I was feeling a bit down the other morning, likely due to reflecting upon the decades of concerted effort in acquiring Merced River Water for land development projects outside the legal Place Of Use – and how that pesky technicality was remedied with the plan of developing more very expensive groundwater wells in order to replace Merced River Water leaving the legal POU with groundwater. OK – but here is the problem I perceive with this 37+ year operating plan….  (ready?)

As if you didn’t already know after all these repetitive blah blah blahs regarding the subject? lol.   But do not fret, I am tired and beginning to understand such feeble attempts at public education on my part along with the sincere hope for intervention and correction have most likely been in vain.  Nothing is going to change, with the exception of course, as to how much more money will be required from the MERCED RIVER WATER ENTITLED CUSTOMERS of the subdivision to continue expanding this GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM for developers outside the POU. 

And when that day comes, which it inevitably will, and subdivision residents and availability fee paying absentee owners are screaming about the monthly service charge and water consumption fee and the big hike in “standby fees” being so outrageous for what they receive – if I am still around I will nod my head in agreement, smile and probably say something like “you can’t fight city hall” or “the special interests of greed always win”  while taking solace in the knowledge at least I tried.

So, once again – while I am still here to annoy you with obsessive repetition….I do not believe it is ethical to surreptitiously obtain the money required for this GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM from the innocent property owners of the Lake Don Pedro subdivision who were/are entitled to Merced River Water in the first place.  The subdivision and golf course were ALWAYS the intended beneficiaries of that MERCED RIVER WATER under water license 11395.  That is why that FORMER SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT  was constructed. 

[QUESTIONS:  Why didn’t the LDPCSD forming LAFCOs prior to 1980, consider why the original developer Boise Cascade had abandoned their many attempts at groundwater sources?  Inadequate production and poor quality water! 

Why would the LAFCOs still continue to greatly expand the LDPCSD District boundaries through speculative annexations thus creating a greater GROUNDWATER DEMAND on paper?  Remember the engineer’s MORE DEVELOPMENT TO JUSTIFY EXPENSIVE TREATMENT PLANT CAPACITY UPGRADES COMMENT? 

Were Tuolumne and Mariposa, and their respective county departments, commissions and officials also supportive of Pete Kampa’s return to Lake Don Pedro CSD – so he could assist in solving the GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROBLEM the LAFCOs had created? 

Trusting that Kampa, with his influential state connections and grant writing abilities, could obtain a PARTIAL GRANT SOLUTION to the substantial financial responsibility the counties had forced on the unsuspecting and innocent property owners of the Lake Don Pedro subdivision – a designated disadvantaged community?]

?

The concept of our special district providing water service to a particular group of customers, within a defined service area, and only for the cost required to provide that service, has been corrupted to the obvious benefit of land development interests

NOT ENTITLED TO MERCED RIVER WATER. 

This GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM should be clearly spelled out in district policy and disclosed in every title transaction involving Lake Don Pedro subdivision property where the owners are essentially mandatory LDPCSD customers and subject to this increasingly expensive special benefit. 

ANYWAY….

I was feeling a little down and a person I had just met commented on how there were different ways to look at things and offered an example with which most of us are familiar….

Is the glass half empty?   (negative perspective)

Or

Is the glass half full?        (positive perspective)

Though I had never heard or thought of such a response before I quipped –

but isn’t the issue more of “what” is in the glass?

After reading about how the Piney Creek area was annexed into the LDPCSD service area as an “island of future district service” (generally discouraged by LAFCo policies) in  exchange for the transfer of Water Rights – which turned out NOT TO EXIST,  I caught myself thinking about that whole concept of Water Right “give and take”, for what purposes, and foreseeable outcomes by those involved.

Does it seem ethical or right for the MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT to

• be a party to LDPCSD annexation agreements
• where the MID receives another valuable Water Right (possessed by the “to be annexed property”)
• contingent upon the LDPCSD furnishing future water service,
• to properties STILL outside the legal Place of Use under water license 11395 ——
• [which is held by the MID and
• used by the LDPCSD to pump MERCED RIVER WATER from Lake McClure [for the intended purpose of subdivision and golf course consumption],
• ——  which must therefore be provided groundwater through an extremely expensive GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM (with the additional costs for ARSENIC and OTHER CONTAMINANT removal, monitoring, state reporting, etc.) ,
• which is paid for by the originally intended MERCED RIVER WATER ENTITLED CUSTOMERS (of the Lake Don Pedro subdivision) even though,
• such annexations were intentionally concealed from the <MR WECs> of the subdivision
  
• by both LDPCSD and the “property annexation approving LAFCOs” through such means as a
• coordinated avoidance of required district Municipal Service Reviews which would have made such “slumbering annexations” known to the <MR WECs> of the subdivision and general public?  

