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Monday, October 27, 2008

Time For Another EIR

(A "Viewpoint" from CSD Board Member Chuck Cesena.)

In addition to the election of candidates to our local Community Services District Board, early November will bring another important event in the history of Los Osos. The county will be releasing the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the sewer project. The last EIR, approved by later-to-be recalled board members who now call themselves Taxpayers Watch, gave us the TriW project in the middle of town. Do we want to risk a return to that possibility by voting for candidates with direct ties to Taxpayers Watch?

Much has been said lately about the current board being hostile to the other governmental agencies and about our handling of the district’s financial matters. Let’s look at the facts regarding our relations with other agencies:
· Given the divisiveness present in the community and the willingness of Taxpayers Watch to litigate our every step towards a revised project, our Board supported returning the project to the County through the passage of AB2701,
· In the months immediately after the recall, our Board negotiated with Assemblyman Blakeslee and the State Water Board staff and agreed to a compromise that would have continued work on the collection system and moved the treatment plant east of town. This effort was also torpedoed by Taxpayers Watch. Six million dollars later, this is the project the County is now proposing,
· Our Board, not just Director Sparks, supported the 218 assessment vote and the County project development process.

Yes, we have continued to litigate the Cease and Desist Orders that could force individuals to stop using their existing septic systems even if no sewer project is ever built. We just happen to believe it is wrong for the government to punish individuals for the failure of government at all levels; local, County and State.

Regarding our financial acumen:
· Audit after audit has determined that the commingling of funds from various district accounts, which was a practice started well before the recall, made it impossible to state with certainty the “color” of the money being used for reserves or to pay District bills. What can be stated with certainty is that no District funds were ever used to pay for anything except legitimate District expenses.
· Our Board cut expenses in every area we could. Our largest “unbudgeted” expenses have been Taxpayers Watch dissolution efforts at LAFCO and litigation; we can’t control that. If anyone has placed the District on a path to insolvency, it is this group of recalled board members.
· The low bidder for our water rate study, endorsed only by Director Sparks, was the consultant who previously delivered a flawed rate study that left the District short $500,000 in needed revenues.

The District’s bankruptcy is the direct result of needlessly starting construction on the TriW project three weeks prior to the recall election. The State’s loan was good for another three months. The recalled Board gambled with our town’s money and we have all lost. The good news is that recent arbitration decisions have limited the resulting contractor’s claims to about one third of the original amounts.

It was expensive to stop the TriW project, a project that didn’t even survive the County’s fine screening analysis. That project was so flawed that neither the County nor Coastal Commission objected when our Board withdrew the EIR’s Statement of Overriding Considerations (SOC) in 2006. The SOC were the reasons given by the recalled board for choosing the TriW project over the environmentally preferred and cheaper options identified in their own EIR.

Which brings me back to the fact that another sewer EIR is about to be released. If you watched the County’s Technical Advisory Committee meetings you know that Karen Venditti is the only CSD candidate who asked meaningful, thought provoking questions of the county consultant. She supported the County process, but with accountability. The Taxpayers Watch backed candidates usually just nodded their heads and accepted everything, no questions asked. The thought of a CSD Board dominated by their allegiance to the recalled board members makes me very nervous, especially with another EIR about to be released. Karen Venditti is clearly the choice on November 4.

Chuck Cesena

110 comments:

Richard LeGros said...

Chuck,

A few comments about your viewpoint;

1. Sadly, you yet again show that you and the CSD board majority REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for YOUR POST RECALL ACTIONS AND FAILURES; and instead try to place blame on others.

2. Sadly, you vindictively mischaracterize the political associations, positions and personal character of CSD board candidates that you do not approve of; all in the vain attempt to prop-up your failed and fiscally disastrous policies by promoting a candidate that agrees with you.

3. Sadly, you yet again purposely mischaracterize the County's position regarding alternate WWTF projects in order to massage and placate your ego to justify your disastrous policy to stop the old project at whatever the cost to Los Osos and the taxpayer.

4. Sadly, you show that you do not understand your role as an elected official by supporting a political activist group (PLZDF) and their lawsuit; support that is not in the best interest of the taxpayer. The LOCSD is a SERVICE PROVIDER, not a POLITICAL ACTIVIST CLUB that you and the board majority have perverted it into.

4. Sadly, you take the recent arbiters decision to reduce a Tri-W project contractors claim to $1,300,000 as a 'win', when in fact the possible reduction of the numerous contractors claims to +/-$10,000,000 IS STILL A DEBT TO THE COMMUNITY OF LOS OSOS THAT MUST BE PAID OUT OF THE POCKETS OF CITIZENS YOU PURPORT TO REPRESENT!

This debt ($13,000,000), PLUS the debt of $19,700,000 for the Bond Issue monies thrown away by stopping the old project, PLUS the RWQCB fine of $6,500,000 is THE LEGACY YOU LEAVE BY YOUR FAILED POLICIES.

In closing, stop blaming others for your incompetence and failures. Stop demonizing the half of the community you are supposed to represent!

Sincerely, Richard LeGros

Unknown said...

Sorry Chuck... You're still running a social hate club whose only purpose for the last year has been to blame TW for all your woes...

It's amazing how powerful TaxPayers Watch is... Could that be because they actually represent the majority of the community... and the LOCSD is merely a transparent shell of the dreams of some extremists...???

Yeah Chuck, you have every right to fear TW, you have been such a terrible financial manager that you help Lisa lead the District into Bankruptcy...and now you are so stupid that you are willing to throw money out for yet another failed lawsuit... Don't try to tell us you are still spending money on the LAFCo Dissolution hearings...if so, just how much has the CSD spent...???? Tell us Chuck, just how much have you paid for the PZLDF lawsuit...??? I'd bet you can't even tell us that...!!!!! You must be a pretty poor engineer if you can't figure percentages... 25% vs 100% is pretty darn hard to understand... Are you sure you have a PE...??? You sure aren't a professional manager...!!!!!!!!

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

Dare we risk voting for a candidate who has direct ties to gail McPherson?

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

Ann, I know why you took the trash can away and that seems kind of silly, but for those of us who make spelling mistakes and would like to correct them, it would be nice to get it back.

Osos Change said...

Dare we risk voting for a candidate who has direct ties to Richard LeGros and Gordon Hensley?

Shark Inlet said...

Even if Richard is "mean" and "untrustworthy", Chuck needs to take ownership for his votes ... like, for example, the vote to hire Dan and the vote to hire BWS and the vote to file for bankruptcy only a month or two after Richard warned of bankruptcy and was blown off by the LOCSD board.

I think that it is clear from Chuck's argument for Karen that this is still a sewer issue for him. Chuck is arguing for for a candidate for the board who has allegiance to his agenda by saying we shouldn't elect folks with a different agenda.

If we view the current election as a referendum on the current board's performance, a vote for Karen means that people like the sort of leadership provided by Lisa and Chuck. If someone doesn't like what has happened under the recent leadership, presumably one should vote for the candidates least closely tied to Lisa and Gail.

If this is Sewerwars III ... which Chuck appears to want the issues to be viewed by the electorate ... Chuck should ask himself before endorsing Karen ... "will my endorsement help or hurt her candidacy" ... essentially he should ask himself whether he thinks that folks in the district still support his "move the sewer no matter how much it costs" agenda.

Osos Change said...

Same thing can be said about Maria.

If you want to talk about Chuck taking ownership for his votes, you better be prepared for accepting the counterargument that Maria needs to take ownership for her votes.

That just renders your argument moot if you fail to take Maria and Marshall into account.

TCG said...

Chuck Cesena's endorsement of Karen Vendetti makes it easy for me to know whether to vote for her. Sorry Karen, I appreciate you running, but...

Shark Inlet said...

OsosChange,

If Chuck wants to brand Maria as "Solutions Group II", he needs to understand that Karen will be branded as "Lisa and Julie and Chuck part II".

As for Maria's votes that you refer to ... presumably you can tell us what sort of votes she's made and why they were wrong ... just like I and others could tell you what Chuck voted for which was a very real mistake.

Again, those who support Karen should tell chuck to stop promoting her unless they really want her candidacy to be viewed as "more of the same".

Perhaps Karen could make clear the decisions of the current board majority which she disagreed with so that we can figure out the ways (if any) her membership on the board would be any different from having Lisa for another four years.

Mark said...

Dear Ratepayer/Stakeholders,
This just out:

Independent Advisory Council http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/AssetFactory.aspx?did=18272
This report was prepared by an NWRI Independent Advisory Panel, which is administered by the National Water Research Institute (NWRI). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this report were prepared by the Panel. This report was published for informational purposes.
October

In addition to the guiding principles presented in the December 2006 NWRI Panel Final Report, the Panel now adds the following:

Cost estimates should be stated clearly and compared on an equivalent basis with the same degree of variability and specificity. Refined and updated cost estimates are needed for each alternative so that decision makers and stakeholders can make informed judgments.

Process/project selection must include stakeholder participation and feedback that is adequately conveyed to the decision makers.

Treatment Technology
4.3.1 Options:
Biolac
Facultative Pond
Oxidation Ditch
Membrane Bioreactor (added by Panel)

Where is the GRAVITY tech memo?

Unknown said...

Here's a thought Chuck... since you are so worried about the power of TaxPayers Watch, why don't you hire them to sue Wildan and BW&S....??? Hey, here's another thought, why don't you start paying TaxPayers Watch like you are paying PZLDF...???

