess it is the same old story….it is always easier to spend another person’s [or agency’s] money than your own – especially when there is absolutely no accountability by an intentionally misinformed community.

Sad to say every current and future customer of this district will pay for such blatant waste of money which adds up to a very significant amount.  Customers will get stuck with the tab for perpetuity and Kampa & Kompany will eventually just walk away to exploit the next disadvantaged-unorganized community.

How can such fraud be allowed to continue within a public agency operating in the great State of California?

Could it be that the LDPCSD is just one of thousands of other such examples of the outright failure to protect this natural resource required for survival?

Maybe this is just another reason why Governor Brown’s CALIFORNIA WATERFIX proposal was created – despite the “significant and unavoidable” impacts to many communities?

Shame, shame, shame on every director, GM and/or other special interest individual – past and present, who placed special interest agendas over that of the legally intended beneficiaries of water license 11395 in the Lake Don Pedro subdivision.  Those who refused/refuse to follow those clear restrictions all share responsibility in what will likely happen to our water supply.  Shame, shame, shame.

OK, here’s the video:

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

I had a great deal of difficulty working with those recent video clips since I haven’t used the program much lately (Unfortunately it appears as though I’m one of those people who can’t take a break without having to be retrained! lol)

Anyway, I was trying to figure out how I was previously able to work with the program more efficiently and ended up creating another video about something I believe to be EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. (Kind of a “re-do” actually)

The Barge Expense which Kampa seemed to conceal from everyone and his MAPPING PROJECT which I do not trust for a nanosecond.

Seems to me he evaded the issue of WHERE THE INFORMATION FOR HIS OVER $10,000 MAP PROJECT WAS GOING TO BE RECEIVED – but I believe I already know.

When on the board I had the opportunity to see the many, many maps and overlays the district had produced which raised a number of serious questions about our legal service boundary and continuing efforts to expand service outside the MID POU. I guess what is most frustrating about this situation is the simple fact most people with even a rudimentary understanding of maps would also likely see these discrepancies, or violations, if you will.

The maps of real importance?

The one approved by the respective counties at district formation (the 1980 metes and bounds survey);

the Merced Irrigation District Place of Use map per water license 11395;

the map the State Water Board has had on file since formation as the official service area, and of course,

what the California Public Utilities Commission approved when transferring Sierra Highlands Water Company facilities and assets to the newly formed LDPCSD.

All have been posted on lakedonpedro.org with the exception of the most important one that has been missing for many years –

the LAFCo approved service area map which the district has seemed extremely reluctant to produce — and I think we all know why.

Heck, even the official CPUC transfer approval document was wrongfully changed (in-house apparently) to permit service in areas the CPUC did not authorize. Decades of fraud and abuse for the owners of property in the Lake Don Pedro Owners’ Association subdivision who are mandatory customers of the Lake Don Pedro CSD which, in my mind, appears to be nothing more than decades of institutionalized fraud without escape – unless you care to sell your home and property……likely at a loss. All due to special interest corruption of a local public agency. Very, very sad and WRONG!

 

OPERATIONS REPORT CONTINUED

OK, if you will recall, Randy was giving his verbal operations report and GM Kampa changed the subject to the emergency PG&E call out on Friday.  Keeping with the chronological order (since the following video jumps over this discussion and the beginning of KAMPA’s MAP PROJECT, let’s fill in the missing pieces before the next video clip.)

ELECTRICAL EMERGENCY AT THE PLANT

Randy advised that while working on a STATE MANDAED UPGRADE to install a meter in the 18” finished water line (water that has been treated and ready for distribution to customers) an electrical conduit with high voltage power lines had been discovered full of water next to the water line.  Naturally all work stopped for safety reasons and PG&E was contacted about the situation.

Although the initial expectation was this meter project would now take several months to complete Randy contacted some PG&E employees he knew and explained the situation which resulted in approximately 15 various types of PG&E trucks and numerous employees showing up at the treatment plant.  (He joked that it looked like every PG&E employee in Merced was present.)

The end result is that the District may now proceed with installing the new “mag meter” which is not only crucial if our decades old SIGNIFICANT WATER LOSS is ever to be located and corrected but was required by the State of California years ago and never completed. 

[You know my opinion on this BS as well – how many years was this water loss problem permitted to fester and get even worse?  But more importantly – why? 

Why wasn’t it addressed with the millions of dollars in grant money Kampa obtained instead of creating a special benefit alternate source of water for groundwater substitution to assist outside place of use land developers? 

