Wow! This is so much easier (in some respects) doing individual posts rather than editing a long running page (Years 2020 & 2019), but for the last year I have held tight to the dream some honest employee in State Government might have the authority to intervene in this outrageous criminal conspiracy spanning decades that was ALMOST SUCCESSFUL with the planned substitution of a DIGITAL FAKE MID POU MAP with the real one (1978) on file with the State Water Board in Sacramento.

When Pete Kampa explained the State of California was requiring a digital format for responding to their NOTICE OF VIOLATION – it certainly didn’t sound right and opened the door to disinformation being commingled with legitimate materials. Can you imagine how screwed up the State Water Board must be when they submit to the public that the Merced River flows through Sutter County up north?

Did any of you check out last meetings agenda packet? (Have you requested to be added to the list?)

Geez….the Agenda Packet below sure took some time to post …forgot how to upload/download a pdf file! lol seriously! I can’t take a break from this stuff without having to retrain. Anyway, one of the points I want to stress is the fact the District and other local government entities have not been honest with the mandatory MERCED RIVER WATER ENTITLED CUSTOMERS (MR WECS) of the Lake Don Pedro subdivision who have paid the lion’s share of costs of operation since formation in August 1980. Unfortunately, much of those costs were focused on violating the water license to provide water to developers wanting to create other subdivisions adjacent to ours – while we paid for their planning, development and extra costs for their “specially blended water” which we must now consume also instead of the quality Merced River water in the lake! (They must receive groundwater substitution but don’t want to pay for their own groundwater well, whereas in the subdivision we generally can’t have private groundwater wells where CSD is available and are thus MANDATORY CUSTOMERS who have no choice but to pay and pay without district answers to legitimate festering questions lingering for years!

LAFCO ANNEXED PROPERTIES have a choice develop their own well and develop. Or don’t.

Problem is, many real estate folks told prospective owners of such property they had a right to water and would receive such water service in the future. WRONG! Buyer Beware!

Worse yet, the original developers of the subdivision and water company also manipulated land prices and sales with promises of future water and they remained our engineers for over 50 years until only recently leaving during the State Water Board Notice of Violation – and the three separate attempts to close the investigation with further FALSE INFORMATION provided by Pete Kampa and his agents in deceit. (Did you know Pete Kampa is a 20 year board director for the CSDA? California Special Districts Association in Sacramento which is an enormously powerful lobbying organization for special districts like ours? oh, you knew that huh? lol)

Employees at the LDPCSD (many inherited from Boise Cascade) also intentionally violated regulations to supply their friends and associates holding property outside the subdivision who were assured they could get water……eventually. Sure, there were some who wanted water so they could live here but many were grandiose plans for other subdivisions just to make money while the lowly LDP subdivision property owners paid for their expensive groundwater substitution. What a scam!

Imagine, it has taken 5 years just to get our current Board of Defectors to recognize the legal PLACE OF USE for MERCED RIVER WATER per that very clear language contained in water license 11395 held by the Merced Irrigation District (MID) and the equally clear conditions in the water agreement with the MID.

CHECK OUT the Blackwater Draft Preliminary Engineering Report (July 2020) on page 233 where the MID WATER AGREEMENT – highlighted in yellow – requires monthly reporting.

Why has our traditional MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT OUTSIDE PLACE OF USE report (which satisfied the MID reporting requirements) not been returned to the monthly board packet? (Kampa removed it soon after his hi-jacking of our district thanks to the board of do nothing defectors who would not ask one simple question: WHERE IS THE LEGAL MERCED RIVER WATER PLACE OF USE BOUNDARY PER LICENSE RESTRICTIONS?)

Heck they gave Kampa $35,000 for a digital mapping program to answer that question but what did we get for that money? An incorrect fabricated map produced by yet another CSDA affiliate which suggested contacting the MID for place of use information. LOL

MID was working with Kampa because his water service to LAFCO ANNEXATIONS helped them too. They advocated for some of those annexations so they could snag the water rights the property held with a promise of future water service! Essentially forcing the LDPCSD to pay for their added water right benefit. Think about that,.

The water license is held by the MID. They are responsible for making sure restrictions are not violated, yet there they are making water right deals left and right and passing on the “payment” to a district operating under their license which couldn’t possibly provide water to LAFCO ANNEXATIONS outside the subdivision. Full circle. MR WECS has been betrayed by every single entity involved with this fraud of a CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICT.

Look what entity created the LDPCSD….the LDPOA! When did you ever hear of our association using any of its substantial revenue or legal influence to protect their own property owners within the subdivision who are mandatory customers of a rogue special district?

What about their water rights in the future?

They are the only owners the California Public Utility Commission recognized as legally entitled to that lake water.

So?

Then why all the lies, deceit, and misdirection? Why misuse of the initial EMERGENCY DROUGHT GRANT FUNDING to develop extremely expensive and unreliable groundwater wells by Pete Kampa and his board when those funds (and relaxed permitting process) was the perfect opportunity to start development of the McClure Deep Water Project which has been on the books since the 1990s?

Simple answer, providing water to the legally entitled subdivision owners was LESS IMPORTANT than creating an ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF WATER to mix with our quality Merced River water so it could circumvent water license restrictions and be served outside the legal POU of the SUBDIVISION to LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission)) ANNEXED PROPERTIES Pete Kampa set up between 1994-1997.

Kampa was unethically brought back to the LDPCSD to finish the MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PLANS he assisted in setting up 20 years earlier by providing a water service with which to develop – all to be paid for by MR WECs of the legal subdivision for perpetuity.

REM?

THEY DIDN’T WANT OUR SUBDIVISION LAND WITH WATER

ONLY OUR SUBDIVISION WATER ON THEIR LAND

I digress….anyway, below is the agenda packet for the last meeting so you can double check my scans and read for the entire context.

Sorry, but this is clearly meant to mislead the reader……

Those fines were one of the last things I voted on as a director when leaving my 2010-2014 term. Originally Kampa and his supporters wanted $500 to $1000 fines, I objected and suggested the lower amounts that were ultimately approved. Apparently I wasn’t the only one fearful of even a $250 fine for using what “they said” was “too much water” while simultaneously selling our emergency drought groundwater to properties outside the subdivision – our customers used 50% of what they normally would and many lost valuable landscaping.

Notice the difference in description contained in the below Tuolumne County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan report regarding our LDPCSD groundwater wells? (Thanks for the honesty Tuolumne County!)

Well, I’ve spent waaaaaaay too much time on this but will no doubt return many times as there is much misleading information. You know, it’s rather like an incremental relay race. Every year they push just a little further, lay back (or resign) until the next individual incrementally pushes the scam a little further – all the while steadfastly refusing to acknowledge their negligent and wrongful activities of the past.

