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

 

“THERE IT IS!   BETWEEN THE BUY ONE – GET TWO FREE and the LIMITED TIME OFFER ONLY AD”

Don’t know about others who routinely receive the monthly electronic LAKE DON PEDRO COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT agenda packet but I was beginning to wonder if there was going to be a December board meeting at all.

Like always I started checking on Thursday for the Monday meeting material which has always been reliably prepared and delivered by our LDPCSD BOARD SECRETARY Syndie Marchesiello, yet this month, nothing.   Hum, strange.  So I periodically continued to check the inbox on Friday, then Saturday, then Sunday – but still nothing.  Yup, something was definitely out of the ordinary because Syndie has always been quite dedicated in getting this material out to customers but if running a bit late for some reason always included a “heads-up” followed by an eventual explanation.  Then it hit me like a ton of bricks…..

WHAT IF THAT SNEAKY …..

Purely on a hunch that “Sneaky Pete” might have somehow been involved with screwing up the previously dependable distribution of this monthly material I decided to check my “JUNK FOLDER” – just in case yet another routine district matter had been corrupted.

Again, I don’t know about other folks but would suspicion like me, your JUNK FOLDER is packed with numerous Christmas advertisements, special discount notices and offers from every business you’ve ordered something from within the last year or so – PLUS MUCH MORE NEW CYBER GARBAGE!  I mean PACKED WITH EMAILS EVERYDAY!

So I start sifting through all that stuff and BINGO!  There it was resting comfortably between holiday advertisements and other miscellaneous email garbage.

WORK OF THE “UNKNOWN SENDERS”

Since the senders were listed as a Chalyse Drake  (cdrake@kampacs.com) [an employee-relative of Pete Kampa I believe, who has been delegated with the responsibility of district communications] and Peter Kampa (pkampa@kampacs.com) and the fact I have never received material from  either, my email program did not recognize them as trusted senders (boy isn’t that the truth!) so the agenda/packet was relegated to the notorious JUNK FOLDER.

(Ironically “junk” is rather appropriate considering the caliber of work “Sneaky Pete” Kampa has produced lately for public dissemination.  Is it all just a matter of poor preparation and lack of professional scrutiny or something far more diabolical like further disinformation to confuse official government records and simultaneously create that plausible defense for past intentional wrongdoing?   Aka the infamous “cover up”?)

PERHAPS KAMPA HAS NOW APPOINTED HIMSELF BOARD SECRETARY AS WELL?

Is “Sneaky Pete” now the LDPCSD Board Secretary and Office Supervisor in addition to being our part time general manager and Board Treasurer?  No doubt he certainly controls the information.  (Can you imagine what our district records will look like after the Kampa Klean Up is Komplete? – not so lol)

Heck, maybe the Board of Directors will be completely unnecessary in the near future?  But I digress.

The following message from the “VOICE OF THE DISTRICT” accompanied this elusive December agenda/packet:

____________________________________

Good evening!

Attached please find the Board meeting agenda and supporting materials for next week’s Board meeting.  All of the materials are contained in a single file, but if you need individual copies of specific documents, please feel free to contact me directly, or download from the website at ldpcsd.org.

 

We also need your help!  Please follow the link http://www.ldpcsd.org/water-conservation-efficiency-survey to take our water conservation survey; to help us determine the best way to spend grant money to your benefit!

 

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

 

Peter J. Kampa

General Manager

Lake Don Pedro CSD

(209) 694-7023 (Sonora Office)

(209) 591-7100 (cell)

www.ldpcsd.org

____________________________________

WHY THIS SUDDEN CHANGE IN TRADITIONALLY DEPENDABLE INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION?

Although meeting preparation time was cut a bit short I started going over the packet – which for the electronic copy also meant no page numbers again.  How considerate.

No written Presiding Officer’s Report or Chief Plant Operator’s Report and of course the OUTSIDE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE REPORT FOR WATER LICENSE 11395 COMPLIANCE REPORTING WAS ABSENT, (geez, with all their talk of responsibly using MERCED RIVER WATER you would think this report would be included – you know, documenting compliance with the properties that MUST RECEIVE GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION BECAUSE THEY LEGALLY CAN NOT RECEIVE MERCED RIVER WATER)  however, GM Kampa’s written report was still interesting in a few respects.

But first, to keep this meeting report chronologically correct, we need to address the useless PUBLIC COMMENT portion of the meeting first. (Well perhaps not totally useless if it is still reported on lakedonpedro.org because it certainly never will be by our nonprofit public agency which is obviously controlled by the Kampa for profit management company with “Sneaky Pete” at the helm.)

Once again the 5 member board of directors outnumbered the customers attending the meeting – absolutely pathetic but understandable.  (When you think about it, the board of directors has outnumbered total district employees for many years as well! – We’ll take a look at KAMPA’s letterhead in regards to his “formal letter” to the wrong SWRCB individual later which is comical as it lists all the directors, GM, and other staff….. heck – why only leave out the two or three employees who really do the work?)

