Letters & Shout-outs (Oct. 31, 2014)

– As a reminder, letters should not exceed 300 words and must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesdays to be considered for publication. Letters must include the author’s real name and town of residence.
Letter: Valley needs a board that is committed to public ownership of water
Editor,
As a member of the FLOW steering committee, I know the people of Felton worked for years to get local control of our water. It took a huge commitment from all of us. I really want the water district to stay in good hands. We worked too hard for it not to be.
I’m endorsing Eric Hammer, Gene Elizabeth Ratcliffe and Larry Prather.
Eric has done many civic-minded things for the valley. He is also a building contractor. While none of us are anxious to spend a lot of money on a new building, eventually at least a remodel will be needed. His expertise will be invaluable.
Gene has worked with multiple water districts as a water education specialist. She knows water quality and conservation. She has also been involved in planning.
Larry brings experience, has protected our resources, and knows the realities of running a water district. He also helped Felton to get out from under Cal Am.
I think if the three other candidates had won, and Felton was now trying to merge with SLVWD, it wouldn’t have happened.
First, three of the five would be new so they wouldn’t have the experience to make it happen.
More importantly, I’m not sure they would have approved it. They have been endorsed by a local person who appeared on TV promoting Cal Am. This person has also promoted a private water company in Ojai and Claremont when those cities were trying to get publicly controlled water.
Mark Stone, Fred Keeley, and Mary Jo Walker — people I respect — have endorsed Eric, Gene Elizabeth and Larry.
We need a board that we know is committed to public ownership of our water. We need new ideas expressed with civility, plus the steady hand of experience.
Please support reasonable, qualified candidates: Eric Hammer, Gene Elizabeth Radcliffe and Larry Prather.
Alexis Krostue, Felton
Letter: Brown, Fultz, and Baughman will listen to constituents’ concerns
Editor,
Before the customers of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District go to the polls, they need to ask themselves two important questions.
Have they been satisfied with the current board and the numerous increases in rates that we’ve had over the last few years, with virtually no results as far as improvements to the infrastructure or service? Or the multi-million dollar “campus” that was proposed and has been on hold after enough of the voters let it be known that they did not appreciate their increased fees going to such a ludicrous project?
Secondly, were they happy when they received notification to reduce usage by 25 percent at exactly the same time the board was agreeing to lay a pipeline to an adjoining community and start providing them with water?
How ridiculous does that sound?
If you’ve been content with the mismanagement of the current board, go ahead and put Hammer (who has a poor record of attendance), Prather, and Ratcliffe in office.
If you want to have a board that listens to their constituents, vote Brown, Fultz, and Baughman.
Elwin Haddix, Ben Lomond
Letter: Vote wisely, for you will get exactly what you vote for
Editor,
As a high-information voter, I cannot in good conscience cast my votes for elected representatives who swear an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and then turn around and consistently vote to curtail our freedoms and liberties.
It is high time that there is a changing of the guard and representatives are elected who believe in the rule of law, exhibit some common sense, apply a modicum of thought into what they are about to do, and the consequences of their actions.
Be informed and vote wisely, for you will get exactly what you vote for.
John Smith, Felton
Letter: More election coverage needed on local races
Editor,
The Press-Banner’s lack of coverage on local elections is shameful. Something is wrong when a newspaper has absolutely no coverage of state or local elections.
As our only paper, you have the responsibility and honor to facilitate a conversation between the community and its representatives on every level of government.
Local elections are where big decisions are made by a very small number of people; it’s the only time in American democracy where every vote actually counts, and one person can make difference.
As a community, we need to remember this, and make sure not only that our voices are heard, but also that our voices have something to say.
We need to be educated and active participants of democracy if we want anything to change, or anyone in politics to even care about us.
Press-Banner, please help us be informed and invigorated voters.
Morgan Smith, Ben Lomond
Letter: SLV needs thoughtful, responsible, reasonable people on water board
Editor,
Every so often, an issue or event comes up that serves to energize a small segment of our community and they rise up in righteous anger.
The issue du jour galvanizing the usually independent resident gadflies was, not surprisingly, the SLV Water District rate increase.
Included in the initially proposed rate hike was a long-discussed plan to consolidate district facilities.