I still believe it (the continuing massive water loss) may have been, and is, a simple and convenient excuse for intentional unaccounted for water use undetectable with simple “billing activities”- after all, seriously now folks,…

How can ANYONE possibly calculate a water loss (much less locate it) without knowing exactly how much treated water is actually leaving the plant?

Then add to this how many properties could theoretically be receiving water in direct violation of the original official district water service map that mysteriously disappeared during the “great expansion” that Pete Kampa himself was involved and advocated 20 years ago during his first LDPCSD employment tour? 

At least another 9,000 plus acres!

You know, I have heard this STATE MANDATED WORK reference a few times now and must say,

it actually instills a bit of apprehensive confidence that someone, somewhere in legitimate California State Government might actually understand and appreciate what has been going on here not only for decades, but especially since Kampa’s return and is pushing the district to make these NECESSARY MANDATORY CHANGES.  (At least I sure want to believe this anyway.)

One thing is painfully obvious, if left to the district these projects would NEVER HAVE BEEN STARTED OR COMPLETED! 

Way too corrupt with special interest influence.]

OK, back to the meeting.  My blood pressure is going up again.

COULD BE PUMPING FROM LAKE WITH FIXED INTAKE

Director James Sult confirmed with the rising lake levels there was no reason our one fixed intake pump could not be furnishing water to the treatment plant.  Director Warren added that the ground wells would be needed if the one functioning fixed intake failed because the second was inoperable and the barge was down.

AGAIN….why weren’t these MAJOR PRIMARY INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS MADE PRIORITIES WHILE THE LAKE WAS DOWN WITH THOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PUBLIC GRANTS KAMPA SOUGHT?

This is something else that has been rolling around in the back of my skull….

why has KAMPA taken every opportunity to use groundwater when not absolutely necessary?  He has said because it was cheaper and more convenient for the employees, but could he also be “paying back” in groundwater substitution the MERCED RIVER WATER that has already left the district service area? 

Who knows? 

What happened to the traditional OUTSIDE MIDPOU COMPLIANCE REPORT in the monthly board agenda packet again? 

This is the ONLY WAY regular customers have any idea how much MERCED RIVER WATER is leaving the district to properties outside the permitted area of water license 11395.

Is the Merced Irrigation District also unconcerned about MERCED RIVER WATER compliance reporting so long as the LDPCSD publicly supports it’s S.A.F.E. Plan: (Salmon, Agriculture, Flows and Environment)?

Or is it a matter of –

Same Arrogant Failures Every-time?

Board President Danny Johnson then apparently attempted to get Randy to state the Board’s activities in promoting maintenance and modernizing the plant (filters) had saved employees work time in operations.  Randy, however, corrected that assumption by stating it was more of a water quality improvement than time required, as the treatment process was the same.  Mr. Gilgo again repeated that the quality of the water has been greatly improved though careful to say it was always good, it is much better now.

The Board President then commented on the filter inspections and whether Randy had the certification to perform those inspections.  Randy explained there was nothing much to inspect other than superficially, but core samples are taken of the filter media every two years by a contract company looking for “mud balls”, size of media, and depth of the different media layers.

{Approximately 8 feet of media is contained within the filter pressure vessel so only the top layer of sand is visible when the hatch is opened.  Those large white “submarine looking tanks” at the plant – lol}

KAMPA added there was a specific annual procedure for visually inspecting the media characteristics without a core sample every two years.  After further questioning by President Johnson Kampa admitted that with more frequent inspections the District would probably have been aware there was a problem with the filters and scheduled the contract company for a more detailed media inspection.

President Johnson questioned Randy about the 60-80 customer water meters that were not working properly and whether there were new ones malfunctioning or just the same 60-90.  Randy advised it was the same 60-80 with no new additional failures and some were just questioned because of apparent irregular readings that Syndie observed while processing billing.

Director Sult mentioned how chemical purchases have been questioned in the past and wondered if the repaired filters would affect that situation.  Randy stated there was not a direct impact and that as it was the raw water quality that affected chemical usage.

Director Sult also confirmed the filters were rebuilt with PVC below the media and stainless steel above media.

IMPORTANT TIME LINE POINT: Chief Plant Operator Randy Gilgo then left the board room in order to obtain the barge estimate packet (eight pages)  previously discussed for later handout to the board members and audience.  (Thank you Randy for that extremely important information unfortunately I (and probably others) didn’t catch the apparent estimate anomaly until three days later while writing the previous post.)