Since I don't expect Chuck's blood pressure to decline for awhile, how about Lisa answering the simple question of HOW MUCH has the CSD PAID to the PZLDF in the latest failed lawsuit....????

Ann, how about YOU answering that simple question, afterall, you support an open and transparent LOCSD...???

How much Ann, how much has the LOCSD paid the PZLDF for the lawsuit...????

Forget the poetry for a moment, just answer that question as the LOCSD seems unable to answer....

Osos Change said...

Steve, I'm talking about the election votes. Maria is going to have to address the people that are voting for her: her true base.

Karen can't disown Chuck as Maria can't disown Richard and Gordon for what they say. Even if Karen could, she can't just outright say, "No, I don't like what Chuck is saying," given there is some validity to what he's saying; given that there is a concern that Maria and Marshall are "more of the same" themselves.

I fail to understand why Karen has to go and prove to people that she's not who you think she is when her positions don't necessarily match the current board's ideologies. Asking proof from Karen goes to that whole faulty logic, "Until proven otherwise, my mind is made up," and to me, that's just dumb especially when you've already made up your mind -- calling Karen a "low life" and paint a picture that she's somehow in this huge conspiracy you call "Doc-U-Gate."

You're a very sick and twisted individual, Steve. The spin is nauseating.

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

Well, the NWRI report is in. I quote from point 4.1.2:

"The Panel believes that the two collection system options are both viable. Both options have risks and benefits that are unique to themselves and, when viewed as a whole, make them functionally equivalent."

Gee, I guess gravity is not the horrible tragedy that mark, Chuck, Lisa, Julie and Steve, Piper, Gail, and a host of others have made it out to be. I suppose the next thing we will hear is that the NWRI is corrupt and biased, and that the report should be discounted.

Now, it goes on to say, "Clarification of homeowner responsibilities remains an issue." Indeed it does. A big, expensive issue. If step isn't any "better," how can MY expenses of repopulating the dirt over that huge, filled in hole where my landscaping, fences, walls or driveway USED TO BE, plus a new electrical panel (or an additional circuit if I have the room), be good for my pocketbook? HOW MUCH WILL THAT COST AND DO I HAVE THE CASH (or a CREDIT CARD BIG ENOUGH, or enough HOME EQUITY I can borrow against) TO PAY FOR THAT? Or can I live with dirt for a driveway and dirt for a yard and can I forget that fence?

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

mark, technologies that were covered by the prior project and addressed in THAT EIR were not going to be repeated for this project. Now go do your homework and look up that info. This is the second time you are given this information, guess you skipped over it the first time.

Mark said...

There are a number of process elements that can be combined to form defined projects that will meet Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) prohibition requirements. The following list of elements is taken in part from the work products prepared by the Project Team and County staff. In combining these process elements, the objective is to form project alternatives that are implementable and unencumbered by unreasonable risk.
4.1 Collection System
4.1.1 Options

Hybrid Gravity

STEP/STEG

I guess I missed the memo which described:technologies that were covered by the prior project and addressed in THAT EIR were not going to be repeated for this project. I'm sure you would have cutand pasted that link if you could find it.

Where is the Hybrid Gravity/Gravity tech memo?

Mark said...

Cost estimates should be stated clearly and compared on an equivalent basis with the same degree of variability and specificity.

If this recommendation is followed it will bear out STEP/STEG, which is good for the pocketbooks of the ratepayer.

Too bad your such a sewer stooge, it could cost you dearly.

Mark said...

4.1.2
Findings:
The Panel believes that the two collection system options are both viable. Both options have risks and benefits that are unique to themselves and, when viewed as a whole, make them functionally equivalent. The cost estimates of these two options must be refined significantly to provide cost estimates that are comparable. For example, both should use the same assumptions for overhead, profit, and contingencies, so they are directly comparable. Clarification of homeowner responsibilities remains an issue. In the end, the decision should be based on an informed community preference using a robust comparative matrix of differentiating factors.

Interesting you omitted:The cost estimates of these two options must be refined significantly to provide cost estimates that are comparable. For example, both should use the same assumptions for overhead, profit, and contingencies, so they are directly comparable.

But I understand why...

Mark said...

In the end, the decision should be based on an informed community preference using a robust comparative matrix of differentiating factors.

Where is the GRAVITY tech memo?

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

mark, it may have slipped your mind that we have already paid for plans to do a gravity system. Step would be start from scratch.

Yes, by all means, let's remind the community that they already have a gravity system design paid for. That is certainly a factor to be considered.

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

mark, "In the previous gravity sewer design by Montgomery Watson Harza, approximately
200 homes whose elevation were below that of the planned sewer main were to be given
grinder pumps and low pressure lines to the main."

LOW PRESSURE COLLECTION SYSTEM Tech Memo, Page 1.

Mark said...

You didn't show me the link that supports your claim:
"technologies that were covered by the prior project and addressed in THAT EIR were not going to be repeated for this project."

I think I understand why.

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

There isn't any link to it mark, it is what Paavo said. Call the County if you don't believe me.

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

Hey, osos change, did you forget about me? You're not going to take me up on my dare? I'm waiting to hear what you found!

Karen isn't "somehow" in the doc-u-gate conspiracy. She did it. And it's not a conspiracy, it is simply the illegal removal of District documents. Aside from being illegal, it is an entitlement issue which links her to the morality behind "chipping-gate," "pay-of-your-cronies-with-District-funds-gate," "out-of-town-$100-gate," "unauthorized-use-Blakesele's-picture-gate," "sell-Tri-W-to-your-boyfriend-gate," "CDO-PZLDF-gate." That is what we want no more of.

Osos Change said...

You dared me? I thought you graduated from Kindergarden.

So I guess my personal observations of Lou in his natural habitat are out of the question even though Stuart Denker, Jon Arcuni, Joe Sparks, Joyce Albright, Stan Gustafson, Richard LeGros, Gordon Hensley, Keith Swanson, Richard Margetson, David Duggan, George Taylor, Gwen Taylor, Julie Tacker, Don Bearden, Jan Harper, and Karen Vega all witnessed his behavior?

I don't think Lou's behavior is documented anywhere in the LOCSD minutes. If they documented everything unusual and hysterical that happened at those meetings, Al Barrow's conduct would be as long as a Tolstoy novel.

Also, here's a concept for you to chew on.

Prove it.

Yes, when you mention that Karen did something illegal, you prove it or you're just as mentally ill as your husband.

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

osos change says:

"I did a background check on Lou. Police records reveal quite a tale."

Still waiting for your report on that one.

You would never believe me as to the report on Karen, so what would be the point. Why don't you ask her?

Shark Inlet said...

As for the whole question OsosChange raises when he or she asks for proof that Karen participated in the after hours removal of documents from the LOCSD offices at Lisa's request ... the evidence is in a sworn statement by a witness ... a sworn statement which Karen doesn't seem to have denied.

Presumably if she hadn't participated, she would tell us so. I haven't seen her deny this action. I haven't seen her supporters tell us that she's denied this action.

In a court of law, if the sworn deposition puts someone at the scene of the crime and participating and if that person doesn't deny participating it would be considered proof beyond reasonable doubt.

I don't know that the document removal was, in fact, illegal. I do know that any reasonable person, when asked "hey, would you come down to the LOCSD offices with me after hours and load official documents into a truck to drive to the home of someone who is not employeed by the district?" would think to themselves "this seems a bit fishy if not illegal."

Mark said...

Sewertoons said...
There isn't any link to it mark, it is what Paavo said. Call the County if you don't believe me.

9:36 PM, October 27, 2008

It appears you have conceded that there is no GRAVITY tech memo, for if there was you could provide the link to it.

Relying upon something you think you heard doesn't protect your pocketbook.

If GRAVITY is good, show me the tech memo, the taxpayers are paying for the study which should provide it.

Richard LeGros said...

Hi All,

I just received this Email from Joe Sparks regarding Chuck Cesena's Viewpoint (posted above by Ann Calhoun); and have posted a complete copy of it below.

-R
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dear members of the Los Osos community.

It is time to invigorate the LOCSD Board with Directors who can represent the entire community, the homeowners, Directors who do not approach every issue as if it has just two sides.

I hope you join me in voting for Maria Kelly and Marshall Ochylski on November 4. The innuendo that has paralizyed the operation of the LOCSD has never been more evident that in the viewpoint of Director Cesena, which I have responded to so that people can judge on a debate with facts, and not just glib opinions. Please forward as you like.

My responses to Mr. Cesena are in red, so I hope you can follow them. If not, ask me for clarification, I would be glad to respond. While I understand my bluntness may ruffle some, I am who I am.

Please ask the candidates directly what is on your mind, how they would govern, and press them with specifics to the operations of Community Services District, and our LOCSD.

regards,
Joe




Here is a response from (in red below) to the latest 'myths' of Chuck Cesena as stated in his "Viewpoint" from CSD Board Member Chuck Cesena submitted to Ann Calhoun.)

First of all, let me begin with one simple fact. In the the last two years since my election, if Cesena/Schicker/Senet voted for all the expenditure reductions I advocated that had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH TAXPAYERS WATCH (eliminate CDO expenses ($80,000 and going), General Manager decisions ($20,000 + $40,000/year), proposed budget cuts ($150,000 in FY0809 alone), water rate study ($10,000 minimum), then not only would the LOCSD be in a much healthier financial state today, but it is possible additional costs could have been avoided and the LOCSD would have better agency relationships and a greater say in wastewater matters.