Board members, when asked, expressed their willingness to take a closer look at the proposed plans and signaled they would consider modifying the rate increase to exclude the project. Opponents would not take yes for an answer.
Even though a sufficient number of letters of protest to block the rate increase did not materialize, the board still voted to remove the building project and scaled back the rate increase.
“Not good enough! Throw the bums out!”
I appreciate that I have neighbors who are willing to be “watchdogs.” It’s always good to keep an eye on our local governors. I do not however share their anger at our water district.
I’ve been well-served by San Lorenzo Valley Water District for over 30 years with reliable, safe, clean water at a very reasonable cost.
I’m proud that the people I elected came to the assistance of our neighbors in Felton, Manana Woods, Lompico, and elsewhere when asked.
I’m also proud of the fact that they have been good stewards of our watershed and are taking leadership roles in regional planning.
How we manage our water system is critical to our way of life. I want thoughtful, responsible, reasonable people acting on my behalf.
I’m voting for Larry Prather, Eric Hammer and Gene Ratcliffe to join Margaret Bruce on the SLVWD Board to ensure a strong majority to wisely manage our water future.
Jim Coffis, Ben Lomond
Letter: SLVWD needs directors like when Felton joined the district
Editor,
In 2005, Felton voters overwhelmingly supported a measure taking control of our local water from Cal-Am, a for-profit international giant charging exorbitant water rates. Following the vote, the San Lorenzo Valley Water District Board and Felton FLOW worked together to acquire the system from the unwilling conglomerate.
In a recent letter plugging candidates for director of SLV Water District, Beth Hollenbeck did not disclose she had helped defeat Monterey’s acquisition of their water system last June with her TV ad funded by Cal-Am.
In that ad, she claimed her water rates have increased since SLV Water District acquired Felton’s system. They have, as have rates everywhere, but not nearly as much as they would have under Cal-Am’s ownership.
Hollenbeck’s position against FLOW makes suspect her endorsement of candidates for SLV Water District Board.
Instead, we need reasonable experienced directors, like those we had when Felton joined the district.
Vote for Hammer/Prather/Ratcliffe for SLV Water District board.
Lawrence Ford, Felton
Letter: Patterson’s public service makes him ideal for SV City Council
Editor,
There have been many comments made in this year’s Scotts Valley City Council race from the candidates regarding their stance on public safety.
After reading all the literature I have seen, and knowing each of the candidates personally, I believe that Russ Patterson has the clear edge in his support and understanding of what public safety really means.
As a retired police captain who currently is involved in emergency management throughout the nation, Russ will use his experience and knowledge to make proper decisions when he is elected to the City Council.
From my perspective as a retired fire captain, and soon-to-be retired Scotts Valley Fire Board member, his support to both our police and fire departments would be unwavering. I, too, have been able to take my years in the fire service and put them to use as an elected official. I expect Russ will do the same.
I also know of his commitment to Scotts Valley, due to his position as Chair of the Planning Commission, being a board member of the Santa Cruz Chapter of the American Red Cross, and his participation in the Exchange Club’s annual Blue and Gold Dinner that recognizes the police officer and firefighter of the year.
Please join me in voting for Russ Patterson for Scotts Valley City Council. It’s a good choice.
Rudy Cabigas, Director, Scotts Valley Fire Protection District
Letter: Hammer, Prather, Ratcliffe are the most qualified to continue moving SLVWD forward
Editor,
After listening to SLV Water Board candidates at the forums and reading about them in the papers, I remain convinced that we are very lucky to have the water quality and service we enjoy, as well as dedicated trained staff, sources of water from a pristine watershed and aquifers, and despite recent rate hikes — comparatively affordable water costs.
It has taken a lot of work over the years to secure critical watershed and aquifer/well-field properties and to make good progress toward completing our district’s watershed management plan to adequately protect our resources, but there is still much more to do. We need to finish and implement that plan.
We have begun to reduce our district’s carbon footprint, preparing for the expected challenges to our infrastructure from climate change by putting solar collectors on our treatment plants and establishing emergency inter-ties between the different parts of our district, but there is still much more to do on other facilities.