Board President Danny Johnson advised he did not have a formal written presiding officer’s report and chose to  make a verbal one commending board members for their work. GM PETE KAMPA echoed the complimentary comments by Danny Johnson regarding board member work and projects accomplished.  Kampa stated that other than minor corrections he believed the State would give us a good “report card”.

KAMPA’s MAPPING PROJECT

The GM advised the matter should be an agenda item because the project cost could grow to a “very large number”.  When questioned as to how large a number KAMPA advised more than $10,000!  He advised he would not get into much detail since it wasn’t on the agenda [WHY?] but it wasn’t a matter of time required for the project because the time is relatively short but it is just “digital data that is plugged in” but decisions need to be made on how to proceed.

President Danny Johnson said he read Kampa’s paragraph in the packet concerning the matter and wanted one correction concerning a very controversial issue:

{insert}

“MID Place of Use, and properties served outside the CSD boundaries…”

Johnson stated he did not want to convey the idea that properties outside the boundaries were not part of the district.  Johnson said the terminology made him cringe.  He continued by saying the mapping project might find this to be true but his intent in supporting a map was to put a damper on the controversy regarding the various maps presented through the years.   (NOTE: MANY OF THESE MAPS WERE FABRICATED BY THE LDPCSD AND ARE STILL DISPLAYED IN THE BOARDROOM)  He said the district would not serve properties outside the district unless it had been done long ago and grandfathered in by other boards.  (GRANDFATHERED?  OR SIMPLY IGNORED DUE TO POLITICAL PRESSURE FROM SPECIAL INTERESTS?)  Johnson said even if legally outside the CSD boundary he did not believe the district could legally now stop the water service provided for 50 years.

Johnson reiterated that the statement made him a little nervous.  Kampa advised the map was to be historical and not one for future service and although there have been requests for water service outside the district they could not be processed without an annexation from LAFCo (Local Agency Formation Commission) or an outside area agreement also processed through LAFCo. (Tuolumne and/or Mariposa County LAFCo depending upon property location.)

Director Warren questioned whether Syndie in the office was the main beneficiary of such a map for answering questions regarding service availability, to which she agreed it would be helpful.

President Johnson stated he didn’t think it was just Syndie because the entire community had been at odds over the issue for decades.  Johnson told Kampa to keep going forward and let the Board know – to which Kampa replied unless there was a special meeting to deal with the matter.

Director Emery Ross then suggested if there was to be a special meeting it should include the barge issue as well, but KAMPA  replied that issue would only go on the agenda if it was over what the board  had approved and it shouldn’t….

[???]

 

OK, that brings us up to the next video clip that I uploaded last night.  Not sure if you folks ever see the verbal introduction that is displayed on YouTube but I’ll try to drop it in here-

Although this video is slightly out of chronological order (passed over discussion of the emergency PG&E call out to the plant on Friday – and beginning of Kampa’s map project – will try to get back to that) the video presentation at this time is necessary to show when the board of directors actually received the barge estimates which appear contrary to what was presented at the meeting. There are some other important matters as well: Kampa stating the barge issue would only be on the agenda if over the approved amount (which it clearly was but Kampa never admitted this fact); Director James Sult’s excellent comment that any production of a new District Map should be unbiased without the district furnishing the information for it’s RE-CONSTRUCTION (listen to Kampa’s answer…..anyone else smell another SNEAKY PETE on the horizon?); Board President Johnson seems to want a MAP that could be used in defense of past and future activities (he and Ross are the only two directors left from the original board that brought KAMPA back to Lake Don Pedro for OUTSIDE MID POU SPECIAL BENEFIT WATER SERVICE FOR DEVELOPERS , the other three current directors “inherited” Sneaky Pete); yours truly comments on the ridiculous and expensive KAMPA MAP PROJECT; (after which the video documents when directors and public actually received barge 411 that should have been in packet); Kampa dismisses the several month long state request for information as nothing to worry about and Kampa said the barge matter should not be on the next agenda unless over the approved amount which it apparently is by several thousand dollars.

BELOW ARE 11 PAGES OF THE METES & BOUNDS SURVEY WHICH WAS USED BY MARIPOSA COUNTY LAFCo TO CREATE THE OFFICIAL LAKE DON PEDRO COMMUNITY SERVICE DISTRICT BOUNDARY IN 1980.

WHY IS THE LDPCSD BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AND GENERAL MANAGER PETE KAMPA

(KAMPA COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS LLC)

GOING TO SUCH EXTREMES AND MONETARY EXPENSE IN ORDER TO SIMPLY AVOID THE LOGICAL  RECREATION OF WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY LEGALLY APPROVED AS OUR OFFICIAL WATER SERVICE BOUNDARY MAP?

