When the crowd reached the part in the Pledge of Allegiance following “One Nation” a couple hundred people yelled out in unison “UNDER GOD!”
What else would you expect of folks gathered to give thanks and dedicate the grand opening of the VC Sheriff’s substation?
Those present paid particular attention to the invocation given by Pastor Bill Trok of Ridgeview Church.
About 150 showed up for the ribbon-cutting (with the “ribbon” being crime scene tape instead of the traditional ribbon) of the 6,000 square foot building that replaces the small trailer that was local law enforcement’s home for a dozen years.
Speakers included Sheriff Bill Kolender, Lt. Maury Freitas (commander of the VC substation) and Fifth District Supervisor Bill Horn, who called the new substation “the prettiest public building in Valley Center, until the library opens.”
Cutting the ribbon that let the public in to tour the building were Horn, Kolender and Nicky Lovejoy, representing the VC Chamber of Commerce.
Later Lt. Freitas gave out a series of commendations and coffee cups to people and personnel who contributed towards the completion of the station.
Maury Freitas’s remarks
“Obviously none of us would be here if the Sheriff hadn’t made this substation a priority and worked with the Board of Supervisors to make it happen. Now I would like to introduce the County Sheriff Bill Kolender.”
Bill Kolender’s remarks
“Good morning! I can’t tell you how exciting it is to be here and to thank you all for being here. I’ve got to tell you: the last time I was here they had a suspect and they were interviewing him and I had to ask them to stop the interview so I could get out of the trailer.
“I gotta tell you, we had a Porta-potti for the suspects!
“This is a great part of our county; a beautiful community. And you are the essence of what we call ‘community policing.’ The working together of all of us to make this community safe has been very successful and we’re very pleased about what we’ve done and I know that Maury Freitas and his people have many deputies that live up here. Which is a real plus, whether they be sworn staff or support staff, they are the heart of the community. We are so pleased that we have an efficient place and what we think is the nicest place in the whole town.
“I just want to tell you that our staff felt the importance of having this station and how important it is for the community, but it’s the Board of Supervisors and the leadership of Bill Horn that really got it. I truly appreciate the relationship we have with the Board and the things that they have done to make us what we are. In the last few years we have become a model agency in the state. And in any agency in this state, in any area you can ask for, they come to San Diego County’s deputies and how they do their job— [turning to Horn] And Bill, I’d just like to personally and publically thank you for pushing to get this done. Without you it wouldn’t have been done.
Bill Horn’s remarks
“Well, it does help to live in the same town that I do this in. When we first put the trailer up here in 1990 we had about ten or twelve thousand people up here. Today we have about twenty-one thousand. The first station we got done was Fallbrook. You thought Valley Center was bad? Fallbrook had a little bench with a metal rail on it. That was the holding bench. I just want to say from the Board of Supervisors’ side and from the rural communities’ side, I don’t think we could have a better Sheriff’s department than we currently have. And I really want to give a lot of credit to Bill Kolender.
“I know Lt. Freitas and all of the folks up here, you know them a little bit better. I know the department from Fallbrook, San Marcos, the Gang Task Force. They do a tremendous job and the amazing thing is that Sheriff Kolender has been able to bring not just this department, but all of these departments to work together really under the same kind of curtain. No matter what the task is they are a federal model on how things should work. It doesn’t look this way in the state and in other counties and agencies. There are different agencies and they fight with each other. It works really well.
“And do you know, this is the nicest building I think, in Valley Center. That’s my opinion. I have to go over and visit the library when I finish this, and that’s going to be the nicest building when it opens.
“You know, there’s a pattern in these buildings that we’re building. Fortunately, we’re going to get our projects done before the state runs out of money.
“Law enforcement and public safety are really the major issues. Last year in the money that I could give I gave over a million dollars to the volunteer fire departments.
Talk about the unity! Both the Sheriff’s department and North County Fire Dept. lost vehicles and almost lost personnel in that Gavin fire in Fallbrook. Because they were off duty at the time it started, and they were in action at the time it started and really these are the heroes of the day. After time they drive out and they put their life on the line. I don’t think people realize that or appreciate the fact that one of the reasons we have the law and order that we do is because they are on duty.
“And I think that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ought to be locked up on that bench!”
The Valley Center Parks & Rec board Thursday took the final step before asking voters to authorize a special tax that would be used to maintain existing parks and help acquire new ones.