We have completed the merger with the Felton water system, but we still have work to do on the fish ladders at the water intake on Fall Creek. We have replaced some leaking water tanks, pipes in the ground, and a large well, but, again, there is still so much more to do.
We have made progress in informing customers and community about our watershed/aquifer sources and just how water is collected, treated, stored and distributed through community education grants, workshops, special meetings, the district website, and other public information activities, but we still have a long way to go to help our district operations be better understood and transparent. The list goes on and on.
There will always be more to do because caring for our water is a never-ending task. Just look at the prioritized list of goals in our strategic plan for details. The fact that there is still a lot to do does not take away from what we have accomplished and can be thankful for as a district and community. 
Earlier in the campaign I questioned the idea of a slate. I endorsed Larry Prather and Eric Hammer because of their qualifications and proven community service but also considered two other candidates for the remaining position.
Now, with the various campaign developments of slates, alliances, and negative personal attacks, I encourage a vote for Eric Hammer, Larry Prather, and Gene Ratcliffe.
It seems to me that they are the most qualified and experienced to continue moving forward on the many important issues confronting our district. 
Fred Mc Pherson, Boulder Creek
Letter: Schneider, Schaller, and merger needed for strong future for Lompico water
Editor,
I encourage those who live in Lompico Canyon to support Merrie Schaller and John Schneider for the Lompico Water District board.
I’ve worked with both Merrie and John on the Lompico Water District Citizens’ Advisory Committee, and believe they understand best the situation of our water district, and how increasing state regulations are making it impossible to run the district as it has been in the past.
As a general contractor for over 30 years, and working in civil engineering and water systems an additional 11 years, I think that joining San Lorenzo Valley Water District is the only way to go. We’ll save money and gain needed resources.
As a homeowner in Lompico for over 36 years in a great neighborhood, and as someone who cares about my community, I think that joining SLVWD will stabilize and better manage our water supply.
SLVWD is able to more efficiently manage our water because they are bigger, with economy of scale.
They know our terrain because they are local, just over the ridge. They have qualified staff to manage watersheds, finances, and operations.
I’ve met and worked with staff of SLVWD, coordinating two water main projects in my neighborhood.
They are professional, good people, and they care about doing a good job. I see them around town and at the grocery store, and I feel we are all part of the same community.
I’ve attended Lompico Water board and Citizens’ Advisory meetings for years, and understand the issues.
See www.TinyURL.com/Lompico for facts and accurate costs. Visit www.YessforLompico.com to see that John and Merrie are endorsed by many community leaders, including our fire chief and several board members of Zayante Fire Protection District. Please vote for John Schneider and Merrie Schaller for Lompico Water District board.
Ed Frech, Lompico
Letter: Patterson will support good government, growth in Scotts Valley
Editor,
As a longtime resident of Scotts Valley and a supporter of good government, I would like to endorse Russ Patterson for city council.
I have known him to be an honest, sincere person who also favors good government and appropriate city growth. He will be an outstanding asset to the community as a member of the city council.
Dr. Herbert W. Gundersen, Scotts Valley
Letter: SLVWD needs a trusted, senior public servant like Larry Prather
Editor,
I moved to the Valley nearly 20 years ago, a stranger, but Larry Prather and his wife Julie, whose work revived the Redwoods Mountain Faire — sustaining many local non-profits — introduced me to community values.
I heard stories about citizens reaching out to neighbors going through hard times. They taught me about our natural treasures and how to protect them, and the history and important issues affecting the San Lorenzo River.
Larry, running for re-election to the San Lorenzo Valley Water District Board, has worked tirelessly for over 16 years, not for personal aggrandizement, as some elected officials do, but to protect the citizens’ water, the most priceless resource we have. I trust Larry to have my back and yours.
I have been to many board meetings in my time and felt a sense of pride in the success of the democratic process and the agency, just as Larry has.
However, a year ago, a negative group started showing up hell-bent to dismantle the water district and board’s accomplishments.
Under Larry’s watch, the district acquired the Felton Water System from Cal-Am and upgraded the system, built large-scale solar panel installations, cleaned up and restored the Olympia Watershed, and created the Environmental Education Grant Program.
What have some of his opponents proposed? Special-interest group agendas, such as cutting the salaries and benefits of committed employees at the SLVWD.
