This morning I was checking out the ISS (International Space Station) live view website, which permits the viewer to not only see where the ISS is located in real time, but to also zoom up on previous images of the area.  WOW!  It’s like taking a mini-vacation.

So, guess what location I coincidentally observed at approximately 1059 hours this morning?

La Grange, Australia!

No fooling.   When I switched to the image of the area and zoomed up on the approximate ISS path, there it was, La Grange Australia.  The La Grange Bay airport is just east of the town and west of the Great Northern HWY. Check out the colorful waters and geography around the peninsula west of Red Islet, absolutely beautiful.  At 1108 hours it passed over Tasmania.  1110 hours between New Zealand and Adams Island. On to Europe! A 24/7 show.

My Best to You and Yours, Lew

The web address is http://iss.astroviewer.net

 

 AGENDA ITEM h:
“APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION RESCINDING RESOLUTION 2013-4 REGARDING THE PROHIBITION OF COMMITTING WATER SUPPLY OUTSIDE THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT’S LAKE McCLURE WATER SUPPLY PLACE OF USE.”

Hello folks—-Wow!  Maybe not a surprise but it sure didn’t take very long did it?  not so lol

NO MORE OMIDPOU REPORTS?

NO MORE LIMITATIONS ON OUTSIDE SERVICE?

Even though the traditional MIDPOU reports (previously contained in the monthly LDPCSD agenda packets that identified where and how much water was being used outside the legal areas approved by Merced Irrigation District) STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PETE KAMPA took the reins of district leadership, I honestly thought he and his water thirsty friends OUTSIDE THE LEGAL USE AREA would at least wait until the drought emergency was over. Or did they actually wait?

Come on now Lew….that isn’t actually correct.  Sure sometimes the monthly agenda packet didn’t have the Outside MIDPOU figures (November 10th & December 15th), but hey, a lot was going on with this EMERGENCY WATER SITUATION AND THE DROUGHT!  Besides the January 20th packet filled in those numbers with a complete accounting from December 2013 to December 2014!  Relax dude, enjoy life.

HAVE FURTHER OMIDPOU CONNECTIONS ALREADY BEEN MADE?

Were further OMIDPOU water service connections already installed on properties but the public was unaware since the OMIDPOU reports were suspiciously excluded from the public agenda? (This could easily be researched if appropriate records were kept and allowed to exist as public business records – yet based on past funny business I certainly wouldn’t hold my breath.)

Who knows what is going on but again,  just because the agenda packets for the February 19th, (which was a special meeting to replace the regular meeting which was to be held on Feb 16th), March 16th, April 20th, or May 18th 2015 meetings didn’t have the OMIDPOU reports -that doesn’t necessarily mean anything sneaky was taking place.  Come on now.  Everyone was busy with this blasted drought and trying to conserve our precious water.  Besides, who really cares about how much water is being used outside the legal place of use?

Is this proposed resolution to rescind Resolution 2013-4 (which prohibited further expansion) merely a legal formality to cover up recent violations of that prohibition? Please do not forget Resolution 2013-4 was clearly supported by our attorney, water engineers, ground well sustainability reports, basic common sense, not to mention every bill paying customer who believes only those properties specifically entitled to Merced River water should receive such.

Whether or not there are current plans to expand the district’s boundaries with these expensive ground wells which constitute “an alternative source of water” unless work has been completed in outside areas with CSD funds or water is already being delivered, it doesn’t matter.

True, it does seem a bit strange that after not having the OMIDPOU REPORT for four months — suddenly there is a proposal to rescind Resolution 2013-4, but again, who really cares?  So what if the district is expanded into outside MIDPOU areas and must develop more ground wells to supply that need?  You must remember, most of the customers up here simply do not care and are willing to pay more money for their water service to encourage the growth that comes with subsidized water.   Again, take a deep breath, relax.  Enjoy life.

MAYBE MID AND STATE AUTHORITIES HAVE CHANGED RULES?

Unless MID (Merced Irrigation District) has already rewritten the water service contract with the district under Water License 11395 issued to it (MID) by the SWRCB (State Water Resources Control Board) and the former has reinterpreted the prohibitions against serving Merced River water to outside MIDPOU properties, why on earth would the district do such a foolish thing during one of the worst droughts in California history with such obvious risky and extremely expensive ground wells?

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE GREED OF OTHERS

I incorrectly figured Pete Kampa and the Directors that follow and support his district water service expansion plans (clearly evidenced prior to Kampa leaving LDPCSD service the first time in the 1990s) would have at least waited to see if our community had enough water to sustain it through this unprecedented drought. You know, until the next rains actually materialized.

Serving 35 – 36 OMIDPOU properties that are already connected is one thing, but why commit further water service into other currently prohibited areas during this nasty drought?

Perhaps I underestimated the audacity, arrogance and corrupt politics of those individuals trusted with the management of this communities’ liquid gold?  Where’s the fiduciary duty to the district and its current customers?

EMERGENCY GROUND WATER WELLS –good money after bad?