Cheats and liars who betrayed neighbors

Think they’re so smart, safe, and clever

Refusing to admit when caught with what done

But those who read know them much better

My best to you and yours, Lew

Well, I’ve waited for over one year so it would seem reasonable to stop the hopeful waiting for a CALIFORNIA STATE WATER BOARD response and answer to a slew of legitimate questions about the attempted digital substitution of a 1993 Merced Irrigation District shape file map from an abandoned project for the real McCoy June 15, 1978 MID Place of Use Map hard copy for water license 11395 filed at the State Water Board in Sacramento. Gosh! No one, not even the State Attorney General is concerned about such a criminal conspiracy to violate long established State Water Law regarding Merced River water. Heck….the State Water Board still references the Merced River as being in Sutter County up north under Water License complaints – and complaint resolved even! lol The State Water Board doesn’t know where the Merced River is? Wow .

ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT – “how can they continue to do this with impunity?” SO?……

OK, we’ll be done with that as the opening post for now on but I will likely be posting links to it in the future because it is very important. It shows how people within government – even those trusted with enforcing the law equally – can manipulate the system to the benefit of whomever they choose. It’s called corruption. Anyway, no big surprise huh?

Speaking of covering up decades of criminal conspiracy to violate state water law, here’s the last LDPCSD Board of Directors Meeting I would guess was held on July 20th 2020 at sometime after 1300hrs, but you’d never know it from the official meeting recording – either as a label on the disk or from information gleaned from the audio recording. You’ll see, and hear for yourselves in a little bit. Anyway, some quick notes of that board meeting follow.

LDPCSD JULY 20 2020 Monthly Board Meeting (meeting date per the agenda, not on recording or CD)

VP Hankemeier – A very quick start to meeting without any prior notice or any of the normal opening statements such as the date, starting time, purpose of the meeting, directors present, absent, etc…. stated there were no public attendees; gavels meeting to order; and starts the pledge of allegiance which he apparently recited incorrectly (changed by the board? lol)   VP stated without anyone there the meeting should go faster and announces first item on the agenda, …. no public comment without attendees, then Board Secretary Syndie Marchesiello reminded this multi-year sitting Vice President he needed to establish a quorum….

VP Dan Hankemeier stated three directors were present, Russ (Director Warren) would not be coming in due to work issues and Danny Johnson (Board President) was not there… so three…..  Emery Ross and Syndie stated for the record they did have a quorum with Ross, Sperry and Hankemeier to which the VP responded “yes”.   No public comments, no presiding officer’s report so straight to the General Manager’s report by Patrick McGowan.

General Manager/Treasurer, Patrick McGowan

LEW’S BLAH BLAH BLAH NOTE:  This current GM/Treasurer, who has a MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT past family association (a family association which was specifically withheld from public knowledge by current Board President Danny Johnson who also refused to release the particulars of Mr. McGowan’s past employment record prior to and after his hiring with the LDPCSD – after Kampa resigned and suggested McGowan’s hiring),

still hasn’t responded to my requests for the 1993 Merced Irrigation District (MID) shape file map which former GM/Treasurer Peter Kampa and his board of directors WRONGFULLY USED (with clear assistance/cover from State Water Board cooperating employees in the Division of Water Rights) in his/their attempt to surreptitiously replace the LEGITIMATE MID Place of Use MAP on file with the State Water Board in Sacramento with the incorrect “1993 digital MID shape file map” to provide even further water service to other OUTSIDE MIDPOU LAFCO ANNEXATIONS Kampa set up between 1994-1997 during his first tour of employment with the LDPCSD.   

6 years I’ve waited to see this map which apparently did make it into various other state water regulatory entities in various forms, yet only they and Kampa have seen this shape file map used to misdirect our LDPCSD for decades behind the scene! Oh yeah, and that CSDA affiliated CAD SOLUTIONS in Modesto that created Kampa’s FABRICATED DISTRICT BOUNDARY MAP to answer all the water license POU questions once and for all…… yet he final product never even mentioned water license 11395 – only suggested contacting the Merced Irrigation District for further information! I kid you not! And we paid dearly for that as well. Anyway…..

GM/Treasurer McGowan has offered absolutely no reason for his refusal to furnish this public information which would certainly assist in explaining how KAMPA and HIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS – since 2014 were able to apply for State and Federal emergency drought grant funds with incorrect map application information.   

Once received, and approved (based on that information) those grant funds were used to develop groundwater wells with which to create an “ALTERNATE SOURCE” of water utilized (blended with river water) to circumvent restrictions in Merced Irrigation District’s Water License 11395 in order to provide water service to LAFCO ANNEXATIONS clearly outside the PLACE OF USE for Merced River water within the subdivision.  (Both Tuolumne and Mariposa counties.)

So, in addition to greatly expanded costs for this groundwater, those legally entitled to the quality Merced River water held in Lake McClure within the Lake Don Pedro subdivision PLACE OF USE, must now consume water that has been treated to remove arsenic and other contaminants. Notice all the staining since blending water for all those LAFCO ANNEXATIONS?

Unfortunately, without further information it certainly appears as though the new GM/Treasurer is only continuing KAMPA’s decades of betrayal of MR WECs (MERCED RIVER WATER ENTITLED CUSTOMERS of the LDP subdivision) and concealment of public information related to the special interest mismanagement of a CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICT by former GM/Treasurer PETER KAMPA, who just happens to also be a

20 year board director on the CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION (CSDA).

I admit to being extremely disappointed as much of what McGowan has accomplished thus far within our district was long overdue and appreciated, however, without some reasonable explanation for his apparent cooperation with Kampa, his board of directors, and others in concealing this critically important MID shape file map,  I now must consider the possibility all this “improvement stuff” is just part of yet another extremely elaborate scam to gain MR WECs support for yet another rate and fee increase that is only necessary BECAUSE OF PAST CRIMINAL CONSPIRACIES TO VIOLATE LAW AND CONTINUE THE FRAUD. They got caught yet won’t even admit it to the victimized customers! This has been going on for decades….all the way back to the formation of this fraud of a CSD.

Kampa resigned his LDPCSD employment and left the LDPCSD for his next CSD victim in McCloud up north back in 1997 when his “behind the scene” LAFCO annexation activities were discovered by the LDPCSD board of directors (there were even questions about rumors of a residential subdivision across the road from the LDPCSD by a director THAT WERE NEVER ANSWERED BACK THEN OR SINCE!  However, after 20 years of silence, MARIPOSA COUNTY LAFCO (and Tuolumne evidently), only a few months prior to KAMPA’s unethical return in 2014, quietly announced through a LDPCSD service boundary map change (closed meeting), that a proposed 900 acre residential subdivision that Kampa had been working on in the 1990’s had actually been approved in 1995 – despite the fact LAFCO maps illustrated it as only Sphere of Influence until shortly before Kampa’s return.