WHY NOT JUST HAND THESE 11 PAGES (WHICH THE DISTRICT POSSESSES) TO A CERTIFIED MAPPING ENGINEER AND HAVE A FRACKING MAP PRODUCED?

 

 

 

 

 

  There goes the blood pressure again.

What a fracking circus of public betrayal!

(Again, this is directed only to those who continue to support this KAMPA KRAPA)

My best to you and yours, Lew

Report by Chief Operations Supervisor Randy Gilgo

Randy started by apologizing for not having a written report prepared due to his computer being down last week.  He continued his operations report by saying the district had a new employee who was working out very well as he was being introduced to routine maintenance around the plant, performing equipment inventories and such.

NEW FILTERS (Vessel one)

The newly repaired filters at the plant are working “phenomenally” and Randy emphasized that in his own experience the plant has always produced good water but the numbers have decreased “dramatically” with the new filters. (Reduced numbers are good as they {evidently} represent values of unwanted contaminants present in the water during quality analysis.)  Randy said he couldn’t wait to see the effects when the second pair of filters were also repaired – completion estimated to be in a couple of weeks.

BARGE UPDATE

Regarding the previously reported sinking barge –

Randy said there is a proposal just under $16,000 to refurbish the barge.  Work is anticipated to be completed locally at the McClure dry dock facility.  The second floating component attached to the barge will be decommissioned with all that equipment being added to the actual barge.  Although not immediately needed (lake level is going up) the project could be completed rather quickly once approved.  Solar panels are to be installed to avoid the repeated purchase of batteries and a rebuild of the “out drives” was necessary due to complaints from lake officials and the sheriff’s office that oil was leaking causing oil sheen on the water surface which obviously reflected quite poorly on district operations.

Randy  stated once the barge and the second set of filters were repaired the district would be “sitting pretty for a long time”.

Director Russell Warren questioned whether or not the board had already approved $20,000 for the barge?  GM Kampa seemed to indicate yes and that it involved having the plans reviewed by an engineer and included electrical issues – primarily structural and electrical.

I’ve listen to KAMPA’s answer a few times and still don’t quite understand his statement in light of previous information regarding this project last November or this last meeting December 19th!

But Director Warren did confirm the prior approval was up to $20,000.

GM Kampa then changed the subject by suggesting Randy explain what happened with the electrical issue at the plant on Friday.  Although this incident was indeed interesting (perhaps we’ll get to that later) I need to address something that doesn’t seem right.  What is worse is the fact I didn’t discover it until today (December 22nd) while working on this meeting report.  Something is very wrong about this barge business, sure, I could be missing something – but I don’t think so.

You know, I believe at this point it would behoove me to just present the raw information to you viewers and allow you to draw your own conclusions rather than my speculating as to what the heck is going on here.  I will say this though (you knew I would right?), prior to Pete Kampa’s return such important information was always contained in the prepared agenda packet with any supporting material.  (Pages were also always numbered and a bottom page header identified the particular meeting date and subject matter limiting the possibility that the packet could later be changed by either adding or removing pages.  All that and much more disappeared when Kampa returned to LDP.)

Prior to Kampa there was a continuity or ordered flow of precisely identified information that was much easier to follow and understand.

Pete Kampa has consistently left such important documents and supporting material out of the packet (with special emphasis on his “manager’s report”) preferring instead to break up extremely relevant information into meeting “handouts” for those few that attend.    Why?

Personally I believe this is done to insure such information can eventually be easily lost from the regular packet of material to never to be seen again – much like our OFFICIAL MAP OF DISTRICT WATER SERVICE was intentionally “detached” from other important records!

Who is to say some “handout” was or was not presented to support other activity last month?  Or 6 months ago?  Or during the massive changes that took  place immediately after Kampa’s “BOARD ORCHESTRATED RETURN” to reconfigure our surface water treatment plant into a groundwater substitution facility for land developers outside the place of use under water license 11395 using millions of public dollars obtained from  state and federal agencies ostensibly to help existing customers survive the extended drought?  (Wonder if that is a compound sentence?  lol)

But that is just my opinion of course and I admit to not trusting Peter Kampa as far as I could physically pick him up and toss him anywhere outside our legal district boundary – but of course, even that is an unknown at this time.  But again, I digress.

Other than Director Warren’s confirmation of what the Board had previously approved there was no mention of the total project estimate appearing to be substantially OVER THE $20,000 THE BOARD APPROVED LAST MONTH and the $16,000 Randy reported during the meeting.

