Opinion
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- Written by: Bruno Sabatier
Highlands Mutual has shareholders while Clearlake has constituents. Whether the water system is a mutual, public or private enterprise, I personally don’t really care. In the long run, all of us want running reliable, affordable, potable water coming out our faucets when we turn them on. It is, however, set up similarly to a public entity where there are Board of Directors that make decisions for the water company on behalf of their shareholders. Board of Directors are elected through a vote of the shareholders. It is important that elections are done right and that the public is informed to make the best decision for the future of the agency that provides water services to its shareholders. However, elections should be free and fair to ensure the highest levels of integrity.
Free elections are important to ensure that all voices are given the recognition they deserve. Suppressing votes or making it difficult to register a vote should never be a part of our election processes. The integrity of our elections are of the utmost importance, therefore ensuring access and participation is paramount to holding that standard of integrity. The courts recently found that the list of shareholders that were eligible to vote was not the appropriate count. It turns out that shareholders who own property, but don’t have water service, still get to vote due to having the ability to vote for directors who may make changes that would entice them to make a water connection and get service. Capacity fees, water rates, and water quality are things that board of directors can prioritize which may bring in more customers, so I agree with the courts findings that those within the district even without water connections should be able to vote.
I’m not sure for how long the shareholder list has been incorrect. I want to give Highlands Mutual the benefit of the doubt that this was a new interpretation that they had never heard before. However, on their website (https://highlandswater.com/election-information) it states “Under Highlands’ Bylaws and a court order, only parcels within these boundaries are shareholders.”
The latest iteration of the bylaws, approved on Jan. 31, 2024, state in Article VI Section 2. Membership “any persons owning a lot or lots” in a described subdivision, or “any person or persons owning any parcel or parcels of land” within an unsubdivided portion. Has it always read this way, does this mean that shareholders’ ability to vote or even attend or speak at Highlands Mutual meetings have been historically suppressed? I’m glad that this has been brought to light by the courts, but I fail to understand why the discourse regarding this issue seems absent from this upcoming election? No Board of Directors has mentioned it, no apology to shareholders who were not given a voice in the past, just crickets.
Finally, fair elections means not providing barriers or benefits to candidates and treating them all the same with equity. On Highlands Mutual’s website there are links to https://keephighlandswater.com/. Within this site are a lot of attacks and jabs at the City of Clearlake, similar to the types of attacks and jabs seen on the city’s website and social media, but again that is for a later topic of discussion. There is also a “Vote by Proxy Now” button found on their page. This leads you to a webpage that solely suggests voting for a specific slate of candidates when they are not the only slate. Now this page on its own would not create election integrity issues had it not been for the link from Highlands Mutual web page. Having a link to this page/site from Highlands Water suppresses all other candidates that are running in this election. There is no integrity in this and does not provide a level playing field for all candidates, hence the election is not fair.
Imagine being a director of an agency and choosing your own Board of Directors. Imagine a city manager choosing their own city councilmembers. Those who shall be led by the board or council created through an election do not get to officially support certain candidates. This is highly unethical. I’ve seen it before and I don’t like it, and even more I can’t respect it.
Board of directors, just like city councilmembers, are meant to represent the people (shareholders) of the district they serve, not work for or with the administrative team of the agency they’ve been elected to. This does not mean that as private individuals they can’t provide support, but an agency itself linking to a page that only shows one slate of candidates who happen to represent the current Board of Directors is unethical and destroys the integrity of any election.
In contrast, here is the city of Clearlake’s election page where all candidates that registered for the election are listed and in alphabetical order to ensure that no one was prioritized over another in any biased way. There is no link to specific candidate pages to help ensure that the public sees the names the city wants you to see. That is how fair elections work.
I’m embarrassed to see how this process has been moving forward. Besides the conversations regarding water rates, water infrastructure and water quality, which is a completely different topic and an important one for the future of Clearlake, I’m embarrassed that the current Board of Directors and the current administration of Highlands Mutual is not embarrassed with me that their election is proving to not be free and fair for the points listed above. The silence is unfortunately louder than the words currently defending Highlands Mutual’s work in the community.
To all the shareholders of Highlands Mutual, please vote. Please have discussions with various people who are shareholders, city officials, with Highlands Mutual staff and Board of Director candidates. Get a better understanding of what you will be voting on so that the future of your water is secure. There are choices and you are free to make those choices, but know that this election, this process is marred with issues that degrade the integrity. Make your voices heard, make sure to read everything and learn as much as you can and please cast your vote on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at 16374 Main St., Lower Lake, CA 95457.