CESENA: In addition to the election of candidates to our local Community Services District Board, early November will bring another important event in the history of Los Osos. The county will be releasing the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the sewer project. The last EIR, approved by later-to-be recalled board members who now call themselves Taxpayers Watch, gave us the TriW project in the middle of town. Do we want to risk a return to that possibility by voting for candidates with direct ties to Taxpayers Watch?

FACT: Chuck is not specific but rather uses innuendo in his assertion; I guess if in doubt, complain about Taxpayers Watch?

FACT: Karen Venditti & Maria Kelly have a ‘tie’ to Gordon Hensley of Coastkeeper via WH20, which is an organization that is not Taxpayers Watch.


CESENA: Much has been said lately about the current board being hostile to the other governmental agencies and about our handling of the district’s financial matters. Let’s look at the facts regarding our relations with other agencies:
· Given the divisiveness present in the community and the willingness of Taxpayers Watch to litigate our every step towards a revised project, our Board supported returning the project to the County through the passage of AB2701,

FACT: Cesena conveniently leaves out that then LOCSD President Schicker withdrew support of AB2701 in August of 2006 in a bizarre memo exchange to Assemblyman Blakeslee.

The project went back to the County because the CSD had no viable plan (funding, organization, management) to complete a project.

Competent LOCSD management and a constructive CSD/County relationship could have avoided dissolution costs, since LAFCO had no intention to dissolve the LOCSD.

FACT: Taxpayers Watch has not litigated a single thing about a revised project. And just in case Cesena still doesn’t understand Measure B, Measure B provided absolutely NOTHING in it to fund, design, or construct any project.

FACT: Here is the list of litigants incurring District costs since Cesena got elected: CASE, CCLO, LOTA, CSD (via CDOs and then PZLDF), TW.

Perhaps Cesena can list the costs associated with each one.

CESENA: · In the months immediately after the recall, our Board negotiated with Assemblyman Blakeslee and the State Water Board staff and agreed to a compromise that would have continued work on the collection system and moved the treatment plant east of town. This effort was also torpedoed by Taxpayers Watch. Six million dollars later, this is the project the County is now proposing,
· Our Board, not just Director Sparks, supported the 218 assessment vote and the County project development process.

FACT: The State Water Board did not approve the compromise submitted to them and required a 218.

This was hardly a surprise given the uncertainty presented to it by the Cesena Board and by the legal entanglements of Cesena’s Measure B.

Measure B did more to ‘torpedoe’ any compromise than anything else. Cesena helped created Measure B, not the State Water Board.

FACT: The Cesena Board rejected the State Water Board’s compromise by not accepting a 218 assessment option, despite clear indication on November 16, 2006 from the State Water Board that an option was available.

FACT: Around the time of the ‘negotiations’ for a compromise on SRF funding, the LOCSD pushed out an October hearing date on Measure B, based on the scheduling of a Disneyland vacation by counsel opposing the District at the time. Then on November 23, 2006, the District settled Measure B. (now, usually when a team is victorious, they respond with ‘I’m going to Disneyland’ – so in this case I guess counsel got just a little ahead of themselves).

FACT: The LOCSD Board (3-2) voted to assess its properties for a 218 assessment. It did not vote to ‘support’ any assessment.

To suggest Cesena and the LOCSD Board ‘supported’ the 2007 218 assessment is a stretch. I was the only Board member that made a concerted effort to publicly and actively advocate for the 218 assessment. Maria Kelly was active and did far more to support the 218 assessment than Cesena & Senet combined.

CESENA: Yes, we have continued to litigate the Cease and Desist Orders that could force individuals to stop using their existing septic systems even if no sewer project is ever built. We just happen to believe it is wrong for the government to punish individuals for the failure of government at all levels; local, County and State.

RESPONSE: Promote your cause as an individual and contribute as an individual, don’t ask the MAJORITY of taxpayers/homeowners to pay for and fight a cause that is being contested by a MINORITY of homeowner recipients receiving CDOs, particularly a cause that has no clear path or outcome that can be demonstrated by the CSD to the Public.

CESENA: Regarding our financial acumen:
· Audit after audit has determined that the commingling of funds from various district accounts, which was a practice started well before the recall, made it impossible to state with certainty the “color” of the money being used for reserves or to pay District bills. What can be stated with certainty is that no District funds were ever used to pay for anything except legitimate District expenses.

This is an extremely troubling admission by a Director overseeing the LOCSD.

FACT: The LOCSD has this thing called a BUDGET, and on Nov. 23, 2006 the FY0506 legal wastewater budget was $200,000 which on that day was EXCEEDED when settlements were approved for $488,000. Any COMPETENT CSD manager and a competent CSD Board would have identified a need for an immediate budget adjustment.

Sorry Cesena, the dis-array of CSD finances had more to do with the hiring of management, Board member inexperience, and lack of Board budget oversight than with commingling of funds.

FACT: The commingling of some revenues does NOT make it impossible to tracking revenues and expenditures. If Cesena understood the first thing about accounting and LOCSD books, he would know that the assessment Principal & Interest revenue and expenses can be tracked on about two sheets of paper so long as a competent manager and Board understands a fairly simple CSD budget.

In fact, had it not been for MY review during the FY0506 audit in March 2007, during which I pointed out that staff have put in an unapproved FY0506 budget as part of the FY0506 audit report, then the TOTAL lack of budgetary control that occurred beginning on Nov. 23, 2006 would have still not been transparent 17 months after the budgeting blundering of Blesky and the Cesena Board. Dan Blesky, who purportedly was an ‘expert’ in government contract administration, lorded over a FY0506 budget that resulted in and almost $70,000,000 budget variance with not one single budget adjustment – an astounding budget fiasco by even the most basic accounting standards.

FACT: When I asked, beginning with the March 2007 audit of FY0506, for an accounting of assessment revenues/expenses, I was stone-walled which culminated in a 4-1 vote against reviewing assessment revenue/expenses in August 2007.

FACT: The commingling of funds does not preclude or prevent proper management and budgeting of funds.

FACT: The Cesena Board approved Resolution 2006-8, specifically authorizing Dan Bleskly to borrow from the Water Quality Trust Account $410,000 to fund the Ripley report. The General Ledgers of 2006 clearly show (unless someone has alternate information contradicting the General Ledgers I have reviewed – something I doubt Cesena or even Venditti understand), that he only borrowed $130,000 before making payments to Ripley.

This would mean that the money to pay Ripley came from funds, likely including assessment revenues. Following the filing for Chapter 9 protection, August 26, 2006, and according to the GL in November of 2006, $280,000 was transferred from the Water Quality Trust to OPERATIONS. I specifically voted against the FY0607 audit in July 2008 because
1)I did not believe this transfer was clearly accounted for and explained in the audit, and
2) The transfer as recorded in the GL was not for the intended purpose, and
3) The use of the funds from a SEGREGATED ACCOUNT, in this case the Water Quality Trust Account, CONTRADICTED statements in the audit.

What I don’t understand is why the other 4 Directors, including President Cesena, were not concerned or did not want clarification as to whether THEIR specific RESOLUTION was followed correctly by not just one, but TWO General Managers that THEY hired. Mind-boggling.



CESENA: · Our Board cut expenses in every area we could. Our largest “unbudgeted” expenses have been Taxpayers Watch dissolution efforts at LAFCO and litigation; we can’t control that. If anyone has placed the District on a path to insolvency, it is this group of recalled board members.

FACT: Cesena contradicts himself. He and the Board could have cut all CDO expenses, before and after the arrangement with PZLDF. The CSD didn’t have to spend a dime on lawyers to fight dissolution if they had had a competent manager. Cesena voted down approximately $150,000 in budget cuts I proposed for FY0809, some which, due to resignation of staff, have been proven feasible. Cesena resorts to the ‘Taxpayers Watch’ bogeyman to excuse every action of his Board.

FACT: You can control litigation. It depends on who you hire as management, counsel, consultants, and the relationships you develop with agencies, consultants, and the public.

CESENA: · The low bidder for our water rate study, endorsed only by Director Sparks, was the consultant who previously delivered a flawed rate study that left the District short $500,000 in needed revenues.

FACT: The consultant I supported to be selected to do the study was supported by STAFF Cesena (not me) hired, and by the Finance/Water Committee by a 4-1 vote.


FACT: The budget failures from 2005-2007 resulted in approximately $500,000 in water revenues being diverted to pay for higher administration and UNBUDGETED costs (water allocation to admin going from approximately $260,000 to $500,000 for three years ) – long before the some of the current litigation costs increased.


CESENA: The District’s bankruptcy is the direct result of needlessly starting construction on the TriW project three weeks prior to the recall election. The State’s loan was good for another three months. The recalled Board gambled with our town’s money and we have all lost. The good news is that recent arbitration decisions have limited the resulting contractor’s claims to about one third of the original amounts.

FACT: Cesena came to the Board when valid construction contracts were in place. He made decisions that conflicted with previously agreed to contracts by the District. He is absolutely right that the recalled Board made their decision, however unpopular with many, which created liabilities (and assets) for the District and its homeowners. Those contracts were one solution (however arguably ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ anyone feels that solution was) to infrastructure needs of the community.

FACT: Cesena, Fouche, and Senet promised a financial re-structuring (that was the ‘code phrase’ they used) when they ran, and which was non-existent from the moment they took office.