Let’s put our thinking caps on….

Who are the beneficiaries of such annexations?  At first blush I would imagine…..

1. The Merced Irrigation District receives another water right,
2. Land developers outside the legal place of use for MERCED RIVER WATER receive a special benefit GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM which increases their profit margin;
3. Real estate associated interests benefit due to the “increased inventory” of properties with quality water,
4. The respective counties are relieved of the financial and logistical burdens of providing water to thousands of acres of drought prone property within jurisdictions,
5. For profit district management companies such as KAMPA COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS llc, (KAMPACS) and their traditional sub contractors benefit with treatment plant re-configurations, upgrades, line extensions further outside POU, groundwater well development, etc.
6. and County and State entities receive increased tax revenue from the improved lands  … so many benefit from such a “foothill water empire” based on an expensive and unreliable GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM!!!

Q: But who is injured, incurs additional expense, and/or liabilities for this diversion from intended water service?

A: The past, present, and future property owners within the Lake Don Pedro Owners Association subdivision who must subsidize a special benefit GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM for outside third party land developers demanding cheap quality water.

So, is it just a matter of perspective ……

“ANYTHING VALUABLE REQUIRES PROTECTION”

My best to you and yours, Lew

Check out this 1985 PRO DISTRICT EXPANSION OUTSIDE MIDPOU SUPPORT LETTER.

WITHOUT A SINGLE WORD as to where MERCED RIVER WATER could legally be served!

N  THEIR JOB?CC

WAIT A MINUTE! PAGE A2…..4th paragraph….Does it sound like all that property around the EMERY ROSS CATTLE RANCH (formerly part of Sturtevant Ranch) was not yet annexed into the district boundary?

“This reservoir can serve by gravity outside District boundaries in Section 34 Township to to South Range 15 East, portions of Penon Blanco Road, Highway 132, and The Old State Highway extending south, east, and west from this section.  In addition, the District is committed to serve the lands of Sturtevant in this area.”

“…can serve by gravity….”    and not,  “….does serve by gravity….”???

WHAT DOES THE ORIGINAL (DECADES AWOL) 1980 LAFCO FORMATION MAP ILLUSTRATE?

Was all that STURTEVANT PROPERTY already included in 1980?  Or was it later added thanks in no small part to this “EXPANSION ADVOCACY LETTER BY BINKLEY ENGINEERS” just before the major 1987 SPHERE OF INFLUENCE BOUNDARY CHANGES TO BE MADE?  (When LAKE SHORE RANCH and others were presumably brought into the District SOI – despite the district’s inability to provide MERCED RIVER WATER to those properties.)

THAT 1980 FORMATION MAP IS THE KEY TO MUCH OF THIS-

is that why it has been missing since shortly after LDPCSD formation?

SHOULD NOT A LAFCO (LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION) BE REQUIRED TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN ACCURATE PUBLIC RECORDS OF THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS THEY FORM WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTIONS?

CHECK IT OUT!

“In addition, the District is committed to serve the lands of Sturtevant in this area”?

(Pretty subjective opinion based on a relative’s suspicious 10 meter agreement to increase the service area 17 years earlier and 12 years before the LDPCSD WAS EVEN FORMED!)

“COMMITTED TO SERVE”?   Not according to the CPUC approval of the transfer of facilities and assets to the new LDPCSD!

Service to the STURTEVANT RANCH PROPERTY certainly could have been argued to be one of those “LIABILITIES” completely owned by SIERRA HIGHLANDS and NOT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW LDPCSD! (Heck, SIERRA HIGHLANDS CREATED THE MESS – THEY SHOULD OWN IT!  Not the innocent MR WECs of the subdivision!

IS THIS WHY LAFCO PREEMPTIVELY CHANGED THE SERVICE AREA BEFORE THE FACILITY/ASSETS WERE LEGALLY TRANSFERRED BY THE CPUC TO THE LDPCSD?

IF the 1980 map does show STURTEVANT within the DISTRICT BOUNDARIES as has been represented for decades.

However, IF that original 1980 map shows STURTEVANT outside the DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, then perhaps the STURTEVANT RANCH was placed within DISTRICT BOUNDARIES later after BINKLEY’S EXPANSION ADVOCACY LETTER IN 1985 just before the 1987 SOI Changes?  BUT WAIT!  That’s SPHERE OF INFLUENCE, NOT LEGAL DISTRICT SERVICE AREA BOUNDARIES!

THE MISSING LAFCO 1980 MAP WHICH WAS BASED ON 11 PAGES OF A DETAILED “METES AND BOUNDS” ENGINEER FIELD SURVEY, MUST BE RE-CREATED FOR ANY CHANCE OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN REGARDS TO THE MAJOR PRIVATE LAND DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT WERE CLEARLY INFLUENCING THE FORMATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNED OPERATION OF THE LAKE DON PEDRO CSD.