Please visit both sites to make your decision.
https://reformhighlandswater.com/
https://keephighlandswater.com/
Bruno Sabatier lives in Clearlake, California. He is the District 2 representative on the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
- Details
- Written by: David Claffey
The survey also solidified our concerns that water service in the city, particularly from Highlands Mutual Water Co., is holding us back.
The survey shows residents want growth, plain and simple. Our community has a clear priority on initiatives to enhance the overall quality of life including more housing, expanded medical facilities, and increased recreational opportunities such as gyms, fitness centers, and public pools.
They also want more retail shops and services to support their daily needs and the city’s economic development. But, to build a thriving Clearlake that truly meets these hopes and dreams, we must have reliable water service.
Before Clearlake was a city, it was carved up between three different water agencies, with many of our community’s commercial areas falling within Highlands’ service area. Unfortunately, Highlands’ deficient water system is not up to serving some current customers and has been halting growth and development opportunities for years.
Highlands' system fails in several critical areas: unreliable service, water quality problems, high costs, inadequate fire flows, and a lack of infrastructure investment. These issues don’t just inconvenience our residents — they actively hold Clearlake back. The inability to provide reliable water service discourages business development, stifles housing developments, and prevents the expansion of vital services.
A recent court ruling found that Highlands’ April election did not follow the law, requiring them to conduct a new election before Sept. 30.
Highlands currently plans a Sept. 12 cutoff date to vote for a new board although the announcement of a new election is flawed and does not provide all shareholders notice of the election as required by law; it will likely be necessary to go back to court because they are not following state law or their own bylaws which address their election requirements.
Unlike public agencies like Konocti County Water, Highlands isn't required to hold open meetings or be transparent about its finances. We're especially troubled by the relationships between board members and their family members, raising concerns that some decisions may prioritize personal gain over community service.
A fair election is a crucial opportunity to elect transparent, accountable leadership that are shareholders within Highlands’s boundaries and will prioritize the needs of residents over personal gain. However, Highlands is proposing the same board members who have overseen the company’s failures, which is a concerning prospect for our city’s future.
Our survey revealed that nearly four out of five residents believe that water agency board members should be elected by the people and two-thirds want transparent leadership. While this is required by public agencies like Konocti County Water, it isn’t at Highlands.
But, as part of a new election, we hope a new board at Highlands will ensure that those in charge are directly accountable to the community they serve, rather than operating in secrecy with little oversight.
Accountability is particularly crucial given the significant concerns about fire safety. Highlands’s system often cannot meet fire flow requirements, with a strong majority of Highlands customers expressing concern that Highlands can’t provide the water pressure needed for growth.
Highlands’s inadequate system jeopardizes public safety and stifles growth, including vital new businesses our community wants and needs. Clearlake’s future depends on a water system that meets fire codes and supports new development without compromising safety.
Another major concern is water quality. Highlands’ system frequently requires customers to boil water due to contamination issues. Unless there’s a major overhaul of infrastructure, these problems will only worsen over time.
Highlands also fails to apply for grant funding, leaving customers to shoulder the full financial burden. As a result, Highlands’ water rates are ranked in the worst category for affordability by the State Water Board, with rates that are, on average, $45 higher per month than those of Konocti County Water, a public agency.
A lack of transparency and accountability, combined with these high costs, makes it clear that a change in leadership is essential.
The upcoming election is a pivotal moment for Clearlake. We urge Highlands’s shareholders to vote for a new, transparent board of directors committed to securing grants, improving infrastructure, and maintaining transparency. Clearlake cannot afford to wait while its water service continues to deteriorate and hold our city back.
Clearlake is rising, with progress and promise evident in every corner of our community. But to fully realize our potential, we need the basics — like reliable water service — to be in place.
A new, accountable board is not just necessary — it is essential for the future prosperity of Clearlake and its residents.
David Claffey is the mayor of Clearlake, California.
- Details
- Written by: Becky Salato
LOWER LAKE, Calif. — In preparation for the beginning of the school year, we spiffed up our facilities, planned curriculum, purchased supplies and reconnected with our core purpose: to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in life.
We’ve got some big challenges when it comes to academics, but we have what we need to support students’ academic growth.
What keeps me up at night isn’t academics, it’s our students’ well-being. Specifically, I am worried about the impact of cell phones and vaping. Both prey on their need for social acceptance and distract students from learning–and both are highly addictive.
Smartphones
In a recent letter to all California schools, Gov. Gavin Newsom called on us to restrict smartphone use in the classroom, noting:
Excessive smartphone use among youth is linked to increased anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 72% of high school and 33% of middle school teachers report cell phone distractions as a major problem. Common Sense Media found that 97% of students use their phones during the school day for a median of 43 minutes. Combined with the U.S. Surgeon General’s warning about the risks of social media, it is urgent to provide reasonable guardrails for smartphone use in schools.