SO?  SAME OLD SHIT! 

Just as KAMPA had resigned and left in 1997, he did the same in 2019 when confronted with a State Water Board Notice of Violation along with his multiple attempts (with cooperating Water Board operative employees) to close the investigation with even further absolutely false information provided by Peter Kampa.  Kampa simply left the LDPCSD with MR WECS once again left holding the financial losses due to his special interest management of a California Special District for his LAFCO ANNEXATION INTERESTS setup 20 years earlier. 

Some record yeah? Cheats us the first time and leaves with no accountability, then is brought back by Emery Ross and the board only to cheat and lie again and leave in 2019 after finishing the job (groundwater wells developed with grant funds) for the annexations he wrongfully setup twenty years before. Some dedication yeah? But to what? Intentional violation of the law and once again saddling the innocent legal customers of the subdivision (already enslaved with CC&Rs and another layer of owners association government regulating how water will be obtained and used) with the higher costs for a subsidized “groundwater substitution program” for Kampa annexations – while the legal customers must consume a diminished quality of water! Thank you CSDA for such a wonderful Special District manager!

YUP! CONSIDER:  A 20 year criminal conspiracy to violate California State Water Law ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE CONCEPT OF A California Special District which is to simply provide a 

1) limited service (water/sewer), 2) for a particular group of customers (LDP residential subdivision property owners per the California Public Utilities Commission approval), 3) within a designated service boundary (the LDP Subdivision boundaries) , and 4) for only the cost necessary in providing that limited service (a surface water treatment plant for Merced River water to the subdivision) and

NOT

extremely expensive groundwater wells to circumvent water license restrictions to blend and serve water to outside MIDPOU LAFCO PROPERTIES – many of which were proposed subdivisions in this drought prone area which would also have to be provided expensive groundwater paid for by Mr WECS to develop —water that was supposed to be for drought emergencies! THEY SOLD US OUT AGAIN!)

And so – does the criminal conspiracy just continue with Patrick McGowan covering the most important paper trail of evidence left by Peter Kampa and his board of DEFECTORS and others? 

STOP!

THINK ABOUT THAT CSDA CONNECTION FOR A BIT!

A 20 year California Special District Association [CSDA] (extremely powerful state lobbying organization) board director (along with his co-conspirators within local and State Governments) criminally conspiring to further exploit our LDPCSD which is a California Special District.

PURPOSE? Primarily for the special interests of Pete Kampa, his KAMPA COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS, llc, two county LAFCOs exercising state power on the local level, and LAFCO annexed property owners Kampa worked with 20 years earlier before screwing us the first time and leaving for McCloud CSD where he fractured that community as well.

Welcome to Democrat controlled Califusion, formally California.

START THE CLEAN UP PROCESS HERE IN NOVEMBER by electing

TRUMP AND PENCE

FOR

COMMON SENSE

Along with ANY other party candidate opposed to this continuing insane left democrat nonsense! It is time for government accountability across America!

Ahem,….sorry, I’m OK, actually feel better, now back to the LDPCSD board meeting…..

Patrick McGowan.  Some information not in packet, any questions ask.  GM forgot his “cheat sheet”, has to leave board room to obtain. 

Consumer Confidence Report not in packet.  Everything good.

Water tanks cleaned – with video footage.

McGowan here for a little over one year with district, no workers compensation injuries.   (Excellent)

Ordered 48 more water meters, 147 ordered since McGowan here.

More grant information, costs for environmental review might be less than now stated.

Leaks everywhere with another raw water line leak at Barrett’s.

(LEW:  THE TRADITIONAL OUTSIDE MIDPOU WATER REPORT IS STILL MISSING FROM THE PACKET – THIS IS THE ONLY WAY MR WECS CAN MONITOR HOW MUCH WATER IS LEAVING THE OUTSIDE POU SUBDIVISION AND WHERE IT IS GOING!)

Outside MIDPOU cattle rancher Emery Ross comments – wants to see more money in savings.

(Really? REM: Ross is the director who orchestrated Pete Kampa’s unethical return in 2014 by disclosing confidential board information for directors to Pete Kampa so he could have a contract ready for next meeting’s signature…..and the board went along….all without a simple background check which would have revealed an extremely checkered past – even here at the LDPCSD.)

Closed monthly meeting for Public Hearing:  1320hrs –  (NO PUBLIC to dispute availability fee delinquent account billings)

Ross questions what availability actually means?    

Budget vote also in this Public Hearing.  Approved.  3-0   (2 absent) 1327hrs Public Hearing closed, back to regular board meeting.  (Still no date of meeting mentioned – at least I didn’t hear it announced during this meeting thus far and the Meeting CD mailed to me from the office had no label indicating the date or what was on the disk – guess I shouldn’t complain, didn’t cost me another $3!  lol)

Deep water project requiring detailed EPA investigations – species affected, etc.  Environmental review.  Army Corps of Engineers, much paperwork might be able to push through.

Director Ross commented how the local Miwok Indians camped here in the past which makes such investigation necessary regarding cultural artifacts, etc.

Passed. 3-0 (2 absent)

General district election:  (3) 4 year terms.  Director Ross explained the procedure about making appointment, wearing a mask, the paperwork involved, etc.  

(Consider this, VP Hankemeier asked if Director Ross (with whom he has served for years) went to  Tuolumne County or the Sonora city elections office for election filing—- despite the fact Emery Ross is a well known Mariposa county resident and outside MIDPOU cattle rancher – ie, cattle watered with a blended groundwater/river mix to circumvent water license restrictions (providing water service outside the legal place of use that is within the residential subdivision.)

AT&T CONTRACT:  Two different options of monthly payments for space for towers.  GM suggested option A.   Board approved.  3-0 (2 absent)

Discussion item, USDA Final Draft: Water Intake Pump Station.  GM stated there were a host of minor changes.  Barge should be operational September 1^st.  The Deep Water Intake project was designed in the 1990s to reach the “minimum pool” of the lake during drought conditions.  GM McGowan mentioned there were other sources available to district other than the barge as discussed with MID…..but no further information as to what these immediate sources of water would be.

Director Emery Ross for the first time during a public meeting since McGowan was hired a year ago mentions the fact that the GM’s father was a long time employee of the Merced Irrigation District.  Strange huh?