The apparent use of these emergency ground water wells (that were ostensibly constructed to guarantee legal Merced River water users would have enough water during this drought) to just add more properties outside the legal use area is EXTREMELY DISINGENUOUS and EXACTLY what I feared and warned against.

True, the newly installed ground wells are an alternative source of water, but they were clearly constructed (and the public was repeatedly told this) under the concept of an ALTERNATIVE EMERGENCY WATER SOURCE needed to ensure water for the current customers – NOT TO EXPAND DISTRICT SERVICE TO PROPERTIES WITHOUT WATER OR ENTITLED TO MERCED RIVER WATER!
STANDING ON NEW DAM – OLD EXCHEQUER PEEKS OUT FROM DROPPING WATER IN 2013

NOW COMPARE THE WATER DROP BETWEEN THE TWO DAMS IN 2015 [You will have to click on the photo and use the slide bar to position the image]

IS YOUR THINKING CAP ON AND FUNCTIONING?

SO what do you think will happen when many more properties are brought into district service using these “iffy” and expensive ground wells and they go dry? You got it! Once service is provided the district can’t take it away.  It will become a nightmare of reoccurring new well digging emergencies……

WELCOME GROUND WATER SUBSTITUTION FOR SURFACE WATER TRANSFERS FOR PERPETUITY!

Dig more wells, add more properties, dig more wells, add more properties, dig more….

All the while the basic honest customers (whose only mistake was buying property in an area where corruption and low information voting trumps common sense) will continue to pay the added costs for the increased property values of those OMIDPOU properties who finally got what they needed for exponential growth in business and personal wealth…..our water!  Best part for these water thirsty outsiders?  99% of the LDPCSD customers will continue to pay for the expansion – whether they want it or not.

TYPICAL BAIT AND SWITCH MODUS OPERANDII

Essentially, every legal water using customer in this district (along with the majority of availability customers- most out of area) will now be saddled with the added expenses of providing water to outside MIDPOU properties with a series of new ground water wells.

In other words: all district customers will subsidize this water service expansion WITHOUT EVER HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE MATTER OR EXPRESS THEIR OPINION.

Doesn’t that violate the concept of Proposition 218?

SPEAKING OF PROP 218 – DO YOU REALIZE NEW HIGHER WATER RATES ARE ON THE HORIZON?

Prior to completing my four year term on the board I specifically addressed this probability and received verbal assurances that such a BAIT AND SWITCH ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCE scenario WOULD NEVER OCCUR because the proposed wells were for emergency water only.  Even DIRECTOR Emery Ross said he would never vote for using well water to expand OMIDPOU service.   We shall see.

Liar liars your pants are on fire
How will you extinguish the flames?
Emergency ground water was just the bait
A distracted community will bare the blame.

Like I have said many times, I am not against water service to areas outside the MIDPOU service area so long as those properties receiving that extra benefit pay for the added extra costs in providing that water.  What is so darn difficult to understand?  Hiding behind this drought emergency and expensive unreliable ground wells to provide water to properties that have no legal right to Merced River water, yet expecting all legal customers to pay for it is just plain sneaky, underhanded and unethical.  And then to propose raising our water rates even further on top of that?  Insult to injury!  But of course this is just my opinion.  What do you think now?  What will you think when your water rates go up so others can build new subdivisions, cattle ranches, maybe water theme parks, or whatever nonsensical project is the proposed money maker of the day?  Wake up!  Smell the chlorine!

My best to you and yours, Lew

Resolution 2013-4

 

Please note which director voted NO on that resolution:  The very one who suspiciously obtained a second OMIDPOU water meter to supply chlorinated water for a cattle ranch he was developing despite being unequivocally advised PRIOR TO THE RANCH PURCHASE he had no right to LDPCSD water. Then, even after loosing that second meter (because it had to be returned to the rightful owner) he some how obtained another replacement. Think I’d characterize that as something for the COWBOY HALL OF SHAME.

Decades of continuous fighting in attempts to supply water to those properties that had no legal right to Merced River water rather than focusing on the sustainability of water for those who did have, and paid for, that right to water. Decades and hundreds of thousands of YOUR DOLLARS wasted in delaying what should have been diligently pursued back in the 1990s –

THE Mc CLURE POINT

DEEP WATER PROJECT !

 

Poor Lew, just can’t get it into his thick head that no one cares about what it will cost all customers to continue pursuing a ground water substitution plan for even more surface water transfers.   (Every gallon of Lake McClure water that goes outside the MID permitted area must come from an alternative source, and for the LDPCSD that is ground water.)  I keep telling him to kick back, enjoy life and to not let this water business concern him any more.   No one else seems to care, why should he? Life is short.  Enjoy it as much as possible. Gee, what else is there to say?

Our best to you and yours.

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

I was elected to Lake Don Pedro Community Services District board of directors four years ago and immediately started educating myself as to local and state water issues by reading water publications and participating in numerous free/low cost online training courses sponsored by state water agencies. I utilized that information to propose solutions and make sound responsible decisions for our LDPCSD water supply and those properties entitled to Merced River water.

I sincerely thank those who voted and provided me with this opportunity to serve, but must caution all as to an inescapable conclusion based on this water education and experience.