Based on three years of Cesena’s oversight, it is clear he still doesn’t understand CSD finances. Before Cesena harps on Maria Kelly for her performance as part of the TAC or the Water/Finance Advisory Committee of the CSD, he should review all his input and his own shortcomings of the District’s budget and financial review process the last three years.

FACT: Cesena expressly advocated Measure B; Measure B provided absolutely NOTHING to fund, revise, design, or construct any project. Two SLO County judges have ruled it illegal, and a Sacramento judge provided questioned it’s applicability in a ruling on SRF funds.

FACT: None of Cesena’s campaign material, or Measure B, warned the voters of the impending contractor’s claims that his policies would create.

FACT: Karen Venditti has not provided a single specific financial re-structuring idea. Karen Venditti does not have any more relevant or significant financial background than either Marshall Ochylski or Maria Kelly. Marshall runs his own business. Maria runs or has headed non-profits, albeit extremely small ones. There is a difference between having profit & loss or budget authority in an organization (Marshall & Maria) versus ‘being’ an employee in a business (Karen, Lisa Schicker, Chuck Cesena, Steve Senet, John Fouche).

Regarding arbitration amounts: The arbitration of contractor claims and the amount is good news in that a step towards Chapter 9 is being completed, but certainly not a cause for a celebration, especially considering how contracts and the District was managed.

CESENA: It was expensive to stop the TriW project, a project that didn’t even survive the County’s fine screening analysis. That project was so flawed that neither the County nor Coastal Commission objected when our Board withdrew the EIR’s Statement of Overriding Considerations (SOC) in 2006. The SOC were the reasons given by the recalled board for choosing the TriW project over the environmentally preferred and cheaper options identified in their own EIR.

FACT: The Cesena Board had already effectively terminated the prior project.

CESENA: Which brings me back to the fact that another sewer EIR is about to be released. If you watched the County’s Technical Advisory Committee meetings you know that Karen Venditti is the only CSD candidate who asked meaningful, thought provoking questions of the county consultant. She supported the County process, but with accountability. The Taxpayers Watch backed candidates usually just nodded their heads and accepted everything, no questions asked. The thought of a CSD Board dominated by their allegiance to the recalled board members makes me very nervous, especially with another EIR about to be released. Karen Venditti is clearly the choice on November 4.

FACT: Cesena plastered the Seal of the County of San Luis Obispo and Assemblyman Blakeslee’s photo on his campaign material two years ago.

Once again, Cesena has perfected the intentional use of misinformation on the eve of an election.

FACT: Karen Venditti, although a nice lady, has not produced one single idea with any specificity that addresses the LOCSD financial condition, which is amazing considering her campaign propaganda makes her out to be some financial guru. She has as much a plan as the recall Board had.

Given Cesena’s lack of technical understanding of application rates for Broderson, his interpretation of what constitutes meaningful questions for the TAC is questionable at best.

I agree with Cesena, though, that Karen is to be commended for serving on the TAC, and serving on the TAC is where she should continue to serve.

It is unfortunate there is division in our community, but there is much more than the two sides to our community than Cesena has propagated the last two years.

Maybe if Chuck Cesena used less innuendo and labels to obfuscate the role of the LOCSD as a service provider, then we could finally make some progress on the issues we face.

regards, Joe Sparks

Shark Inlet said...

Mark,

I believe that you misunderstand the County process.

Gravity will be fully covered in the EIR.

If, for whatever reason, you would like to continue this discussion, I expect you will call the County and clarify their process first.

It is silly to say that gravity isn't any good unless there is a memo to prove it ... gravity is a law, after all!

Ron said...

Ummm... Richard?

According to the NWRI:

"4.2 Treatment Sites

Options:
• Branin
• Cemetery Site
• Giacomazzi
• Tonini "


AND THAT'S IT!

Apparently, your beloved Tri-Dub isn't even being considered anymore.

Richard, think about that: You and Gordon and Pandora, etc. wasted over $20 million of Los Osos property owner money, and over five years (five years!), and ripped Los Osos apart, developing that embarrassing "sewer-park" at the mid-town Tri-W site, and, now, it doesn't even make the short list.

What a COLOSSAL embarrassment for you guys.

How do you respond?

Five years! Over $20 million! And, it turns out to be the exact colossal embarrassment that I've reported it to be since my second New Times cover story on this subject, Three Blocks Upwind of Downtown, was published... four years ago. (I've said it before, and I'm going to say it again: The moment my story hit the streets four years ago, you should have just pulled the plug on that embarrassment, Richard. It was never going to work after Three Blocks was published. I did not write that story casually. I knew exactly what it was going to do.)

Ohhhh Luuuucyyyy...

Joe, it's just been officially shown that your boyz (and girl) wasted over $20 million of Los Osos property owner money, and over five years developing an embarrassment.

Instead of embracing them, you should be distancing yourself.

"Whatever the county will be able to offer us, in my opinion, isn't comparable to the old mid town site project..."
-- Maria Kelly, April 2008

Richard LeGros said...

Ron,

As I blogged before, I do not care where the County places the WWTF. That is the County's decision to make. If the County has other plans or agendas, that's OK by me.

As for the NWRI report, nothing new ot suprising there; nor does it discredit any past attempts to build a WWTF for Los Osos. The report, understanably, reflects the County's preferences as to where the County will place their plan.

-R

Piper said...

Children,

Please read page 5 of the NWRI report. points 2.7, 2.8 and "additions to guiding principles..." "panel now adds..." then read on.

What that means is that every thing needs to be looked at co equally. You can't have one report go over a technology with a fine toothed comb and the other report just brush over another technology.
My kids figured that one out. How come we needed a panel of experts to explain it to the County?
We also need to look at the costs and make it understandable to all the stake holders (thats us). Another no brainer.

So far, non of that has been done during this past years 4.5 million dollar process that some of you love so dearly.

Equal analysis of the facts and the related cost. Thats what we have been asking for. Where are they?

Where is the cost for MWH sealed gravity pipes?

How long will it take and how much will it cost to lay the lines 20 feet down in the ground, especially in Baywood?

How do you pump out all of the water out of these trenches in order to lay these huge diameter pipes and then what do you do with the water? It is poluted, don't you know.

Oh please do tell? Where is this information? How long will it take and how much will it cost?
Answer these question. Lets hear just how sustainable your MWH system really is!

OMG, on all your stupidity re: Karen and Chuck. Actually, why would you want to build a sewer at all since you seem to love living in one.

Have a nice day :)

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

mark, it appears that you have conceded that a "no" vote on the 218 have done NOTHING for allowing the WWTF to be put out of town.

Piper, approximately 240 houses in Baywood would not be on gravity but would be using a low pressure collection system to hook up to the gravity system where that technology covers the rest. There the pipes are placed at depths of 4 to 7 feet, much like step, not the 20 feet you cite above.

Ron said...

So, let me see if I have this straight, Richard.

You and Gordon and Stan and Pandora, waste over $20 million of Los Osos property owner money, and over five years developing a "sewer-park" in the middle of town -- a project that included a picnic area and an amphitheater in a sewer plant, and HAD to be located in the middle of town so residents could easily get to their picnic area in their sewer plant -- and your take now, after REAL wastewater experts have shown your project to be the complete embarrassment that I've reported it to be for over four years, is "I don't care?"

Huh?

Apparently, you might be alone on your blasé-ness, there.

Remember these desperate quotes from Pandora Nash-Karner immediately after the recall election results were announced?:

"Please... is there any way to salvage the (Tri-W) project??????????????????"

and;

"We MUST save this project!"

Does she, now, also "not care" where the county builds their sewer plant, after she spent over a decade doing anything she possibly could, even if it meant ripping the community fabric of Los Osos into iddy-biddy tiny shreds, to ensure that a "sewer-park" be built at the Tri-W site?

I can't imagine that.

Will she now be attempting to fine the County of SLO "out of existence" because they've decided, wisely, not to build her embarrassing sewer-park in the middle of Los Osos?

Will you, Richard, and Gordon, now attempt to dissolve the County of SLO because they, like the post recall LOCSD Board, decided, wisely, not to build an embarrassing sewer-park in the middle of Los Osos?

Considering Pandora and Gordon will do anything (and I mean anything) to continue their pursuit of constructing an unpopular, technically embarrassing sewer-park in the middle of Los Osos, I assume we can now expect Taxpayers Watch to sue the County of SLO for not building Pandora's embarrassing sewer-park in the middle of Los Osos?

Right, Richard?

You know what that NWRI report shows, and the DEIR is also sure to show?

People like Cesena, and Tacker, and Schicker, and Senet, and Fouche, and Calhoun, and, yes, SewerWatch, are heroes.

And, it sure looks like that draft EIR is going to make people like Richard, and Gordon, and Pandora, and Montgomery, Watson, Harza look like incompetent fools.

I mean, jamming a sewer plant in the middle of town so people could easily get to the picnic area in the sewer plant?

Aye yai yai... what an expensive, totally unnecessary, 8-year-long-and-counting train wreck.

Piper wrote:

"Have a nice day :)"

That made me laugh ; - )

Shark Inlet said...

Ron,

You should stop embarrassing yourself by quoting Maria as if she was wrong when she said that the County project will have a different scope than TriW was to have had.

The NWRI report itself confirms it.