VP Hankemeier closes monthly meeting at 2:48 PM 

NEVER EVEN MENTIONED THE MEETING DATE OR PURPOSE DURING THE ENTIRE MEETING – much less the start time as strongly suggested by a prior Grand Jury report. (They) Do what they want, when they want – no accountability, but we pick up most of the bill while they call it a “community”….sounds like the start of a LAME yeah? lol – Sorry, but I had to add some sort of video to qualify as a video for upload so…..where do you get your news? lol think about it anyway!

Only in Lake Don Pedro can you have a local government business meeting without ever announcing the date, time and purpose for the official meeting record. Thank Heavens the Board Secretary was there to remind the Board Vice President he and two other directors were present constituting a quorum to conduct business, well, at least physically they were there. (VP couldn’t even recite Our Country’s Pledge of Allegiance correctly? — or has the LDPCSD board changed that for convenience also?)

My best to you and yours, Lew

How many of you recall that episode on Seinfeld? When Elaine was rather bored at a social function and decided to liven things up a bit with an unusual question to a woman looking for her absent boyfriend and rubbing in the fact he was her “fiancee”? lol It was only a few moments after hearing the recent and shocking news report of the “EAT THE BABIES” stunt at an AOC press conference that I recalled good ‘ol Elaine’s comment below:

https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=jnazafzv&p=maybe+a+dingo+ate+your+baby#id=1&vid=ae963330547232df6a483045602636ed&action=click

You did hear that strange “eat the babies” proposal yes? Well, just in case you did not, let’s open this LAME with the audio of that report from OAN – ONE AMERICA NEWS NETWORK- ahh, come one now, even AREOSMITH once suggested eating the rich! lol

(ANOTHER SWRCB DIRECTED RESPONSE REGARDING MORE FALSE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO COVER UP AND CLOSE A CORRUPTED INVESTIGATION!)

Mr. Vasquez, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ERRONEOUSLY ATTRIBUTING AND DOCUMENTING THE INCORRECT COUNTY VIOLATION LOCATIONS FOR THE INITIAL 2016  COMPLAINTS regarding WATER LICENSE 11395 PLACE OF USE RESTRICTIONS AS SUTTER AND STANISLAUS, RATHER THAN THE ACTUAL LOCATIONS OF MARIPOSA AND TUOLUMNE COUNTIES ON THE SWRCB WATER RIGHT COMPLAINT WEBPAGE?   Why has this incorrect information remained on the SWRCB website for over one year despite multiple complaints as to its falsehood, especially in light of the SWRCB acknowledgement that it is indeed incorrect?  (Why am I working much harder on this continuing example of public agency corruption than those with the authority to stop such betrayal of California citizens and their right to services under a California Special District?)

This incorrect information has remained on the SWRCB website for over one year despite multiple calls pointing out those ridiculous errors.     Surely the water rights division is aware the MERCED RIVER DOES NOT FLOW THROUGH SUTTER COUNTY AT ALL, MUCH LESS SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGH STANISLAUS COUNTY other than where it joins the San Joaquin River at the county line.   Why does such glaring misinformation remain on the SWRCB website ENCOURAGING A PUBLIC MISDIRECTION AS TO FACT?  Do you recall your answer to my question as to why the holder of WATER LICENSE 11395 (THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT)  had not even been contacted for information regarding the legitimate Place of Use for Merced River water under WL11395?   You indicated to me that the MID was essentially uninvolved regarding those continuing violations and your “INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH HAD ESSENTIALLY STOPPED AT SIMPLY LOGGING ON TO THE MID WEBSITE!  YOU ADVISED YOU COULD NOT FIND ANY INFORMATION ON THE LDPCSD SO YOU THEN APPARENTLY COMPLETELY ABANDONED ANY FURTHER ATTEMPTED CONTACT WITH THE MID UNTIL I FILED ANOTHER COMPLAINT THROUGH THE EPA PORTAL INCLUDING MID AND OTHER ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS OUTRAGEOUS COVER UP OF THE FACTS REGARDING A DECADES OLD CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY TO VIOLATE EXISTING STATE WATER LAW.

THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT NOT INVOLVED?  Tell me Mr. Vasquez, were you successful in obtaining over 16 years of MANDATORY WATER LICENSE COMPLIANCE REPORTING FROM OUR LAKE DON PEDRO CSD TO THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT AS REQUIRED IN THE WATER AGREEMENT BETWEEN MID AND THE LDPCSD?   My public information requests for that information were never acknowledged much less fulfilled.  In fact, the first certified USPS request was lost between Sacramento and Merced.  Imagine that.  But then, even a hand written request later hand walked and submitted to that MID OFFICE was also ignored and the information never furnished.  Imagine, MID was unaware of the MANDATORY COMPLIANCE REPORTING IT HAD DEMANDED IN THE WATER AGREEMENT ALMOST TWO DECADES EARLIER WHEN SUBJECTED TO A STATE WATER AUDIT?  Oh Please.    So, Mr. Vasquez, did you ever obtain and study those 16 plus years of compliance reporting to MID or did you just accept the lame excuse that MID had no idea of what you “might have” requested “if interested” in the facts?

Why have my repeated requests to speak with a “violation interested” SWRCB investigator been ignored?   Especially when you (as the supervisor) curiously refused the common sense activity of immediately contacting the MID as the license holder for easily obtainable 11395 information?  Why am I forced to deal with those initially involved investigators  who  have repeatedly demonstrated an obvious lack of concern for not only my complaints but also  easily obtainable fact?   OVER THREE YEARS NOW!   Investigators who have gone to great lengths in excluding information as to those parties directly involved with decades of costly criminal conspiracy (fabricated government documents – including but not limited to changing the California Public Utilities Commission order permitting the transfer of facilities and assets of Sierra Highlands to the LDPCSD – “PLANTED IN LDPCSD office records” and used to deflect and placate legitimate customer questions through four decades of inappropriate LDPCSD activities),  Have you ever acknowledged the clear and continuing intentional deception of  PETER KAMPA’s FAKE WATER SERVICE BOUNDARY MAPS and documents used in continuing his over 20 years of criminal activity involving LAFCO ANNEXATIONS he personally (and wrongfully) surreptitiously orchestrated over 20 years ago outside the scope and performance of his assigned duties?)  Have you bothered to research and understand how this institutionalized SPECIAL DISTRICT FRAUD was initiated and continues to this day?  Actually violates the goals of a SPECIAL DISTRICT which are:  A limited service, to a designated group of customers, in a designated geographical area and provided for only the costs involved in delivering that service.  EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF A SPECIAL DISTRICT MUTATED INTO A SPECIAL BENEFIT WATER SERVICE TO THOSE NOT ENTITLED!  PLUS,  ALL ADDITIONAL COSTS PASSED ON TO THOSE LEGAL CUSTOMERS WHO ARE ENTITLLED TO MERCED RIVER WATER UNDER WL11395!  Now I must drink arsenic (and other contaminate treated groundwater) that is mixed with the quality Merced River water from Lake McClure just so those not entitled to water service can receive special benefit “blended water” for the same cost as legal users.  Gee, wonder how you and Feldhaus would react if this was done where you live and have invested your money in a home?