Fair and honest representation of the 99% of legal water using (and future using) customers will continue to be thwarted if conflicting business interests with the intent and design of our surface water treatment plant are allowed to remain on the decision making side of the dais.

I believe three major variables have assisted in creating this negative situation. 1) The semi-isolated nature of the Lake Don Pedro residential community in these beautiful but rugged foothills makes routine well attended meetings difficult, 2) Decades of cultivated low information voting due to the lack of timely investigative reporting on local matters, and 3), over half the CSD customers (availability) reside out of area and cannot vote in elections due to respective county residency requirements.

Not surprisingly, and I think most would agree, any unorganized community which does not understand, appreciate or correct its underlying vulnerabilities, will easily become a target for disingenuous special interests set on exploiting our limited but highly valuable resources for their own personal and business desires.

Whether massive uncontrolled development in the subdivision contrary to the CC&Rs of our property owners’ association (ignored under the guise that “everyone will profit”) or the expansion of water service outside the legal Place of Use under water license 11395 and the contractual agreement with Merced Irrigation District (under the theory more customers are desirable regardless of license restrictions) when the majority of those paying the bills are fed disinformation and denied pertinent facts, we all become servants to the “cash cow” of corruption. This is sad but all so typically human.

Again thank you for the experience it was an honor serving.

My best to you and yours,
Lew Richardson

I was elected to Lake Don Pedro Community Services District board of directors four years ago and immediately started educating myself as to local and state water issues by reading water publications and participating in numerous free/low cost online training courses sponsored by state water agencies. I utilized that information to propose solutions and make sound responsible decisions for our LDPCSD water supply and those properties entitled to Merced River water.

I sincerely thank those who voted and provided me with this opportunity to serve, but must caution all as to an inescapable conclusion based on this water education and experience.

Fair and honest representation of the 99% of legal water using (and future using) customers will continue to be thwarted if conflicting business interests with the intent and design of our surface water treatment plant are allowed to remain on the decision making side of the dais.

I believe three major variables have assisted in creating this negative situation. 1) The semi-isolated nature of the Lake Don Pedro residential community in these beautiful but rugged foothills makes routine well attended meetings difficult, 2) Decades of cultivated low information voting due to the lack of timely investigative reporting on local matters, and 3), over half the CSD customers (availability) reside out of area and cannot vote in elections due to respective county residency requirements.

Not surprisingly, and I think most would agree, any unorganized community which does not understand, appreciate or correct its underlying vulnerabilities, will easily become a target for disingenuous special interests set on exploiting our limited but highly valuable resources for their own personal and business desires.

Whether massive uncontrolled development in the subdivision contrary to the CC&Rs of our property owners’ association (ignored under the guise that “everyone will profit”) or the expansion of water service outside the legal Place of Use under water license 11395 and the contractual agreement with Merced Irrigation District (under the theory more customers are desirable regardless of license restrictions) when the majority of those paying the bills are fed disinformation and denied pertinent facts, we all become servants to the “cash cow” of corruption. This is sad but all so typically human.

Again thank you for the experience it was an honor serving.

My best to you and yours,
Lew Richardson

“IF THEY STILL EXISTS”

February 21st, 2016 UPDATE: 

THE FILES MISSING FROM THIS OLD POST ARE BEING RESTORED THANKS TO BACKUPS!

STRANGE HOW ONLY CERTAIN DOCUMENTS AND PHOTOS WERE LOST IN TWO SEPARATE EPISODES OF CYBER-ATTACK, huh?

<<<Return to original October 2014 posting>>>

 

I am sorry, but EMERY ROSS routinely stretches the truth and contradicts himself.  ANYONE who takes the time to listen and double check his presented information will appreciate this fact.

How many of you out there have the time to pour over old records, hours of audio tape, or even attend board meetings to hear such nonsense?

How could ANY CUSTOMER POSSIBLY KNOW HIS PENCHANT FOR SUCH FABRICATIONS OF THE TRUTH unless they actually heard ROSS speak or read some of his absolutely absurd writings? (The really strange ones often do not include the “br” at the bottom left of an Emery dictate indicating Betsie Ross’s involvement with the preparation.)

Take for instance his October 3, 2014 Board Meeting statement defending his telephoning a long time friend Pete Kampa with the “confidential/privileged information” about the upcoming GM vacancy so that Kampa would be the only “consultant” to submit a contract proposal before the position had even been publically announced so that other possible candidates might be considered..

During EMERY ROSS’s explanation of how he found out from a citizen’s telephone call that Ralph Felix had resigned as GM (and NOT BY THE CONFIDENTIAL EMAIL FROM RALPH FELIX on September 23rd), ROSS stated:

“I had told him (Pete Kampa), when I saw him at one of our training sessions, I said, if our guy ever quits I’m going to call you up and get a proposal from you.”

Yet later in that same meeting ROSS seems to contradict himself by emphasizing how many years it had been since even seeing PETE KAMPA:

“….I have full confidence in Pete, ah, in just what he’s said here today, because I haven’t seen him in many, many, many, many years”

CONSIDER THIS:   Kampa Community Solutions, LLC filed as a Domestic in the State of California on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 and is approximately eight months old, as recorded in documents filed with California Secretary of State. The filing is currently active as of the last data refresh which occurred on Sunday, June 22, 2014.

