Updates
Well, I certainly have been neglecting my blog! As usual I have been buried in work. Sometimes there's just so much going on I can't make up my mind what to write about. I will be back and I will be posting interesting topics for you soon.
In the meantime, get prepared for the week. Here's what's happening;
- Tuesday, January 30th. Joint school Board and City Council meeting at 6:30.
I'm glad I don't have school age children. I'm wondering where they will come up with the $232,503 a year for sewer fees(up from $64,294 today). How many teachers will that buy?
I do believe in sustainability and water reuse. I think it could be reused in the aquifer recharge though rather than spend $17 million to pump it back up to the school yards and parks.
- Wednesday, January 31. Citizen's and business owner's meeting at Orange Blossom Villa at 6:30 to discuss sewer plant issues.
What affect will these costs have on our businesses? Mr. Gonzalez of Orange Blossom Villa and the Convalescent Hospital believes that he cannot afford to pay these sewer rates and remain a viable business.
posted by Gayle Washburn @ 10:20 PM
29 Comments
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29 Comments:
GAIL ------
WILL BONNIE AND CLYDE DISRUPT OUR COUNCIL MEETING THIS EVENING? OR WILL YOU BOTH SLITHER INTO YOUR DARK ,MEAN SPIRITED HOLES?
Now, who is being mean spirited? Looks like an anonymous to me...
See you there!
It figures, "Mr.Snide" starts this
post with what he knows best...
Being negative.
I guess you got board like the rest of us this blog without having any dialog other than praise and good feelings towards the evil conspiracy theorist that usually post on this blog. Thus, you allowed a comment that was not in your favor as you usually do. Again, free censored speech, just the american way, at least for you Gayle. Try to post a different opinion censored, try to post some intellegent statement that are factually based censored, try to make a comment about this blog, and NOT JUST BASH DEVELOPERS, censored. Good to see that you have absolutely no clue to the power of this tool.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
I’ve seen and heard “he/she doesn’t live here” comments many times and I think that’s a petty and foolish idea.
Why does “where” someone lives have anything to do with working for the city? Isn’t the ability to do the job the important thing? Here are a couple of points to ponder:
First, the Supreme Court has ruled that where you live can’t be a factor in determining your eligibility for a job. I believe there may exceptions for jobs involving certain emergency services but in general it can’t be a condition of employment.
Second, who in this town has the education and experience to do those jobs? Galye pointed out that along with low income, this town is really short on people with more than a high school education. Do you want someone with only a GED making key decisions that would impact your life? Or would you rather have someone with a relevant degree and experience in a specialized field?
Is the most important qualification for city employment where a person lives or how competent they are? Personally, I want the best we can get and I don’t care where they live.
Gayle,
Have you checked out American Water's website?
Our Poor Town, hit it big with them to where they are bragging about their large Contract.
Check it out..
http://www.calamwater.com/awpr1/caaw/default.html
To be on their front page tells me that this is not for the best of Our Community.
Is Bert Rapp adding more to his Resume?
This surely does not help anyone who lives here in Fillmore.
Gracy, I've always said that the direction we're going may be the best and only way. I know that there has already in the past been a lot of time spent on researching other alternatives.
But after talking to folks in Santa Paula, we wanted to make sure that we have exhausted all possibilities. Also, new technologies are always coming along.
And that's what we are doing. Some people think we are wasting time but it will be worth it to eliminate any doubt that we have no other options.
There is just too much at stake for our city.
anonymous: You make a good case for the "he/she doesn't live here issue".
Point 1, I agree with you that it is totally legal and acceptable.
Point 2, "who has the education and experience" Now, that I do not agree with. There are a lot of competent and intelligent people here. Some of them are probably working at similar jobs in other cities.
I think all of the staff we have are bright, competent and professional.
It probably doesn't matter where they live. But what matters is are they in touch with the public, or just the cronies that may have some self interest?
If they really loved Fillmore why don't they live here?
I can say that all of the employees I have come in contact with are polite and helpful. Do they wish I would just go away? Probably.
Does the City try to keep everyone informed? I think they have probably tried to get people involved in the past but got little response. So maybe they gave up. But that's not the case any more. So it's time to reach out. The city has the power, the tools and the means to be more open.
I didn't come to this feeling in a vacuum or even from my own experience. I just hear it over and over again from so many people. Do people like to complain and cuss their government? Yes, and they do it frequently. Have I heard this much of it before? No.
As I've said before, I believe that we are all doing the best we can and for the reasons that we believe are right.
Well, I got a little sidetracked there. We'll finish this conversation later.
Well anon,A sheriff only needs a GED,to be sworn in and Carrie a
Glock 9mm.not to mention make split
second decisions on your life.I'll
take common sense over book smart
every time.Now an exception would
be a Doctor or Surgeon Now are you
capable of using common sense,or
are you just bent on being negative
Anon 9:59 PM
He or She....
