Welcome back.

Continuing on the agenda…some very revealing comments by Kampa I thought regarding the “emergency groundwater well project” and grant funding changes which evidently involved over $250,000 re-designated to lateral service line replacement rather than his groundwater substitution program for outside MID-POU land developers.

Wow!  Finally some solid evidence “the legitimate authorities” have recognized the situation and have “encouraged” correction?

Fantastic!  Money going to where it should have in the first place – repairing/replacing failing primary infrastructure!  Now all we need for our nonprofit public agency CSD is a GM to honestly represent this District who is not simultaneously running his own for-profit management company and other public agencies!

Wonder how that suggestion of putting a 1/4 million dollars back into neglected infrastructure was actually made?  Imagine that for a moment……legitimate authorities (not those covering for a well known celebrity in the state water industry) taking an interest in decades of corruption complete with the years of unanswered complaints?

In the mood for a little “Twilight Zone” type stuff?  A little experiment? shall we?……..

 

Hello?

                           Helloooooooo?

                                                                     You there?  Great!

By chance are you a California government official or other influential individual/agency/entity etc., checking out this site for my seemingly endless ad nauseam comments about the Lake Don Pedro Community Services District (LDPCSD)?  

It’s 35+ years of turmoil over the use of Merced River water stored in Lake McClure and used under water license 11395, both held by the Merced Irrigation District of Merced California? 

Do you have jurisdiction, authority or some sort of extreme influence over the operation of the LDPCSD?

Perhaps even law enforcement power? 

Understand special interest corruption has been a major issue for decades with this PUBLIC AGENCY  – possibly even responsible for the February 2012 arson of our Administration Building and records?

Do you recognize and/or care that thousands of innocent property owning citizens of the Lake Don Pedro subdivision have been exploited for decades and essentially forced to financially support private speculative land development special interests to increase their property values and ultimate wealth? 

Want to help?

Well, here’s the Twilight Zone concept….

PROVE YOU EXIST!

(Actually, I already believe you exist and recognize you are often forced to remain silent and cannot act due to your current political work environment but I believe that will change soon.  Regardless, I have already noticed your handiwork (as disguised as it may have been by others) and am very appreciative.  I am sure other viewers are also cognizant of, and appreciate, your continued involvement.  This little TWILIGHT ZONE EXPERIMENT request is for those unbelieving viewers.)

YES – PROVE IT!

1. Require the LDPCSD to post the official MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE (MID-POU) MAP for WATER LICENSE 11395 on the LDPCSD website, ……or
2. Require the LDPCSD to make Board Meeting audio recordings available on the website 

Now back to our regularly scheduled program already in progress

Finally….time for you know what!   MBTYAY, L

 

Big deal!   So I misspelled July with a “7”.  lol

Here we go again!   lol   I know, I know…..I would prefer to be doing other things as well, but…..”IF YOU DON’T STAND FOR SOMETHING – YOU’LL FALL FOR ANYTHING!”

Same topic: PETE KAMPA/KAMPA COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS, llc, asking the BOARD OF DIRECTORS for more authority to change the existing management structure with two new management positions.. OR NOT…..depends on whether you believe what Kampa said during the meeting, or what he wrote in the agenda packet material in preparation  – often completely different directions.  He is quite adept at telling people what they want to hear to garner support – and can then “SPIN ON A DIME” while maintaining a contradictory balance – of course it is our dime and if lost during the dance, it is of no big concern, there are plenty more dimes.

Anyway, there was much discussion as to the actual responsibilities of the GM and other District employees – seriously.  I kid you not!  Heck of a time to be discussing responsibilities when our SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT is being re-configured into a SPECIAL BENEFIT GROUND WATER SUBSTITUTION FACILITY FOR LAND DEVELOPERS OUTSIDE THE L11395 PLACE OF USE FOR WHICH OUR DISTRICT HAS NO LEGAL OR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE WATER IN THE FIRST PLACE.  (you may have already heard this before – like a skipping CD on one part of a song!)

Speaking of serious stuff that is repeated ad nauseam, why on Earth is our LAKE DON PEDRO COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT refusing to post the MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE MAP on our “new and improved website”?   This is nuts!  That MID-POU Map clearly illustrates the restrictions on serving MERCED RIVER WATER outside the boundaries established under water license 11395 – yet the DISTRICT WILL NOT DISPLAY IT FOR CUSTOMERS TO SEE AND APPRECIATE FOR THEMSELVES – EVEN THOUGH OUR DISTRICT HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO THOSE WATER SERVICE RESTRICTIONS FOR OVER 35+ YEARS!  When I was on the board I attempted to get that map installed in the office – ABSOLUTELY NOT!  (What a foolish thought – illustrating where MERCED RIVER WATER could legally be used!)