If we end up saving money relative to TriW (once the total costs, including bankruptcy costs are determined) you can claim credit in Sewerwatch ... but at the same time be willing to accept the blame if we end up paying more because of the actions you advocated. The way I figure it, the County collection system and treatment plant must come in under $100M to balance out the $50M in debt associated with the recall. Oh yeah ... we've gotta get denitrification and aquifer recharge as well for that $100M. If this doesn't happen you should step up and take the lumps in the same way you're stepping forward now to take the credit.


I also caught a typo in your comment ... you meant to write that Cesena, Tacker, etc. are a "kakistocracy" not that they are "heroes".

Richard LeGros said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

I have to agree with Shark. As it stands, there is only a recommendation that the water be brought back into town for reuse by the water purveyors. Assuming that cost is absorbed by the project, then what?

How would the INFRASTRUCTURE for REUSE happen without a HUGE infusion of cash -- from guess who - the residents of Los Osos who buy water from the purveyors, as it will be the purveyors building it? UNTIL that happens, we are looking at spraying our most valuable resource - our water - onto sprayfields and losing it to the basin.

So for ron to win here, the costs of reuse and recharging the aquifer would have to be about zero. How about penciling that out for us ron - how having to build reuse infrastructure will cost us nothing?

Now do you see the difference between those projects out of town and Tri-W?

GetRealOsos said...

Ron,

Clearly Pandora is retarded.



Sewertoons,

You never responded when I brought up the fact that Golden State raised rates in order to take nitrates out of the water. What's the need for an over priced sewer then? What's the big problem?

(Why not just cluster homes that are polluting?)

Is it because the STATE'S GROUNDWATER would still get polluted????

It's not the PZ's groundwater, it's the state's.

Golden State didn't pay for their benefit on the 218. They were protected from paying anything! Hmmmm!

Something is very corrupt here, and you seem to promote it all (along with Richard, Maria, Joe Sparks, the County. etc. etc.)

P.S. How much "grant" money will Cal Poly receive for the archeological digs????


Richard,

You are a tard too to ever think a sewer with a park was okay for Los Osos. How ridiculous! Picnic at a sewer plant?!?!? Where were you raised?

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

Chuck, when you say "The Taxpayers Watch backed candidates" do you mean financially or just that individual TW supporters like these candidates? There is a difference. Report on their filed financials if that is what you mean, SHOW us that backing, and if it isn't - maybe you can point me to a mailer or something from TW that supports them (I'm in TW and I haven't seen one). Also, there are a LOT of NON-TW people that support these candidates in case you were unaware. I hope that you didn't mean to imply that ONLY TW supported these candidates. Thanks.

Richard LeGros said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

getreal, you are a hoot! Apparently you missed my last post to you at the end of the remaining posts by Ann, so here it is, but I'll truncate it for purposes here:

getreal says:
"I didn't stop by the booth, I walked by the booth, but it's hardly the place to ask Maria about her not questioning the County process or why her sidekick is the key opponent of Step."

That has to be about the lamest excuse I have ever heard. That would have been the PERFECT place.

YOU WENT ON AND ON ABOUT GRAVITY PIPES HERE BEING LIKE THOSE IN LA.

Let's see - LA's gravity pipes are HOW OLD? Los Osos would of course be installing 80 year-old clay pipes that have been dug up from an old part of LA. Right? We wouldn't use the new type, oh no.

Call Golden State and find out what they are doing. Last I heard, Golden State had customers in the PZ - but hey, you are calling Golden State, so ask them.

You may also not have noticed that there are THREE water purveyors in Los Osos. The one I get my water from has been stripped of all extra cash to pay for the bankruptcy lawyers. They are in no position to pay the hundreds of thousands of dollars to install a system to do this - and OH YEAH, the Water Board will not accept this as a reason to not put in a sewer. You can do this, but you ALSO have to do a sewer.

getreal exclaims:
"Picnic at a sewer plant?!?!? Where were you raised?"
Gee getreal, I guess you never have been to the park on top of the buried sewer plant in San Francisco right at the edge of the bay.

Piper said...

Sewertoons,

Whose gravity plans are you looking at. Obviously not Montgomery Watson's. And if "your pipes are only going down to 7 feet, then how many lift stations will that configuration entail?

Get Real makes some awesome points.

This is the STATE'S ground water, why aren't they paying?

Golden State is benefiting. Why aren't they paying?

We've gone over the "Maria's financial backing is the only official backing" before.

Maria's non proffit is listed under Hensley's tax ID

Maria co-founded Community(?) First with Pandora.

The company you keep does say something about you.

Osos Change said...

Yikes! So many comments, so little time or care to read them all.

Lynette, Intelius.com provides background checks for around $40. You probably should've looked into the things he did before you married him. Also, you should learn to open your eyes.

Steve, I spoke to Karen about the issue. The evidence presented does not point to illegal activity. She removed copies of documents, not the documents themselves and those documents are readily available by public request. I find it humorous that nobody has brought up the times when Richard LeGros (when he was InsideTheCSD on SanLuisObispo.com) leaked closed session documents online before they were declassified -- like that isn't illegal, right?

I am shocked at all the misinformation that Lynette is posting. I can't believe you actually thought you could run for the CSD in 2006?

Richard LeGros said...

osos change,

Sorry, the documents that Karen took out of the office were originals.

To this day ORIGINAL CSD DOCUMENTS ARE BEING RETURNED to the CSD office. Don't believe me?...ask CSD staff.

Obviously, original CSD documents have been removed (illegally) out ot the CSD office.......HOW ELSE COULD THEY BE RETURNED.

Also, when I posted as Insidethe CSD I was not on the CSD board; as such I never had access to 'closed session documents' (let alone how I could post them).

-R

Osos Change said...

Richard,

She took copies. Perhaps you're confused with another incident.

As far as you posting up classified documents, before Sergio Holguin deleted the latest "Sewer Blog" thread, there were a number of posts that you made attaching CSD documents that were dated in advance, meaning you posted documents that were meant to be released and declassified several days later. I was told by Jan Harper that you worked with her for releasing those documents. I could probably get a sworn affidavit from her and use that against you in court.

And how could anyone forget Bruce Buel and Karen Vega removing CSD documents from the office without prior notification or warning? When Lisa Shicker and Julie Tacker protested the removal of documents, you are your recalled BFFs prevented them from looking at those documents.

Oh, grandpa! How could you forget?

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

Piper says:

"Whose gravity plans are you looking at. Obviously not Montgomery Watson's. And if "your pipes are only going down to 7 feet, then how many lift stations will that configuration entail?"

I guess I did not make myself clear. MWH said 200 Baywood homes needed the low-pressure collection. The County deemed 240 homes. Those pipes would go as low as 7 feet, the rest of the system is gravity.

"Get Real makes some awesome points.
This is the STATE'S ground water, why aren't they paying? Golden State is benefiting. Why aren't they paying?"


Gee, WHO is the STATE -(much like WHO is the CSD?) Us maybe? Are WE the ones polluting the States water or are we not? Golden State perhaps owns the land they have their office on, if they do, they voted on the 218. If they don't, the landlord voted. The Golden State customers who live in the PZ would have gotten a 218 ballot like the rest of us in the PZ.

Maria co-founded Community(?) First with Pandora.

No she did not - she founded and is co-chair of WH2O. Pandora's group is called "Celebrate Los Osos."

The company you keep does say something about you.

Indeed it does. Remember the Wrecklamator and Tom Murphy, Piper?

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

Bruce and Karen Vega are running for CSD? How'd I miss that?

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

osos change:
"Lynette, Intelius.com provides background checks for around $40. You probably should've looked into the things he did before you married him. Also, you should learn to open your eyes."

You seem to have paid your $40 - go for it - what did you find? So far you are offering up character assassination with no proof.

Lisa has recently stated that they were copies, she did not defend the action with those words when she was discovered. Had she thought of that excuse then, this probably would have been dropped. You are trying hard to redeem your candidate on her lack of knowledge regarding document chain of command.

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

Did anybody hear Julie at the BOS today? She was demanding that if the project had to cost $400 million, so be it, it MUST address salt water intrusion.

Too bad you were against Tri-W Julie, it did that very thing - by never allowing the water to leave the urban reserve line and it cost far less than $400 million.

But you also seem to be saying that the project can be a whole lot MORE expensive than just the basics to clean up the water, which is the Water Board's requirement.

So much for your affordability concerns for the old, the young families and those on fixed incomes. Looks like you sold them out.

Piper said...

CSD monthly legal fees $50,000
___________________________________
Tax Payer's Watch case $43,000

All other legal fees $7,000

Sewertoons, please don't ever get up to the podium and bitch about legal costs again. (Pass this on to Don and Maria too). In case you missed it, this afternoon's BOS public comment is worth watching.

Osos Change said...

Why don't you pony up the $40 and open your damn eyes, Lynette?

Piper said...

Lynette,

I was interested in the technology, not the man. When I found out that one could not rely on his company, I had nothing more to do with Mr. Murphy.
Maria hangs out with the Dreamer's and you all at TPW.
Sorry, Toms not my bud, try again.

Where are the costs for the sealed pipes?

There is going to be a lot of ground water that will need to pumped out of those trenches , which will be deep. So many aspects not looked at nor expensed for... Where is our co equal analysis with costs?

Piper said...

Someone should do a town hall meeting on cost using industry experts, experienced in a variety of collection methods and treatment options, to see what a system REALLY would cost. Did you know that within the CEQA process, if all reasonable options are not looked at properly, then the citizens have the duty to bring that to light. If the lead agency ignores the citizens, then a CEQA challenge must be brought before a CEQA judge?

Nobody wants more litigation. Lets get it right this time.