Entity Name: KAMPA COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS, LLC
Entity Number: 201404910099
Date Filed: 02/12/2014
Status: ACTIVE
Jurisdiction: CALIFORNIA
Entity Address: PO BOX 3221
Entity City, State, Zip: SONORA CA 95370
Agent for Service of Process: PETER J KAMPA
Agent Address: 176 BRADFORD ST
Agent City, State, Zip: SONORA CA 95370

How could EMERY ROSS have possibly asked PETE KAMPA for a management proposal if KAMPA’s consulting business had not been created until AFTER his  termination from TUD (Tuolumne Utilities District) in October of 2013  (Sonora Union Democrat article Oct 24th, 2013) and formed the business in February 2014, only eight (8) months prior to the “secret proposal” to EMERY ROSS?

TUD fires GM Kampa
Union Democrat staff /
Published Oct 23, 2013 at 11:59AM

The Tuolumne Utilities District board voted to fire General Manager Pete Kampa during a closed-door meeting Tuesday night.
Board President Michael Sarno confirmed this morning that he was on his way to the TUD office at 18885 Nugget Blvd., to make the announcement to staff.
The board voted 3-2 to fire Kampa effective immediately, with directors Ruanne Mikkelsen and Delbert Rotelli against the decision, Sarno said.
According to Sarno, the board will find someone to temporarily fill the position while looking for a permanent replacement.
Kampa was hired in 2006 after serving as general manager at Twain Harte Community Services District.

 

If ROSS saw KAMPA at a training session and said he would call KAMPA up for a proposal, it would have been (according to EMERY ROSS himself)  “many, many, many, many years” ago which is absolutely impossible.

EMERY ROSS DOES NOT TELL T HE TRUTH.

DIFFERING BOARD PACKETS??? – EMERY ROSS STRIKES AGAIN!
Generally the email [electronic] version of the Board Agenda and packet will precede the physical delivery [actual printed pages] of the material to directors by a day or so. One of the training classes I took a while back stated such information would optimally be furnished around 1 week prior to the meeting to provide adequate time for folks to read (for those who take the time to do so, or even have the ability), understand, and prepare for discussion and possible board action on agenda items.

Historically for our LDPCSD, the material is furnished the Thursday or Friday before the regular Monday meeting which still leaves the weekend to prepare.  (But asking questions before the Monday meeting is quite difficult if not impossible.)

Such was the case for the first Regular Meeting on October 20th, 2014 under the new leadership of Kampa Solutions LLC, because the electronic copy was sent out on October 16th, 2014.

I was looking forward to this first meeting and anticipated some favorable changes but it seems even Mr. Pete Kampa cannot control his old buddy EMERY ROSS FROM MANIPULATING what information the board will, or will not, be exposed. Since observing Mr. Ross for over three and a half years one fact is inescapable:

Emery Ross has a penchant for micro-managing ANY DISTRICT BUSINESS that might remotely deal with his foothill cattle ranch.  You know?  The one that was created and maintained with chlorinated water legally intended for domestic residential consumption IN THE SUBDIVISION under the water license and contract with MID (Merced Irrigation District)?   The fact that there might be yet another new contracted IGM is apparently immaterial to Ross’s pursuit and defense of his own business interests from behind the dais.

After reading the electronic copy of the material on the computer everything looked pretty good except I was disappointed to discover that Syndie Marchesiello (the office manager) was once again, for some reason, unable to chronologically number the pages of the board packet. This obviously makes discussing particular items extremely difficult, because, to utilize a common expression:

NOT EVERYONE WAS ON THE SAME PAGE

Not so “lol” for a public agency whose routine business should always be transparent before the public – much less one that barely avoided bankruptcy; had its administrative office burned down; and has difficulty abiding by the terms of MID’s Water License and the water service contract with our district.

Obviously breeching such a contract could jeopardize the water service to the 99% of legal customers – most of whom cannot vote in district elections and have no idea what the heck is going on with their local public agency.  All they [absentee owners] see in the FOOTHILL EXPRESS [actually set up in business due to a built-in customer base created by carrying the LAKE DON PEDRO OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION Discoverer Newsletter to subdivision property owners] are regular articles under the column RANCHING DON PEDRO by this façade of a little cowboy named Emery Ross.  Very easy to be confused as to his true motives if that is all you read and understand about this individual.

Naturally I hand numbered the packet pages again (why couldn’t this have been done when the original packet was finished and ready for copying?) and discovered some interesting information that wasn’t contained in the “official board packet” distributed by our new IGM Pete Kampa in the electronic packet.

LDPCSD policy indicates it is the IGM/GM and President of the Board that prepares the agenda/board packet, where does it say a special/conflicted interest director can modify this official publication according to his desires?

HOW CAN THERE BE TWO DIFFERENT BOARD PACKETS?

Page 51: Email from Emery and Betsie (br at the bottom of most Emery correspondence) regarding proposed activities on their ranch property.