LDPCSD customer apathy has been cultivated for many years just like any other crop:   “Why bother?  They’re going to do what they want anyway – who can stop them?”   Lucid observations and good questions, but still the result is that exact customer attitude desired by those who quietly work in the shadows under the guise of legitimate public service.  Just plain disgusting.  (Remember now – these harsh comments only apply to those who have actively supported Kampa’s special benefit groundwater substitution program for outside PLACE OF USE land developers – I believe there may be 2 or 3 directors doing the best they can under the inherited circumstances.  Only Danny Johnson and Emery Ross remain as part of the original BOD which orchestrated Kampa’s return to continue his (Kampa’s) 20 year old documented district expansion plans outside the POU – in spite of the very clear language of water license 11395!    99% of legal users of MERCED RIVER WATER  in the Lake Don Pedro subdivision paying for this deceit?  Outrageous betrayal.  But again, I digress.

PUBLIC COMMENT.  Three public members spoke. (So much for the district’s next official report!)   LOL!

Yours truly commented on the atypical electronic agenda/packet mailing with different sender addresses resulting in the “junk mail” delivery – and once again with no page numbers; the simple request of RE-CREATING THE ORIGINAL 1980 APPROVED WATER SERVICE MAP from the LAFCO survey being magically transformed by KAMPA & KOMPANY into a massive and expensive mapping project  ($10,000 +/- ) and how it was disingenuous for the district to create resolutions with recitals as to their legal operation when it doesn’t even know (or care about) it’s legally approved water service boundary; and the formal letter of protest to the SWRCB being addressed to the wrong individual according to that agency’s online instructions for such communications.

Dave Worthley suggested customers send emails to the State water Resources Control Board in protest of the Bay Delta SED (Substitute Environmental Document) which proposes to increase environmental water flows from our Lake McClure (waterboards.ca.gov).

(Incidentally, there are many “snail mail” written comments to read on the SWRCB website if viewers are interested-  both for and against the proposed increased water flows.  One I found particularly interesting was from a 30 year retired TID employee from Turlock who believes the issue has little to due with protecting Salmon (other predators such as Bass being responsible for loss and not the amount of water) and more about just providing increased flows to southern California.  Did you know the proposed twin tunnels are to be 40 feet in diameter and over 120 feet under ground and will travel approximately 35 miles to move more water from the Sacramento River for delivery down south?  Very interesting engineering wise.   Cost?  The estimated 15-17 billion is more like 50 billion dollars when all aspects such as financing are considered.  Wow.   You know, this whole issue reminds me of the difficulties with any addiction situation –  THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH OF THAT OF WHICH ONE MAY BE ADDICTED – providing more will only increase demand for more – a never ending cycle of consumption.  Rather like expanding our special benefit outside POU water service based on groundwater substitution huh?  again I digress -sorry.)

Victor Afanasiev stated according to local realtors some 70 home owners in the Mariposa area have lost their home insurance due to lack of adequate fire protection and again raised the question of fire hydrant testing by the district.  I am still shocked by Kampa’s September 2016 LDP high school gym meeting report on that matter.  No legal duty?  wow, I surely would have lost money, marbles or chalk on that bet.

Finishing the PUBLIC COMMENT, Board President Danny Johnson suggested changing the order of agenda items to permit Chief Plant Operator Randy Gilgo to verbally report on recent district activity.

 

Well the sun is sporadically shining and I have work to do outside so we’ll start up next time with the Chief Plant Operator’s report, but until then and as always,

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

There is so much misinformation and disinformation produced by, and cloaked around, Pete Kampa, Kampa Community Solutions, llc, “Kampa & Kompany”, and the activities with which they have been involved.  I believe it is EXTREMELY unlikely all could be the result of simple oversight, mistake or paperwork accident.   Even if “mistake or accident” were responsible for such garbage recited in official documents and records, the next logical question would be:  “What sort of PROFESSIONAL CSD MANAGEMENT HAVE WE PAID FOR SINCE OCTOBER 2014 AT A SIGNIFICANT COST?”  Can’t have it both ways.

The KAMPA & KOMPANY “LDPCSD paper trail” has intentionally been obscured.

Some might ask, but why “pepper official records” with erroneous statements when most can easily be challenged and corrected (if desired) with incontrovertible fact?

Personally I believe this activity,

of intentionally “littering official government records with clearly incorrect (false) information” – in conjunction with the successful KAMPA & KOMPANY effort to sanitize LDPCSD records by suppressing and preventing the documentation of differing opinions and meeting challenges in the Minutes,

is a continuing and purposeful endeavor to provide a “camouflaged defensive environment” in the event someone, somewhere, sometime, will pursue a legitimate and comprehensive investigation of what has been done to our Community Services District.

