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After a hiatus last year, I again had the pleasure to join my neighbors at their annual wreath-making party. This is the 11th year this group has gotten together “rain or shine” according to hosts Barb Kelly and Martha Radcliffe.

Loch Lomond to remain closed for 2015 season

Scotts Valley Police Department

Tuesdays, noon. Felton Presbyterian Church, 6090 Highway 9, across from Rite-Aid, 335-6900. “Free Lunch Tuesday.”Tuesdays through Saturdays (also fourth Mondays). Valley Churches United, Food Pantry and Food Distribution programs. Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (closed Saturday July 4). First and third Fridays 9 to 11 a.m. are for seniors only. USDA Distribution on fourth Mondays from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. For SLV, Scotts Valley, and Bonny Doon residents. Ben Lomond, corner of Highway 9 across from Ben Lomond Market, 336-8258.Wednesdays, 12 to 2 p.m. San Agustin Catholic Church, 257 Glenwood Dr., Scotts Valley (next to the fire station), 438-3633. Food Distribution.Thursdays 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. St. John’s Catholic Church, down from Rite-Aid, Highway 9 and Russell, Felton. 335-4657. “Thursday Lunch.”Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mountain Community Resources, 6134 Highway 9, across from Rite-Aid, Felton. 335-6600. Food Distribution.Thursdays, 5 to 6:30 p.m., St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 5271 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley. 438-4360. Food Distribution.Fridays, 5 to 6 p.m. GateWay Bible Church, 5000 Granite Creek Road, Scotts Valley, CA 95066. 438-0646. "Frfidays at Five" food distribution.Sunday, July 26, 2 p.m. SS Peter & Paul Orthodox Church, 9980 Highway 9, Ben Lomond, north of town, 336-2228. Dinner. Meals on Wheels, hot meals at dining centers in Ben Lomond (Monday through Friday) and Scotts Valley (Wednesday). Meals delivered (if eligible). Reservation required, $2.50 requested donation, for age 60+ (limited exceptions). www.communitybridges.org/meals (464-3180)Grey Bears Brown Bag Program, weekly bag of produce to be picked up in Ben Lomond, Felton, or Scotts Valley. Delivery available for homebound seniors. $30 annual membership fee, for age 55+. www.greybears.org (479-1055). Except as noted, all programs are free of charge -- Schedules are subject to change. Contact: [email protected]

In May, 2015, the San Lorenzo Valley Water District extended their agreement with Santa Cruz County’s Local Agency Formation Committee to merge with the Lompico County Water District. A prerequisite of that original agreement was that appropriate funding for capital improvements would be arranged. The latest proposal is for LCWD to raise a $2.75 million capital cost, a component of the latest agreement, by forming an Assessment District across all of the parcels that would benefit from having the capital improvements built.The original plan was to be executed over a five year plan, but the new agreement spreads out over a 10 year schedule.Brian Lee, District Manager of SLVWD recommended that the Board of Directors — “authorize staff to send a letter to Lompico County Water District providing a commitment to merge upon successful formation of an Assessment District for the collection of $2.75 Million of capital costs.”“Staff has been working with Lompico and the County regarding how to utilize Lompico’s recently passed $50 per month charge as a funding mechanism for the $2.75M (million) Capital component of the LAFCo Application,” said Lee.It is unclear if the terms of the original agreement would free SLVWD to fully manage the construction of the capital improvements of if they could be hampered in some way. It is also not clear if there might be additional costs associated with the projects or in terms of loss of interest due to a slower rate of revenue collection.At their August 6, meeting, the SLVWD Board sent the topic back to committee for further discussion regarding these issues. On the August 20, board meeting, they are expected to decide if substituting an Assessment District plan for the original bond issue plan is acceptable. If SLVWD agrees that this is agreeable, they will be expected to vote in favor of merging with LCWD.Lee said that “Current estimates put the time to successfully form an Assessment District at six to nine months. If successful, the District’s could complete the merger as early as February of 2016.”The procedure for forming an Assessment District begins with a petition being signed by the property owners who want the public improvements. The proposed district will include all properties that will directly benefit from the improvements that will be built. A public hearing is held that gives the property owners the opportunity to protest the formation of an Assessment District. It would take a negative vote of 51% to prevent the process from succeeding.If the process succeeds, the property owners have the right to prepay the assessment prior to bond issuance. After the bond is issued, the cash prepayment period is concluded and a Special Assessment lien is recorded against each property with an unpaid assessment. Each parcel will be billed on their property tax bill for annual installments until the assessment has been paid off. Property owners have the right to prepay any remaining balance of the assessment plus any prepayment fees at any time.If Assessment District property owners fail to pay their tax bill on time, the bondholders have the right to foreclose on property when taxes are delinquent for a period of time — usually 90 to 180 days. The delinquent property owner must also pay for any penalties and collection costs.

Quick response and some patient police work in Scotts Valley last week resulted in a suspected thief being caught almost red-handed.

EDITOR,

EDITOR,

EDITOR,