For some reason it makes me think of the State of California removing SPEED LIMIT SIGNS ON ALL PUBLIC ROADWAYS then allowing individual law enforcement officers to decide at the time of the vehicle stop what the posted speed limit is, 65MPH one day, 15MPH the next, then later maybe 175MPH!  (Yeah, I know, not a very good analogy – but still, how can any business (or enforcement of law), be fairly carried out without a clear understanding of what is legally permitted?  Wasn’t there a routine by Steve Martin years ago where he explained his wrongful action by stating he simply forgot murder was illegal? – Guess such explanation works with TOP SECRET materials stored on private email servers as well – even if leading to another person’s demise.)

Seems to me this is the sort of BASIC PUBLIC INFORMATION (where Merced River water can be legally served) THAT EVERY CUSTOMER OF THIS DISTRICT SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO ON THE WEBSITE. Any person actually – it’s supposed to be a public agency.

Here’s a funny tidbit, PETE KAMPA is scheming some way of receiving an award for PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY OF GOVERNMENT PROCESS FOR OUR DISTRICT WHILE UNDER HIS MANAGEMENT COMMAND– yet he refuses to publish this easily obtainable map!   The sad part is I wouldn’t be surprised if he did receive an award for transparency – seems there are many others in government and related support agencies with that same “mushroom philosophy” for rate paying customers and citizens –  KEEP THEM IN THE DARK AND FEED THEM BULLSHIT – they can’t do anything about it at all except vote – and by then they will forget the initial complaint due to all the other BS that has been heaped on them in the name of public service!

Yes indeed, I am very cynical of government (as was suggested by an SWRCB employee a while back during a “conference call”) and even more so now considering the lack of promised follow-up by the very people who profess to be concerned about state regulations being followed.  (More like cover their own asses and ignore the problem.)

TRANSPARENCY OF GOVERNMENT PROCESS?  Yup, there is certainly something transparent about what is going on in LAKE DON PEDRO, – but not in a good way.  (Of course we all must recognize that the “wheels of justice grind slow…….but exceedingly fine” aka – some things naturally take more time to investigate while the resulting harm/injury/damage may continue.)

Part VI will start with the exciting Board vote on whether or not to approve Kampa’s research as to the responsibilities required of District employees, including the GM (didn’t we do that in the last episode?)

Good grief – time for a cold beer!  MBTYAY, Lew

VERY DIFFICULT TO HEAR THE AUDIO RECORDING OF THE MEETING – likely just as planned.

15 Minute audio below:

 

Continued JULY 18 2016 LDPCSD MONTHLY BOARD MEETING

After approving the CONSENT CALENDAR,  President Danny Johnson appeared to “jump the gun” a bit by introducing the next order of business as “Adoption of a Resolution Approving a Revised Policy on Employee Benefits including Medical, Dental and Vision and Eligibility ….(pages 27 -75 of agenda/packet)

Folks, like many others, I believe this GM Kampa re-establishment Post Retirement Medial Benefits for employees AFTER POLICY WAS SET BY A PREVIOUS BOARD OF DIRECTORS is absolutely wrong and requires serious investigation.  How did this happen?  Still not answers, just Kampa wanting the board to retro-actively approve his actions.

[Order your electronic copies from the LDPCSD Office yet?

209 852-2331!]

Back to Agenda Item 5a:  Discussion and Action Regarding the District Organizational Chart, Personnel Responsibilities and Position Requirements. (pages 25-26)

GM Kampa moved to the other end of the Board table in order to work a slide presentation to augment his proposal.   (Once again I could not find these extra presentation charts and such in my agenda/packet.  Why not included with the agenda packet for everyone to read along as is traditional in such presentations?  Put together too quickly?)

Kampa emphasized the most important aspect of this item was to understand what was required of the various employee positions within the district but he would not get into every little detail of those responsibilities entailed.

(What is expected of the GM and what the GM expects of the other employees – currently four fulltime employees and one extra help office assistance.)

THE VOICE OF THE DISTRICT STAMMERS FREQUENTLY

Kampa was apparently experiencing some difficulties with this presentation and admitted incorrect information was being displayed but eventually synchronized what he was saying with what was being projected on the gym wall.  Hey!  Give the guy a break.  He’s running multiple public agencies at the same time and these things should probably be expected with “remote general managing”.

He stated the Government Code had very specific language describing the different positions and responsibilities.    Kampa talked, and talked, and talked about things which could have easily been represented in a simple written report.

