Yep. I said it. Vivien is right.
No that it’ll surprise anyone, but the November North Country News is out almost a week early, and just in time for the elections on November 2nd. You can get your copy here or better yet, run out and pick up a copy on the newsstand. Remember, you can take up to 25 before it’s a crime (see footnotes).
In the latest issue of the Trout-wrap Tribune, Vivien attempts to dispute the information in the Sacramento Bee editorial “Who Can Come to the Rescue for Rio Linda?” published on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010.
And I’m here to tell you she’s got it right. She writes:
Here are at least sixteen (16) things the Board has completed since the election of 2008:
The district is operating within their income resources.
Great! Good to hear. Unfortunately for the customers of the district, the income resources don’t come close to covering the debt service on a loan to cover the cost of building three new wells. With a negative debt-to-income ratio, NOBODY in this economy is going to loan them money.
As of December 2008 the district was within a hair of being totally bankrupt! The board pulled things together and ended the fiscal year 2008/2009 with a small unspent balance.
Sure. Nice work. See above.
Salary and benefit packages have been adjusted to match like districts and businesses with the same number of employees.
On the face if it, this is a reasonable measure to take. The reality is that of two consequences. First, the board has so driven the reputation of the district down to the spinning iron core of the earth, that it’s impossible to hire new, qualified talent. Secondly, new workers that get hired and trained, quickly take thier show on the road to some other area district and get paid comparitive to other districts in th area, not “like districts”. They’re using the wrong metric to comparatively adjust salaries and benefits.
The 2010/2011 fiscal year began with a balanced budget and reduced expenditures. a surcharge was established to repay the capital improvement projects necessary to meet the State’s Compliance order.
A rate increase for a group that campaigned in 2008 on a platform of no rate increases? What’s worse is that the “surcharge” isn’t nearly big enough to cover the expenditures that the district, and the CDPH expect.
The fire hydrant replacement project was completed and paid for.
Nice work, but wow… talk about putting the cart in front of the horse… THERE’S NO WATER PRESSURE TO FIGHT FIRES WITH! Why are you replacing fire hydrants if you don’t have any water???!?! Remember, it’s Metro Fire’s policy now to send a tanker to EVERY fire call in Rio Linda and Elverta. It’s so bad, that the fire department can’t trust the fire hydrants!
But hey! New fire hydrants. Woot!
Oh… and you’re paying more for your homeowner’s insurance because of the failure of the district to provide adequate pressure. Just thought you should know. Go ahead… look at your policy. I’ll wait.
Environmental documents were filed for three wells.
Get out ahead on that paperwork. Smart thinking. Yet, there’s still no holes in the ground.
The 2008/2009 audit was completed.
Sweet. This happened in 2010. Better late than never.
Property for wells #16 and #17 have been optioned and purchase is almost completed.
Great! Wait… almost? Since when did almost become an accomplishment? “Good work doctor… you almost saved him. That’s a real feather in your cap.”
The project bid for well #15 was issued and accepted.
That’s AWESOME. So, well #15 is pumping clean, fresh, life-sustaining Rio Linda water into our homes and yards now? No? NO? This must be another of those “almost” accomplishments. Besides, even if there’s a hole in the ground, lined and screened and gurgling gorgeously, you’ll never get a drop out without the electrical portion, and that part of the project hasn’t been put to bid yet. Don’t kid yourself… well #15 is AT LEAST a year away from production.
Distribution system leaks have been repaired.
By whom? Must have been the repair company you hired, instead of RLECWD employees. Nothing like putting the community’s money in someone else’s pocket.
Mold repairs and related inspections for the district office have been completed.
Nice! No really… nice work.
Upgrades have been made to the SCADA system.
Upgrades, sure. Upgrades that will not alleviate the problems you were having when you had the system upgraded.
Engineering documentation has been submitted to CDPH for wells 15, 16 and 17.
Good work. That’s make it so much easier for the state designated receiver company to get started on those wells right away.
Monthly meetings have been held with CDPH and have progressed throughout the year.
Monthly meetings that ground to a screeching halt when this board gave Ravi Mehta a contract that he’ll be able to retire on. No kidding… the CDPH was ready to give our district the loan to get tarted on well #15, but once they saw that Mehta would get 30% of the money, they called it off. Smartly, IÂ might add.
Service equipment has been repaired.
To service… what, exactly? Those new fire hydrants?
The CDPH monitoring plans are being completed.
“Are being completed”… another “almost” accomplishment.
So, sure… they’ve accomplished a couple of things. That mold thing should help us get the water out of the ground. Mostly, they’ve “almost” accomplished things, and in general have been focusing on the wrong issues when they should be focused on getting pumps up and running.
And maybe that’s been my whole issue with this board… focus. They’re not focused on getting the wells done, they’re not focused at board meetings, and they’re working way too hard of things that don’t suck water.
Footnote: From FirstAmendmentCenter.org:
Three states have laws against the theft of free newspapers. Maryland passed such a law in 1994. In 2004, Colorado made stealing free newspapers a misdemeanor, punishable with fines up to $5,000. California’s new law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2007, and will punish offenders for taking more than 25 copies of a free newspaper. The penalty is $250 for the first offense and can reach $500 and jail time for repeat offenses.