Larry could have chosen not to run again, after all he is a successful high-tech professional. Why would he want to subject himself to the yelling and finger-pointing that goes on during board proceedings nowadays?
He is running for re-election because the board needs a trusted, senior public servant who can provide wise counsel on the past and the future. Put simply, Larry did it for the citizens of our Valley.
Carol Carson, Santa Cruz
Letter: Lompico needs merger, and Schaller and Schneider are the ones for the job
Editor,
As a resident of Lompico, I’m concerned over the future of our water.
We’ve been told by outside sources that we are too small to be viable on our own. If we don’t merge with SLVWD, how are we going to continue with our way of life?
We like to be independent, but we’re too small to survive any longer. SLVWD users consume twice the water we do at half the price. We need the merger.
We need John Schneider and Merrie Schaller to be elected to the LCWD board so we can continue the merger process and can continue to live in Lompico as we always have.
So, please vote for Schaller and Schneider.
Ruth Shaw, Lompico
Letter: Slate candidates have the sophistication and experience to operate SLVWD effectively
Editor,
For the last eight years, I have been president of a 50-home mutual water company in Felton. One of things that surprised me as I worked on joint projects with SLVWD was what a complicated regulatory and political environment a public water system operates in, and how many county, state and federal agencies must be dealt with to get anything done.
Our systems routinely work with county health, county public works, California Water Resources, California Fish and Game, California Public Health, and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, to name a few.
What took me a few years to realize was that some of these state and federal agencies consider SLVWD a pawn they can play in their own inter-agency grabs for power and control.
In this context, running a $6-million-per-year organization like SLVWD is a serious thing that requires knowledge and good judgment.
Sometimes, when a more powerful agency knocks on the SLVWD door with trouble or opportunity, the right thing to do is to be gracious, at other times the right thing is to ignore them, and other times the best course is to tell them to take a hike.
Choose the wrong option and the results can be very bad and have impacts that last for years.
While I appreciate the goals of the SLV Watchdogs, their protest slate of candidates lack the sophistication and experience to operate effectively in this environment.
I think it is likely they will make serious missteps as they learn the players, process, and law. The mistakes they make while getting this education could be costly.
Because of this, I must support the election of Prather, Ratcliffe, and Hammer and urge my neighbors to do the same.
Ward Willats, President, Olympia Mutual Water Company, Felton
Letter: Patterson’s impressive resume, experience will benefit people of Scotts Valley
Editor,
I’ve been very impressed with Russ Patterson for some time, and feel he is my best choice for city council.
I’m talking about his dedication to the people of Scotts Valley, his leadership on the planning commission, and his attention to the important issues facing Scotts Valley.
Russ is on top of our local issues, as witnessed, his attendance at the various city meetings and his tenacious participation within the election process.
Russ will bring to the Scotts Valley City Council sound management practices, positive energies, and a host of valuable life experiences as a Campbell police captain, and his current experience as an emergency management consultant.
We have an important Scotts Valley City Council election in a few weeks, and we should elect Russ Patterson.
David Long, Scotts Valley
Letter: Don’t re-elect the SLVWD problems
Editor,
Incumbent Director Prather, who campaigned on a “protect the environment” platform, wants your vote because “There is value in experience.”
The same “experience” that delivered $3 million in reckless, self-centered spending for an environmentally unsound $9 million campus, zero working capital to address neglected infrastructure, and the trust of the voters in complete disrepair.
Eric Hammer wants your vote and stands firmly behind Prather’s misbehaviors, publicly stating that, “We’re lucky to have the leadership we’ve had.” Easy to say when you haven’t attended a district meeting until after the campaign started.
And the area newcomer, Gene Ratcliffe, wants your vote but hasn’t been forthcoming about her violations of regulatory disclosure requirements from her previous southern California political position.
These three have teamed up to form The Slate — a ridged, yet easily breakable, mass of common objectives. Resilient when unopposed and allowed to exist without oversight; fragile and easily divisible when placed under the pressure of righteous opposing forces.
Then you have the real candidates, Chuck Baughman, Karen Brown and Bob Fultz.
They will bring real-world, best-practice experience to the board. They have already delivered real solutions to the real problems created by Prather, and supported by Hammer and Ratcliffe.
