WHY NOT A HUNDRED, SEVERAL HUNDRED OR A THOUSAND NEW SERVICES DEPENDENT UPON GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PAID FOR BY THOSE WHO HAVE A RIGHT TO MERCED RIVER WATER?
Is a wrong any less wrong when simply distributed among more victims? Humm, let’s mull that over.
NO DOUBT TOUGH, BUT THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE
Developing your own groundwater well in a drought prone area like Lake Don Pedro can be a risky and expensive proposition in this geologic fractured rock and historically drought prone area. Not like the valley where there are (were?) vast underground aquifers where users could drill wells as easy as punching a stick straw in a juice bag or carton when thirsty. Yup, that’s all now changed and State regulations reflect the seriousness of water shortages, over drafting, land subsidence, lack of conservation, etc.
Still, quite unfortunate that it can cost a property owner a great deal to obtain sufficient quality water for development, but that’s another variable, what sort of land development requires the water? A single family residential structure with typical associated outbuildings would require far less potable water than a several hundred parcel subdivision. You don’t need to be an engineer to comprehend that little piece of reality.
MOST EVERYONE UP HERE SACRIFICED SOMETHING
Generally, we all must sacrifice something in order to reside (or hope to reside) in this beautiful, but often harsh, western Sierra Nevada foothill area. Obviously traditional shopping is made a bit more inconvenient and the variety of products and services is limited, little things like that, however, there is another way many residents were able to develop up here which was “PAID FOR” in a different MORE SUBTLE, but very effective way.
STOP! YOU CAN’T DO THAT ON YOUR PROPERTY!
Property owners in the LDPOA residential subdivision sacrificed what many might consider “FREEDOM” in order to purchase and develop their property due to Community Interest Development CC&Rs (Covenants, Codes, and Restrictions) and the DAVIS STIRLING COMMON INTEREST DEVELOPMENT ACT contained in the California Civil Code starting with section 4000). Without delving too deep into the pros and cons of CIDs, CC&Rs, Davis Stirling, and that whole concept of another layer of government to contend with, etc. suffice it to say they are TYPICALLY FAR MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN COUNTY REGULATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPING YOUR PROPERTY.
One of the standard restrictions is that no property within the residential unit can again be subdivided – such as an owner dividing his 1 acre lot into two ½ acre parcels or four 1/4 acre lots. Rules prohibit certain “cottage industries”, size and placement of the residence, even the species and number of animals permitted, some developments even regulate building colors, themes, and how much work an owner can perform on common areas. It all depends upon your community development CC&Rs and the enforcement policies of your association.
Here in Lake Don Pedro “most” property owners cannot develop their own groundwater wells and MUST BE CUSTOMERS OF THE LDPCSD. NO CHOICE. Want water? Then it must be provided by the LDPCSD according to their rules and regulations. Yup, not like propane service where if you are dissatisfied with the price or service you can purchase elsewhere.
Weird huh? LDP subdivision property owners MUST OBEY CSD rules and regulations to obtain water yet the CSD violates their own operating regulations while obtaining the water they serve anywhere they want!
KAMPA & KOMPANY REFUSE TO PRODUCE MAPS
(Please recall “KAMPA & KOMPANY” is a shorthand reference to PETE KAMPA and all those who support the effort to transform our surface water treatment plant into a Groundwater Substitution facility – whose “alternate source of water” was specifically developed with public funds – in order to provide special benefit water services to third party land developers whose properties LIE outside the permitted place of use for MERCED RIVER WATER under license 11395 held by the MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT – under which the LDPCSD has pumped water from Lake McClure since its formation in 1980 – while the 99% of legally entitled MERCED RIVER WATER users in the LDP subdivision have been forced to pay for this deception with rates and fees they have contributed to the LDPCSD since 1980 while those who require this GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION have not paid their FAIR SHARE OF AVAILIBILITY <gasp> lol)
ANYWAY….KAMPA & KOMPANY have for several months intentionally and repeatedly ignored and avoided TWO PRIMARY OPERATIONAL REGULATIONS OF THE LDPCSD which can be clearly illustrated on legitimate official maps:
THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE MAP (MIDPOU) (GREEN LIKE $$$)
Based on MERCED RIVER WATER restrictions in License 11395 which MID holds. Strange how a GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM (to replace Merced River Water that wrongfully leaves the MIDPOU) can legally change not only WHERE the water can be used, but HOW it is used also. Apparently L11395 does not entertain/permit COMMERCIAL CATTLE RANCHING with treated water clearly intended for domestic consumption in the LDP subdivision, yet GROUNDWATER REPLACEMENT can be used for anything, including resale under different circumstances than what L11395 permits.
