Recent Comments
Re: “Throw the bums out?”
South County math is hard. $93M proposed cist PLUS $6M already spent = $99M. Duh!
Don't leave out that this number is BEFORE permits and bids and cost overruns.
BTW Shredder, South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District and Oceano CSD are NOT partners in this project, if they were the cost would double (at least) because they bring millions more gallons of wastewater to the project to treat and deliver. Their inclusion in the project is just a way for Pismo, GB and AG to gobble up more grant money (from you and me) in their "Regional Approach" false narrative.
Re: “Not a team player”
Excellent comment Brad Snook!
Agencies change majorities.
Legal counsel and General Managers/City Managers/County Administrative Officers and Legal Counsel's serve at the pleasure of the Board/Counsel majority.
In the Oceano case, legal counsel was put on an agenda for performance review, taking the hint that the majority wasn't happy with them, and resigned (that same law firm did the exact same thing when San Simeon CSD agendized their performance just after the Nov. election -- they quit before they were fired). Oceano’s General manager’s performance had been reviewed several times; it appears he too quit before getting fired.
The law firm (or attorney who later joined that firm) had been in Oceano for a long time, while embezzlement occurred (https://www.newtimesslo.com/news/audit-rev…) and/or continued over the last 10 years (https://www.newtimesslo.com/news/oceano-co…).
Criticism of Charles Varni is misplaced, he won his seat with 57.19% of the at large vote. Oceano voters knew who they were voting for and what he stood for. What no one could know is that the GM and Legal Counsel would be roadblocks to small changes he put forth, with board majority support, and district management would not follow the districts own bylaws “to execute Board policy and to keep the Board of Directors informed” and “provide orientation for new Directors”.
A fresh start in Oceano is a long time coming.
Re: “Little town, big problems: San Simeon's CSD loses general manager, struggles with board member appointments”
The District should be dissolved and the County take it over. It's just too small to avoid being taken advantage of by unscrupulous consultants i.e. the likes of Charles Grace.
Re: “SLO County's top administrator to resign”
Is it true the new majority is considering ringing Paavo Ogren back to the County to fill this position?
Re: “Five Cities Fire prepares for future without Oceano”
"At the July 25 Grover Beach City Council meeting, FCFA Chief Stephen Lieberman told attendees that per capita cost and the percentage of the respective city's general fund invested into the authority was low when compared to other organizations in the county." There he (Chief Lieberman) goes again, comparing services on a per capita basis. Ridiculous!
Emergency services can only fairly be compared on a service related basis. Apples to apples. What level of service can each community get for their money is the only fair comparison.
To be fair to the ratepayers of the South County all three of these communities involved in FCFA need to request a formal quote from Cal Fire for services that can be provided with the money they currently have. Then, and only then, start talking about additional funding for higher levels of service.
Without these questions answered truthfully, tax hikes will continue to fail at the ballot box.
Re: “Los Osos group pushes to incorporate in face of redistricting issues”
Los Osos is not going to be in the new District 3 with Morro Bay and SLO. It's part of the new Disrict 5.
As for becoming a city; forget about it.
Re: “Offshore wind farm development could take up to 15 years”
A quintessential BOONDOGGLE!
No project is the ONLY alternative.
Ask yourself, "How much is a whale worth?" Can money mitigate the loss of one whale, let alone potentially hundreds/thousands of mammals, foul and fish throughout the entire west cost?
No project should have a "Zone of Lethality"!!!