They have already shown transparency that has been denied the voters for over 16 years by business-as-usual board behavior.
Entrenched directors, Rapoza and Vierra, didn’t back out of this race because they believed it was time to pass the torch. They ran from this campaign knowing that re-election was unattainable with all the facts of mismanagement coming to light. Smart choice on their part. Prather should have followed their lead.
It’s time to remove the final bastions of distrust, and those who support the devastation of leadership responsibility.
It’s time to elect the real candidates, Chuck Baughman, Karen Brown and Bob Fultz.
Mark Messimer, Felton
Letter: Dwindling water supply, increasing costs mark need for Schaller, Schneider, merger
Editor,
It is not the job of the Lompico Water District’s board to “run” the water company. That is the job of a manager — something that is required by the State of California.
That will cost, at the very minimum, $100,000 per year. That is one million dollars in 10 years. The people that don’t want a merger leave that out of their calculations. If we merge, management is part of the package.
Ground water levels are dropping. Our wells are tired and new ones can’t be drilled. We need a long-term solution. We almost crashed this summer. If it wasn’t for the intertie we would have probably run out of water.
It was charity of the government that bailed us out. I don’t want charity; I want to solve this problem once and for all.
Please support the merger and vote of Merrie Schaller and John Schneider for the future of Lompico.
Chris Kilgus, Former Director, Lompico Water District
Letter: Fultz lacks the patience, calm, and reason SLVWD needs
Editor,
In my opinion, Bob Fultz would not be a good choice for the SLVWD. This opinion is based on having worked under Bob Fultz when he served on the SLV School Board.
While on the school board, he made many poor decisions which were contrary to what was in the best interests of students, parents, and teachers.
He was at times difficult to work with and made it hard to accomplish needed tasks.
Bob Fultz may be a kind and wonderful person. However, right now in this difficult time, we need to elect people that are calm, reasonable, willing to listen to divergent ideas, and — above all — can make good decisions based on what is best for this community.
In my personal experience with Mr. Fultz, he would not be up to this task.
Mary Ann Clare, Ben Lomond
Letter: Lompico cannot afford the risk entailed with not merging with SLVWD
Editor,
Back in 2010, Lompico’s merger talks began and Director Gott was elected. I advocated he could develop a financial report if Lompico merged or did not merge. I offered to help, because I am an expert on construction costs.
However, I knew the financial picture was not pretty. I knew that if I and Lois Henry, and then later Rick Harrington, were not elected on the board, the district would have gone into receivership, costing even more money, and being forced to merge by the state.
Director Gott had four years to develop this report, which would go a long way to show if staying local was doable. Now, he is providing sloppy misinformation on what it will really cost the homeowner if we stay local.
The proof that Lompico does not generate enough money lies in the fact that we do need $2.7 million in repairs, after not being maintained financially for 32 years.
It has been said that Lompico does not have enough water, but it is more accurate to say it does not have enough during dry periods.
In the recent dry period, the intertie was invaluable to avoid paying water trucks. Several more dry periods, it will pay for itself.
Voting against the merger goes with enormous risk with the same results. We know the state will charge us to force merger.
Please vote for Merrie Schaller, John Schneider, and the merger, and we will not only have the best board LCWD will ever have; we will avoid this most serious risk.
Bill Smallman, Lompico
Letter: SLVWD has no oversight higher than the votes about to be cast
Editor,
It is a rare time, when public citizens take much notice of a water board’s activities.
It is even rarer when these citizens become active, attend meetings, protest, and round up petitions, such as the one many of you helped sign last year to combat the rate increases.
It is almost unheard of, for the Grand Jury to investigate and then agree with the citizens that the current water district management is lacking. (See report at www.http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us)
Please do not let this opportunity pass by. It is your water district with no oversight higher than the vote you are about to cast. The board’s actions are ultimately your responsibility. The Grand Jury report is calling you to action.
Do not let all the citizen effort to improve your water system, while keeping your monthly water costs down, go to waste.
Please vote on Nov. 4 for fresh SLV Water District Board leadership: Bob Fultz, Chuck Baughman, and Karen Brown.