THE LAFCo WATER SERVICE BOUNDARIES MAP (GREEN LIKE $$$)
Kampa has repeatedly stated the LDPCSD Service Boundaries were created by LAFCo when LDPCSD was established in 1980 and have not changed since.
Really?
Surely as PRESIDENT & CEO OF KAMPA COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS llc (A HIGHLY PAID PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY FOR SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND AGENCIES) and being an instructor to water agency employees, IGMs, GMs, and politicians within the STATE WATER INDUSTRY – AND HAVING A FEW YEARS PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH OUR LDPCSD – GOOD ‘OL PETE WOULD HAVE THE UP TO DATE INFORMATION.
RIGHT?
WRONG!
Why would PETE KAMPA use that old “EXHIBIT B” map which illustrates both SOI and Service Boundaries on the same map to support his presentation? (Which, incidentally, was incorrect anyway because the 2,010 acres of the approved South Shore Project were not included as IN THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES!)
This is not a matter of ACCIDENTALLY using an antiquated map, but rather, ONCE AGAIN KAMPA & KOMPANY HAVE GONE TO CONSIDERABLE EFFORT TO INTENTIONALLY CONCEAL AND OBSTRUCT WHAT THE “LDPCSD BOUNDARY EXPANSIONISTS” HAVE BEEN DOING BEHIND THE SCENES SINCE EVEN BEFORE THIS DISTRICT WAS FORMED IN 1980 BY COUNTY LAFCos ——
AND THAT IS,.,.,
CONTINUING THE EFFORTS TO FURTHER EXPAND DISTRICT BOUNDARIES WITH PROPERTIES OUTSIDE THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT PLACE OF USE FOR MERCED RIVER WATER WHICH PLACES A FURTHER FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE ENTITLED USERS OF MERCED RIVER WATER IN THE LDP SUBDIVISION DUE TO THE NECESSARY GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM KAMPA & KOMPANY CREATED WITH PUBLIC FUNDS FOR A SPECIAL BENEFIT WATER SERVICE FOR THIRD PARTY LAND DEVELOPERS FOR WHICH OUR DISTRICT HAS NO LEGAL DUTY OR MORAL OBLIGATION TO SERVE WATER AT ALL!
KAMPA obviously had access to LAFCo’s 2014-15 UPDATED MAPS
because he used the
LAFCo RES 2014-15
SOI MAP ON THE WEBSITE! (WHICH ACCOMPANIED THE BOUNDARY MAP!)
WHAT A DECEITFUL PIECE OF…. krapa!
DIRECTOR ROSS’s CATTLE RANCH IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF FORESEEABLE CONSEQUENCES WHEN ALLOWING LARGE PARCELS INTO OFFICIAL BOUNDARIES THAT ARE NOT PERMITTED TO RECEIVE MERCED RIVER WATER UNDER L11395.
OK, it certainly appears as though the SUSPICIOUS SURVEY will end up producing a map with areas far outside the MIDPOU – well at least in one area around GRANITE SPRINGS WHERE ROSS DEVELOPED HIS COMMERCIAL CATTLE RANCH that was originally part of the STURTEVANT RANCH.
OK, we know that story based on “surviving documents of the LDPCSD AND THOSE PRODUCED BY THE STURTEVANT RANCH”.
In the late 1960s Boise Cascade engineers while constructing the [MERCED RIVER WATER ENTITLED] LDP residential subdivision in that area, realized they required another water tank and contracted a deal for a tank site and easement in exchange for some cash and 10 water meters to be used in the future. (The individual brokering that water meter deal with STURTEVANT back in the 1960s was a shareholder in Sierra Highlands Water Company and a member of the BINKLEY FAMILY which to this day is the LDPCSD’s engineering firm.)
Did LAFCo extend the LDPCSD Water service boundary there so as to include the STURTEVANT RANCH PROPERTY because of the water tank location agreement?
OR Did they PERHAPS expand that service area for another reason AS WELL?
BUT IF because of the agreement, is there any mention of this in LAFCo documents during the LDPCSD Formation?
Why would the issue of HOW MERCED RIVER WATER WOULD BE SERVED TO THE ENTITLED SUBDIVISION, become an issue of WHERE ELSE MERCED RIVER WATER COULD BE SERVED WITHIN THE DISTRICT?
BACK TO FORESEEABLE CONSEQUENCES
So Emery Ross wants to purchase property from the STURTEVANT RANCH yet is SPECIFICALLY ADVISED he had NO RIGHT to a water meter.
ROSS purchases the property never-the-less and is subsequently denied water by the LDPCSD multiple times.
ROSS had connections within the LDPCSD and somehow obtains a STURTEVANT WATER METER; has a fictitious water service approval date placed in district records; starts a commercial cattle ranching business with treated water intended for domestic residential consumption in the subdivision across the street; and begins authoring a bi-weekly column in the only local newspaper owned by a friend. His column was called Ranching Don Pedro.