Do you understand what the subsidized special benefit water service actually is for these private land developers holding LAFCO ANNEXED LAND?  Do you appreciate what sort of CORRUPTED LAFCO ANNEXATION PROCESS permitted such unethical and deliberate activity against thousands of innocent property owners within the LAKE DON PEDRO RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION – which I hope you now appreciate is indeed the legitimate POU for Merced River water?  How thousands of MANDATORY LDPCSD CUSTOMERS have been forced for years to subsidize the profit margins of land developers who have NO RIGHTS TO SUBDIVISION WATER UNDER 11395 yet demand our water to develop competing subdivisions?  Imagine, not only are these legal owners within the POU APPROVED SUBDIVISION victimized by having the most precious asset to their property ownership stolen from their subdivision, but they pay for the ever increasing and continuing theft!   (And your most recent attempted investigation closure is again setting these already victimized owners up for a 50% permanent water restriction for perpetuity just so your ERRONEOUS INFORMATION APPEARS CORRECT ON THE SURFACE!

Property owners in the subdivision have paid much more for their water service during the last four decades due to this continuing corruption the SWRCB WATER RIGHTS DIVISION HAS ONCE AGAIN CLEARLY ATTEMPTED TO COVER UP!  Why are you doing this?  What is your motivation for not conducting a legitimate, much less, COMMON SENSE investigation?

Yes, a highly unethical program of subsidized GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION TO MAINTAIN WATER LICENSE COMPLIANCE (which ACTIVELY CIRCUMVENTS WL11395 POU RESTRICTIONS THROUGH ILLEGAL USE OF GOVERNMENT GRANTS CLEARLY OBTAINED THROUGH MISREPRESENTATION OF THE LDPCSD’S LEGITIMATE WATER SERVICE BOUNDARIES and THEN MISAPPROPRIATED TO DEVELOP GROUNDWATER WELLS FOR LICENSE COMPLAINCE AND FURTHER EXPANSION OF A SPECIAL BENEFIT WATER SERVICE OUTSIDE THE POU BOUNDARY TO THOUSANDS OF OTHER OUTSIDE POU PROPERTIES).   SO here we are once again with you and your SWRCB cohorts attempting to quickly close an already corrupted investigation designed to provide immunity to those criminally responsible for this three year and counting miserable excuse for a state investigation.    Why are you and Mr. Feldhaus attempting to protect the very individuals responsible for this criminal activity?  How long have you two known Mr. Kampa?   Why have you consistently failed to conduct a reasonable investigation?  Why conceal clear facts regarding this outrageous and criminal betrayal of thousands of legal customers by their SPECIAL DISTRICT water company which was orchestrated by a 20 year and highly influential CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICT BOARD DIRECTOR who has used the CSDA and its member affiliates to perpetuate this continuing criminal enterprise?      Come to think of it, what exactly is the nature of the relationship between you “SWRCB water professionals” and Peter Kampa?  (ie, how long have you, Mr. Feldhaus, and others involved actually been acquainted with Peter Kampa and his CSDA operatives committed to such a continuing fraud and abuse of public resources?       Contacting you directly only produces adequate results when others are also notified of this continuing failure to protect innocent citizens from this continuing unresolved fraud.   Failure to provide an honest investigation and due process under the law in response to clear criminal activity spanning decades is unacceptable.  Surely the EPA can just “turn off” unwanted complaints just like you turned off the offered FAX NUMBER FOR MY COMPLAINT INFORMATION!   This is not over by a long shot.   All involved in this continuing misrepresentation of fact should be held accountable for failure to perform legitimate government assigned duties.  Other than the excellent and professional initial investigation leading to the NOV, everything since has been a classic example of A COVER UP OF FACT AND ATTEMPT TO QUIETLY EXCULPATE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR INTENTIONAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.    

Sincerely, (with  over three years of disgust and frustration regarding your unethical, run-around, “wordsmithing” deceptions),  Lew Richardson  

PS, FYI, I don’t believe I actually attempted to contact Mr. Feldhaus again but rather, mistakenly referenced his name instead of yours in my rush to send another complaint as quickly as possible before the next LDPCSD meeting and subsequent action on falsehoods  – Actually it is quite easy to confuse your names considering the similar character and quality of work demonstrated thus far.  You sir, and your willing accomplices, (undoubtedly there are government employees who have also been “hoodwinked” regarding the facts and are innocent in this continuing fraud) are perfect examples of what is wrong (and needs to be cleaned up) within current California government.  I don’t know what you are attempting to achieve, but it certainly smacks discrimination against a particular class of citizens and a far cry from any reasonable concept of justice.  Yup, not over by a long shot!    

I will never attend another Lake Don Pedro CSD Board of Directors Meeting. Even though I only listened to the Board and Staff Pledge THEIR ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, read the below Public Comment blah, blah, blah and returned home.

JULY 15, 2019 PUBLIC  COMMENT

(Lew Richardson, customer for almost 30 years)

Unfortunately, there appears to be no change in the SPECIAL INTEREST DIRECTION this CSD and our new GM are headed.   A GM whose water industry employment background has been unilaterally designated as CONFIDENTIAL and restricted from public review by Board President Danny Johnson.  This related issue could indicate a less than above board continuing relationship between former GM Kampa, the Merced Irrigation District, and those special interests outside the legal Place of Use for Merced River water demanding continued, and expanded, extremely expensive subsidized groundwater substitution paid for by the legal owners – while the board considers raising our rates and fees?

This board has for years refused to answer legitimate questions posed by the public regarding this continuing SUBSIDIZED GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION deception, so I will ask an important question and provide the obvious answer our Board refuses to acknowledge:

Why has the most important STATE WATER BOARD REPORT OF INVESTIGATION – complete with “THE FINAL ANSWER TO THE OFFICIAL WATER LICENSE POU MAP – (which was the stated goal of Kampa’s $35,000 digital mapping project)  — NOT IN TODAY’S AGENDA PACKET?

Because once again, an ABSOLUTELY FALSE STATEMENT IS BEING “PLANTED INTO THE OFFICIAL RECORD FOR WATER LICENSE 11395” in an effort to continue subsidized special benefit groundwater substitution for land developers outside the water license place of use of the subdivision.   BUT HOW one might ask?

LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THIS FALSE QUOTE FROM THE CONCEALED REPORT OF INVESTIGATION:

“AS OF 2015, THE FOUR WELLS ARE CAPABLE OF SUPPLYING OVER 100% OF THE COMMUNITY’S WATER DEMAND.”

BUT HERE’S THE TRUTH:

  The only time those wells provided 100% of the community’s water was during the emergency drought when, under threat of a $500 fine, customers voluntarily reduced their water consumption by 50%, with many experiencing substantial  financial landscaping loss in addition to great inconvenience and unnecessary frustration.  This should not be our new norm for water use.

BUT HERE’S THE TRUTH:

Why is this patently false statement, contained in the ACTUAL REPORT OF INVESTIGATION LETTER, with two exhibit maps, not provided in the agenda packet with the cover letter addressed to a GM that is no longer employed by the LDPCSD? 

BECAUSE this community is unequivocally being set up for not only FURTHER OUTSIDE MIDPOU SPECIAL BENEFIT WATER SERVICE FOR THOSE LAND OWNERS NOT ENTITLED TO LICENSED WATER, but more importantly – THIS REPORT ESSENTIALLY ESTABLISHES AN ERRONEOUS BASELINE OF A PERMANENT 50% WATER REDUCTION FOR OVER 3,100 LEGAL LDPOA SUBDIVISION PROPERTIES for the sole intent of providing extremely expensive special benefit water service to those property owners clearly outside the legal place of use for Merced River Water. 

  I request that the entire SWRCB REPORT WITH THE TWO MAPS OF INVESTIGATION BE IN NEXT MONTHS AGENDA PACKET.   Thank you.

Hey viewers! Why else do you think the maps and other very important information contained in that Report of Investigation was not in the agenda packet for the public to review? (Thinking cap time! lol)

My best to you and yours, Lew

I was blah, blah, blahing about some of the spectacular “sand form designs” captured and illustrated on several Google Earth images I downloaded while researching a prospective Nevada “Plan B Final Home” site. (My current “California Final Home” designation is under serious reconsideration.) I sent Leanne the digital images so we could view and discuss them one at a time over the telephone.

I was FULL SPEED rattling on about how the meandering arms reminded me of the Humboldt River itself and how it twists and turns cutting a 300 mile journey across Nevada (NE to SW) before disappearing into the Earth at the Humboldt Sink outside Lovelock, Nevada. (Longest river within one state). Blah, blah, blah……like the Mississippi River when…….blah blah blah, Can you imagine living in an area where…..blah blah blah…..

When Leanne was able to squeeze in a comment she said, “reminds me of a Squid”.

Strange how appreciating her excellent observation affected me. Although continuing to talk about the property images and possibilities, from the moment the word “Squid” left her mouth and was received by my ears – some automated switch activated a biological process deep within the recesses of my grey static matter. Instantly connections and associations between a Squid and the desert were being formed, organized and arranged as lyrics.

Thank you Leanne! Just think….Desert Squid is now excellent shorthand in locating a specific area during a telephonic property search discussion, you know? Like…..”Yeah, see where the canal turns south and meets the “cork screw” road? Go 1/2 a mile due east and then north 1 mile – there appear to be a number of Desert Squid dancing in the NE quarter of section 9 – LOL

Yup, perfectly descriptive of what we were viewing on those satellite images but now I can’t get that desert animal out of my mind!

My best to you and yours, Lew

Guess what emails I found this morning? Only took a little over three years for the State of California to officially acknowledge the obvious legal WL11395 Place of Use boundary for Merced River water in the Lake Don Pedro area?

A boundary intentionally misrepresented by former GM Pete Kampa for many years due to his own special interests dealing with LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission) ANNEXATIONS to the Lake Don Pedro CSD he personally set up in the mid 1990s! Wow.

Maybe it didn’t really take that long to confirm the fact Pete Kampa had provided false information to the State of California on multiple occassions?

Perhaps the SWRCB was simply dragging out this almost “internally closed investigation” while waiting for PETER KAMPA to parasitically attach himself to another special district host? Certainly it shouldn’t take too long to find another base of operations for his KAMPAGANDA MANAGEMENT STYLE, after all, good ‘ol Pete has been a CSDA (California Special District Association) director for approximately 20- years and actually trains others on how to operate and manage special districts. Surely such an impressive background would assist greatly with any special district employment opportunity.

Kampa gets hired by GROVELAND CSD up the hill this May/June and PRESTO! – the long awaited State response arrives late June! lol What a coincidence yeah?

This most recent report by Feldhaus (the then “3 month new state employee” who was prepared to close the investigation based on further false information provided by then GM Kampa – Remember the resolution Kampa had prepared for the meeting to proceed with his special benefit services outside the WL11395 POU because the SWRCB had accepted his “INTERPRETATION” of the POU? Good Heavens.),

Remember my blah, blah, blah on that almost closure by Feldhaus and Kampa? My how time flies yeah? It was only a year ago….(dreamy type music and fade to old post:)

https://lakedonpedro.org/2018/06/

anyway, this report by Feldhaus starts out rather curiously as it was approved by a supervisor on June 26, 2019 yet the date heading was left blank. No biggie.

Yup, finally the state response addressed to Peter Kampa, General Manager Lake Don Pedro Community Services District on June 27th, 2019 – but Pete has moved on to a more lucrative position leaving LDPCSD customers with the expense of his and the board’s deceptions regarding the actual motive for developing those extremely expensive groundwater wells. – FURTHER EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT OF LAFCO ANNEXED PROPERTIES THAT WERE CLEARLY OUTSIDE THE LEGAL WATER USE BOUNDARY OF THE SUBDIVISION AND GOLF COURSE – ALL WITH PUBLIC FUNDS.

So here’s the SWRCB conclusion of the matter while far more serious criminal aspects to this water license scam have apparently evaded long overdue investigations, much less, prosecution.

BELOW: CHECK OUT THE LAST SENTENCE, LAST PARAGRAPH AS IT IS NOT FACTUAL:

“AS OF 2015, THE FOUR WELLS

ARE CAPABLE OF SUPPLYING

OVER 100% OF THE

COMMUNITY’S

WATER DEMAND.”

Nope, incorrect. While it maybe true the wells provided water to the community it certainly was not the actual water demand being met as all customers were under a fine imposed drought water restriction which constituted a 50% reduction in water use for that time period.

THIS DOES NOT EQUATE TO

100% OF COMMUNITY DEMAND!

(Notice the statement is true when applied to outside place of use customers only – but not all customers and normal water demand!)

Just one example of questionable statements.

This is absolutely disgusting on a number of levels, but I have spent my entire day printing, scanning, downloading and uploading these pages so you folks can take a look at this mess. Suffice it to say, this CSD, State and entire country is in serious trouble with people like Pete Kampa falsifying government documents and “interpreting law” for special interests.