Thad Binkley orchestrates a “10 meter deal” outside the permitted service area in 1968  (expanding service area just as Sierra Highlands desired), then 17 years later G R BINKLEY, of BINKLEY ASSOCIATES, advises LAFCO that the DISTRICT WAS COMMITTED TO THAT SELF SERVING AGREEMENT TO THE BENEFIT OF THE ENGINEERING FIRM AND THEIR LONG ACQUAINTED LAND DEVELOPER ASSOCIATES IN THE AREA?     

Sure seems like a conflict of interest for the DISTRICT’s ENGINEERING FIRM (and prior associates of SIERRA HIGHLANDS) to represent the expansion interests of land developers NOT ENTITLED TO MERCED RIVER WATER, while simultaneously having the responsibility of maintaining the treatment system to the benefit of the legal customers in the subdivision. 

Activities supporting further outside MIDPOU development for land developers and real estate interests represent a clear liability and detriment to the legal customers of the entitled subdivision who must bear the financial consequences and reduction in efficiency of a surface water treatment plant designed, constructed and intended to serve their subdivision interests. 

“….NATURAL SOURCE FOR SERVICE….”

Even KAMPA’s LAKE SHORE RANCH “SLUMBERING ANNEXATION” was referenced back in this 1985 letter (ten years prior to annexation) while “our engineers” were pushing for further outside MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE water service!

AND NOW I finally understand how the PINEY CREEK ISLAND AREA OF POTENTIAL DISTRICT WATER SERVICE  (in district, paying nothing but can vote in elections) came about…..that deal was apparently contingent on its transferring their “WATER RIGHTS”.   But only AFTER BEING ANNEXED into the district by LAFCO –   Ooops!  Guess what?  

No water rights to transfer – but the annexation was complete and legal through LAFCO?  Sure smells like fraud to me.

The benefits of providing district inclusion- property tax benefits, not required to pay anything to the district, get to vote and determine who represents the interests of those outside the service area, yet the very CONSIDERATION FOR THE DEAL (water rights on Lake McClure) DID NOT EXIST!  And no one knew or investigated or researched the matter

UNTIL AFTER THE ANNEXATION WAS COMPLETE?  Oh Please. 

Perhaps LAFCO was going for one of those “TRANSPARENCY CERTIFICATES” Kampa just obtained for the LDPCSD?  lol

Kind of like performing mechanical work on that new vehicle in the sales lot prior to purchase, then purchasing the same with a RETURNED INSUFFICIENT FUND CHECK – but never-the-less being able to keep and use the vehicle while the auto lot pays all associated expenses for as long as the vehicle is owned! sweet for the thief.

OUTRAGEOUS.

Notice also the

EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION OF

INCREASING THE TREATMENT PLANT CAPABILITIES WAS ALSO DEPENDENT UPON EVEN MORE

EXPANSION OUTSIDE THE MIDPOU!

~~~

“I am sorry, but hospital emergency room

policy requires that I shoot you with this gun

to assure your injuries are sufficiently severe

to require emergency room dedicated services,

but first, please sign this form accepting financial

responsibility for the cost of the bullet and gun rental,

and then we may proceed.  Where do you want it dumb ass?”

~~~

YUP

MR WECs

of the subdivision were getting screwed from every direction possible and didn’t even know it!

Can’t you just imagine some of the LAFCO discussions at the time????  

“Well, golly gee…. based on all this solid evidence for district expansion and our careful inspection of the facts, ….. guess we have no choice but to approve more and more annexations into the district?  This is especially so because the original SIERRA HIGHLANDS WATER COMPANY officials, engineers, employees and hundreds of wannabe customers all say that’s how the COUNTIES will be able to develop all that adjacent property with this massive “foothill water empire” we build ON PAPER today thanks to the LDPCSD. 

Besides, when you think about it, we will be assisting the good citizens and residents of the subdivision in obtaining a better treatment plant in the future by annexing as much as we can right now!      What about that 300 +/- acres by my cousin’s place?

Hey!  Who’s up for lunch? Is Sierra buying? The surf and turf was excellent last time.  Anyone try the Roast Beef?”

(not so lol)

THE LEGAL CUSTOMERS IN THE LDP SUBDIVISION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING PLANNING PHASE FOR THE LAKE DON PEDRO CSD, WERE BEING SET-UP FOR A COSTLY ROLLER COASTER RIDE OF TREATMENT PLANT RE-CONFIGURATIONS, UPGRADES, and NEW OPERATING PROCEDURES, but most importantly, DECADES OF DYSFUNCTIONAL LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT ASSURED THROUGH DISTRICT GERRYMANDERING, ALL FOR THE SAKE OF CONTINUING DISTRICT EXPANSION  OUTSIDE THE LEGAL PLACE OF USE FOR MERCED RIVER WATER !