Jeff Koopman, Scotts Valley
Letter: Merger shouldn’t be happen without disclosing how it will affect customers
Editor,
There is much talk in Lompico about the up coming election to fill the positions of two of the five Lompico Water District board seats.
Many in the community have had their eyes opened to the proposed merger with San Lorenzo Valley Water District and the excessive and open-ended cost associated with this current proposal.
Of course, we have a right to know any and all cost that would be imposed on our property taxes, and any and all cost associated with our water bill. 
Some would like to make this issue of the sky is falling and attempt to scare the people of Lompico into taking a merger proposal that is a take-it-as-is with no negotiation. 
Maybe the issue is actually that there are Lompico Water District board members that decided for us that we would accept a merger and go forward with that merger without the people of Lompico having a vote on said merger.
It was said that a survey was the reason for them to continue to pursue this merge (a few years back).
I don’t see how that was a green light for the board to go forward, as there was never any proof of a true account of the property owners/voters that will eventually have to pay this merger debt. Nothing showing how many surveys sent, etc.
I (myself) asked the Lompico Water District to see the paperwork on that survey and twice was unable to access any paperwork on said survey. 
It would be fantastic to just remember that we (Lompico residents) all chose to live in a beautiful place that needs some attention to our self-sustaining water district (that does work and is itself worth money/water). 
The people of Lompico are hard-working folks that chose to live here for different reasons.
Yes, we are concerned about a merge and the long list of costs associated with going through with this merge. Getting into excessive debt is not one of them!
It just doesn’t make sense … it just costs all of us in Lompico millions and millions of dollars.
Normally, when you have a financial agreement for a loan (or bond), you have the total amount to be repaid at the bottom of the signed contract. 
That would be a solid contract with no way to change it to add more to the original cost.  Besides, it’s our taxes and we have a right to a say and a vote.
We all should keep an open mind. There are always solutions.
Although many of the financial issues of Lompico Water District stem from the not-too-distant past, we must learn from those and continue to move forward with ideas and solutions to succeed in the coming years.
Cheryl Trapp, Lompico
Letter: New SLVWD board needed to implement change, improve transparency
Editor,
I wish to speak up regarding the upcoming SLVWD board elections. I was a former auditor for the Scotts Valley Water District, and I am the current accountant for Mountain Summer Water Company.
I have been a CPA for over 40 years, and was a co-founder of FLOW (Friends of Locally Owned Water) and the treasurer.
We need a change at the SLVWD board. The old board has glossed over the Santa Cruz Grand Jury report showing the problems that exist.
The old board was not transparent in its dealings with the public.
For example, the building of the new headquarters in Boulder Creek. The board would not respond to a number of requests for financial information.
It was learned last week that the working capital has dropped to zero; they are broke. We did not know how the $9 million-plus from the sale of the Waterman Gap property was spent.
We do not need the “institutional memory” to the past failures of the board. We need a new board to solve financial problems, become transparent, and move SLVWD forward.
Thomas R. Lindsay, Felton
Letter: SLV community needs new blood on water district board
Editor,
In the lead-up to last year’s controversial rate hike by the SLV Water District, the fact that the district was trying to justify spending $12 million for a new headquarters facility became a hotly debated issue.
In an effort to understand the district’s plan, I toured the existing facilities with the former district manager, reviewed the proposed building plans and environmental documents, and commissioned a “peer review” by an architect working in the Silicon Valley who specializes in corporate facilities.
I presented the study at a water district board meeting well in advance of the vote on the rate hike. All of the board members, except Larry Prather, discussed the findings with me and acknowledged that the proposed facility plan was in need of review.
Larry, on the other hand, defiantly postured that the community was late to the table and that the district should just go ahead and build it.
Today, he sounds like a politician — he won’t accept responsibility for the millions of dollars squandered on an ill-conceived project that his subcommittee was responsible for; he rejects many of the findings of the Grand Jury investigation; and he wants our community to believe that his “experience” on the Water District Board for the past 16 years is a good enough reason to support him.
It is shocking to me that as a steward of the district’s finances, he would have paid so little heed to the expenditure of these funds and then seek to convince our community that he should be given that responsibility again.
Our community needs new blood on the Water District board.
Mark Hansen, Felton