<INSERT ROSS WELL REQUEST 1>

 

Page 52: Another email from Emery and Betsie Ross the following day with new information to evidently help explain the reason for the first email the day before.

(Please ignore my note made during the meeting in the upper right hand corner.)

<INSERT ROSS WELL REQUEST 2>

 

WHY NOW A “COW-WELL” ?     LOL
Gosh, are Emery and Betsie Ross really concerned about the district’s “diminishing water supply” and only attempting to help ease the burden of supplying water to outside MIDPOU properties like their cattle ranch?

Are they worried their thirsty foothill cattle might run short of the chlorinated water to which they have become so accustomed?

Could their Bovines be addicted to the chemicals and by-products contained in treated water somehow and destined to suffer some kind of withdrawal symptoms?

Will intense bovine therapy and temporary residency at a “Halfway Barn” be required?

Since Emery has recently discovered his spiritual side and advocated prayer concerning the drought in his FOOTHILL EXPRESS column, perhaps he and Betsie have mutually developed some kind of “late-blooming conscience” after twenty-one (21) years of using district water they were not entitled to in the first place?

Speaking of which, how did they “score” another district water meter after having been caught wrongfully “liberating” one of the Sturtevant meters in 2002 with EXPLICIT AND FULL KNOWLEDGE THEY HAD NO RIGHT TO SUCH WHEN THEY PURCHAED THE PROPERTY?

RECORDS THAT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH EMERY ROSS AND HIS CATTLE RANCH WATER SEEM TO HAVE A KNACK FOR BEING MISPLACED OR DISAPPEARING.

WILL ROSS RETURN THE WATER METER TO THE DISTRICT IF HE DEVELOPS HIS OWN WATER SUPPLY?

WHAT WAS GOING ON IN 1993?

Guess what the District Board of Directors were working on in 1993 during the same time period Emery and Betsie surreptitiously claimed a meter belonging to someone else? – that’s right, re-writing District Rules and Regulations which included water service outside the MIDPOU [Merced Irrigation District Place of Use] after discovering a number of unauthorized connections.

SERVICE LINE RUNNING THROUGH THE ROSS RANCH?

Amazing.  Even our district engineer was unaware of this line that serves two other outside MIDPOU ranches adjacent to the Ross Ranch, yet when discovered Emery stated there would NEVER BE AN EASEMENT on his property for that line.  Does this conflict with what the board decided back then about district property?

There is a lot more interesting information about this “mystery water line”, (including a break in the line repaired by Emery and his neighbor without supervision by the district.  Gosh, who do you think gets sued if there is any water contamination passed down to another customer?), but let’s get back to water meters.

HOW AND WHEN DID EMERY ROSS GET THESE WATER METERS?

My understanding is that Ross was denied a water meter around May of 1993 so I started researching all of 1993 Board Meeting Minutes – but guess what meeting was not included on the computer disk supposedly containing all Board Meeting Minutes of the District? That’s right, the May 17, 1993 Minutes were missing.

My first thought was…..Maybe there was no May 1993 Board meeting for some reason?  However, looking at the CONSENT CALENDAR for June 1993 (where the previous month’s Minutes are generally reviewed by the Board) the existence of a meeting on May 17th, 1993 was confirmed.

<INSERT JUNE 21, 1993 CONSENT CALENDAR>

SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MAY 17th, 1993 BOARD MEETING MINUTES?

Let’s move forward.  The OCTOBER 4th, 2002 STURTEVANT RANCH LETTER to GM BOB KENT clearly indicates how and when Emery Ross wrongfully claimed one of the Sturtevant Ranch meters:

“Emory Ross was the only person on the list that purchased property from Jean Hamar.  Said hookup was specifically excluded from the sale.  It is my understanding that he consulted with your office and was denied such.  However on 8-2-93 you installed a meter for Mr. Ross and subsequently charged it against the (10) hookups granted Sturtevant/Hamar.  NONE of the other persons named in this document own or live on property ever owned by the Sturtevant and or Hamar famalies.  Therefore they would not be entitled to any of the ten (10) hookups.”

–
OK, so Emery Ross gets the meter in August of 1993 and that information would likely have been contained in the September 20, 1993 Board Meeting Minutes.  But gosh! Couldn’t find that meeting either. So again I ponder…..perhaps there was no meeting on September 20, 1993?

<INSERT OCTOBER 18, 1993 APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 20, 1993 MINUTES>

SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SEPTEMBER 20th, 1993 BOARD MEETING MINUTES?

MISSING STURTEVANT RANCH WATER METERS

The STURTEVANT RANCH discovered in 2002 that Emery Ross had “snagged” one of their water meters nine (9) years earlier (in early August 1993) for use on the ROSS Rancho Santa Teresa (Cattle Ranch).  A conversation between GM BOB KENT and the Sturtevant representative on June 12, 2002 alerted STURTEVANT RANCH to the misinformation contained in district records regarding their meters (EMERY ROSS and other property owners not entitled to the meters had claimed them never-the-less.)

The October 2002 STURTEVANT RANCH letter notifies the District of that incorrect information relayed four months earlier when GM KENT indicated he had not personally seen the records at the District and would have to located them (“if they still exists”) and requests copies of the information from STURTEVANT RANCH.