You know, this is exactly the type of stuff that dramatically increases the cost of government services which is only passed on to innocent already victimized customers who continually pay more and receive less.

Thank you and Happy Fourth of JULY

To every American patriot

Others have a peaceful day

Enemies can just eat _ _ _ _ .

My best to you and yours, Lew

Notes from the office $3.00 CD

President Danny Johnson opens June 17^th, 2019 Lake Don Pedro CSD Monthly Board meeting at 1303 hours, VP Hankemeier and Director Warren absent.  Pledge of allegiance. 

Public Comment: Wes Barton stated be believed a non-confidential report regarding our new general manager’s employment back ground might be made available for the public, but stated it did not appear to be on the agenda.  Barton also questioned who had been made Board Treasurer…. Johnson advised the Treasurer had not yet been appointed and thanked Barton for his comments. Did not mention the confidential nature of our new GM’s employment background.

President Johnson again thanked Pete Kampa for his service to the LDPCSD and welcomed Patrick McGowan as the new GM.  Johnson then turned the meeting over to the “two GM’s” as he was unaware of which would be speaking first.   

Pete Kampa advised he had no report for the meeting.   Kampa stated the board should probably direct the new GM as to how meetings in the future would proceed and suggested an upcoming agenda item to address the matter of setting initial goals.   Kampa referenced his past work as a starting point.  

Board President Johnson questioned Kampa about the projected grant reimbursements.   Kampa said there were two grants in the “hopper” (processing) of which he was aware unless something had happened he did not know of yet ….. Stated both grants having been submitted and accepted around mid-May ….  Usually takes 6 weeks, and he expects payment to be made before the first of the fiscal year – a few weeks.   Both are from the Department of Water Resources – both focused on the service line replacement project. 

($3,000 – $4,000 each for line replacement with 80+ lines replaced during the first round that reportedly WERE NOT LEAKING  – information has been rather sketchy since then!   (Consider:  between $240,000 – $320,000 to tear up subdivision roadways and replace NON LEAKING WATER LINES – how did that lower our massive continuing water loss for both raw and treated water?  Simply RAZZLE DAZZLE public with GRANT MONEY DISTRACTIONS FROM REALITY!) 

 [A FUTURAMA episode phrased an example of grant fraud waste as “DUMP TRUCK LOADS OF FLAMING GRANT MONEY”  .,..or something like that  LOL!]

Patrick McGowan, new General Manager.  Will be meeting with the District’s engineer tomorrow to ascertain the status of the various projects to make sure he was on the same page.  Working with the employees who had been very helpful in familiarizing him with district business.  McGowan also (apparently) thanked Pete Kampa for his calls and emails.   Stated he liked the work and the challenge and believed he would do a good job.   

Randy Gilgo, Operations Supervisor: Randy commented that his operations report was as straight forward as it always was.   Stated he was unsure where they were with the INTAKE PROJECT – confirmed a failure a couple of weeks ago with the one remaining working pump. (Two pumps at Lake intake.)  Cannibalized parts from the inoperative pump to repair the working one.  Stated his biggest concern right now was the new PG&E plan of shutting off power during high fire dangers and how to secure another source of power for water operations in case of PG&E shutoff.  

Director Emery Ross confirmed the district could go 2-3 days if system was completely filled prior to shutoff but Randy explained everything would have to be 100% filled because transferring from one site to another would not be possible.  Randy said even if PG&E turned the power off for two days, then back on for two days we would still be without water due to the high summer water demand (two days would not be enough to fully recharge all water tanks – takes 7-10 days to refill everything.)  

Mandatory rationing may be part of the solution.

Ross spoke of configuring his own backup system (evidently for his outside place of use commercial cattle ranch which must be supplied groundwater replacement since outside the water license permitted service boundary of the subdivision) and asked if he could fill a 1,000 gal tank with water from another site that might have water.  Board Secretary Syndie Marchesiello commented that would likely be a board decision.  Director Ross, again, wanted to know if a customer came to the district compound with a tank could it be filled with water?   Randy stated for animals, yes, the district would furnish water for customer tanks at the LDPCSD compound. (Untreated raw water from the lake.)

GM McGowan stated the topic had already been addressed with Pete Kampa and Blackwater Engineering (Jeff Black, District engineer) regarding hazard mitigation plans.

(REM?  Kampa and the Tuolumne County Hazard Mitigation agreement?)    

Johnson suggested contacting Mariposa County in regards to their emergency mitigation plans.   

McGowan questioned whether grants were available for emergency generators?  Kampa stated they originally were not but there has been a change in the thinking at the state level and changes may permit obtaining funds for such emergency power generation.       Kampa stated mobile generators might be considered.  (Mobile vs a permanent installation)  Kampa suggested moving forward aggressively on the matter for the future but this summer is out of the question.)

Very likely that power will be shut off during a “RED FLAG WARNING” which could be up to eight days as was the case in the camp fire.   Once the warning was lifted all transmission lines would have to be inspected before being re-energized which could mean another week in waiting.)   

FUTURE AGENDA ITEM FOR NEXT MONTH AFTER MEETING WITH ENGINEER AND COUNTY OFFICIALS.

1335hrs:  VP Dan Hankemeier arrives at meeting.

Danny Johnson asked what were the sizes of the pumps?  How much power would be required?  A 40HP pump would require approximately 32 KW.  Randy stated someone would have to come in and calculate what the power requirements would be. 

Kampa stated in Groveland they were using much larger generators.  100kw  Maybe $100,000 – $150,000 installed each.  Plus fuel tanks.  Groveland was going to get 5 units.  

Arbolada Drive does have a booster pump and generator setup, so ironically, the smallest area of water service for homes up on the hill (although more outside place of use expanded water service was to be added to the area in other proposed future developments) will  be protected from water loss in the event of PG&E shutoff for as long as the reservoir holds water.

WES BARTON commented on the grants being handy but none of that will help us now if PG&E shuts off the power.  He suggested perhaps a political remedy might be pursued to stop PG&E from implementing such a policy until districts such as ours had a chance to obtain the necessary emergency support equipment. 

Victor Afanasiev questioned the amount of time PG&E would provide prior to shutoff?  Ross responded, one hour.   Danny Johnson stated the availability of generators may not be too good during an emergency.  Johnson brought up the idea of increasing rates and fees again.

CONSENT CALENDAR, pages 5-16.  Two May meetings.  Hankemeier questioned the lower cost for water in May.  Barton stated Hankemeier was absolutely right because the water amount sold for the groundwater wells jumped from 1,900 to the next month of over 4,000. 