Look at our damaged financial stability, failure to repair/replace critical infrastructure when  government grants were available, and the re-configuring of our intended operation as a SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT PUMPING FROM LAKE Mc CLURE into a KAMPA & KOMPANY PROPOSED GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION FACILITY FOR THE SPECIAL INTERESTS OF LAND DEVELOPERS OUTSIDE THE PLACE OF USE PROVISIONS UNDER L11395 under which the LDPCSD has operated since formation.   All of this by an obviously “special interest” bent “for profit management company” with a 20 year knowledge of the restrictions in the water license.   You know, I once believed local control of our water supply was a paramount issue to our local government administration but now must admit the Merced Irrigation District’s initial refusal to support the LDPCSD’s formation in 1980 was spot on the money!

This community is too irresponsible, easily swayed into wrongful activity (for want of truth and fact in a legitimate daily public news outlet covering government process like other “communities”- aka, NO WATCH DOGS TO KEEP THE WOLVES AWAY!), and too consumed with special interest corruption to have any substantive local control of a critical natural resource such as our water.  

Respecting the concept of a Thanksgiving Spirit I will not elaborate on what I believe a fitting punishment would be for such REPREHENSIBLE CONDUCT AND BETRAYAL OF OUR DISTRICT AND THE 99% OF LEGALLY ENTITLED MERCED RIVER WATER CONSUMING CUSTOMERS OF THE SUBDIVISION FOR WHOM THE TREATMENT PLANT WAS CLEARLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED and INTENDED TO SERVE.

Back to the primary subject:  KAMPA & KOMPANY false information could also be used to create a “camouflaged defensive environment”

 

WHY do I believe this?

Because the more incorrect information that “litters an official record” the more likely it will provide a greater “plausible deniability” position for those responsible for the intentional transgression of law, regulations and rules in the first place.

Follow my attempted explanation?

In other words,

If an “official record”

(regarding any subject that may be under investigation)

contains an ABUNDANCE OF FALSE AND INCORRECT INFORMATION,

those being investigated for wrongdoing

(whether individuals, companies, agencies, associations, etc.)

will merely point to the PAST APPROVED AND CORRUPTED RECORD

and claim they were just honestly confused with all the contradictory and/or incorrect information

that had already been ACCEPTED, APPROVED AND PROCESSED BY HIGHER AUTHORITIES.

BINGO!

They have simultaneously created a working defensive position by way of the very method they used in committing the intentional violation in the first place –

FALSE INFORMATION INTENTIONALLY PLACED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS!

“Golly Gee, inspector, I/we just weren’t aware of the truth or facts due to the massive amount of incorrect information

already accepted and approved by the authorities in the State of California and elsewhere.”

(ahhh….but WHO PUT THAT GARBAGE THERE?

 Would be a reasonable next question.)

LDPCSD meeting Minutes (which SHOULD HAVE DOCUMENTED the many customer complaints and challenges to these KAMPA & KOMPANY  activities and their supporting materials) might have effectively destroyed this potential “Golly gee, we didn’t realize” ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT EXCUSE!

Diabolical, huh?

They effectively create a later defense for the wrongdoings they accomplished with the same clear false information that was/is

UNKNOWINGLY ACCEPTED BY LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES and OTHERS!

Ahh, but what about the concept of conspiracy?  Where two or more entities effectively cooperate to intentionally violate the law to the public’s foreseeable detriment?

THE DEFENSE OF INNOCENT IGNORANCE TO COVER THE WRONGS THEY THEMSELVES INTENTIONALLY PURSUED?

Reminds me of a plea for mercy for criminal defendants because they are now orphans since they murdered their parents.

ANOTHER SERIOUS ASPECT

Doesn’t this also place the previously unaware approving and accepting legitimate government officials/agencies

in the precarious position of either,

ignoring the false information and just moving on, or, correcting the fabricated information and

perhaps even having to “eat one of their own” for the obvious deceptive techniques used to achieve approval?

 

Last two questions before our post Thanksgiving recess:

Does this just simply boil down to how many people are aware and concerned about this intentional “littering of the public record”?

How long do you think massive amounts of stinky unhealthy garbage on our state roadways and adjacent properties would be tolerated?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“JUST SHUT UP – DON’T LOOK AND KEEP MOVING”

lol

 

Hope you ALL had a wonderful THANKSGIVING!

My best to you and yours, Lew

SO WWW ?

 

 

sigh…….”Yeah, I went to the meeting”

and here I go again wasting valuable time…..

______________________________________________________________________________

DIRECTLY FROM THE LDPCSD WEBSITE:

June 7th, 2016

This may look like just a fence and a bunch of asphalt, but behind that fence is the completed Ranchito Well No. 2, funded with grants from the Department of Water Resources ($282,500) and the State Water Resources Control Board ($181,500), and only $11,260 of your water rate money (paid to the Lake Don Pedro CSD) We are thrilled to have this new water supply available for our community!