The new tax would levy up to $14 per year on each property in the district.
The board set a public hearing on the vote July 25, 7 p.m. at the downstairs hall of VC Community Hall. At that meeting directors will consider adoption of a resolution proposing to adopt a special tax to be levied within the district for the purpose of supplementing the existing revenue of the district.
The district has an existing tax base of a little over $60,000 annually. This is about $20,000 more than it was in the early 1990s when the state shifted property taxes away from special districts and towards education.
In a statement issued this week, Gen. Mgr. Joyce Johnson said “There are a number of reasons for the district’s need for an additional source of revenue. . . Although $800 is collected by the County for each new home built, this money cannot be used for operating expense, maintenance and repairs. These expenses must be covered by the existing tax base, as well as user fees and leases. Valley Center is growing and the need for parkland and park services is growing too.”
The district currently has 47.4 acres of parkland, including the ballfields at Lilac Road and Cole Grade & School/Bus roads; Adams Community Park and Community Pool and Aerie Park, leased from the County for a horse park.
According to Mrs. Johnson, the County’s benchmark for parks per 1,000 population is 10.5 acres. Using that benchmark, VCP&R should have over 200 acres.
“The projections for 2020 for Valley Center population is about 35,000. Based on that project, the district should have 357 saves by 2020,” said Mrs. Johnson.
Parklands will be even harder to acquire in the future.
“There is a need not only to develop and maintain the existing land, but also for future parkland and open space for the community.
“Currently the youth sports groups, as well as adult leagues, have limited fields to play on and must share. More youth and senior services could be offered if a new community center could be built.”
The district plans to use the 9.5 acres at Lilac & Valley Center roads for the community center when funds become available. A multipurpose field at Cole Grade & School Bus Road is in the planning stages.
“This field can be developed with money from the $800 per house, however it cannot use this money to maintain it,” said Mrs. Johnson.
In discussing the situation with financial experts, the district has been told that it can’t borrow money to buy property since it has no solid revenue base.
The PLDO (Parkland Dedication Ordinance) money received for each home built can fluctuate; user fees for facilities can fluctuate and the existing tax base isn’t enough to qualify for a loan.
“This tax levy is our only chance at this time to increase our revenue base so that we can plan for our community’s future parks and recreation services, as well as maintain our current services,” said Mrs. Johnson.
Three people were sent to the hospital Wednesday morning after a small explosion in the new Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort.
San Pasqual Reservation Fire Dept. is investigating the explosion that took place in what will be the gift shop when the four story hotel, casino and resort opens in August.
Jennifer Weissman, spokesman for Harrah’s Rincon Casino told The Roadrunner that three people were in the room when the explosion took place.
Two were taken to UCSD Medical Center by ambulance and one was taken by Mercy Air helicopter. Families of the injured were notified immediately.
Weissman emphasized that the explosion was small and that in the aftermath it was almost impossible to see where the blast had taken place. “We’re trying to find out the cause of the accident,” she said.
The incident occurred about 9 a.m. It was not seen or heard from anywhere else on the construction site.
The scene of the accident is under investigation by San Pasqual Fire Department and OSHA was also notified. San Pasqual Reservation Fire contracts for the fire protection for the neighboring reservation.
The explosion won’t change the planned Aug. 8 grand opening. The casino will close for once month prior to the opening to allow slot machines to be moved into their new quarters.
As of 8 a.m. Saturday, June 29, The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) has suspended all burning permits within State Responsibility Area (SRA).
CDF’s declaration rescinds all previously approved burn permits. It further requires that any planned burning site must be inspected and approved before a permit may be reissued. For instance, property owners wishing to burn debris on their property are now prohibited from doing so unless they can prove that their project burn must be completed for health or safety reasons.
Campfires will be allowed in designated campgrounds with permission of the jurisdictional authority.
For a while last week it looked like the third annual Valley Center fireworks show would fizzle out.
Because of the extremely dry conditions the California Dept. of Forestry & Fire Protection was reluctant to authorize the fireworks display over Jaguar stadium.
However after getting some land owners neighboring the high school to agree to cut back on dry grass, VC Fire Chief Kevin O’Leary authorized the permit.
The show, sponsored by Michael Crews Development, will be the second largest in North County, according to Sam Breegema, Pyro Spectaculars spokesman and show producer.
The fireworks and community festivities will take place July 4, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Valley Center High School Football Stadium.