Board Secretary requested the VP furnish the questioned account number:  Hankemeier responded:  01-1-5021-561.

Wes Barton stated we still had the fouled up receivable numbers, intake water imbalance, labor rates from $7,000 up to $11,000, whole bunch of problems…..been ignoring for a long time and we do not have a Treasurer.  Barton recommended everyone, including the new GM, read the last two audits to see what makes the LDPCSD “tick” financially, take courses on financial reporting and management, look at the possibility of obtaining an in house financial controller/treasurer, ascertain exactly what cash we have on a daily basis as this has not been done for some time, …Barton said that money will be down to next to nothing real quick, Barton stressed that was our biggest problem…not having a treasurer and a financial controller.  (A CPA 50 miles away was not sufficient.)

Director Emery Ross:  Page 5:  Unrestricted …. Cash brought in is less than spent (possibly a timing mistake in payments)

Wes Barton stated the district is still unaware of its exact financial position which he has commented on for a very long time.

Consent agenda approved unanimously.

Discussion items:  Approval of fiscal budget.  Kampa provided an overview.  One of many policy actions.  Spending, financial projections for future, is cash flow adequate?  Enough cash for the next six months?  A budget can be very tight or more relaxed.  Now recommending a preliminary budget due to the change in personnel….must adopt a final budget by September 1^st.  Kampa again brought up modifying revenue….(RATE AND FEE INCREASES TO CUSTOMERS). 

Projected $100,000 short next year already.  Kampa suggested from a practical point increasing rates every year with cost of living changes.   Should perform another rate study for approximately $50,000.  What goes up, down…..plan for new rates and vacant parcels, aka AVAILABILITY FEES on PROPERTY TAXES.  Kampa said there were strategies to get rates increased…… perhaps take on more debt for projects, vote YES or NO.  Revenue options to be researched for the future.   Doesn’t see much in cost cutting options especially with no growth. 

GM McGowan stated he was still researching all the information but agreed rate increases would likely be necessary.   

LEW’S VIEW:  Kampa stating district should budget for contingencies?  Wow. Really?  How does a SPECIAL DISTRICT budget for the contingency of a 20 year CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATION (CSDA) director spearheading a 20+ year criminal conspiracy to quietly reconfigure the Place of Use boundary for water license 11395?  Much less using a DIGITALLY CREATED FAKE WL1135 POU MAP (to replace the “physically existing” official map on file with the SWRCB in Sacramento) in order to provide SUBSIDIZED SPECIAL BENEFIT GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION WATER SERVICE TO OWNERS OF LAFCO ANNEXED PROPERTIES (outside the legal POU of residential subdivision) that KAMPA himself had wrongfully set up over twenty years ago when beginning his infamous water career here in California?  In other words, how can a district possibly plan for such outrageous criminal activities by those in extremely powerful positions in state wide lobbying organizations supposedly serving a public interest?

Wes Barton commented that if the board of directors wants the public to approve another rate/fee increase and were bringing costs down every year, there would be no problem, however, when the board is a HIGH COST PRODUCER?  Our district is now based on the high cost operations of government and granting authorities so your costs will be high – changes the entire way the district operates – that’s where we are now.

Director Ross:  Questioned Pete as to trying to have water rates coincide with cost of living allowance? Kampa said no, you could do it every five years though.  Johnson suggested the “pain” to customers is reduced when a number of small rate increases are used rather than big ones. 

Preliminary budget approved, unanimous.

Kampa asked if the public hearing had been set for public notice….Syndie responded in July. 

Page 23:  Transfer of funds from LAIF reserves.  (LOCAL AGENCY INVESTMENT FUND- I believe) which pays 10 times the return as a regular money market fund.

Kampa advised LAIF was restricted only to requiring board action for withdrawal transfers.   Apparently the new GM suggested transferring $500,000 which was not currently in the account – with that figure apparently based on anticipated grant reimbursements.     Kampa acknowledged that GM McGowan was placed in an unfair position as he has no experience with the prior financial policies and operations Kampa was handling.  Kampa advised the treasurer could make recommendations as to any withdrawals or deposits into that account,   (Ooops!  We don’t have a treasurer yet!) Kampa suggested another resolution to clarify future LAIF activities.    Kampa said board should provide access to the LAIF now (after things even out in July-August) and then later (after grant reimbursements make us financially whole again) establish how LAIF will be utilized thereafter.

Wes Barton thought the $160,000 in the LAIF had certain requirements and suggested the board go back to around the last Proposition 218 to raise rates and check the particulars.

Director Ross asked what the board was now doing regarding the matter?  

Short answer:  essentially providing GM Patrick McGowan with the authority to withdraw LAIF Funds to cover costs of district operation without the required prior individual board approvals for each withdrawal until grant reimbursements are received.

(When reimbursements are received (deposited?) this pre authorization (temporary access to funds) for GM withdrawal will cease.)  What if reimbursements are redirected away from the LAIF?    ????

No exact amount of money should be referenced since it is an unknown variable.

Unanimous board approval for temporary access to LAIF account.

 Page 24-28:  DOLLAR GENERAL DEDICATION OF WORK TO THE DISTRICT

 Kampa stated it was a failure on Dollar General’s part.  Kampa suggested a note for McGowan: make sure counties do not approve such projects prior to the approval needed from the LDPCSD.   (Tuolumne County approved the Dollar General for opening prior to the contract requirements being met according to district.) 

SO FOR ONE YEAR FROM JUNE 17, 2019 – any failures are the responsibility of DG.                                                

Easements, maps, cost accounting, maintenance bond to cover the first year.

Board accepts resolution: unanimous.   BECOMES FIXED ASSET FOR DISTRICT.                                                       

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OVERSIGHT ON NEW GM HEALTH BENEFITS:  To be provided immediately upon hiring (July 1^st)

Director Ross questioned the availability of any additional coverage for a work related disability for McGowan based on his own (Ross) hardship with a work related permanent disability. Ross said the current agreement would not help him if so injured and board should look at the matter.  Emery said there were also limited extra disability insurance policies.

Board:  unanimous approval of resolution.

After the vote Pete Kampa spoke of learning experiences and “dynamic board experiences” suggesting Director Emery Ross might expect some policy or discussion to come up on a later agenda regarding this extra disability insurance coverage.   Board members agreed it would be discussed on a later agenda.

Johnson continued about meetings – items need to be brought to the GM for meeting agenda preparation.

Resolution approving those for bank access, signatures:  Approved unanimous.

 End of meeting, June 17, 2019 at 2:29PM

Miscellaneous welcomes and thank yous, small talk, Kampa made a point of stating he had  “this guy” picked out a long time ago.  

My best to you and yours, Lew