May 2nd, 2016

The wells have finally been FULLY FUNDED! The US Department of Agriculture, Rural Development has as of today committed the last $500,000 in grant funding to the project. Out of the entire cost of the project to install three new, high producing groundwater wells, the only cost to the District was to buy a 17 acre piece of land that had an existing well on it. The graphs show the funding for the entire project, and the grants used for each well individually. This is time for celebration for the CSD and its Board for having the vision and drive to develop a new water supply for our community using state and federal grants!

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

“We are thrilled to have this new water supply available for our community!”

“The completed Well #2, an important water sourse for our community!”

“This is time for celebration for the CSD and its Board for having the vision and drive to develop a new water supply for our community using state and federal grants!”

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

 

Hey folks, LEW HERE: 

OK, so we have the statements of

“new water supply”, “important water sourse” (their spelling not mine) and “new water supply”

Please realize this is only one page on the LDPCSD website where the DISTRICT continued to brag about the NEW GROUNDWATER  SOURCE for our community which, with a realistic and factual retrospective look, is  hardly the great accomplishment it has been publicly portrayed. There is much more of this “new water supply” diatribe.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE FAILING PRIMARY INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT WAS INTENTIONALLY IGNORED IN FAVOR OF KAMPA & KOMPANY’S PURSUIT OF THESE GROUNDWATER WELLS UNDER THE GUISE OF A “DROUGHT EMERGENCY” TO QUALIFY FOR, AND OBTAIN, GOVERNMENT GRANT MONEY.

Their primary duty of maintaining our basic infrastructure was neglected SO AS TO CREATE AN “ALTERNATE SOURCE OF WATER” (ground wells) TO BE USED IN A GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM FOR LAND DEVELOPERS OUTSIDE THE LEGAL SERVICE AREA.

Since Merced River Water could not be delivered outside of the PLACE OF USE under water license 11395 which is held by the MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT, KAMPA & KOMPANY intended to divert and deliver our NEW GROUND WELL EMERGENCY WATER FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT SPECULATIVE USES for properties outside the legal place of use.        

Truly a “sneaky Pete” diversion.

In fact…..

Twenty years ago when PETER KAMPA began his infamous career in the water industry here in LAKE DON PEDRO he was aware of these water license restrictions yet still advocated further water service expansion beyond the regulations.   Almost ten thousand acres more!   KAMPA returned to  Lake Don Pedro in October 2014 via a board orchestrated closed recruitment process specifically designed to guarantee he (and his KAMPA COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS, llc management company) would be the appointed GM in an effort to continue this enormous OUTSIDE PLACE OF USE EXPANSION – which once again, would be paid for by the legally entitled customers of the subdivision. 

BUT NOW the STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD is proposing to increase environmental releases from LAKE McCLURE (and other areas) which may likely cause water shortages for our community during peak water demand periods. 

So what did KAMPA & KOMPANY attempt to do at the last BOARD MEETING ON MONDAY in support of MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT’S counter proposal to the STATE OF CALIFORNIA WATER BOARD?

FORMALLY STATE IN AN MID SUPPORT  RESOLUTION A FABRICATION OF THE TRUTH, WHICH MOST OF US WOULD CONSIDER AN ABSOLUTE BOLDFACED LIE!

This was the focus of another  PUBLIC COMMENT of mine I read at the last meeting that will likely be KAMPA SANITIZED FOR THE RECORD like all the comments by customers since his return.

Naturally there was no board answer to this question, much less all the others that have been asked for years.

Over a million dollars of saved LDPCSD funds spent in constructing and developing the groundwater wells along with all the subsequent controversy as to the original intended use (now defensively referred to as “EMERGENCY WATER” by the District)———— how could the statement  Lake McClure was our

“SOLE WATER SUPPLY FOR THE COMMUNITY”

possibly have been accidentally made?

(Recall also a previous Urgency Request Resolution to the SWRCB that stated LDPCSD had no “alternate source of water” when it actually did for twenty years with the first RANCHITO REMEDY WELL was another falsehood reported to the State of California in hopes of favorable treatment in its water decisions.       PREVIOUS SWRCB URGENCY REQUEST

True, the recitals did eventually mention the groundwater wells – like an after thought – which actually makes the “sole water supply” description at the beginning of the resolution even more reprehensible.   Sorry, no accident in my mind but rather a consistent course of misrepresentation ever since KAMPA & KOMPANY started MISDIRECTING THIS DISTRICT!

Here’s the entire resolution for your convenience:

 

(My handwritten comments on the resolution.)