Gates open at 6 p.m. and the fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Arctic Heat, a Southern California band will provide high-energy dance music.
Vendors, such as VC Lions Club will sell refreshments like chicken, bratwurst, hamburgers, kettle corn and cotton candy. Also available will be face painting, glow necklaces, balloons, removable tattoos and snow cones for sale.
Games for children will include the three-legged race, gunny sack race, egg toss for kids 14 and under. Egg toss for all ages at 8:15 pm. Admission is free. Alcohol and tobacco products are strictly forbidden on school property.
This third annual event is a gift to the community from Michael Crews Development. “We are thankful for the support of the school administration, especially Ron McCowen and Danny Perez. Lynn Lackey and other volunteers are also critical to the success of the festivities in Valley Center,” said Kelly Crews
Questions? Call Michael Crews Development 760-749-1919.
By DAVID ROSS
VC Municipal Water District just finished its biggest water sales year on record.
It sold 53,560 acre feet for the period July 1, 2001-June 30, 2002, the largest amount since 1990 (Note: an acre foot is one acre of water to the depth of one foot).
“If you had told me in 1992 or ‘93 that we were going to exceed the amount sold in 1990 I would have said you were crazy,” commented VCMWD Gen. Mgr. Gary Arant at Monday’s water board meeting.
Back in the early 1990s the district was talking about belt-tightening and preparing for the “inevitable” decline of agriculture in Valley Center.
But rumors of ag’s death, at least in VC, have been exaggerated. Ag water use still accounts for 80-90% of water sales.
“Growth, dry weather and a healthy agricultural economy accounted for the higher sales,” said Arant. At the same time, flower growing has replaced some of the avocado and citrus farming that existed a decade ago.
Drought Ahead?
There’s no doubt that San Diego County is in a drought, the worst in recorded history. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that San Diego County’s water users face water rationing next year.
Snowfall over the Sierras was nearly normal and the Colorado River is down 40% over normal. But the state has enough in storage to meet needs next year— probably.
Until the Metropolitan Water District officially tells the VC Municipal Water District that it must adopt conservation measures, Arant wants to hold off on reacting to a problem that may not happen.
The lesson to be learned from the drought of 1989-90, he said, “is that we were probably a little too quick to respond to try to make sure that our program exactly matched the Met, which was changing about every month.”
During that year, rumors chased rumors and sometimes growers were faced with the possibility of 80% cuts in water. Ultimately it turned out that farmers were asked to save 20%. Domestic customers were asked to conserve at much lower levels.
“Many of our growers went out and stumped many of their trees. Escondido did nothing at all during those months and after it was over they were where they needed to be,” said Arant.
“Our water comes from the County Water Authority and from the Met and we are being told we are OK this year. But if we have a dry winter we need to be prepared.”
By December projections will be made based on the rainfall so far.
Saving water in anticipation of a drought might be the wrong tactic to adopt if the last drought is any benchmark.
Allocations to large water users were based on the previous year’s usage. So water users that cut back to conserve found that they were later asked to cut back even further, whereas customers who used the same or more water, had their allocations based on that usage.
Last year, despite dire warnings about heavy penalties for overusing water, the VC water district’s customers incurred none. And some penalties that the district collected were later refunded.
When to sound the alarm about a possible water shortage was the subject of some disagreement among the board.
“We’ve been through this and we understand how it works,” said Arant. “The question is, how soon do we start talking about it? I would say not until we get official notification. My recommendation is to take it a little bit slower.”
Director Merle Aleshire disagreed. He said the district should share its information with growers as it becomes available.
“If we have another year like this year it will have an affect on agriculture,” he said.
“It’s possible,” said Arant, “but I have heard from the Met that supplies are normal and they don’t see a problem for this year. If we start talking about this in earnest people will start going out and doing things, like stumping more trees. Our approach this time is to be a little more calm about it.
Director Scott Haskell, himself a grower, said that he tells people, “This year we’re OK but next year we may have a situation. Our crystal ball doesn’t work that far ahead.î
Sewer Fees
The board voted to raise sewer fees for the district’s 30 customers on Rimrock from $28/month to $29/month.
This higher fee only applies to the customers of pressure sewers, which serves the mountaintop community of Rimrock overlooking I-15.
Arant told the board that the district has learned its lesson about pressure sewers and will never use them in future unless it has absolutely no choice.
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
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