FULL CIRCLE HUH?

NEED MORE OUTSIDE PLACE OF USE ANNEXATIONS TO JUSTIFY THE ENORMOUS COSTS INVOLVED IN EXPANDING THE TREATMENT PLANT TO SERVE MORE OUTSIDE PLACE OF USE ANNEXATIONS!

SAME PROCESS KAMPA HAS ANNOUNCED, ANNEX MORE OUTSIDE MIDPOU PROPERTIES, DEVELOP MORE GROUNDWATER WELLS, ANNEX MORE OUTSIDE MIDPOU PROPERTIES, DEVELOP MORE GROUNDWA……

HECK.. just “charge” the whole financial nightmare to the innocent and apathy cultivated  MR WECs of the Lake Don Pedro residential subdivision – such easy marks….again, and again, and again!

And so it has been viewers- the legal MERCED RIVER WATER ENTITLED CUSTOMERS of THE LDP SUBDIVISION have been paying for this SPECIAL BENEFIT WATER SUBSIDY FOR LAND DEVELOPERS FOR 37 YEARS and PETE KAMPA was simply returned to re-activate that plan by furnishing an enhanced GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM financed with public resources although obviously dedicated to the special interests of profit chasing private land developers.

 ~

Must get away from this-

I’m trapped in a cycle too-

Always my best to you and yours,

Yet posted by a frustrated Lew!

WAS PETE KAMPA RETURNED AS GM/BOARD TREASURER TO “WAKE UP” HIS 20 YEAR OLD “SLUMBERING SPECIAL INTEREST ANNEXATIONS” with a PUBLIC FUNDED GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM?

(Paid for by

MR WECs   <link>

of the LAKE DON PEDRO SUBDIVISION!) 

(Photos taken during February 2017 monthly meeting)

Remember my 9 item Agenda Request?  Requests that were given only lip service in the GM’s report (so Kampa could later use that agenda placement to argue against a full discussion at the monthly meeting?) yet Kampa/Johnson intentionally omitted the map I had prepared AND ATTACHED to support item #2 about a possible new raw water line from the lake to the treatment plant?

LDPCSD BOARD PRESIDENT DANNY JOHNSON  

(Discussed finding “someone” to write grants to fund

groundwater wells for outside MIDPOU properties

shortly before Pete Kampa’s return to the

LDPCSD in October 2014) 

Here’s a link to that original post five months ago in February:

My 9 Item Agenda request – but the map was “lost”