Re Julie's comments, she needs to clarify the 450 mill. thing, Im not so sure that is what she meant. In any case, her basic point is valid,(and is what anyone with any sense has been saying), that being, water and waste water are one and the same and this project needs to be a wholistic system. While we are at it, we should be including a plan for run off. All of this is possible, and at a reasonable price, if egos and greed take a hike!!!

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

Why would I waste $40? It's only your wobbly word telling me something is wrong. I'm not buying it. You have the info? Cough it up! Looks to me that you are trying to back out of your so-called "exposure" because you are now at the point of having to admit that you have nothing.

Shark Inlet said...

Maybe I'm misunderstanding ... is there really someone says that it is a good idea to spend $400M to do do it right but thinks that spending $150M is waaaaaay toooooo much.


On the whole Karen thing ... if Karen says that Lisa and Gail told her that they were just copies, I'll believe Karen. On the question of whether they were really just copies, I would think that a receipt of payment to LOCSD for copying charges would suffice as proof. If, on the other hand, there is no record of payment for these copies, it would seem that the copies were made outside the normal request of public information route.

Howie said...

How sad is it ...

When you read the tangled comments of Joe, Chuck, Richard and Rein-man, it's obvious the community is the Big Loser here...

There will be no "unity" candidate this year, and regardless who wins the election, the community, amazingly, will be just as divided, if not more divided, than before the recall ... and the sewer project isn't even in the CSD's control anymore!

Now that takes dome doing! But neither of the "major party" candidates running for the CSD this year have run truly "independent" campaigns -- quite the opposite -- and both have been tainted by their associations -- Maria with Richard, Gordon and Rein, and Karen with Gail and Chuck.

Karen may well be independent, and doesn't feel her ties are an issue that needs to be addressed, but endorsements by Chuck and Gail are double-edged ... as are endorsements of Maria by Richard, Gordon, TW hostess Lynette and Hacker Rein. The New Board is a failed board, and so is the Recalled Board. With failure as the "role model" adopted by the leading candidates, how can anything possibly go right for Los Osos in the foreseeable future?

Maria showed her "unity" colors when she publicly flogged members of the community before the RWQCB and BOS, wrongly labeling as "No- Sewer Reclamators" those exercising their right to public comment, sowing disrespect to further herself and Coastkeeeper's agenda. Maria has chosen the low road well traveled, the road divided, and we've already been down that potholed road too many times. Why the woeful lack of leadership to lead us forward, instead of backward into the same dark, divisive territory?

What a shame we have come to expect so little of our public servants ... that we have set the bar so low that we accept candidates and directors well below the standards we should accept ... simply because they can appeal to 25%-30% of the voting community by twisting, spinning, lying, and saying anything or revealing nothing to win. This town is simply too vulnerable for exploitation by special interests, and yet it continues to be victimized by those who would benefit.

So what kind of CSD meetings can we expect from the biased, unskilled and hyper-reactive Joe and Maria and the thoughtless Friar Marshall? The same kind of defiant, stonewall meetings we got with Richard, Stan and Gordon before they were recalled for abuse of power ... but that was before Maria, Sean, Lynette and Lou came to town, and because it's happening to them for the first time, they "think" it's ALL NEW and SPECIAL. How fresh for them! How painful for the rest of us to revisit disaster.

The Big Winner here is the politics of division which continues unabated in Los Osos, with no relief in sight.

Croaks Joe: "The innuendo that has paralizyed the operation of the LOCSD has never been more evident that in the viewpoint of Director Cesena, which I have responded to so that people can judge on a debate with facts, and not just glib opinions.

Joe, your so-called "facts" ARE nothing more than YOUR glib, self-serving opinions, a "typical Joe Sparks" emotional outburst devoid of substance, chock full of holes ... crammed with the same innuendo that you, as a partisan community leader, fail to rise above at every opportunity to act differently. Most know by now that you are simply unable to control your emotions and are rubber room material unfit to serve, but the point is that all we can expect from you and Maria for the next two years are exactly what we got from Richard and Gordon their last two years.

RIGHT OR WRONG ABOUT THE NEW BOARD, YOU HAVE CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT YOU ARE VERY MUCH PART OF THE PROBLEM, NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION.

Richard LeGros said...

Osos change,

Now you are making stuff up; or maybe you are hallucinating.

For Example:

1. YOU WROTE: "She took copies. Perhaps you're confused with another incident."
RESPONSE: I am not confused.
Karen Vendittias, as Lisa Schicker's 'assistant' after the recall, took many LOCSD ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS out of the office at the behest of Lisa. Schicher has already attested to this, on tape, at a 2006 CSD board meeting.

2. YOU WROTE: "And how could anyone forget Bruce Buel and Karen Vega removing CSD documents from the office without prior notification or warning? When Lisa Shicker and Julie Tacker protested the removal of documents, you are your recalled BFFs prevented them from looking at those documents."
RESPONSE: Neither B Buel or K Vega EVER removed ORIGINAL documents from the CSD office. Never happened...all in your imagnation.
As for Lisa and Julie, they had total access to all the CSD documents they requested.

3. YOU WROTE: "As far as you posting up classified documents, before Sergio Holguin deleted the latest "Sewer Blog" thread, there were a number of posts that you made attaching CSD documents that were dated in advance, meaning you posted documents that were meant to be released and declassified several days later."
RESPONSE: I NEVER had access to closed session documents after the recall...so how could I post them on the Tribune website? You are just wrong on this one.

4. YOU WROTE: "I was told by Jan Harper that you worked with her for releasing those documents. I could probably get a sworn affidavit from her and use that against you in court."
RESPONSE: Never happened as I never received documents that are priviledged under the 'closed session' cloak.
Just to be clear, I have been supplied with documents obtained through 'public records requests' and copies of documents already 'made public' for whatever reason from Jan and other CSD staffers.
As for your getting an 'affidavit', go right ahead as nothing illegal occured. As a private citizen I am not bound by an Oath of Office, or subject to any non-disclosure laws or agreements.

In closing, you are just spewing heresay and falsehoods.

-R

Osos Change said...

Pay the $40, Lynette. You should be grateful that I'm still somewhat considerate of your husband's privacy.

What a bimbo you are!

Mark said...

Shark Inlet (a.k.a. Stiv Neener) said...
Mark,

I believe that you misunderstand the County process. …Steve the process is evolving.

Gravity will be fully covered in the EIR. …What about STEP, Hybrid Gravity and the (panel added) MBR?

If, for whatever reason, you would like to continue this discussion, I expect you will call the County and clarify their process first. …I expect transparency from their process. One call doesn’t do that, at all…

It is silly to say that gravity isn't any good unless there is a memo to prove it ... gravity is a law, after all! … Of course you can provide the statute, can’t you?

Mark said...

Piper wrote:
Where are the costs for the sealed pipes?

Double Bull's-Eye!

Osos Change said...

Richard,

Couple of things:

I had called The Tribune and requested their discussion board archives from January 2006 to June 2008, which they still have for legal purposes. I have seen, with my own eyes, these closed session documents that were leaked from the office. You got help from the inside (hence, "InsideTheCSD") to retrieve information that was meant to be classified later than the date you uploaded them.

A few years ago before Bruce Buel went to Nipomo, I asked if he had taken CSD documents from the office. He said he did because it was "well within [his] right" to do so and they were indeed originals. The reason I mentioned Karen Vega is that she had first mentioned that Buel had taken documents out of the office at a CSD meeting in June 2005.

In case you didn't realize it already Richard, I've been three moves ahead of you for the past three years. You've fallen behind.

Mark said...

Sewertoons said...
mark, it appears that you have conceded that a "no" vote on the 218 have done NOTHING for allowing the WWTF to be put out of town.
Sorry Lynette,

When Maria Kelly trashed her statement my point was made. I dislike breaking my word about not talking about it as I wrote then, but I thought it necessary given your lack of reading comprehension.

I am glad you conceding the point that there is no GRAVITY tech memo. We are making some progress, at least.

Next.

Unknown said...

Hey howie...

How does a "citizen" trying to play private investigator help bring this community together....???

osos change (and getrealoso) have bragged about how by paying $40 a pop (volume discount if he does the whole citizery of Los Osos) that he can find out anything about anyone, even you...!!!

All he has to do is guess and wow, he has all the data he needs to make up his rumors.... He doesn't care how real or false the material is, just needs to feel he is some avenging angel out to save Los Osos...

By now, even you can see his favorite candidate and could care less about how many false statements and lies he has to tell to smear those he doesn't agree with... He won't even stop to talk with Maria Kelly, but then, he is now God armed with his $40 yellow paper... If you upset his delicate mental condition, you too will be "exposed" in this blog... Now don't you feel better knowing that the Lisa and Chuck led CSD have such a sincere and honest protector...

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

mark,
I know that you are tying real hard to find some fault with the County process. 6 different permitting agencies approved the gravity project. Gravity, ETC. will be fully vetted in the EIR, so keep your shirt on. The County is having a Town Hall next month, (a REAL one, not the pseudo kind set up by salesmen, Gail and Al). if you can stop freaking out long enough, why don't you attend and ask your questions since writing an e-mail to get your answers now seems too difficult for you. (If you spent half the time that you do blogging, you would have had that e-mail done by now.)