Did you know that most City Employees are out of touch with the Community they work for?
How about “Empathy” for the Citizens of Fillmore?
They who do not live here, they will not be paying these outrageous Sewer Bills and They do not “CARE”.
Education and Intelligence are not the “ISSUE”.
How about a little bit of “EMPATHY”?
How about our Senior Citizens and Disabled Citizens who are on fixed incomes, who will have to make life threatening decisions.
They will be forced to pay either their Sewer Bill or Medicine.
Those are the serious issues that the last City Council Members forced our Citizens to make next month and in the future.
An Extremely Incompetent Decision on their part, with no Individual Investigation or Research.
They entrusted Mr. Rapp and Boyle Assoc. to research the Sewer Plants, but “NOT” the impact on the Citizen of Fillmore.
Nor the Impact on Fixed Income Families, including the Disabled and Senior Citizens
Also this will be forcing Business out of Our Poor Town.
There are Business that cannot afford these rate hikes.
Most Business will walk away, before contemplating setting up Shop here.
They can open up shop in Valencia and Ventura, paying a fraction of the cost of their Sewer Bill.
How about Our School District?
I prefer more teachers, instead of the high dollar to flush the toilets in our Schools.
I do hope for Our Citizens, that the City of Fillmore gets out of this Sewer Plant Contract
Regarding the live here / work here thing, why would you want to? Especially in a small town like Fillmore. Being the humanitarian that I am, the last thing I want to see on a Friday night is all the people I dealt with all week long. Plus if all your employees were from Fillmore wouldn’t your personnel base almost take on the appearance of inbreeding?
I just can not believe the city council gave Diane McCall another four year term on the planning commission.
What can we expect?
I trust her record shows what too expect.
Council member Walker, how dare you support the status quo.
The Fillmore Hawks as usual will be monitoring the planning commission and council. Nothing Changes!
hey anon 10:49am
Noone has bad mouthed the developers. Despite the rhetorical theories by Conaway ,Dressler and Hernandez, the residents of Fillmore have been more than tolerable towards Griffin , KB and SunCal. Complaints comning form homeowners who spent more than a half million on a home and its half -ass finished, with major defects , I would say complaints are in order. Step out of your loafers and high heels and open your minds and flush the sand out.
Gayle, I didn’t mean to imply there are not intelligent and educated people here, only that there are few if any with public administration and policy training and experience.
Of those professionals who do work for the city, why do the work but not live here? Keep in mind what we can afford in salary, benefits and advancement potential. Fillmore can’t offer much in any of those areas so I imagine people who might be qualified work here can easily find cities, which offer higher wages and benefit packages.
So why would they want to work here? They are either idiots – which I don’t believe – or simply like Fillmore. Could the answer be that simple?
“Why don’t they live here?” (Gracy take note) Have you looked around lately? Is there any place to have an intimate dinner, quite drink, dance, a choice of movies, good sports facilities and good schools? If you were a younger person, as many of the city staff are, wouldn’t you want the best schools, greatest recreational and cultural opportunities for you and your family?
Maybe it should read,
With the salry+benifets we pay them
What if anything do they give back?
Clairek.
I think you are mistaken in regards to Patti Walker being for the status quo. Patti has always asked the tough questions. Maybe instead of mouthing off so rudely, you should listen to what the other council members have said and proposed.
As far as the City Council re-appointing Ms.McCall, I do however agree with Patti that Diane was most likely the most qualified and she has demonstrated that she does listen to her constituents. I firmly agree with their decision.
Claire, and I am awaiting your email for an invitation to the Fillmore Hawks meeting. I thought community members could join your group?
My email address is
loansbybrian@msn.com
Anon 10:05PM
Again reread my posts.
I didn't ask "Why" the employees live here.
I stated that most "DO NOT LIVE HERE". That is why they do not have any “Empathy” towards the Citizens here in Fillmore.
You seem to have the same philosophy as Smedley, are you???
As he campaigned for more Businesses, yet voted for the Sewer Plant.
Major mistake, because or that vote this City will not grow.
When new Business’s look into setting up shop here, and they are told about these astronomical Sewer Rates.
They will look elsewhere. Some of the Business here will fold up, you watch.
What is the correlation between “empathy” and “fact”?
The requirement to build a new sewer plant to meet new standards is a fact, an un-funded mandate from the State. How does “empathy” change that “fact”?
The cost of this new plant is what it is and the global marketplace determines that. Empathy isn’t going to change that thus where a city empolyee lives can't either.
I don’t want to pay higher sewer bills any more than the next person, but can we change facts with empathy and requiring all city employees to live here?