At Konocti Unified, we already have a policy limiting cell phones in the classroom (Policy 5131.8: Mobile Communication Devices). It says, “Mobile communication devices shall be turned off during instructional time.” There are a few exceptions, as in the case of an emergency or when the student has special permission, but overall, the policy responds to the fact that smartphones typically decrease students’ ability to learn.
When we began to enforce this policy more strictly last year, suggesting that students put their phones in a secure location during class time, some parents pushed back, worried their child would not be able to access their phone in the event of an emergency. After talking with our police chief and fire chief, I am more convinced than ever that the safety argument doesn’t hold water.
Both chiefs noted that during an emergency, the last thing they want students doing is focusing on their phones, responding to frantic parent requests or communicating with friends in remote locations. More than at any other time, during emergencies students should put their phones away and focus on their surroundings and the instructions of the school personnel and first responders trying to keep them safe.
I would love to ban phones from school campuses altogether. This would eliminate cyberbullying and make our campuses more welcoming for all. I recognize that bullying can happen in person and that rumors can be passed without the use of technology, but we all know how quickly and easily information flies when smartphones with access to social media are used.
More and more, studies reveal what most of us intuitively guessed: that social media can be devastating for young people. It makes it harder to build strong, interpersonal relationships, disrupts sleep, distracts from homework, creates unrealistic expectations about people’s lives and bodies, invites risky behaviors, and more.
I hope schools, families and our community can work together to limit children’s use of smartphones and social media.
Vaping
The other issue weighing heavily on my mind is vaping. Although it is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone younger than 21 because of the health hazards it poses, we’re seeing students as early as elementary school with vape pens at school, with many more in middle and high school.
Using vape pens is more addictive and damaging than many people realize. Some vape cartridges have as much nicotine as 600+ cigarettes, and students are going through a single cartridge in about two days. Vapes also deliver nicotine more efficiently than cigarettes, allowing nicotine to pass through the blood-brain barrier more easily.
Nicotine is one of the most highly addictive substances people can get their hands on, so it’s no wonder that even if students wanted to quit, they would struggle to do so. Instead, they end up on the nicotine roller coaster with emotions sailing up and then crashing down. Kids full of nicotine are more irritable, so it’s not surprising that we’ve seen a rise in arguments and other aggressive behaviors.
To make matters worse, many teens add sugary caffeinated energy drinks to the mix.
Children need to know how to care for themselves–about the impact of these substances on their physical and mental health, and they need to be protected from addictive substances that harm them. Especially when it comes to teens, they may look like adults, but many do not have the emotional maturity to make good choices. They are far more influenced by immediate gratification (yummy flavors), advertising, and social status.
If we are to tackle either smartphone use or vaping, schools, families, and our whole community needs to work together. If you feel strongly about these issues (whether you agree with me or not), I want to hear from you. I plan to create a committee of educators, parents/caregivers, and community members to figure out common-sense ways to support our students.
Please let me know if you’d like to be a part of this effort.
Becky Salato is superintendent of the Konocti Unified School District.
- Details
- Written by: Dave Sena
A little over a year and a half ago, I wrote a letter about the dumping, littering and trespassing that occurs in the Borax Lake area along Sulphur Bank Drive in Clearlake.
A group of local volunteers had recently cleaned up over two tons of litter, tires, appliances, furniture and garbage.
Since that time, volunteers have removed many more tons of debris and a vehicle that was submerged in the lake for over 20 years.
Littering and dumping of unwanted items continues in the area. Recently another vehicle was abandoned and now sits partially submerged in Borax Lake emitting hazardous chemicals into the Lake.
Trucks and motorcycles regularly trespass onto the pristine hills in the area causing irreparable damage and erosion to the land.
We have put up signs that state the obvious: no littering, no dumping and no trespassing. The signs are largely ignored and the area continues to be treated as a vast landfill and playground for motorcycles and four wheel drive trucks. Local volunteers continue to do what they can to protect this beautiful area and keep it clean.
The history of this area dates back tens of thousands of years and includes an archeological site designated a historical landmark and owned by the Archeological Conservancy where the remains of one of the oldest known humans in North America were discovered. It is littered with trash and debris.
The city has installed a license plate camera in the area. The camera has not deterred trespassing and illegal dumping, but images from the camera are being used to prosecute trespassers.
We need help from citizens to report violators to law enforcement authorities. If you see something, say something. Together we can make a difference and preserve this historic, natural area for generations to come. Much progress has been made in recent years, but much remains to be done.
If you would like to volunteer to help protect the Borax Lake area, please contact Barbara Christwitz at Citizens Caring for Clearlake. You can reach Barbara at 707-995-0940.
Dave Sena lives in Clearlake, California.
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