What the heck am I missing here?  Ohhhhhh……check it out…..

How could the directors, or ANYONE receiving the electronic agenda packet or the printed version at the meeting [both of which DID NOT CONTAIN THE ESTIMATES THAT RANDY FURNISHED AFTER THE BARGE COST DISCUSSION HAD CONCLUDED], possibly have realized the total cost of Kampa’s barge project was $27, 178.76?

How did Randy obtain that under $16,000 figure?  Did someone tell him it was under $16,000 or was there some trick to calculating the subtotal estimates?

What is more, Director Ross even later asks Kampa if the barge matter should be placed on the next agenda yet Kampa said that was unnecessary unless the project cost was greater than what the board had approved in November….. WHAT?   Didn’t KAMPA already know it was way over what was approved?

Sorry, but I think another “SNEAKY PETE” has taken place.

For those of you who did not receive the agenda/packet, here is the information to which I am referring:

<insert 3 scans & estimate package>

1.  <BELOW> GM PETER KAMPA’s explanation of the barge project at the November 21, 2016 meeting:

2)  <BELOW> BASED ON KAMPA’S “WORSE CASE SCENARIO COST” OF $20,000 THE BOARD APPROVES A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING $20,000 FOR THE BARGE PROJECT AT THE NOVEMBER 21, 2016 MEETING: (By the way, it really is suspicious how the bottom header of agenda packet material no longer identifies the meeting date and subject matter the information represents.  Just another KAMPA change to our previously more professional and exact reporting methods.)

3) <BELOW> ALTHOUGH THE ESTIMATE PACKET WAS NOT IN KAMPA’S ELUSIVE “hide & seek IN JUNK MAIL” DECEMBER 19, 2016 AGENDA PACKET, HE DID REPORT AT THE MEETING IN WRITING THAT THE PROPOSAL WAS WITHIN THE APPROVED PROJECT EXPENDITURE AMOUNT.  

 

4) BELOW IS THE PACKET OF BARGE ESTIMATES RANDY FURNISHED LATER IN THE MEETING AFTER THE DISCUSSION HAD ENDED AND THE BOARD AND PUBLIC HAD ALREADY BEEN TOLD THE BARGE PROJECT COST WAS UNDER $16,000. 

HOW DID THE CHIEF OPERATOR COME TO UNDERSTAND THE TOTAL WAS UNDER $16,000?

CHECK OUT THE ESTIMATES FOR YOURSELF:  THIS 8 PAGE ESTIMATE PACKET WAS PROVIDED AFTER THE DISCUSSION WAS OVER WITH NO ADEQUATE TIME DURING THE ON-GOING MEETING FOR BOARD MEMBERS OR THE PUBLIC TO STUDY, COMPREHEND, MUCH LESS ADD ALL THE ESTIMATE SUBTOTALS WHICH AMOUNTED TO $27,178.76!   HECK EVEN THIS GREATER COST DID NOT CONTAIN THE PREVIOUSLY ANTICIPATED STRUCTURAL AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING CHARGES FOR THE PROJECT!

 

 

 

Maybe there was an accidental redundancy of work quoted in the different estimates?  (Although there is an identical estimate of $6,800 on page one and page eight, they also indicate different dates and invoice numbers plus the work appears to be different.) But even if that were true and some kind of mistake – what happened to the other 30 hours @ $80/hour, or $2,400?  Yup, I think we have another “SNEAKY PETE”.

 

Here’s the meeting presentation by the Chief Plant Operator – what am I missing here?

I’m beat….this audio/video stuff takes forever to upload and process!  Hopefully it will assist you viewers in appreciating what the heck is going on here at the LAKE DON PEDRO CSD.  The next posting will have video of the on-going meeting with discussion of the MAP PROJECT which is just more outrageous KAMPA KRAPA of unnecessary and extremely expensive work to obscure the truth – likely much more than $10,000 as Kampa admits.   Naturally I had to embarrass myself with more public blah, blah, blah, but the video will clearly show when the board was furnished the estimate packet —— after the barge discussion had finished!  That’s bullshit, isn’t it?   A little over 5 minutes after Randy left the board room and returned with the estimates while the meeting continued – you can hear the beeps of the security door alarm with his leaving and returning and you can observe Randy passing out the estimates to the directors.  Why was this not included in KAMPA’s JUNK AGENDA PACKET?  I think we all know why.

 

Ni-night

My best to you and yours, Lew