    DIRECTOR EMERY ROSS

OUTSIDE MIDPOU COMMERCIAL CATTLE RANCHER WHO ORCHESTRATED PETE KAMPA’S RETURN TO THE LDPCSD BY PROVIDING CONFIDENTIAL BOARD INFORMATION TO KAMPA AND CREATING A “CLOSED RECRUITMENT PROCESS” ASSURING APPOINTMENT WITHOUT EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND CHECK

~~~ MY AGENDA REQUEST FROM FEBRUARY ~~~

THE MAP WAS CERTAINLY NOT “LOST”

Like so many records at the LDPCSD, my map was not lost but intentionally omitted from the material to which it was attached.

How can a GM and his crony Board President pick through a customer’s PAID FOR AND LEGALLY SUBMITTED AGENDA REQUEST and simply remove a specific page that they, for their own nefarious reasons, feel objectionable for public review? 

Is that not wrongful censorship of a legally submitted agenda request to a public agency?

SOS ….same ‘ol…..stuff  (lol)

This is the same technique that has been repeated many, many times by the LDPCSD concerning its annexation records.

Ambiguous annexation paperwork which never identified the property being pushed through.  WHO KNEW WHERE THOSE PROPERTIES TO BE ANNEXED WERE  ACTUALLY LOCATED? 

THE TRADITIONAL “REFER TO ATTACHED EXHIBIT” WAS NEVER ATTACHED to the paperwork for referral but the process continued resulting in “SLUMBERING ANNEXATIONS” where only those personally involved knew the truth. 

A Truth that remained quiet until KAMPA’s return to create the GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM NEEDED FOR THEIR RE-ACTIVATION?

KAMPA TRACK RECORD OF PURSUING 20 YEAR OLD PROJECTS – relevant today?

Which raises a number of other questions, but one of particular interest considering the “slumbering status” of these annexations, is just how RELEVANT are special interest secret annexations made 20 years ago considering the recent CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY DROUGHT and the lessons – supposedly learned?  

WERE SUCH ANNEXATIONS EVEN REASONABLE THEN?

Why are so many of them directly tied to commercial real estate and land development interests rather than the interests of the MR WEC‘s of the subdivision for whom that (FORMER) surface water treatment plant was designed, constructed and clearly intended to serve?

One of the maps Pete Kampa displays on the LDPCSD Board room wall also indicates the ORB HATTON subdivision on the eastern shores of Lake Don Pedro as also proposed to be in the district boundaries.  Who knows? Maybe it was secretly approved somehow also and waiting to be re-activated on the Tuolumne County side of the subdivision area?  (Although from what I recall reading in the newspapers back then, Tuolumne County did not go along with such grandiose plans of a bay area land development corporation operating in this area at the time.  Evidently Tuolumne County “HELD THEIR GROUND” at a few public meetings in Sonora.  Actually encourages a bit of faith and trust that “legitimate government” entities might indeed be concerned and protective about the MR WEC‘s of the subdivision.  Someone sure needs to be involved.

TRACK RECORD (past activities) and CHARACTER COUNT

Kampa is not forthcoming or candid with his “hands on” personal experiences with such annexation matters 20 years ago.  In other words, Kampa has proven he is once again MISREPRESENTING LDPCSD FACTS and TRUTH – JUST AS HE DID 20 YEARS AGO.

SEEMS LIKE THE DOCUMENTED PAST OF UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR BY AN INDIVIDUAL APPOINTED GM/BOARD TREASURER and GIVEN ACCESS TO OVER $1 MILLION DOLLARS IN PUBLIC FUNDS, WAS INTENTIONALLY OVERLOOKED BY APPOINTING DIRECTORS WHO  FAILED TO REQUIRE A TRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND CHECK.  

Is that not a failure of their  fiduciary duty to the district and the MR WEC‘s of the subdivision?

“FIDUCIARY:  A person or institution who manages money or property for another and who must exercise a standard of care in such management activity imposed by law or contract; e.g. executor of estate; receiver in bankruptcy; trustee.  A trustee, for example, possesses a fiduciary responsibility to the beneficiaries of the trust to follow the terms of the trust and the requirements of applicable state law.  A breach of fiduciary responsibility would make the trustee liable to the beneficiaries for any damage caused by such breach.” 

Black’s Law Dictionary Fifth Edition  (old edition but the principle remains essentially the same)

RELEVANCY OF ANNEXATIONS DECADES OLD? 

Do land development proposals initiated that long ago still carry the same weight in reasonableness or feasibility after 20 years of restful slumber?  Their inactivity only waiting for the surreptitious return of their “water empire creator” to re-activate the project with GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION FUNDED BY THE PUBLIC but serving the private personal and business interests of a former employee who was “unethically returned” and appointed GM/BOARD TREASURER? (Along with his limited liability management company)

YUP.  Something certainly appears wrong here and several “DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES/OFFICIALS” are involved.

COMMON SENSE APPROACH?

Where is the common sense approach to such planned developments?

What happened to that logical “ZERO SPHERE OF INFLUENCE” PROPOSAL BY THE MARIPOSA COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT IN 1985″? 

That was the only proposal to ever make sense considering the MERCED RIVER WATER restrictions contained in WL11395 but land development expansionists went crazy with even further demands for  our precious natural resource.  The MR WEC‘s of the subdivision had their most valuable resource exploited by the very individuals and government entities entrusted to protect and wisely use such a blessing.

PROBABLY MUCH DEEPER THAN JUST COUNTY AND LDPCSD

Also consider the possibility that the MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT is also working with the COUNTY OF MARIPOSA and PETE KAMPA of the LDPCSD to create some other “SWEETHEART DEAL” outside the public view?

