Letters
If, for whatever reason, the inspector deems it necessary for the property owner to perform additional tests, the property owner is required to perform those additional tests at the property owner’s expense. Should the additional tests not be to the liking of the inspector, major work, thus major expenses, would be burdened on the hapless property owner.
Then there is the extreme. Should the property not be able accommodate a new system, the property would be uninhabitable. At best the property loses all value because it cannot be sold. At worst, the property owner must abandon the property completely.
If the state or county believes that a problem exists as a result of septic systems, which were installed legally, then the removal of septic systems is a public benefit. All of which is only the government's current opinion. Thus, the government’s perceived problem should not be levied against the innocent property owner. The government should bear the full cost of placing the property on a sewer system. Maybe we make this part of the stimulus package.
Remember the Golden Gate Bridge and the 25 cent bridge toll. To convince the public to tax themselves to build the bridge the proponents pointed out that the toll would end after 30 years, highway tax dollars would pay for the maintenance and generations to come would have a beautiful bridge. Well, the toll is now around $6.
Examples of the continual expansion of taxation and regulation permeate the history of our government. Why should any property owner expect this new regulation to be any different? It is wise to believe that once the regulation is adopted it will only become more restrictive and expensive with time.
Richard B. Cooper lives in Healdsburg.
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- Written by: Richard B. Cooper
As I sat and listened to the presentation made by Richard Knoll to the Lakeport City Council on Tuesday night, many thoughts ran through my mind and what I was going to say. After walking away from the podium that night, I never really said what I wanted to.
To set the story straight, on what I really wanted to say, the city of Lakeport has properties in its boundaries that are basically doing nothing, and some are vacant land. They have been put up for sale over the years, with no takers or qualified buyers.
Now, the city has an opportunity to do something with the least desirable ones and derive monies from them through the sale to their redevelopment agency. The city now has monies to put into the general fund to use as they deem fit.
First and foremost, they want to take care of police and fire departments, which, we all know, are necessary for the protection and needs of the citizens of Lakeport. The secondary use of these funds would be for small business stimulation loans, that would help our local businesses get through these troubled economic times.
We, as an employer, don’t want to lay off employees, or even let them go, because there isn't the business to support them. When businesses close, people lose their jobs and it all trickles down through the community. These monies should help get us through these times, and isn't meant to just enhance anyone's business.
Furthermore, there has to be shown to the city the financial means to repay them for the loans. Credibility is what will make this program work.
Once our city, county, state and country get back on track, the redevelopment agency can offer these purchased lands back up for sale and recover the monies that were originally used to acquire them, and would go back into the redevelopment of downtown Lakeport, remodeling of the business fronts, creation of the lakefront area for parks and beautification of our precious asset, our city and its tourist attractions.
Lastly, for the record, most businesses will dig into their reserves, create credit lines and sell off assets to raise capital to keep their dream going. But, when there is no one or no financial institution to obtain monies from, where do go then?
After being in business in Lake County for over 45 years and 13 of those years in the city of Lakeport, we have seen the ups and downs. This economic downturn we are having now is unlike anything I have experienced before. But, with all of us working at the solution, we will get through it.
Paul Breunig is owner of Hillside Honda in Lakeport.
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- Written by: Paul Breunig
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