Nine years later a Sturtevant Ranch member attending an LDPCSD Board meeting sees some paperwork with Emery’s name on it identified as having a STURTEVANT WATER METER and discovers the MISAPPROPRIATION OF SEVERAL WATER METERS BELONGING TO THE STURTEVANT RANCH.
Naturally the Sturtevant Ranch demands correction.
Big surprise, LDPCSD records could not initially be found, but the issue was eventually resolved with the STURTEVANT RANCH meters replaced in their account.
Ross and the several other OUTSIDE MIDPOU property owners were allowed to keep their wrongfully acquired water service and the pre-dated service dates indicating they were approved under BOISE CASCADE.
Think of the AVAILABILITY FEES THAT WERE NEVER PAID IN RESTITUTION TO THE DISTRICT FOR THESE “LATE ON THE SCENE PROPERTIES” NOW RECEIVING WATER.
LDPCSD AVAILABILITY FEES: (BASED ON LDPOA SUBDIVISION LOTS WITH AN AVERAGE SIZE OF 2 ACRES +/- . $60 an acre, maximum 3 acres for $180/year. So applying the same formula for much larger parcels OUTSIDE THE MERCED RIVER WATER ENTITLED SUBDIVISION, dividing by the maximum of 3 acres (@ $180) would be reasonable.
SO:
EXAMPLES: 100 ACRES/3 ACRES = 33.33 ACRES x $180 = $5,999.40 A YEAR [1993-1980 = 13 YEARS X $5,999.40 = $77,992.20 IN AVAILABILITY FEES THAT WERE NOT PAID. (GEE, ALL LDPOA PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE MANDATORY CUSTOMERS OF THE LDPCSD HAVE PAID $60/AC UP TO $180/3 AC SINCE THE DISTRICT STARTED CHARGING FEES!)
900 ACRES/3 = 300 ACRES X $180 = $54,000/YEAR [1993-1980 = 13 YEARS X $54,000 = $702,000]
IF THE ABOVE SUCH EXAMPLES HAD PAID THAT KIND OF MONEY THROUGH THE YEARS TO “BUY IN” IT WOULD MAKE A BETTER CASE FOR INCLUSION INTO THE DISTRICT, BUT THEY DID NOT. BESIDES, REGARDLESS OF THE LOST REVENUE IN PROPERTY TAX AVAILABILITY WE WERE STILL PILING ON MORE LIABILITY FOR A GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM. FURTHER SERVICE OUTSIDE THE MIDPOU BOUNDARY DOES NOT MAKE MUCH SENSE – UNLESS YOU ARE THE ONE RECEIVING THAT SPECIAL INTEREST BENEFIT..
CONSIDER THIS: SINCE KAMPA CONTENDS THE ROSS RANCH (and other large holding of land) ARE WITHIN DISTRICT BOUNDARIES (not MIDPOU for MERCED RIVER WATER SERVICE REMEMBER)………….
theoretically such properties with a co-operative EXPANSIONIST MOTIVATED MANAGEMENT TEAM like KAMPA & KOMPANY could easily develop into a hundred, several hundred or thousands of new home sites (OR CATTLE RANCHES, CAR/TRUCK WASHES, WATER PARKS, ETC.!
ALL OUTSIDE THE PLACE OF USE FOR MERCED RIVER WATER!
NOW HERE IS THE KICKER…..
Thousands of homes buil (OR WHATEVER) OUTSIDE THE PLACE OF USE FOR MERCED RIVER WATER, whose extremely expensive GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM would be FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED by the property owners of the LAKE DON PEDRO OWNERS ASSOCIATION subdivision WHO HAPPEN TO BE THE ONLY LEGALLY ENTITLED MERCED RIVER WATER USERS IN THE DISTRICT!
NOT ONLY THAT…..those properties are also essentially insured against failure because if the ground well fails – it’s already been deeded to the LDPCSD SO WE HAVE TO REPLACE THAT EXPENSIVE PIECE OF SPECIAL BENEFIT!
WHAT A FRACKEN SCAM THAT WAS/IS APPARENTLY
SUPPORTED BY MARIPOSA COUNTY PLANNING AND LAFCo !!!
I need to get to “other work”.
My best to you and yours, Lew
Oh yeah:
Is a wrong any less wrong when simply distributed among more victims?
Recall this when your LDPCSD water bill is doubled or tripled in order to
pay for all these special benefits for properties NOT ENTITLED TO MERCED RIVER WATER!
TRULY DISGUSTING.
OH YEAH…..,.
VOTE NO ON ANY SUBSEQUENT
LDPCSD PROP 218 THAT SUPPORTS THIS
KAMPA KRAPA FRAUD!