Is this legal? Where does the Brown Act become relevant IF SUCH NEGOTIATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE?

I really do not know.  Getting to the point not much is surprising in this obvious game of customer deceit and deception.

BACK TO THE “REMOVED” MAP IN AGENDA REQUEST

Why would a narrative describing that area be permitted and not the accompanying map?  Same subject, same area, and same players.   Was it because a map is graphical, easier to understand negating the requirement of having to read?  You know, being easier to mentally digest a map and recognize an area rather than reading paragraphs of words and sentences providing no clue as to location?  

Was the map intentionally removed due to the possibility of someone else viewing our agenda packet and realizing that was the same property KAMPA worked with 20 years ago? Or is currently involved in some other greater secret being kept from the MR WEC‘s of the subdivision?

Or was it just another piece of the puzzle that KAMPA/ROSS/JOHNSON could not permit to be picked up and placed in the slowly materializing puzzle image showcasing decades of special district corruption to the detriment of the MR WEC‘s of the subdivision?

I don’t know but believe a good argument could be made for that possibility. 

Anyway- here’s the map KAMPA & JOHNSON REFUSED TO PUT IN THE AGENDA PACKET for public viewing:

WHAT A CO-INCIDENCE – LAKE SHORE RANCH – A PETE KAMPA          “SLUMBERING ANNEXATION” FROM 1995! 

My best to you and yours, Lew

PS  Repetitive after thoughts….

     VP DAN HANKEMEIER               DIRECTOR RUSS WARREN             DIRECTOR JIM SULT

How much did the three directors, not initially involved in KAMPA’s return to Lake Don Pedro in Oct 2014, know about these past annexations and Pete Kampa’s apparent continuing relationship with developers?

Did Kampa explain to ALL BOARD MEMBERS his past activities regarding expanding district service further beyond the MIDPOU of the water license?

IF SO, why wasn’t this revealed to the public when questions regarding issues of outside MIDPOU and annexations were specifically discussed during LDPCSD meetings?

IF NOT, is this the reason ROSS and JOHNSON made sure there would be no background check on KAMPA and his past employment with the LDPCSD?

Did Kampa advise ALL DIRECTORS of his past “working relationship” with Director Emery Ross 20 years earlier in expanding such service?

Was KAMPA  involved in the mysterious “private outside MIDPOU water line” traversing the cattle ranch of Director Ross which starts on Granite Springs Road and serves at least two other outside MIDPOU ranches further south on HWY 132?

Why is there no LDPCSD Utility Easement on that water line as proposed shortly after KAMPA’s resignation in 1997?

Is it ethical leadership and/or management for a public agency to intentionally conceal such information from the MR WEC‘s of the subdivision?

Why would Kampa OBVIOUSLY ENCOURAGE MISINFORMATION AND CONFUSION TO FLOURISH when he could have quite easily “set the record straight” with his personal knowledge of events?

What benefit to the district and its legal customers is achieved through consistent omission of relevant fact and truth by the Board of Directors and their appointed general manager and board treasurer?

Still having difficulty with this.  Sorry, I realize repetitive.  Stuck in a loop of why, why, why?    OK, money obviously.  But why would the county LAFCos go along with such a special interest water development policy in view of the intended purpose of the LDPCSD?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

You know, in all the training classes I ever participated in while on the board that were presented by organizations such as the one KAMPA is apparently connected at the hip to,[i]  I have never heard it suggested that district officials intentionally misrepresent truth or practice omission of pertinent fact, as acceptable techniques for controlling legitimate customer concerns or protests of poor management.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Why were the Meeting Minutes between September 2 1980 to July 2 1981 “condensed”?

Probably because detailed notes would not have reflected well on a Board that immediately began expanding district service and violating the approved service area for Merced River Water after just assuming control of the facility.  But remember, our first GM was the previous GM of a private water company that was suddenly transformed into a public agency by LAFCo due to a positive vote of 88 people to form the LDPCSD.   That first GM believed the LDPCSD should serve water any where it was feasibly possible and the legally permissible issue was simply ignored.    

Those who read the CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (CPUC) approval for the transfer of facilities and assets from Sierra Highlands Water Company to the newly formed LDPCSD, were very much aware of the service area established.  The approval was quite explicit as to what was, and what was not, approved regarding water service.

THEN WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED AFTER CPUC APPROVAL?

JUN 15 1978 MAP SHOWS SIERRA HIGHLANDS WATER COMPANY BOUNDARIES

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

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL “REAL PLAN” FOR THE LDPCSD?

Was water service provided by the LDPCSD to properties that the State Water Board, CPUC  and County Lafcos never intended?

Or.

Was water service provided by the LDPCSD to properties that the State Water Board and CPUC never intended but the County LAFCo’s most certainly did?

IF the former is true, why did the County LAFCos approve so many annexations that were CLEARLY OUTSIDE THE SERVICE AREA ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE WATER BOARD AND THE CPUC during formation and immediately afterward?