Water below our fixed pumps for three years?   FALSE!  (NOTE:  Our fixed intake pumps are currently off line due to a lack of maintenance and repair because all that government grant money was spent on ground wells for outside place of use developers instead of our primary infrastructure!  We are currently pumping groundwater and probably will for about three months – after removing the arsenic of course.  Three reasons have been offered for ground water pumping:  Repair time for the two intake pumps; saving money because ground wells are cheaper with electricity; and finally what appears to be the actual reason:  convenience because we are down one employee who was injured some time ago.  Take your choice.  The truth is difficult to ascertain at the LDPCSD.

AGAIN….calculated and intentional misinformation.

Our hard-saved 1 million dollars was used to leverage government grants so KAMPA & KOMPANY could pursue the “ALTERNATE SOURCE OF WATER” to circumvent water restrictions in L11395.  [I was asked by a government official some time ago what I thought a reasonable remedy to this entire mess might be –  I responded that our DISTRICT SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO KEEP THAT NEW GROUNDWATER SUPPLY FOR EMERGENCIES TO HELP EXISTING CUSTOMERS DURING DROUGHT – AND NOT TO EXPAND SERVICE BEYOND THE PLACE OF USE IN L11395.  Essentially to stand by what the DISTRICT is now saying after being caught cheating!)

Oh yes, LDPCSD (under Kampa & Kompany) certainly has been working with the Merced Irrigation District, but to what end?  Assist LDPCSD in expanding water service outside the POU and LDPCSD will support the MID S.A.F.E. proposal and F.E.R.C. re licensing project?  pure crap.  LDPCSD should be required to simply obey the license restrictions of which it has been aware for 40 years <period>.

LDPCSD has invested millions in water conservation activities?  Good heavens!   I sure would like to see the evidence in support of  that BOLD statement.   Notice the statement doesn’t actually qualify what those “millions” actually are….. (Perhaps this way Kampa could later state he was referring to the millions of “seconds” the District thought about doing the right thing – and not actually millions of dollars invested? )

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

Have you noticed how CSDA (California Special District Association) material and “guidance” has been appearing with more frequency within LDPCSD since Pete Kampa took over?

I am so disappointed that the CSDA has had someone like PETER KAMPA on its board for so long but it might explain his “built in protection” from any serious investigation as to his activities.    I had always believed the CSDA was a great organization devoted to safe potable water for California citizens but now seriously doubt as to what they might actually be dedicated.  Business as usual and the status quo and to heck with the truth?

It was his CSDA associates that Kampa consulted regarding the Post Retirement Medical Benefits issue without remedy.   (Rather than an agreed neutral third party.)

CSDA is contributing to our new website with incorrect map information regarding the legal water service boundaries and even though advised of this fact continue to represent the incorrect “KAMPA DISTRICT SERVICE BOUNDARY”.

Most recently, Kampa’s desire to change our existing PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY regarding Minute reporting that is based on a recommendation by the CSDA Leadership Academy.  go figure.

YES INDEED.  PETER KAMPA HAS BEEN A “MOVER AND SHAKER” FOR SOME TIME.

Check out KAMPA’s  May 1, 2015 Saddle Creek CSD article statement regarding his position on the CSDA board:

“Serving on the CSDA Board provides me a front-row seat and strong voice in not only the policy and actions of the state association in support of special districts like Saddle Creek, but also inside information and influence on the decisions made at the state capitol.”

 

Yup, it was inside confidential information that facilitated KAMPA’s second employment return with our LDPCSD.

Kampa is an expert at using “inside information” for his personal and business benefit.

Great, a land developer special interest “inside lobbyist” on the CSDA Board who has extreme difficulty with telling the truth.

Getting to the point it is difficult to believe in or trust anything with which Kampa is “associated”.

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

. PS:  The LDPCSD Board did instruct that the Resolution be amended to reflect the facts of the situation which is good, however,

that is not the point.   The point is, look at the massive amounts of material that is constantly presented to the Board for approval and consider how much

“misinformation” has slipped through since October 2014!

more later have to get outside!

His head, crowned with a rough brown leather “plains style” hat and lowered to the point

of avoiding any possible eye contact, slowly swung from side to side as the living 10 pound

grey matter filled pendulum it was.  Hands were buried deep into worn but not yet thread

bare Levi pockets, each apparently in individual search of elusive contents never found.

Layered shirts evidenced the successful achievement of comfort and warmth over that of

contemporary fashion or style.   A slightly over-weight body was precariously balanced on

a straight supporting left leg while the toe of the right leather work boot meticulously

prodded and circled an oblong piece of rock in repeated failed attempts to stand and balance

it in the dark moist foothill soil.   A reddish hued recipient soil oblivious to the supplemental

offerings of blood, sweat, and tears manufactured through decades of back breaking physical

work. A dog barked for wanted attention as weight was shifted to the other leg and the head

momentarily lifted just enough for a reluctant glimpse of the cold surroundings.  A perplexed,

eye brow crunched, tight-lipped expression was cloaked in the shadow of the hat brim and

barely discernible in the low light.  A slow, smooth, steady gulp of crisp November night air

was momentarily held then released with a drawn out audible exhausted sigh with the lung

warmed expelled vapor dispersing into the cool night air.  A seemingly defeat inspired voice

then admitted softly, “yup, I went to the meeting” while a gentle touch of the boot quietly

returned the ultimately balanced rock to its preferred resting position in the cold dirt.