BTW - A "no" on the 218 would have brought in the State. They pick the project, they pick the location, they pick the contractor, they set the price. That is what a "no" vote would have brought us. Guess you hadn't thought of that.

osos change,
You are really pushing hard to get me to cave to your wishes. Nope. You got something, you prove it. Calling me whatever you like won't get me to change my mind. (Might have worked when I was 14, though!) Better watch what you say however. My brother-in-law is an attorney.

Piper says:
"All of this is possible, and at a reasonable price, if egos and greed take a hike!!!"

Are you kidding? Talk about Dreamers!!

"There is going to be a lot of ground water that will need to pumped out of those trenches , which will be deep. So many aspects not looked at nor expensed for..."

Check the bids from MWH, Monterey Mechanical or Whitaker, I think you'll find the costs you are looking for there. These by the way are actual BIDS, not salesman's "promises." You will of course have to inflate them as several years have now passed by and everything has gone UP.

Unknown said...

It is hilarious to read what the no sewer/move the sewer folks keep dreaming up... if some pipes need to be 20 feet in the ground...then don't you think some of the excavations for STEP tanks might also be 20 feet deep and take a heck of a lot more room than a 24 inch pipe....???

Even the Wrecklamator needed a 20 ft wide x 16 ft long by 12 ft deep hole in the ground... if they had used OSHA approved excavation methods like would have been required for the community wide installations, the pits would have been safer and probably deeper...

GetRealOsos said...

Sewertoons & Mike,

You two are really out of it.

Mike confuses me with OsosChange and can't stop.

You, Sewertoons, don't want to educate yourself. Too bad. You must be part of the fraud and scam.

Golden State Water did benefit by a plant cleaning up the water that they in turn sell to us. I wasn't talking about their property/office being assessed.

If the County (I mean Paavo & Gibson), you & Lou, Maria etc. truly cared about the affordability of a project, or had any concern for the homeowners at all (especially in a big recession), you would investigate who benefits and who should pay for what (especially when the project costs more than any other per capita in the US!!!!).

This just doesn't seem to bother you.

Nope, when the State, Federal Government, Golden State, even outside the PZ homeowners should have paid, the County looked the other way. You look the other way.

Of Course, LeGros is out of the PZ and won't be affected.

P.S. What are both of your homes valued at now?

And, you didn't care to answer:

1)How much grant money will Cal Poly get for the digs?

2)What about Golden State Water removing nitrates (and increasing their rates for this) and tell me why we need the most expensive sewer?

3)Why do you think your choice for the sewer won't pollute like Morro Bay, Pismo, Men's Colony, etc. etc.?

4)And, where are the independent (not corrupt Cleath) reports/studies showing pollution from PZ septics? Kitts showed one tenth of one percent in the bay! What else do you got Lynette?

Where is THE PROOF OF POLLUTION????

GetRealOsos said...

Oops!

One more thing, (this is for Mike!), I hear a few Grand Jury investigations going on around these parts!

Rumor Mike?

We'll see, but the tides a' turnin'!!

Unknown said...

Hi getrealosos and your twin sister osos change... are you telling us that the latest Grand jury is about to have you both indicted...along with the CSD5....??? That's great news...!!!!! Have fun explaining how you'll get them Jury folks by "investigating" and "outing" them for all the County to see....

You might even refresh this blog on the last Grand jury "investigation" of Los Osos CSD....

...and I can't wait to see the report aout how the LOCSD paid for the PZLDF lawsuit... Maybe Ann can be a star witness....

GetRealOsos said...

Mike,

Oh, you're funny....

Piper said...

Howie,
No one from our side wanted to run. We were all hoping some new person would step up, but when no one did, Karen was brave enough to put herself on the line. (Honestly, who really wants to run for a seat where potentially you could be sued at every turn)Mean while, Maria was overheard saying how much fun running was going to be! The Dreamer's/TPW have $$$ to spend on the campaign and are vicious. Our side does not have money to burn and has no alterior motives. No kick backs, no desire for gentrification, we don't want anyone to have to move and want to protect the environment and water supply. The dreamer's/TPW are a bunch of corrupt bullies. (sounds like Getreal has their number!) The whole thing is so incredibly sad. I sure do hope when the truth all comes out so do the hand cuffs!

Lynette, so far, step and gravity have not been compared equally. When that truly gets done, lets talk. Again, it does not sound like you have ever seen one of these projects go in. I have.

The County's town hall is not discussing cost nor looking at what actual contractors are going to charge plus they are only talking about step and gravity.

Mark said...

Sewertoons said...
mark,
I know that you are tying real hard to find some fault with the County process. …When questions find fault there must be a reason…
6 different permitting agencies approved the gravity project. …Name them-Be sure to include the name of the bait and switchy approving agency.
Gravity, ETC. will be fully vetted in the EIR, so keep your shirt on. …Are you sure? Including the Membrane Bioreactor (added by Panel)?
The County is having a Town Hall next month, (a REAL one, not the pseudo kind set up by salesmen, Gail and Al). if you can stop freaking out long enough, why don't you attend and ask your questions since writing an e-mail to get your answers now seems too difficult for you. (If you spent half the time that you do blogging, you would have had that e-mail done by now.)
…Toons, I have many emails that I have sent to the county, which remain unanswered...

Mark said...

Piper wrote:
Lynette, so far, step and gravity have not been compared equally. When that truly gets done, lets talk. Again, it does not sound like you have ever seen one of these projects go in. I have.

The County's town hall is not discussing cost nor looking at what actual contractors are going to charge plus they are only talking about step and gravity.

Toons wrote:
The County is having a Town Hall next month, (a REAL one, not the pseudo kind set up by salesmen, Gail and Al).

It isn't difficult to choose which writer sounded the ring of truth.

Mark said...

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves."
--Abraham Lincoln

Frank said...

"you cannot buld a sewer by quoting Lincoln. you cannot build a bridge by rowing a boat. you cannot discharge in your frontyard with a wrecklamator in your backyard. you cannot have a townhall without Monty Hall and Orenco. you cannot trust NWRI without throwing money at them. you cannot build trust without trusting the build. you cannot do for Mark for he knows not what he does. you cannot trust a salesmen who quote five times a day."

franc

alabamasue said...

Sewertoons-
Mark is the old "Watershed Mark" of wrecklamator infamy. If you click on his name, you'll find he's now selling gold mines in Arizona (which is where he lives. Don't expect him to show up at ANY local meetings.) BTW, if he fails to sell gold mines (only $40,000,000!) expect to see him offering oceanfront property in his home state.

Shark Inlet said...

Gosh Mark,

The law of gravity dates back to the time of Newton. Not a statute, per se, but you certainly aren't gonna break that law.

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

getreal said:
"…when the State, Federal Government, Golden State, even outside the PZ homeowners should have paid, the County looked the other way."

Gee getreal, do you think when the project was practically FREE it was rather short sighted of the community of Los Osos to "look the other way?"

Too late now. We're going to get a project whether you or osos change or howie or jane likes it or not.

mark,
do you own property here? alabamasue says you don't live here. WHY are you hanging around and harrassing us? What is your motive? Are you hawking a new "wrecklamator?" You funding a lawsuit?

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

getreal says:
"…the project costs more than any other per capita in the US!!!!)."

Gee, we haven't had any bids yet, nor do we know what the project is - you sound rather ignorant making these claims.

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

Piper says:
"The County's town hall is not discussing cost nor looking at what actual contractors are going to charge…"

Has a project been chosen? Has it gone out to bid? Do you think that the County should just make something up like our omnipresent salesmen?

Your yard was dug up for a new step tank? Fiberglass or concrete?

Unknown said...

Forget the sewer...STEP or Gravity...

How much of has the CSD PAID in the PZLDF lawsuit....??????????

That's the entire community's tax dollars wasted on yet another failed (should we say; Fatally Flawed?) lawsuit against the Water Boards...

C'mon Ann, we can't find out from Chuck or Lisa and Julie has gone round the bend mentally, but surely you know the accounting because you signed on that lawsuit... There must be a monthly accounting statement by now....??? Or was it paid fom the Fire Fund...???

Mark said...

Lynette,
I Love LO!
It is a very interesting evolving situation that have many businessmen interested in the process.

Government uses business (Consulting Engineers & Contractors) to get the work accomplished.

That is one reason I remain engaged.

As I have written before I do Rep wastewater treatment technology.

I no longer support Murphy due in part to his business accumen.

Live and learn, something you migth try when it comes to leaky sewerage.

Where is the heat sealed plastic pipe discussion and gravity tech memo?

Alabamasue,

Are Bruce Gibson and Paavo Ogren fixed and focused solely on the Los Osos septic tank discharge elimination project? The WaterBoard? The County's consulting engineer?

Toons do Bruce and Paavo live in Los Osos?

As an entreprenuer I have several projects which I work on at the same time.

Watershed Mark said...

Frank wrote:
you cannot build trust without trusting the build.

Frank: I'm glad you are, sort of, paying attention.

Build trust is what happens when questions get answered.

Where is the heat sealed plastic pipe discussion and gravity tech memo?

Piper said...

Sewertoons, Yes on both types of tanks and gravity pipes too. And yes, the County needs to come up with some real #s. Please read the NWRI report.

Piper said...

Correction Toons, the fiberglass tank was not in my yard but I have seen one go in and I have spoken to several contractors re; installation. Gravity pipes and cement tank installed elsewhere.

Watershed Mark said...

The E/One Sewer system. What it is. How it works. Why it's better.

http://www.eone.com/sewer_systems/intro/index.htm

Piper said...