IF the later statement is true the question becomes,  Do COUNTY LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION annexations necessarily over-rule decisions of higher State Departments and Commissions?

EVEN THE LDPCSD ATTORNEY

ADVISED IN JUNE OF 1981

NO SERVICE OUTSIDE AREA!

SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG

at the

Lake Don Pedro Community Services District

Like the unpleasant odor of decomposition one picks up on a breeze yet cannot grasp in hand to determine cause, this journey too is primarily sniffing facts and following the unmistakable and obnoxious scent of public agency deceit and betrayal.

Whether a corpse littered field, or unethical activities by public officials pursuing personal/business goals, both should be properly disposed of by the appropriate authorities and as soon as possible.

I can’t shake this Outside MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE (MIDPOU) LAKE SHORE RANCH property annexation  in 1995 during PETE KAMPA’s start of an infamous water career.

DID KAMPA CREATE A

MASSIVE ARTIFICIAL GROUNDWATER DEMAND ON PAPER

through many outside MIDPOU ANNEXATIONS

then returned 20 years later to

COMPLETE THAT PLAN BY PROVIDING

GROUNDWATER WELLS DEVELOPED WITH PUBLIC FUNDS

for the purpose of creating an 

“ALTERNATE SOURCE”

necessary for

GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION

for his

PAST APPROVED yet “quietly slumbering annexations”?

?

“…..so let me introduce to you, the one and only….”

“MR WEC”

(MERCED RIVER WATER ENTITLED CUSTOMER(S) !)

(lol – Thinking Billy Shears huh?)

MR WECs DO NOT APPRECIATE SUBSIDIZING SPECULATIVE LAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS – lol

Then “out of the blue” after the LDPCSD had just reached the $1Millon dollar savings mark after a successful proposition 218 to raise capital to avoid bankruptcy; false information to a grand jury investigator resulting in a director resignation; aggressive land development activities for more service outside the MIDPOU and cheaper water rates; destruction of our Administration Office by arson; then suddenly in May of 2016 (only 5 months prior to Kampa’s return) new LAFCo service area maps for the LDPCSD, which greatly expanded the service area, are placed in LAFCo records with LDPCSD’s blessing.  (you couldn’t make this stuff up!)

KAMPA RETURN (yes again!  it’s important-shows prior knowledge of regulations and former relationship w/director)

A PETE KAMPA return is orchestrated by Directors Emery Ross and Danny Johnson through a highly unethical closed recruitment process to guarantee KAMPA the positions of General Manager and Board Secretary.

As you may recall, PETE KAMPA, having previously worked with EMERY ROSS in the mid 1990s [when ROSS had been denied district water service multiple times but somehow obtained another individual’s meter and service], was well aware of the restrictions on MERCED RIVER WATER per water license 11395 held by the Merced Irrigation District.  KAMPA was well informed as to the ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR A GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM to furnish properties such as the ROSS CATTLE RANCH and other proposed and approved annexations KAMPA had worked with in the 1990s.

KAMPA was quickly provided access to the district’s $1 Million in cash to leverage government grants to construct multiple groundwater wells ostensibly for the benefit of existing customers faced with potential loss of all lake water due to drought.  However, in actuality, KAMPA and others had all along intended to create the necessary “ALTERNATE SOURCE” of water with which to replace every unit of MERCED RIVER WATER intended to be diverted to land developers outside the permitted PLACE OF USE of WL11395.

“PRO-EXPANSION discussions PRIOR TO KAMPA’s RETURN to the LDPCSD, involved finding someone who could write grants to construct groundwater wells for the outside MIDPOU property developers.  (Surely just public prep-work disinformation before announcing the likely very long awaited plan of “re-activating slumbering annexations” with KAMPA’s return.)  I clearly voiced my opposition to that plan when ending my four year term on the board.   I was told such groundwater would not be used for outside MIDPOU use but only for emergency drought purposes.  They lied – otherwise, why such things as the two attempts to abolish 2013-4 which prohibited increasing such service?  Why the necessity of secrecy of LAKE SHORE RANCH?  The steadfast refusal to post accurate maps depicting the actual service boundary and where MERCED RIVER WATER could be served under WL11395?  Why the refusal to post the State Water Board official map of the district?  All this and much more to keep KAMPA & KOMPANY’s plan quiet and out of the public eye?

What CSD purpose is served with such apparent conspiratorial effort to conceal district activities, both past and present, regarding outside MIDPOU service?

What purpose is served to the benefit of MR WEC through continued deception of fact and omission of the truth, regarding a 1995 outside Merced Irrigation District Place of Use (MIDPOU) annexation of 900 acres for a proposed subdivision adjacent to MR WEC’s subdivision?

Even more importantly, was it appropriate for the LAFCo to apparently co-operate and assist the LDPCSD in preventing potential local protest of such annexations (lack of LDPCSD community notice, hearing & election), which again, by virtue of their outside MIDPOU status, would certainly cause an increase in operation costs to the detriment of MR WEC’s subdivision under the water license? 

What purpose is served, other than to continue the years of disinformation and deceit to conceal pertinent facts from the public, for KAMPA to REPEATEDLY FAIL TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON APPROVED ANNEXATIONS and LEGAL POU ISSUES UNDER 11395 with which he was PERSONALLY INVOLVED AS AN EMPLOYEE 20 years earlier? 

