Letters & Shout-outs (Feb. 13, 2015)

Letter: Lompico, SLV water merger not in residents’ best interests
Editor,
I have serious concerns about the proposed bond and merger between Lompico and SLV Water District.
Actual quotes have shown that SLVWD’s cost estimate to repair the Lompico water system is highly inflated. This doubles the bond and associated costs.
Proponents say that SLVWD can use any extra money to pay off the bond sooner. However, they have no obligation to do so — and when have you ever known a government entity to give back money when they didn’t have to?
To borrow $2.7 million (we pay back $8 million) to do $1.2 million (quoted) in repairs, when it’s been shown that it can be done much cheaper, is fiscally irresponsible.
Proponents present a 3-to-5-year timeline to do the repairs. Many of the tanks, the most expensive items, still have 10 to 15 years of projected life.
A 7-to-10-year timeline makes more sense, lowers any needed rate increase and gives us more time to acquire money through grants, donations or other avenues.
We’re told that we will save thousands per year paying SLVWD’s lower rates. SLVWD has stated that these are “introductory rates” and Lompicans will pay more than the rest of SLV.
Their plan to run Lompico as a stand-alone district, for at least the first 5 years, supports claims that Lompicans will not be treated the same.
Per the State Water Board, a part-time consultant satisfies requirements for a manager. This is less costly than a full-time manager and the separation that a non-employee consultant brings reduces the chances of mismanagement in the future.
The Lompico Water Board was elected by Lompicans to represent their best interests. The amount of incomplete, misleading, and incorrect information that they continue to spread makes it look more like they are working for SLVWD.
Visit www.real-water.info to get the other half of the story.
Duane Davis, Lompico
Letter: Lompico merger essential for water supply, fire safety
Editor,
Lompico has a chance to save money, have a reliable source of water, and provide a major improvement in our quality of life. A “yes” vote on Measure N will accomplish all of these things.
We will save money because we will be getting the same rates as other SLVWD customers. Historically, their rates have been less than half of ours.
We will have to pay to bring our system up to state standards, but, fortunately, we can pay this over 30 years with the bond.
If the bond does not pass, the Lompico Water Board has already announced plans for a 100 percent increase in the ready-to-serve charge, which will be $205 per bill even before using one drop of water.
This increase will not be temporary, and this is just a start. Almost 50 percent of this first increase is to cover the salary of the state-mandated manager.
The opposition says that we can apply for grants — they don’t mention that those grants require a 50 percent match, which LCWD does not have.
They also say that we can just rely on our generous neighbors to pitch in whatever is needed, whenever it’s needed, and that the state will allow this — which it won’t.
They think that if they shout this loudly enough people will fall for it.
I am confident that the voters of Lompico are not as gullible as the opposition hopes they are. Passing the bond will also provide sufficient water so that we won’t have to worry about having our houses burn down.
The Zayante Fire District has endorsed the bond; they have stated that currently, Lompico has the capacity to fight only two house fires.
The opposition states that, with the emergency intertie, we have sufficient water. They quote the state as saying that Lompico has sufficient water to meet demand; they don’t mention fire suppression.
If the bond does not pass, SLVWD is under no obligation to help us. The current intertie needs to be upgraded if we want to be able to fight fires.
Passing Measure N will help to keep Lompico affordable and improve our standard of living. It’s the responsible, intelligent and sane thing to do.
We will still be Lompico, just without the water problem. Vote “yes” on Measure N.
John Schneider, Lompico
Shout-out: Thanks to Scarborough for help with water conservation programs
Editor,
We at the Scotts Valley Water District would like to publically express our appreciation for Scarborough Lumber and Building Supply and Scarborough Gardens.
Over the last year alone, they have been especially helpful to our water-conservation efforts by helping us distribute low-cost rain barrels and free, ultra-high efficiency toilets.
Tama Malwaukie, manager at the Garden Center and Todd Ritchie, manager at the Lumber and Building Supply and all their friendly capable staff, not only stored, but helped the District to distribute these wonderful, yet bulky items.
The Scarborough staff have been enthusiastic, accommodating, and very helpful in getting our programs out to our customers, supporting Scotts Valley’s effort to reduce water consumption an average of 19 percent last year.
We couldn’t have saved all that water without them!
LeAnne Ravinale, SVWD Water Use Efficiency Coordinator
Letter: Merger will mean more efficient services for Lompico customers
Editor,
By now, all Lompico registered voters should have received their Measure N ballot.
The financial and water source benefits of merging have been discussed at length by both sides. There is one other major benefit to voting “yes” on N and Lompico County Water District (LCWD) merging with the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) — their large staff and heavy equipment.
Lompico has an extremely hard-working field staff of two employees, supported by one very tired pickup truck, a dedicated office staff of one, and an eight-hour-per-week consultant.
On many occasions when Lompico has had an emergency or job too large for their staff, they have asked for and received timely help from SLVWD.
Upon calling the SLVWD offices, I was told that they have a current staff of 27 — 18 of which are field employees.