 

Ah what the heck!  I’m sick of listing to another KAMPA “sales pitch” for more power and authority in misdirecting our district towards continued private special interest/benefit land development profit while using our non-profit public agency to do so.    Listen for yourself.   What do you think?

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

Phew!  It’s hot.

Why does the Lake Don Pedro CSD consistently refuse to post a legitimate map displaying where Merced River Water (pumped under Merced Irrigation District water license 11395) can legally be used in this area? Properties outside the 11395 Place of Use MUST use ground water. Why should 99% of legal Merced River water users in the subdivision (for whom the water plant was constructed) pay for this ground water special benefit for land developers outside the subdivision?

 

Yes indeed.  Miserably hot, but usually in the wee early morning hours some relief with a cooler breeze.  Sometimes I break down and decide to use the air conditioner, but then I must listen to the sound of the air compressor kicking on and off, on and off, on and off….  Geez, every time it kicks on I imagine the sound of rolling silver dollars criss-crossing and traveling across the floor and “plunking” down the stairs yet never to be seen again.   Air conditioning is great, but expensive.

COOL AIR NOISE

Sometimes while half awake – I catch myself counting the times the compressor starts.  (Instead of counting sheep)  Then I try to count how long it stays on but usually drift asleep during the count until startled by the next “Varooom” of the air conditioning forced air cycle.  “Five!” I blurt out instinctively from my quasi-sleep state.

Often, rather than waiting for the next startup and tolerating those imaginary annoying coins rolling everywhere (but in my pocket)  I get up, walk over to the thermostat, reluctantly turn it off, return to bed and drift off again trying to avoid a nightmare of some hellish sci-Fi environment as I toss and turn to the rising temperature.  Open windows, a wet washcloth, and a spinning fan on high also work well and avoids those noisy coins rolling everywhere.  lol

BACK TO DISTRICT BUSINESS

So what is KAMPA & KOMPANY so darn afraid of by just honestly posting official maps which dictate how his District should operate?  (Remember, my reference to KAMPA & KOMPANY refers to Pete Kampa and those that support his reconfiguration of our SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT operations into a ground water substitution program where new ground wells, will of necessity, be continuously added to our inventory as further outside POU properties are served ground water.)

Kampa is setting all of us up for an extremely ugly never ending cycle:

more Outside MIDPOU customers, more ground wells, more customers, more ground wells, higher OUTSIDE MIDPOU use, more ground wells, further expansion – more ground wells, etc.

How many viewers out there honestly believe government agencies are going to provide more money for this lunacy which defies responsible use of our resources?

How can the District refuse to provide customers the maps which detail how it SHOULD HAVE been operating the last 35 years or so?

What other things are Kampa & Kompany concealing from the bill paying customers?

Why doesn’t the District permit other customers to read brief descriptions of Monthly Meeting Public Comments where speakers are required to use the podium and microphone so comments can be recorded?  Why on earth are they recorded anyway?  The Public Comment subject matter is no longer published for other customers to consider.

Certainly the technology exists to where a simple sentence or two could be used to adequately describe a comment – even if a whole three (3) minutes were used!  lol

EXAMPLES: “A public member again questioned why specific information about grant funding discrepancies and major project changes [that was agreed to be furnished], has not been furnished in over three months”.

Another public member commented that all existing and available official maps regarding LDPCSD water service should be published on the website for all customers to view and appreciate for themselves.

Another speaker said “customers deserve the truth” and Public Comments should not be stopped at 3 minutes without a reasonable cause to do so.

One speaker suggested using a light bulb to signal the end of a speaker’s time rather than that annoying “beep beep beep” which distracts both customers and audience from the presentation.

SIMPLE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMMENTS

Yes, it was done in the past and could be done again — but ONLY IF MANAGEMENT actually cares (OR THE BOARD INSTRUCTS MANAGEMENT TO DO SO) about what customers think.   According to the GM and directors themselves, the district has evidently received much “questioning” regarding their activities.

GOOD JOB CUSTOMERS!  Like the old bumper sticker says: 

QUESTION AUTHORITY!

EVEN IF YOU CAN NOT ATTEND MEETINGS – YOU CAN STILL ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE HECK THEY ARE DOING WITH OUR MONEY & GOVERNMENT PUBLIC FUNDS THAT WERE INTENDED TO BE USED FOR EXISTING CUSTOMER BENEFIT DURING THE DROUGHT EMERGENCY AND NOT CREATING NEW OUTSIDE MID-POU GROUND WATER SUBSTITUTION SERVICE.