Is that not a form of lying to the the very customers the LDPCSD receives payment and is supposed to serve?

Heck, when the board has a Closed Session (permitted in accordance with the Open Meeting/Brown Act for certain actions), even the “report out” provides a general description of the meeting so the public can appreciate and understand the necessity for such confidential discussions. 

“Nawwww…..this is different – now don’t ya see?” 

as Gunsmoke Festus would say.  lol

WHY PETER KAMPA? 

Not only because he was previously and personally involved with the peculiar approvals of many of these 20 year old annexations and proposed developments, but more importantly, he had made and developed many very influential contacts within the state water system industry.  Heck, KAMPA taught classes to politicians, operators, GMs, Special District directors,…etc.

Kampa was once again preparing to saddle the innocent MR WECs of the subdivision with even higher unnecessary costs which also will also increase in cycles for perpetuity – just to continue funding and operating his special interest GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM to circumvent WL11395 restrictions for his developer acquaintances known 20 years earlier.   MR WECs of the subdivision did not care for this plan, back then or now as it does not make sense when considering all the facts for this area.  There were also droughts before 1995.  Certainly not as bad as the last one which should always remain relevant to this discussion of service expansion using groundwater wells.

AVAILABILITY FEES PAID ON PROPERTY TAXES

This is another good example of how the extremely powerful influences of land development and real estate have controlled this area for decades – and that’s the real “best kept secret” around here.  Consider.   A MR WEC of the subdivision is either 1) a resident water consumer who pays a monthly charge of $53 plus the amount of water consumed and these charges have obviously gone up since formation, or  2) An Absentee owner who pays an “availability fee on their property taxes, which is $60/ac, with a maximum of $180 a year (including fractional divisions thereof).

WHY MAXIMUM OF 3 acres?

How many properties does MR WEC in the subdivision own that are over 3 acres? (Very few)

So why should a property of three acres pay the same yearly availability fee as one with several hundred acres?  But wait!  Where are the “open several hundred acres” of unimproved properties in the approved MIDPOU for the subdivision?  There aren’t any.  Kassabalm Flats  perhaps on Ranchito Dirve has open land, but not that much.

Ah oh….side note.    What about our NATURAL PARKS that are obviously within the subdivision?  Was that a spin off goal plan back then when Orb Hatton and Dwight Mueller suggested the LDPOA sell our open park land to developers for cash?  Sell our parks to developers who could then pull strings for re-zoning,  subdivide the park and claim a right to a meter on every “condo sized lot” over-looking “Dead Possum Gulch” because they are in the subdivision and therefore the MIDPOU and thus entitled to Merced River Water like original MR WEC?   Who knows?  Such “players” seem to be able to do a lot of things most of us understand is against the law and unethical.

ANYWAY, why has this $60/ac Max $180/yr NEVER BEEN CHANGED IN OVER TWENTY YEARS WHILE LEAVING ESCALATING COSTS TO BE PAID FOR BY THE RESIDENT WATER CONSUMERS?  Because we are trapped – unless you care to sell at a loss to the very people that are causing this water problem.  Absolutely wild!

Yup, the same interests that are pushing for MORE OUTSIDE MIDPOU WATER SERVICE (that must be replaced with expensive groundwater – with the added bonus of arsenic removal costs) scream and cry it’s not fair to raise their costs on property not receiving water yet – heck it will be more difficult to sell it multiple times!

FRIGG’N UNBELIEVABLE!

Poor old MR WEC – catching it from both sides of THIS FINANCIAL EQUATION by the SO GOSIP [rem?  SAME OLD GROUP OF SPECIAL INTEREST PEOPLE]

The SO GOSIP increase the costs dramatically for the legal MR WECs ; reap the profits by increasing a property’s value with good water; adamantly resist any attempt at having to pay a “Fair share” in availability fees on speculative land; but all the while continually pushing for more extremely expensive GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION paid for by the MR WECs of the subdivision to expand into vast areas within which they have an interest.  Greed my friends, greed.   Same as always  …

THEY DIDN’T WANT OUR SUBDIVISION LAND WITH WATER

THEY WANTED OUR SUBDIVISION WATER ON THEIR LAND.

KAMPA HAS HI-JACKED A SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT INTENDED FOR MR WECs of the subdivision.

That’s why residents pay $53 a month before using a drop of water – on top of the water consumption charge!

Yes I did just see John Wick again.  (Keanu Reeves) One of the most action-packed – violent movies I’ve seen on television for a while.  (Some of the SCI FI stuff is pretty gruesome)  Anyway, I was almost exhausted just watching it!  lol   Now I am certainly not advocating ANY FORM OF VIOLENCE, but rather, just the opposite

and using only five letters from the word VIOLENCE,

use your

VOICE!

Speak up as a MR WEC (MERCED RIVER WATER ENTITLED CUSTOMER) and demand protection of this subdivision’s most precious natural resource  – quality Merced River Water straight from Yosemite National Park!

You might as well, because as sure as the smell on a decomposing puppy, PETE KAMPA won’t. 

..must get away from this!

My best to you and yours, Lew

oh yeah….just have to type it!  .….PUPPY MONKEY BABY    PUPPY MONKEY BABY    PUPPY MONKEY BABY   lol!

First time I saw that on TV thought I had suffered some quiet brain annexation of my own!  lol  later