The field staff is supported with 15 pickup trucks, two dump trucks, and two back hoes. If Measure N passes and LCWD merges with SLVWD, they have plans to add four more people to their field staff, bringing their field staff to 22.
With adequate staff and appropriate equipment, SLVWD is able to efficiently and completely execute projects and repairs of any size in a timely manner, right down to paving and smoothing roads.
With the merger comes a capability of additional water supply for fire flow, which is currently non-existent.
To create the efficient operation of the water system in Lompico, I strongly urge all Lompico voters to vote “yes” on Measure N.
Brad Smith, Lompico
Letter: Voter support needed to keep Lompico water affordable and secure
Editor,
We know that the majority of Lompico voters support merger of the Lompico Water District with the San Lorenzo Valley Water District; in the past two elections, the pro-merger candidates were elected and the anti-merger candidates were not, giving LCWD a pro-merger Board chosen by the voters for just that reason.
This merger process has been proceeding for more than four years, with hard work by Lompico Water, SLVWD, LAFCO, Supervisor Bruce McPherson and his staff, the office of the County Administrative Officer, The office of the County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector, the Water Resources Division Director for Santa Cruz County Environmental Health Services, and more.
All of these people have come to the conclusion, after looking at all the facts, that merger is the best course for Lompico Water, and have worked accordingly.
You can also look at the facts on the Citizens’ Advisory Committee Just the Facts website at tinyurl.com/Lompico.
The final step is passage of Measure N, a bond to pay for necessary repairs to our district’s infrastructure.
However, passage of a bond requires a two-thirds “yes” vote; while opponents have long said that the decision should be up to the voters, they’re quite content to try to stop it with a minority vote.
If they can convince one-third of Lompico voters to vote “no,” they’ll overturn the will of the majority.
Measure N is also supported by the Zayante Fire District Board, the Lompico Water District Board, Valley Women’s Club, and a very long list of our neighbors.
Now it’s up to the voters. If you agree that it’s time for a change; that we need to do something now to keep our water affordable and secure, please cast your “yes” vote.
Opponents of Measure N need just one “no” vote for every two “yes” votes to stop the merger.
Your vote matters!
Natalie Steinberg, Lompico
Letter: Assigned seats are no different than in any other venue
Editor,
The recent switch to assigned seats seems to be the news story of the valley in the last couple of editions of your Opinion section.
I don’t see how this situation is any different from most other cultural events we participate in. You get assigned seats at the ball game, the symphony, the theater (the one with skilled professional actors, not the garbage Hollywood feeds us), et cetera.
But it seems like most people just like to complain when things are different than they were in the past.
I applaud the cinema in Scotts Valley for their changes. Who doesn’t want a beer while watching a movie?
Pete Dal Ferro, Felton
Shout-out: McPherson to be commended for service on California State Association of Counties
Editor,
I am writing to offer my gratitude to Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce McPherson. He has served for two years as Vice-Chair of the California State Association of Counties’ (CSAC) Government Finance and Operations Policy Committee.
CSAC Policy Committees play an important role in developing legislative policy that shapes the Association’s direction and priorities, and ultimately these committees also help shape state policies.
County Supervisors are very busy people and any additional claim on their time can be challenging. So when someone of Supervisor McPherson’s experience, intellect and stature as an elected official is willing to offer the benefit of his time and judgment the value of that is incalculable.
His service on our committee helped the State Legislature and other officials statewide understand the County perspective on some very important issues. Our association, our 58 member counties and the State of California are better for Supervisor McPherson’s willingness to share his expertise.
Matt Cate, Executive Director, California State Association of Counties
Letter: ‘Fear-mongering letters’ won’t change realities of Lompico Water District
Editor,
As predicted, the fear-mongering letters are coming fast and furious. Pete Norton and Lois Henry tried to paint Lompico Water as substandard because staff has to drive to facilities every day and sometimes manually pour chlorine into tanks.
San Jose Water, who has all of the modern controls, still sends staff to physically check facilities every day and manually adds chlorine to tanks when needed.
Maggie Smith says our “water problem” is sinking property values. I had mine evaluated recently and it’s never been higher.
When Measure N fails, the Lompico board needs to change course from working to bring down the district to working to find economical ways to catch up with deferred maintenance.
The threat of a $100 rate increase, intended to scare customers into voting for the bond, front loads their budget, pads the costs, and is compressed to five years.
Step One — Budget capital improvements over 10 years.
Step Two — Make the following first-year budget changes: Remove $80,000 for backup generators and maintain the generator and trailer they have. It can be placed anywhere the district needs it and quick-connect hardware is already in place. (FYI, in 20 years the generator was never needed).
Replace $19,000 for a computer and billing software with an $800 computer and $1,800 software package with free training, which is available.
Replace only one tank per year of the three needing replacement. The others have over 10 years of life.
The above will save about $220,000 ($74 per billing period) from the first-year budget justifying a rate increase of no more than $50.
If the board isn’t willing to do this, they need to step down and let others in that are ready to work for Lompico.
John Cunliffe, Lompico