Director Warren questioned the large amount of water being used by some OUTSIDE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE PROPERTIES, one in particular that was supposedly a leak that had been repaired a month or so ago, but it has been high for months and wondered  whether it was due to cattle ranching or perhaps another illegal marijuana grow.

CHECK OUT THIS PECULIAR RESPONSE BY KAMPA:

Pete Kampa commented he did not want to disrupt the apple cart by changing the OUTSIDE MID-POU report which “everyone seems to really really love but in reality It’s singling out individual people, their name, and their water use and not something we do on a regular basis for anybody inside the district.”

LEW’S VIEW:      DIRECTOR EMERY ROSS has attempted many times through the years to permanently abandon the OUTSIDE MIDPOU report because he does not like the idea of entitled MERCED RIVER WATER using customers seeing exactly how much GROUND WATER his cattle ranching business actually requires.   (Or understanding how that mystery stock pond suddenly rises?  MYSTERY POND PHOTOS)  Director Ross once even unilaterally had the office change the reporting procedure from name to account number without ANY involvement of other directors, much less an entire board action.  The next time the report came out PRESTO!  Only account numbers without a clue to the property owner or address of use and all he had to do was “instruct” Syndie in the office to make the change.  (Amazing what could be done in the “good ‘ol days of complete “non-transparency” of public agency operation) The reporting process was eventually returned to the original format despite quite vocal objections by Mr. Ross and his privacy concerns. 

WHAT?  His privacy concerns?  

– when he wrongfully obtained another individual’s meter and started a cattle ranching business?  After being specifically informed and denied a water meter, by not only the seller, but the district as well?  He is lucky to even have continued water service after his wrongful meter acquisition and other sneaky activities to obtain such.  (Sound familiar? Like the sort of management we are currently experiencing?)

I have always believed customers should have access to such information because it makes understanding not only where the OUTSIDE MIDPOU water is actually going, but who is the responsible party.   Does Ross object to the fire department, elementary school, or sewer plant’s usage being disclosed?   I doubt it.  Emery created and runs a commercial cattle ranch with chlorinated water, OK, what’s done is done.  But he shouldn’t cry about his privacy rights when that water was intended for an established residential subdivision.   Anyone who takes the time to study those old reports will also notice that sometimes during very high water demands Ross’s water use was unavailable, but that is probably just another coincidence, like the fact an UN-monitored OUTSIDE MIDPOU water line crosses his ranch from Granite Springs Road to HWY 132 without a District maintenance easement for access.   What pipeline?

How many viewers believe such an “unchecked water line” with potential “free water diversions” would be permitted to traverse their expansive ranch property?  (Heck, that isn’t fair to Emery either, I mean, decades of questions about that waterline going without answers.)

ANYWAY, so here is PETE KAMPA parroting some of the same verbiage as Ross about privacy concerns for OUTSIDE MIDPOU groundwater use by a sitting director customer who should never have received water from the District IN THE FIRST PLACE! 

Give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile but promise it will never happen again.  “Riiiiiiiiiggghht”- (Austin Powers-lol)

Remember when Ross suggested that ALL ENTITLED MERCED RIVER WATER USING CUSTOMERS OF THE SUBDIVISION SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PUBLICLY REPORT THEIR WATER USE LIKE THOSE RECEIVING THE SPECIAL BENEFIT GROUND WATER SUBSTITUTION?

What sort of mind comes up with garbage like that?  ABSURD.   Still, KAMPA refuses to acknowledge that this groundwater substitution program is a special benefit which does require special reporting to the State anyway, besides, legal MERCED RIVER WATER customers should be allowed to understand exactly who is receiving this special benefit for which they pay – along with to what degree of use AND/OR WASTE.

Would a commercial “water slide” from Coulterville to Waterford be permitted with chlorinated water intended for human consumption in the subdivision?  Perhaps only a few million gallons every couple of weeks – like our unaccounted for water loss?  Maybe a snow making machine for “SKIING LAKE DON PEDRO IN THE SUMMER?”  Ice rinks?  A snow cone machine in every garage?

How about more stock watering ponds that magically appear during Summer drought conditions – they look nice with all the contrasting dry grass and trees around?

Kampa stated if the District were still under the mandatory 30% restrictions, they would be enforcing those water use regulations. Kampa continued by saying the District did not have any restrictions on the amount of ground well water these property owners could purchase and use. 

LEW VIEW:  So, in other words, the water production from these extremely expensive ground wells that were constructed and developed with public funds, can be pumped until bone dry by property owners otherwise not entitled to our traditional District service under MID’s WL 11395?  And who NEVER PAID A FAIR AVAILABILITY FEE IN DECADES ANYWAY? 