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

Apparently, Los Osos CSD has ended its GM management relationship with Peter Kampa and his KAMPA COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS llc, stating his primary purpose had been completed despite an October 6th, 2016 Los Osos CSD meeting PUBLIC COMMENT challenging that gracious farewell press statement.

Rather than my attempting to explain the departure, here are two Los Osos articles for you to check out:

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

LEW HERE AGAIN……gosh, I sure wish our Board would wake up and smell the chlorine as to the monumental waste of money and effort Kampa & Kompany orchestrated here at the Lake Don Pedro CSD for his special interest land development purposes.  (Also, please do not forget how Kampa and his company actually achieved that GM appointment through a board developed “closed recruitment process” guaranteeing Kampa could, and would, be the only applicant and ultimate appointee to the position.  In other words, Kampa has performed exactly as those sitting directors had intended – to develop an alternate source of water to further expand outside PLACE OF USE water service in circumvention of  water license restrictions for MERCED RIVER WATER.)

Perhaps KAMPA’s management activities in Lake Don Pedro are also approaching a “parting of the ways” as well?  Personally, I would much prefer an honest board doing their ethical best (even with “honest mistakes”) over that of a “for profit professional part time remote GM” that ignores established regulations, policies, opinions of customers, and intentionally increasing District Liabilities while pursuing his goal of creating a “water empire in the same drought prone foothills” where he began his infamous water career 20 years ago.   The fact that KAMPA was already aware of  the MERCED RIVER WATER restrictions in L11395 back then makes his recent activities even more reprehensible and outrageous.  Sure cannot say he didn’t know!

Guess it’s true….. perpetrators always return to the scene of the crime.  

{not so lol for customers trying to survive in a State recognized disadvantaged community.}

I cannot help but wonder what impact, if any, KAMPA’s GROUND WATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM (specifically designed to circumvent the restrictions in water license 11395 regarding MERCED RIVER WATER USE to continue service expansion for land developers outside the legal PLACE OF USE) might have had on the State’s recent  proposal to increase environmental releases from Lake McClure which could very well lead to serious future ramifications regarding our water availability here in Lake Don Pedro.

Think about that.  Kampa aggressively pushed for the new groundwater substitution wells to circumvent those license restrictions just to provide water service beyond the legal Place of Use which was established decades ago, yet for the program to work even more Merced River water must be used.  [Diluting the degree of arsenic contamination from groundwater for safe consumption.]  Could the STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD have interpreted KAMPA’s  special interest activities as an indication that the LDPCSD already had MORE THAN ENOUGH AVAILABLE SURFACE WATER and could therefore AFFORD TO LOSE some of it for increased environmental releases?   (I clearly recall warnings by our legal counsel when I was on the Board of Directors that pursuing further water  service connections outside the PLACE OF USE under L11395 could conceivably jeopardize the water service for  EVERYONE.)

Maybe the SWRCB realized STATE AND FEDERAL GRANT MONEY was obtained through MISREPRESENTATION OF FACT and then those funds were MISAPPROPRIATED TO CONSTRUCT AND DEVELOP KAMPA’s GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM WITH AN “ALTERNATE SOURCE”  RATHER THAN repairing and replacing our failing primary infrastructure which is obviously based on the treatment of surface water from Lake McClure which might also have suggested the LDPCSD did not need as much surface water from the lake to meet our water demand?   So maybe the State figured “why not put that water to better use in maintaining the survival of other species that DO REQUIRE THAT WATER”?   (I mean, it’s not like  Salmon and other water dependent creatures could obtain public funds through misrepresentation and then construct their own groundwater supply to insure survival.)

Heck, KAMPA & KOMPANY even created and furnished our water consuming community with a “foreseeable negative consequence” to boot!  Due to the insistence on developing new ground wells our community must now contend with the expensive proposition of arsenic removal which I  would imagine also entails additional monitoring and reporting to State Health Department officials to insure customers are not adversely affected health wise.  Please realize there was no arsenic problem with the surface water from the lake prior to KAMPA’s groundwater substitution program.