Starting to see a pattern here?

<INSERT October 2002 STURTEVANT RANCH LETTER>

“IF THEY STILL EXISTS” ???

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LARGE AMOUNT OF DISTRICT RECORDS REGARDING THE STURTEVANT RANCH CONTRACT WITH THE SIERRA HIGHLANDS WATER COMPANY BEFORE IT BECAME THE LAKE DON PEDRO COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT IN AUGUST OF 1980?

Thank heavens the STURTEVANT RANCH forwarded much information about this APPARENT water meter scam of supplying meters to outside MIDPOU properties that had NO RIGHT TO MERCED RIVER WATER.

<INSERT BOB KENT APRIL 2003 LETTER RE: STURTEVANT METERS>

Apparently, in addition to Emery and Betsie Ross, other properties also WRONGFULLY CLAIMED Sturtevant Ranch meters and started receiving water immediately yet others were allowed to become “AVAILABILITY CUSTOMERS” paying $60/acre up to $180/year to GUARENTEE outside MIDPOU WATER SERVICE IN THE FUTURE!

[If a property owner had three acres they would pay $180/year, but if an owner had over 200 acres – they would still pay just $180/year for future water service they were never entitled to anyway! WHAT A RACKET!]

NOW, WITH ALL THIS GOING ON WITH outside MIDPOU water service,  GUESS WHO DECIDES HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS ARE NECESSARY TO HELP THE DISTRICT GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK?

What track has this district been on since EMERY ROSS and his followers have been involved? – Answer:  Outside MIDPOU water service RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON WATER SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS SUBDIVISION which contains the 99% of legal Merced River Water users under the water license and water contract!

THE 1997 McClure Point Deep Water Project SHOULD BE THE FOCUS – especially now with the drought.  What better time to install a new intake closer to the dam when there is no water to frustrate the installation?   Put the pipe in the ground, install a basket (keeps fish and debris from being pumped to the plant) bury and mark the location, and complete the project when money and time permits.   When the water level rises again that part of the project would already be completed for future completion and use.

That logical project has received absolutely no attention.    No big surprise huh?

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

PS:   Due to the complex nature of this outside MIDPOU issue, I have included a special page on the top MENU BAR entitled:  “Understanding the outside MIDPOU puzzle” and will be adding information to it incrementally.

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

LDPCSD Regular Board Meeting, Monday, October 20th, 2014
Staff and all directors present with exception of Emery Ross.
Director Comment made in the Regular Meeting just before adjournment for a Closed Session discussion.  >>>>>>>>>>>>>

DIRECTOR COMMENT by Lew Richardson, VP

The intentional disregard for an equal opportunity recruitment process, initiated by a director with obvious conflicting interests, was never-the-less utilized by four members of this public agency Board on October 3, 2014 to accept the only management proposal that could have possibly been presented which was the specific objective of that unethical closed recruitment process.

Perhaps this should be of no surprise considering this district’s history of shameful incidents, including but not limited to: the Grand Jury removal of a director for providing false information; replacement of the board president for highly inappropriate conduct (same director who orchestrated the closed recruitment process); confidential/privileged district information relayed to the public; a sitting director’s water meter being installed backwards so it would not read consumption; concealment, fabrication and destruction of official district records; outright fabrications of the truth contained in director written reports; vandalism of district equipment; and the total destruction by fire of our district administrative office during a record search regarding outside Place Of Use water diversions.

There are thousands of district customers that do not attend meetings who are never-the-less entitled to fair, objective and ethical leadership from their board of directors. Sadly this will never occur when such behind the scene director micro-managing is accepted, tolerated, and allowed to flourish unabated.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<

My best to you and yours, Lew

CORRECTION ON THE VOTE HIRING KAMPA COMPANY (Oct 15th, 2014)

WELL, just listened to some of the audio of the Friday, Oct 3, 2014 LDPCSD meeting.   As previously noted I missed that vote due to walking out of the board room in absolute disgust and feeling sick to my stomach with the continuing “behind the scene” conduct by Emery Ross. Evidently no one really cares.

–

Was I the ONLY DIRECTOR not talking about the confidential/privileged information sent to me about the coming GM vacancy?