Gayle,
I thought the election was over.
It is apparent the cronies are still active.
A pity they have to continue to twist words.
Also hiding behind Anonymous.
Well I quess I need to put on my Big Boy Pants again, LOL
your just flat silly aren't you?
Dear anonymous 10:05 pm.
You make a statement that has always caused me to question...
"The requirement to build a new sewer plant to meet new standards is a fact, an un-funded mandate from the State."
Can you show me the document or the order that says that we have to "build a new sewer plant" to meet the standards? I've been accused of being stubborn and dense, and I am always the first to question myself, but, the state cannot tell you HOW to meet the standards. They only tell you what the standards are.
I have been told by credible professionals that our existing plant could be modified to meet the standards. Would it last for 20, 30 or 50 years? No. But it might last for 10 years, while we design a sustainable plant and apply for grants or new proposition monies.
The cost of the plant is questionable at best when you find out that a year ago it was estimated at half the price. Now the materials/concrete/steel cost index has gone up, but, it hasn't doubled. Neither have wages doubled. Fuel has though. But the main thing that has doubled is the ability of the multinational corporations to fleece the taxpaying public. We should be using a reliable California contractor to design and build the plant, and hire people and put them through the certification program at Ventura College and provide opportunities for local employment.
There are a lot of options that could be done to save money. Here's another one. Select a treatment process that doesn't use so much electricity.
I've said before that our City employees are good people and we are fortunate to have the talent. Let's just work together to make things better.
I agree with you Gayle 110%.
I also want to ask, Why a 20 year Contract?
I have never heard of a long term Contract of 20 years!!!!
With what I have read about American Water, it is scary to have a long term Contract with this Company.
A small example is Monterey Bay. It seems American Water’s strategy is to hold on to their Facility no matter what the cost is. I remember reading Monterey Bay’s Contract was for only for 4 years. The Contract is up, over, “Done” and now the Citizens are fighting in the courts to take back control. Why? There is no Contract now.
We have a 20 year Contract, Why so long?
And will we have to fight them in Court like other Communities?
I agree there is no reason not to have employees trained and have a Transition Period and then wean American Waters out.
To have such a long contract with the History of this Company is only asking for more headaches and nightmares.
This makes me think that there was not allot of research on the “IMPACT” of this particular Company.
GAIL-------------
WHERE DO YOU FIND OR (DIG UP ) YOUR INFORMATION ON THE WRP?
SESAME STREET IS NOT A VALUABLE SOURCE.
PLEASE DONT SPEAK !
anonymous 5:27pm: You are so funny! ROTFL...
Here's where I get my information...
1. At Barnes & Noble they have a book called "Poop Plants for Dummies".
2. On Saturday nights I go to the Sespe Saloon and talk to a landscaper who used to trim the iceplant at the sewer plant in Ventura. He knows everything!
Gayle,
Great Presentation last night in front of the Planning Commission.
Hats off to everyone who spoke during the Public Forum.
I did not know that the EIR has not been approved for the Sewer Plant.
As well as other procedure, which is required as you Eloquently, spoke of.
How can this Contract with American Waters be Legal when the procedure and requirements have not been meet?
Please do not tell me just because the Lamb Duck Mayor Villegas signed this Contract there is no way out.
I remember Rapp stating we can always back out. Was that to pacify the Public?
Can this proceed forward without an EIR as well as the other Violations the Council so Intentionally acted on without the General Public?
Did I also hear that the Salt & Chlorine are not an issue at this time?
Wasn’t that the reason for the Sewer Plant?
If so then why continue with this Sewer Plant?
Sounds like there is a hidden “Agenda”.
In the long run Citizens of Fillmore will be stuck paying the Price
Gayle,
Anon 10:05 got some points but I’ll add something.
Need to build new plant – if someone tells you that you have to get from here to there and what you have wont work any more, what is left. You have to do something else like build a new plant. The terms and conditions dictate the necessary action; they don’t have to spell out how you get there.
Modify existing plant? Back to the theory of diminishing returns. Or pouring good money after bad? Everything mechanical and technical reaches a point where complete replacement is necessary when upgrades have little value, like the 1956 plant. With humans, it’s called death – can’t upgrade that much.
Cost of plant? You familiar with the “competitive bidding” practice? That’s what any private and government agency (unless you are the President and dealing with Halliburton) has to do. So does Fillmore. Spec a project, choose the best response.
Options? I’ve heard of a pil you can drop in your gas tank to double your cars gas mileage. Maybe we can find one to drop in our toilets and cut the cost of the new sewer plant in half.
What I know of our city employees efforts to cut cost for you and I are commendable. I hope they can do more.
You call 82 million without knowing all the facts or impact,
“competitive bidding” practice?
Anon 5:31
Depends on what you call facts.
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