You know, I am truly sick of this KAMPA KRAPA and am not sure if I care to waste any more time attending LDPCSD meetings or reporting on what other Kampa activities are in store for us.   Seriously, what is the point?   They (Kampa & Kompany) will only continue to do as they please.   Who is going to stop them?  {RECALL Kampa & Kompany is merely a shorthand description for those who support service expansion beyond permitted areas in the water license while forcing all to pay for that special benefit.}

Take PUBLIC COMMENT for instance.   The District repeatedly violated its own policy regarding how PUBLIC COMMENT was to be reported in the Minutes so customers (or other interested parties) could understand topic discussions, complaints, and/or suggestions.  So, what was the response?  Did KAMPA & KOMPANY apologize for the obvious censorship and propose to correct those violations by finally abiding by their own existing policy to provide the public with a fair and reasonable comment period that is documented in our records?  Nope.  They simply propose changing the policy to fit the goal of suppressing contrary opinions being documented in the record.  This only results in more Kampa sanitized records.

The POST MEDICAL RETIREMENT BENEFIT issue?  Where is the neutral third party analysis of the facts?  Never happened.  An attorney works for the client, and what the client wants, the attorney assists in delivering.  How is that impartial?   Also please do not forget when KAMPA made an issue of these benefits several other retired employees voiced an interest in also receiving those previously discontinued benefits -this has the potential of creating yet another extremely costly gigantic “Kan of Kampa Worms”!    (Please do not misunderstand, I wish nothing but the best for our employees, but this issue was just another example of how KAMPA has done everything in his power to increase District expenses which will undoubtedly be used as evidence in justification for greatly increased water rates/fees for everyone else.)

What about 40 years of water service WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL SERVICE BOUNDARY MAP?  PURE BULLSHIT!  There has always been an official map but those wanting water outside the legal PLACE OF USE were obstructed from receiving MERCED RIVER WATER so it just conveniently disappeared (like many inconvenient “official records”).    Golly gee, no map, no violation.  Problem solved.   Sure haven’t seen the promised RE-CONSTRUCTED OFFICIAL LAKE DON PEDRO WATER SERVICE BOUNDARY MAP yet either…..just the same antiquated “proposed map” KAMPA and his OUTSIDE PLACE OF USE land developer buddies have attempted to pass-off as a legitimate document for decades.   Heck that piece of crap is still on public display on the LDPCSD website as well as the boardroom wall.

Yes indeed folks, it is extremely difficult and quite frustrating to challenge those who make, and plan to make, substantial amounts of money by doing AND SUPPORTING THINGS the “KAMPA WAY” — all at the “legitimate customer’s expense” – financially, and now, possibly even health wise too.  (Do you think for a nano-second KAMPA & KOMPANY would admit to providing water with an arsenic amount over the State Maximum Contaminant Level?)

Will this corrupt mess ultimately be exposed as the INSTITUTIONALIZED FRAUD it has appeared to be for decades?   Yes, I think it will – and just like the results in this last presidential election – the public and the “POWERS THAT BE” will eventually recognize the corruption and unethical activities for what they are and respond appropriately.   We’ll just have to wait for reconciliation while continuing to pay for such deceit as long as PETE KAMPA, KAMPA COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS, llc, and his special interest land development associates are at the helm of our sinking LDPCSD ship.

 

Humm, a ground well inspired farewell?

 

My best to you and yours, Lew

 

PS:   Below are two of Mr. Wes Barton’s monthly emails to those interested in this continuing LDPCSD saga:

I am formally asking this Board to reject subject motion “….resolution clarifying medical benefits ……  .

Resolution has 9 (1-9)paragraphs beginning with “whereas”, 1 (10)paragraph beginning with “now therefore”

1 (11) paragraph beginning with “wherefore”.  I’ll reference paragraphs 1-11 for my comments.

Begin paragraph 5 thru 7.  Yes there is an April listing of history found but listing was never approved.

Failed April 2016, vote 2-2-1.  Recorded in minutes May 2016.          Second, Barton prepared a letter to the

Board and GM on July 9, 2016, addressing CPA reports’ probable errors regarding not only the cencus but

Also the life of this benefit.  Barton showed that Staff (Syndie) listing (report) had missed certain info that

Was material (CPA auditor notes, community member u-tube tape, concerns over hire dates with handbook

Preparation and no clarification of missing “grandfathered documents” noted in handbook).  Point of these

Missed items is  not to question Staff listing of what was found but only that not all was found and reported.

From a control point, without control of all documents, cannot assume you have a material listing.    Last

Presentation to the Board and GM of Barton’s letter was Sept 18, 2016.      On Sept 19, GM asked board

For permission to use CSD Attorney as reviewer not as an independent 3^rd party.  Board didn’t approve but

Didn’t reject (no action taken).  At issue with Sept 19, agenda item also is that it discussed the purpose of

Review is CSD records whereas it had been agreed in public meeting the purpose was to evaluate the

“Words only” of the handbook.  Apparently, GM asked for a legal review and counseling not evaluate the

Words only.  Several meetings this clarification had been made (especially since no way of determining if

All documentation history was possible).

Paragraph 8, is opinion.  Was never questioned could the policy be more clear.  Was never questioned

Would written policy be better than verbal.  Was never questioned that the revised policy in July was

Responsible.   In short, might be good opinion, just wrong purpose and subject.