– –
ANYWAY, listening to the audio I was surprised to discover the information communicated to me by Chuck Day regarding the vote was either misunderstood or misrepresented some way. Day told me he was against immediately accepting the proposal (which was clear in the meeting) but in actuality he voted in favor of the “surprise proposal” contingent upon his suggestion that our CSD attorney approve the contract.
–
CORRECTION: So the actual vote for approving Pete Kamp’s company to conduct the business of this district until a permanent GM can be recruited and hired was 4-0, not 3-1 as I had understood. I apologize for this misunderstanding. This is really not a big surprise since Mr. Day has much time left on the board (I do not envy him one bit) and starting off voting against the new manager would undoubtedly be used against him. It was painfully clear Ross, Afanasiev and Johnson were going through with accepting the proposal. Can’t beat them, join them?
President Day’s suggestion of making an immediate appointment contingent upon our CSD attorney ultimately approving the contract DID NOT confront my objection as to the process used to insert that proposal into the agenda. There was no public transparency of that process.
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HOW COULD A MANAGEMENT PROPOSAL BE SUBMITTED AND ACCEPTED BEFORE THE GM VACANCY WAS ANNOUNCED?
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Leslie Farrow, part of the “hire immediately group” made a statement with the unintended result of actually confirming and supplying evidence as to my concern that confidential information was wrongfully relayed by Ross to the benefit of one particular company looking for such business.
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Although dismissing my concerns of Director Ross divulging confidential information as being “ridiculous” and attempting to provide yet another defense for Emery’s consistent micro-managing of district business behind the scenes, Ms Farrow accidently confirmed the reality.
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Leslie Farrow: “I think the contingency plan is the best course of action, get him (KAMPA) in here get it down the road….but the one thing I want to say that’s unexcusable and if he (RICHARDSON) had stayed here what I was going to tell him is that, you know, unfortunately this is a small community and he (ROSS) got a phone call that he retired (GM RALPH FELIX). Let me tell you, all day long at the Coyote Fest everybody there knew that he retired (laughing by Ross – cross talk) so, you know, (cross talk) this is, this is ridiculous that he (Richardson) thinks that he (ROSS) was micro-managing that was, that was out five minutes after it happened.”
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???????????
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The Coyote Fest was held on September 27th, 2014, and KAMPA’s management proposal for the Lake Don Pedro Community Service District was already in the works on September 25th, 2014.
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“That was out five minutes after it happened” ???

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Thanks for the information Leslie.

NOW BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POSTING>>>>
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Here is the simple explanation as to why there has been so much fighting and arguing through the years about water service in this area. Section 6.0 of the Merced Irrigation District water contract with our Lake Don Pedro CSD clearly identifies where Merced River water can be legally served.

INSERT MIDPOU SECTION 6.0:

Isn’t it interesting that EMERY and BETSIE ROSS do not reside in the legal service area of this special district?

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How can EMERY even be a director on the board with such a special/conflicting interest?
How can he vote on ANY ISSUE concerning outside MIDPOU water service?  Or personally recruit the “new” manager who once worked here and has supported such expansion in the past?

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How can water intended for domestic residential use in the subdivision be diverted to run a private for-profit foothill cattle ranch?

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Why is this ground well water – from our one well (that was specifically constructed to serve outside POU properties and is the necessary “other source” for diversions outside the POU), paid for by the 99% of customers who live (or own property) in the legal service area of the Lake Don Pedro subdivision?

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Is it really any surprise EMERY and BETSIE ROSS have diligently fought to expand district service boundaries in an effort to distract attention from their own outside PLACE OF USE business?

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So, how did the ROSS’s obtain a water meter for their cattle ranch? Apparently by wrongfully claiming a meter from another contract that had NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR RANCH and THEY WERE CLEARLY ADVISED OF THIS FACT AT THE TIME THEY PURCHASED THE RANCH PROPERTY – (last paragraph page one).  That first meter was subsequently removed due to the complaint of the rightful owner but how did they obtain a replacement?  Even without a meaningless/sham of an annexation?

 

INSERT STURTEVANT RANCH LETTER RE ROSS METER

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Finally the mess was cleared up and the Sturtevant Ranch received full credit for the meters legitimately owed them:

INSERT GM KENT LETTER:

LOTS OF CONFUSION?  Hardly confusion.  It was clearly intentional.

Emery once accused me of calling him a “WATER THIEF” which I never did – he himself coined that term —– (regarding the apparent unaccounted for water from an undocumented water line running through his ranch serving other outside MIDPOU ranches) gosh, who would know better what his motives/actions truly were when he “liberated” the Sturtevant Ranch meter for his own use?  Perhaps some might consider “water thief” an accurate description in a number of matters with which Emery has been intimately involved through the decades?

Ironically, Emery’s obtaining that meter and then getting caught essentially “Blew the whistle” on several other properties that had also wrongfully claimed/obtained Sturtevant Ranch meters under that 1969 agreement.       Emery’s meter was installed in 1993, but he wasn’t even busted for that appropriation for another nine years!

EMERY USES TERM “WATER THIEF”

SO AGAIN, I ask, why should 99% of the legal customers subsidize the ROSS CATTLE RANCH or ANY OTHER OUTSIDE MIDPOU PROPERTY?

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Why don’t outside POU properties simply pay for the added costs for that SPECIAL BENEFIT of ground water substitution for surface water (lake) transfers?  Oh.  Too expensive for them, but OK to pass the costs to legitimate users of Merced River water?

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Think about this, EMERY and BETSIE ROSS support the concept of installing more ground wells to expand outside POU service and believe since all customers already pay for the old well they should be required to also pay for the installation, maintenance, repair and replacement of several more.  Can you imagine the expense?

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Now can you guess what our “new contract manager”, PETER KAMPA, did just before leaving Lake Don Pedro back in 1997 and going to McCloud CSD up in northern California? (That’s where he negotiated a contract with the Nestle Corporation for a water bottling plant which was ultimately abandoned and left that community in absolute bitter turmoil.)

