Letters
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- Written by: Matthew R. Dunnigan
All of California is in our prayers with the devastating fires that are destroying forests and homes.
More often than not, the world in which we live is a result of that which we make it to be.
If only a Tesla did not cost as much as a house – even a foreclosed one – the climate would be more kind to us and nations would not have to go to extremes to find oil.
Nations would not be so inclined to test-fire weaponry. Instead, nations would be more inclined to invest in fire-fighting equipment.
California, please pray the little prayer at www.de-vrouwe.net every day.
Matthew R. Dunnigan lives in Rome.
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- Written by: Donna Christopher
I arrived back home just as John McCain was being introduced and I watched his hour live. I was confused when Sen. McCain spoke about getting "back to the Supreme Court" as I had not heard it referenced in the first 20 minutes of his question and answer session.
It was only until I watched the recorded first hour that I heard the first reference to the Supreme Court. Obviously Mr. McCain was not in a "cone of silence" – so that begs the question of the reverend's veracity.
The second question I have from these debates regards the issue of when does life begin. I'm getting closer to getting my Social Security and Medicare. Mr. Obama was humble and intelligent enough to realize that it truly is "above his paygrade" – it is above everyone's but the Creator.
But I LOVE Mr. McCain's answer. If life begins at conception that means we are all at least 9 months/40 weeks older than our birth certificates. The financial ramifications will be mind-boggling.
So I ask, as far as being eligible for Social Security and Medicare, do we get there earlier than we thought?
Donna Christopher lives in Lucerne.
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- Written by: Diane Allen
A gentleman called me Friday and said that a friend of his who lives in Lakeport found Kimo wandering in town and took him in before he was taken to the animal shelter. She did not have the room to keep him where she lived in town so he was brought to this man's house in Lucerne until they could figure out where he came from.
His friend seen one of the many fliers that I posted, told him and then he called me.
I want to thank everyone who helped by either posting a flier, spreading the word and keeping an eye out – our family couldn't be anymore proud of the community we live in. Thank you so much for his safe return! God bless!
Diane Allen and her family – including Kimo the Rhodesian Ridgeback – live in Lakeport.
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- Written by: Judy Barnes
It is true that the Clearlake Oaks Water District has not had a substantial rate increase in several years. The district may need more than the 3 percent rate increase recently imposed.
When I heard about a proposal for a rate increase to be discussed in a special board meeting on May 7, I started attending water company board meetings. It was stated by the manager at the special meeting that without the requested rate increase the water district would be bankrupt in a couple of months. (Initially the proposed increase was 50 percent; now it is proposed to be 39.4 percent.) If you count the fact there will no longer be 200 cubic feet of water included in the base rate there will actually be a 44-percent increase for water for residential service.
In attending board meetings, I do not see any real effort on the part of the water district board or the manager to control district spending. In fact, shortly after the special meeting on May 7, a “special projects coordinator” position was created and filled. On the June 18 board agenda one of the board members had placed a proposal to initiate a hiring freeze and a salary freeze. That board member made a motion to initiate a hiring freeze and a second motion to initiate a salary freeze, neither motion was seconded nor discussed!
The manager said ratepayers have questioned whether or not $200,000 in district funds is missing or unaccounted for and he mentioned some unforeseen expenses for sludge removal at the wastewater treatment plant as an explanation as to where that money was spent. Yet at both the 5/7/08 and the 6/18/08 meetings, missing or accounted for funds of about $200,000 were mentioned and the simplified operating budgets in the agenda packets included an amount labeled “missing depreciation” in the amount of $216,280. However you look at it, there are some serious budget discrepancies that need to be worked out! At the most recent July 16 meeting no budget figures were included in the agenda packet.
It is noteworthy that there has not been a state-mandated annual audit of the water district since 2004-05.
The water district manager stated he is doing three jobs and getting only one salary. I believe his salary is highly competitive in Lake County’s job market, as are all the salaries and benefits paid at the Clearlake Oaks Water District.
I think ratepayers need to be concerned about what happens if the water company goes bankrupt. As I understand it, the state would step in and most likely request County Special Districts to take over. We are in crisis here but I do believe there are many questions that need to be answered and I would encourage people to attend the public hearing scheduled for Saturday, August 16, at 7 p.m. at the Grange Building on Highway 20.
In the meantime, any protests to the rate increase need to be mailed or delivered to the Water District office at P.O. Box 709 or 12952 East Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423. Be sure to include your parcel description (number and/or physical address) and your legal name as it appears on the parcel.
Judy Barnes lives in Clearlake Oaks.
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