Paragraph 9, is a second attempt to get the Board to approve the list discussed above  paragraph 5-7.

(This may be a very annoying habit of GM.)

Paragraph 10 and 11, should fail.

Why am I concerned about this, besides general honesty.  The Board in 2008-9, goal was honorable;

I estimate ½ million cost for the last 2 only not considering ongoing employees’ cost for ever.  This is

Not an expense that a small CSD can afford.  I also have questions as to why this came-up again?

I wonder if this was as honorable as the 2008-9 Board was.  I sincerely doubt that the two employees

Were promised this bene until recently.

If the Board is sincerely, ethically, morally hurt, then all they have to do is add the two with a waiver

Beginning today.  This would allow the adjustment for past considerations, reducing some cost while

Honoring the past intended actions.

PLEASE READ IN MEETING OR ALLOW TO BE READ, REVIEWED REGARDLESS OF COMMUNITY LIMITATIONS

POLICY.

Wes Barton

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

First, Lord, I really have been trying not to “bad-mouth” my brothers but sometimes it is the “person” not the process.

Second, since most of you have shown little interest in the CSD and do not plan to attend the meeting I’ll try my best

To be brief but outline what is happening as listed in this agenda (need to click “attached” to understand detail):

3)a,b,c present only (no action expected):  Obviously since no one furnished any commentary.  But, Bd President asks

    Public to contact GM (not Board members) in advance of meetings.  BD/GM apparently believe they are not subject

    To public though CA Code explicitly says otherwise.

4)a,b approve prior financial (treasurer’s) info and minutes:  financials are still erroneous after being highlighted

    Previously.  Still incomplete as defined as “basic” financials.                          October minutes are missing.  Specially

    Onerous since it included a closed meeting “report out”.  (Only chance I’m aware of for “secret meeting” concerning

    ½ million dollar employee benefit, GM potential legal/insurance issues, GM loss of another CSD “job”)

    It is also interesting that GM wants to decrease transparency of reporting minutes from meetings.  Ref 5) e.

5)a,b,c relatively self explanatory so I will address “the rest of the story” behind budget changes:  1^st GM has been on

    Board for over 2 years; this defines full responsibility–not “staff’s fault”.     GM has discovered major items not budgeted

    (major risk of major shut down).  Could be $300000.  Health Department involved concerning water quality.  (Won’t

    Discuss the barge[s] and previous GM; another story)   $300000 is being taken from “intake pipe” budget.  Last year

    Or so 4 major leaks, 65-70% water loss each time;          “priorities, priorities who knows the priorities”?

    Note: this reminds me of the story behind the story.  Multi-hundreds of thousands of dollars per well that can’t operate

    Without “surface” (lake) water.  Did we dig the wells because no lake water?

5)d going on since 2010 !  Inventory of correspondence was not approved !  Barton later showed examples where other 3^rd

    Party persons input was missing.  GM couldn’t find a commercial “arbiter” to settle the WORDING ONLY of the employee

    Handbook.  Thus GM hired the CSD’S lawyer to consult on all issues of the law.  After all the discussions, Board President

    Must condemn this action of GM.  If President wants to give this benefit to two employees (my estimate $500000), he

    Needs to ask the board to approve, now.

5)f, g relatively self explanatory.    MID, CSD and you and I are in a major fight for our home and access to water.

EDITORIAL:  GM when hired stated that CSD wasn’t his type of client; too small.  HE HAS PROVED IT !  WE’VE PAID FOR IT!

QUESTION  IS : how much more do we pay?  He has proved it at McCloud, CA, Sonora, CA and recently Los Osos.  (others ?)

Note: last 30-60 days, Los Osos CSD didn’t renew Kampa LLC contract but hired another “contract firm”.  Reading a local

Los Osos “rag/web” this week, writer referred to “bureaucratic leach” in describing the departure of Kampa LLC and the

Hiring of the new contractor.  I’m not going to go that far but this non-licensed, part time, non-residential, non-hands-on,  Outside

GM Isn’t working.  As the GM is comfortable blaming a near, non-existent staff, our board apparently thinks they

Have limited responsibility if they have piles of paper (over and over again) and a “GM” .  As the folks stated in the Newsweek

Bloomberg magazine discussing Kampa/Nestle leaving McCloud, CA, we are still suffering thru the “legacy cost”.    Kampa

Will be gone, he always does go.       We are already over our heads trying to act like we are a “Hetch-Hetchy” water system.

We’re not !          Our last Financial Mgr had the guts to show a five year forecast.  CSD’s GM just piles more and more paper in

Front of the Board; they just move it on.  Apparently scared to ask, when is enough ?  [Sounds like the two trillion dollar debt

We gave our kids, huh?)                        Whatever you do don’t come to the meeting, very limited seating; they count on it!