And when those wells are exhausted through over use (perhaps involving enormous waste as well) the 99% of legal users in the subdivision will be responsible to pay for the expensive replacement of those wells for which they receive NO BENEFIT?

What about the ONLY POSSIBLE BENEFIT for the “entitled river water users” that would be lost?

Think about that:  Unrestrained OUTSIDE MIDPOU use could result in inadequate water production from ground wells necessary to actually save entitled users from complete loss of water if the lake goes completely dry.   What a scam!

Sure seems the far majority of legal customers are being victimized for the special benefit of third party profit margins, all facilitated through the reconfiguration of a NON PROFIT PUBLIC AGENCY under the CONTROL OF A FOR-PROFIT MANAGEMENT COMPANY SET ON BUILDING A WATER EMPIRE IN A DROUGHT PRONE, FRACTURED ROCK GEOLOGIC FOOTHILL AREA WITH PUBLIC FUNDS FOCUSED ON PRIVATE PROFIT LAND DEVELOPMENT.

HOW MUCH OF THIS MESS CAN BE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO COUNTY INVOLVEMENT USING LAFCo ANNEXATIONS AND PROJECT APPROVALS THAT WERE NOT PROPERLY INVESTIGATED PRIOR TO APPROVAL?

Kampa said he would look into the matter of this potential excessive outside MIDPOU water use.  Boy am I relieved.  NOT!

The Agenda’s Consent calendar was approved unanimously.  

Must leave……

NEXT POSTING AGENDA ITEM:  DISCUSSION AND ACTION REGARDING THE DISTRICT ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS –    PAGES 25-26 –

This is an extremely important subject matter.  KAMPA is requesting EVEN MORE AUTHORITY & POWER in continued misdirection of our SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATIONS to OUTSIDE MIDPOU SPECIAL INTEREST BENEFIT along with what is best for PETE KAMPA to expand his management company services as well.

PREPARE FOR THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL

DISTRICT EMPLOYEE POSITIONS

(Probably an effort to”COOKIE CUTTER” RECONFIGURE

our LAKE DON PEDRO CSD into a mirrored image of other current clients

so as to make his job of remote and simultaneous management of multiple agencies

much easier for him, while as always, passing the increased expenses on to innocent customers who have been

intentionally deceived about their NON PROFIT PUBLIC AGENCY CSD FOR DECADES –

but who are now starting to wake up and smell the chlorine!)

Better get involved – the District Election is in October.

Reminds me, have you, –  yes you!  

Requested the monthly Board Agenda/packet material

be sent to your email address?

PLEASE JOIN YOUR FELLOW ENTITLED MERCED RIVER WATER

PROPERTY OWNERS/CSD CUSTOMERS

IN DEMANDING THEIR CSD SERVE THEM AS INTENDED.

HECK, THE WORST THING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IS YOU WILL

UNDERSTAND WHY YOUR RATES & FEES ARE PLANNED TO BE GREATLY INCREASED.

   IGNORANCE IS NOT ALWAYS BLISS – REQUEST YOUR CSD 411 AND LEARN.

Call the LDPCSD Office @ 209 852-2331 and make

arrangements for delivery of your electronic copy.

 

(below)

MAPS ILLUSTRATING THE LEGAL PLACE OF USE UNDER WATER LICENSE 11395 ARE NOT DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN, SO

WHY DOES THE DISTRICT CONSISTENTLY REFUSE TO POST AND SHOW CUSTOMERS THE TRUTH?

 

 

MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE MAP

per WL11395 restrictions under which our

LAKE DON PEDRO CSD

has always pumped

MERCED RIVER WATER

from LAKE McCLURE

(BELOW)

(BELOW)

My unprofessional rendition of the WL11395 MIDPOU SERVICE MAP

along with

THOSE PROPERTIES THAT MUST BE FURNISHED

OUR EMERGENCY GROUND WATER

as SUBSTITUTION FOR

MERCED RIVER WATER

NOTE the large white block of 2,010 acres to the west of the subdivision

that was approved for 772 acre feet of MERCED RIVER WATER a year,

yet never developed.  Our DISTRICT receives absolutely nothing in financial support.

Speculative land development and special benefit water service

SHOULD NOT BE THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

of the 99% OF LEGALLY ENTITLED MERCED RIVER WATER USING CUSTOMERS

OF THE LAKE DON PEDRO SUBDIVISION.

 

 

OK….for sure this time…..later….

My best to you and yours, Lew