INSERT KAMPA SOI EXPANSION & RESIGNATION

CUSTOMERS, (residents AND water availability properties in the subdivision) you had better wake up and smell the chlorine before you end up footing a massive funding project for future and extremely expensive ground wells to supply water t0 many more outside MIDPOU properties.  There are only 35 properties on the list right now but many more wanting water service.  (Go figure in this drought prone foothill environment.)  Imagine what sort of service expansion will occur if there is suddenly more ground water available for the increased profit dreams of Emery and his followers?  (Don’t forget some of his supporters can vote in district elections even though they don’t receive water, legally cannot receive water, and don’t pay a single penny to the district!  What a racket.)

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We only have one ground well right now on Ranchito Drive that was specifically installed to permit the continued water service to existing properties outside the MIDPOU.  (Wells in this fractured rock geology can be pretty undependable also.)   Even now there are those who are discussing the possibility of rescinding the recent district resolution which prevents further outside MIDPOU water service. That resolution was based on the sound evidence of a complicated well study and the professional opinions of our engineer and attorney.

Perhaps it is not too late to stop, or at least slow,  this affront to fairness by generating some letters to county and state agencies and/or your governmental representatives?  Let them know you are against this  continuing attempt at expansion of our service boundaries that will certainly occur AT YOUR EXPENSE.   Complaints to the county district attorneys of Tuolumne and Mariposa?  Requests for investigation by their respective Grand Juries?  Ask the Merced Irrigation District (MID) why they allow this to continue.  Maybe even the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) might take notice if enough of you get involved and write to them questioning what the heck is happening in Lake Don Pedro?

Seriously, does it seem fair or reasonable to expand our service area when the water license and contract with MID clearly prohibits such outside service?   Isn’t that putting the CART BEFORE THE HORSE …..once again?   Do you want this surface water treatment plant to be transformed into ground water substitution scheme for surface water (lake) transfers to other properties not entitled to our licensed water?  Just to make their properties more valuable while jeopardizing the water service for everyone?

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You probably already know what I’m going to say……so say it with me…..only those properties receiving the special benefit of outside MIDPOU water service should be required to pay for those added costs!  Other than that,

LET THE WATER FLOW!

My best to you and yours, Lew

Oh yeah, to be posted soon…. How Emery Ross once threatened the district with criminal charges that would be very expensive for the district but he would be willing to “settle” the matter; how he vowed to make lives miserable with his presence at board meetings (he sure has been successful in that endeavor on both sides of the dais), how a previous attorney advised the board not to respond to his questions, and  even warned him not to harass district employees, and much, much more.

Almost forgot, did you know when he was president, he personally racked up approximately $10,000 in telephone calls to state departments with ridiculous questions he could have researched for himself?

I’m exhausted, later.

 

 

I was curious as to how that contract PETE KAMPA negotiated between the McCloud CSD as its General Manager and the Nestle corporation, which wanted to purchase 200 million gallons of local water for bottling,  turned out a few years back.  NOTE:   Pete Kampa worked for the McCloud CSD for 7 years.

Read the short paragraph below and note the method of operation – quick board action without sufficient investigation and research.

Many assumed a discussion would be had, questions fielded, and the community would then work together to assess options. They thought they were there to hear about a proposal. But after Kampa and Palais did their PowerPoints, the crowd was dumbfounded when the gavel struck and Dragseth and the other four board members voted unanimously to sign the contract right then and there. The deal was done.

Very familiar as to how PETE KAMPA’s management contract was approved at last Firday’s Oct 3, 2014 LDPCSD meeting. No real discussion of options or alternatives.  Just DIRECTOR EMERY ROSS micromanaging again and calling his old friend and former co-worker PETE KAMPA, and secretly relaying that the Lake Don Pedro Community Services District General Manager’s position was open – even though the information was confidential/privileged for directors only.

WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC NOTICE OR ADVERTISING OF THE GM OPENING, KAMPA had a FIRST STRIKE management proposal and CONTRACT READY FOR SIGNING at the meeting only two days later.

Three directors signed it, one voted no, the other walked out “sick to his stomach” with the typical non-transparent governmental action and favoritism typical of DIRECTOR EMERY ROSS. Yes, my stomach feels better thank you.

No research into Mr. Kampa’s previous employment took place regarding our LDPCSD or other locations like McCloud CSD or Tuolumne Utilities District (where his employment was terminated).  There was no opportunity to question KAMPA about the circumstances of his prior resignation from our LDPCSD or the complaints from customers shortly before he left.  No chance to ask about his expanding the District’s SOI (Sphere of Influence) through Mariposa County even though such service outside the legal Place of Use under License 11395 is clearly prohibited.

Anyway, seems our new LDPCSD manager PETE KAMPA, has a history of such behind the scene behavior up in Siskiyou County as well.   Unfortunately, I now believe KAMPA was definitely working with ROSS on his CLOSED RECRUITMENT FOR CRONIES CRAP, but of course that is just my opinion.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS:    Stop NESTLE WATERS

 

My best to you and yours, Lew