Come and see even more options soon, (and their cost too), at a venue near you. (Community Center, Evening of Nov. 21st) :)

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

By "Real Numbers," I assume best guesses? That is all we can have except from Tri-W which had actual bids. I would not take the word of a salesman as a real number. So I hope that if people show up on the 21st, they are aware that the numbers floated out there will be persuasive guesses by salesmen that want the WWTF job.

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

"E/One Sewer Systems serve over 500,000 end-users daily."

How many in the US? I see they print their brochure in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. Perhaps the bulk are out of the county, as there is little from the USA on their website.

Also off the site:
"The GP 2000 grinder pump, the heart of the E/One Sewer system, provides wastewater storage, grinding and pumping in a single unit."

Nowhere can I find the size of the tank! No wait - "The tank is made from tough, corrosion-resistant HDPE. The optimum tank capacity of 70 gallons is based on computer studies of water usage patterns."

Now how does this work exactly in a 3-day power outage with a 70 gallon capacity???

Watershed Mark said...

Lynette,

Power outage could effect delivery of water to your residence.

If the power goes out for act protracted length of time, one might assume appropriate adjustments in one's behavior.

Watershed Mark said...

Also,
You won't have washing machine, dishwasher, hot water(maybe) for a shower.

Also, I'm sure that E-One can design a larger tank if it is required.

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

mark says:
"Power outage could effect delivery of water to your residence."

No, it does not. The CSD just spent a ton of money on a brand new generator, the water keeps coming - it did even with the old generator. The is no disruption of water service. Large families might just have issues that single people do not.

You the new salesman for eOne?

Piper said...

You don't trust us, you don't trust salesmen, you don't trust contractors, you don't trust folks with PhDs...

Osos Change said...

They only trust Pandora Nash-Karner and Montgomery Watson-Harza... or whoever is filling their pockets with money.

Watershed Mark said...

Sewertoons said...
mark says:
"Power outage could affect delivery of water to your residence."

No, it does not. The CSD just spent a ton of money on a brand new generator, the water keeps coming - it did even with the old generator. The is no disruption of water service. Large families might just have issues that single people do not.
Lynette, didn’t the Men’s Resort have a brand new generator that failed which caused the spill a few months back?

You the new salesman for eOne? …….This has been addressed on another thread.

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

I don't trust people pushing me so hard to sell me that they have the "one and only solution." I'm tired of Orenco and Ripley hanging around like vultures.

I'm tired of conclusions like "step is best" when NWRI does NOT make that claim. Why have you not addressed that here?

People I don't trust may or may not be you, salesmen, contractors, or PhD's. If you are pushing, I am suspicious.

I don't see step working for a lot of reasons and the comebacks have not convinced me to change my mind, yet you keep pushing anyway. I don't think we need one more fake "town hall" with salesmen.

I see osos change is back with the innuendo. If someone was filling my pockets with money, I wouldn't be stressing out over this. When it is over and built, I'll still be here with the same pockets that I have now.

Unknown said...

Oh yes, I "trust" Lisa, and Chuck and especially Julie... They have given us a Plan for an alternative WWTF, they have given us an out of town site ready to go, they have provided a transparent governance and responsible fiscal management... and now I trust Karen to carry on those same caring actions....

My, what an honest group of community stewards.... maybe Jeff will finally get to develope the old Tri-W site... sorry All, ain't going to be any low cost housing, just nice profitable condo's.... Yup, it's great to live in Los Osos.....

Watershed Mark said...

Lynette,

You should take some time off...

Unknown said...

Whatza matter markie...???? Maybe you could post 6 or 7 more consecutive quotes and reasons why we should "trust" snakeoil salesmen from Az or Nv...???

Since you don't own or even live in our community and have been run out of town by your buddy Tom, guess there is nothng more any of us on either side of our own local issues need to chat with you about... You never said anything anyway, never could tell us the truth about the Reclamator and the Service Agreement... Enjoy the Maricopa County weather....

GetRealOsos said...

Sewertoons,

You say, "Gee getreal, do you think when the project was practically FREE it was rather short sighted of the community of Los Osos to "look the other way?"..."

Lynette, we're not talking about the 80's or 90's here. I'm talking about right now! (Besides, I thought you guys don't want to talk about the past.)

So, a project is coming. That you don't answer why is alarming.

Where's the proof of pollution anyway? Why the mega cost project, if we don't need that? What's your excuse? Why if Golden State removes nitrates, and that was the excuse for the big sewer, what gives? Especially when we're in a deep recession. Why not cluster areas and homes that ARE polluting? Why not have everyone who benefits pay? Why stick the entire bill on the PZ homeowners if they're not polluting?

You simply don't address any of this. I didn't expect you would or could. Clearly, this has never been about pollution. You wanted the town cleaned out, you wanted your home(s) to increase in value (good luck with that now), etc.

But you can look the other way, just like the County and Pandora while the total rip-off and scam take place.

Then you say, "Gee, we haven't had any bids yet, nor do we know what the project is - you sound rather ignorant making these claims...."

Well, we had bids before, we know what this thing will cost and placed on JUST 4,500 HOMEOWNERS. It's not legal, it's not moral, and it's fraud and corruption -- plain and simple. I don't understand how you people can live with yourselves...really.

P.S. Why don't you answer how much grant money Cal Poly will get for the digs?

Love those County biscuits.
Love those Cal Poly biscuits...!

Osos Change said...

"I don't trust people pushing me so hard to sell me that they have the "one and only solution." I'm tired of Orenco and Ripley hanging around like vultures."

Dare I say that's quite hypocritical because this statement is, after all, coming from someone who has been stumping for gravity (MBR) since joining Taxpayers Watch, calling it the "one and only solution."

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

getreal says:
"Where's the proof of pollution anyway?" "Why not cluster areas and homes that ARE polluting?"

How would YOU determine who is polluting? What science would you employ? Go ahead, explain.

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

Do I want my entire front yard excavated, the trees removed and the fence torn down to bury a VW bus in it? Do I want to add an electrical panel? Do I want to pay to restore my landscaping? Or in my neighbor's case replace a driveway? Or in other cases remove and replace a wall? Do I EVER want to see a pumper truck again stinking up my neighborhood (sorry Al's Septic)?

Guess I am stumping for gravity. But that's just me. Others may wish to do this - particularly if those above mentioned items need replacing anyway.

Will I protest and scream and say UNFAIR - the process was all wrong - I got cheated if we get step. NO. I don't think that will be the reaction of the step side if we go gravity though.

What will you do osos change, if we go gravity?

PS, I have not see any gravity salesmen hanging out in Los Osos.

Shark Inlet said...

GetReal,

You keep asking how much Poly will benefit from gravity over STEP. Presumably you think they will and the amount will be substantial.

What makes you think this?

What makes you think that Maria or Toons or I would individually benefit or care at all?

I think you presume waaaaaay to much as a way of trying to explain or discredit. I'll put it out there ... a homeowner in Los Osos who works for Poly will benefit financially far more from a sewer being online than he or she would benefit from any supposed Poly connection.

Osos Change said...

"PS, I have not see any gravity salesmen hanging out in Los Osos..."

... other than yourself.

GetRealOsos said...

Sewertoons:

Even if gravity were to be selected (and it was in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 -- Step was just a "show" from the County) -- MY POINT STILL IS:

Why not abide by the law and have everyone who benefits pay. Why stick the whole bill on just 4,500 (and only a handful are actually polluting)?

I think the water board would have an affordable method to see who is polluting. It's their job after all. Why do they exist if they can't do that?

Why put in an over kill plant when it's not needed?

Why can't you answer? Why can't you answer the question if Golden State gets the nitrates out of the water, what do we need a system for that will force thousands to suffer?

How can the average family in these times be able to afford two or three EXTRA thousands of dollars on top of their regular property tax bill? And for nothing!!?? There is no guarantee this sewer will do anything better on the pollution issue than what we have now, except for terrible health issues with immune pathogens with your gravity plant. You don't seem to care about that either!

P.S. I'm moving this to the top thread.

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

getreal says:
"…(and only a handful are actually polluting)?

Good question! Tell me how you know this - what science backs up what you say, that only a handful pollute? Can you delineate the boundaries of this area? Or are they scattered here and there?

No, I think the Water Board can surmise that acres of LO, covered with 8-10 homes each, and the standard being that a leach field works with one home per acre is good enough, unless of course you believe in the tooth fairy and magic sand. Why spend tons of money on evaluating this no-brainer?

Golden State is running out of safe pumping area. They have to clean up the water that they have to sell, to pump less. This does not give their service area a free pass from the Water Board. The Water Board does not condone polluting your water so that you can use a fancy, expensive, clean-up to avoid not polluting it in the first place. Common logic makes that point anyway.

Thousands pollute, we need to be responsible for the mess that we make. If you are angry, get over it. We can't change history that contained opportunities to clean up the mess at a far lesser cost. We will have ways to afford this, there is a ton of help already on the County website.

osos change says:
"…terrible health issues with immune pathogens with your gravity plant"
Yup. Gravity plant operators are dropping like flies all across the United States! Nothing like that lives in a septic tank of course. (But I still can't figure out what that stench is when septic tanks are pumped…)

Osos Change said...

Again, you're selling gravity. Your credibility has been shot just like Steve Rein's.

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

osos change, did you READ the NWRI report?

Osos Change said...

Lynette, do you even know how to read?

Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...

Ignoring your lallation above, I'll simply ASK YOU what the report said about step and gravity.