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.

Read the agenda here. It looks like the School Board will be asked to sign on to the water recycling project.

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.

Happening this week.

There will be a meeting tomorrow night at the Orange Blossom Villa -- 827 River Street at 6:00 pm. This is the second meeting to organize citizens for a letter writing campaign to our county and state legislators for subsidies or ???. Although I am not in support of the $83 million contract with American Water, I am in support of bringing this issue to the attention of our legislators.

On Wednesday night the Planning Commission meets at 6:30. Here is the agenda.

I like this item: 6a. Fillmore Character, What is it?

What do you think it is? Is it something tangible like architecture, signs or orange trees? Is it intangible like community service and volunteering, helping your neighbors or feeling safe walking at night?

I stumbled across a great Ventura County blog. He has some interesting topics and lots of local links. I'm going to add it to my links sidebar. Enjoy.

Rally for a good cause...

This is a pretty cool story in the Ventura County Star today. Did you see it?

Here's your opportunity to meet some great people while performing a much needed community service.

The Piru Cemetery
Needs Your Help

January 20th , 2007
10:00am to 2:00pm

Over the past several months the Mischief Makers Social Club of Ventura County have been working to restore the Piru Cemetery and we need your help. On January 20th we are asking for your assistance in restoring one of Ventura County most scenic cemeteries. Please come out and see what you can do to make a difference.

Needs:
Help find and uncover lost grave markers.
Clear weeds and dirt from asphalt
Prepare for the winter rains by making sure the existing drainage paths are clear.
Repair chain link fence and gates.
Bulk delivery of sand for raising sunken grave markers.
Sprinkler repair and updating of valves and timer.
Bait stations for ground squirrels and gophers.
Map locations and details of exposed grave markers.
Provide a written history of anyone buried in Piru.
Consider becoming a caretaker for a designated area.

What to bring:
Yard Tools, Shovels, Rakes, Weed Cutters, Wheel Barrow and Trash Bags

Catching up...news items

Did you read the Ventura County Star article on Sunday noting that Santa Paula City Council will host a Vertreat presentation?

It will be interesting to see their proposal and how the costs compare to the MBR technology.

Speaking of costs I wonder why the Santa Paula MBR plant proposal, which is twice the size (and population) as Fillmore is reported to cost $73 million, when ours is $82 million? Perhaps the difference is the Design, Build Operate process which was supposed to save us money. Maybe they don't have to pump their recycled water back uphill which is about $17 million of our contract. However, they did have to spend more on land than we did - $6 million.

If you have read some of the other topics on this subject, you are aware that American Water and the privatization of our water recycling plant has been controversial all over the country.

Here's a quote from Mother Jones magazine.

"Such incidents point to a fundamental problem with allowing private companies to take over public water systems, says the Pacific Institute's Gleick. In attempting to make attractive bids for long-term contracts, companies often underestimate the cost of maintaining a water system, and so are forced to either skimp on staffing or demand more money to keep turning a profit. "At least when you have public utilities, the money they take in stays in the community," Gleick says. "With the private companies, the profits are going to go out of your community, out of your state, and probably out of your country"

This is so true - as American Water's parent, RWE is a German Company.

The limited financial resources our City has are continuously drained away by contractors. At almost every other meeting there is always an "amendment" to a contract for more money that was previously allocated. It never ends. And I would think that most of the the time that one of these contracts are entered into that a "contingency" is built in for this - but it's never enough when there is a public trough available with happy cash cows like us. I appreciate the Council members who do at least question these costs. Has anyone ever said "no"?

First Topic of 2007

Happy New Year everyone! I've been struggling with remaining in vacation mode but it's time to get back to work.

It's a brand new year full of hope and opportunity. I wish you all happiness and prosperity in the coming year. I hope we can all work together on making Fillmore "the best small town in Southern California".

So, what does that mean to you? The newly seated City Council will probably be coming up with new goals for 2007. What should they be? If you could draw of vision of goals for Fillmore 2007, what would it look like?