December 27, 2006 - Top Stories
Although the demand for new connections continued in 2005–2006, the Valley Center Municipal Water District remained a predominantly agricultural district, with 79% of the sales for growers, 17% for residential and 4% for commercial customers.
The just released district’s comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, shows that the total number of connections increased by 4,040 to a total of 9,579, which includes 838 fire meters.
At the same time the district has service availability letters for about 100 connections in process, including homes in Rimrock, Islands and the Valley View (no connection to the casino) developments.
Water sales for 2005–2006 were 41,719 acre feet, up 5,629 AF or 15.6% from sales of 36,090 AF the previous year (which was a big rainfall year). Although it was up, it was still slightly lower than expected, according to the report.
That’s enough water to serve a city of 200,000 people. The district continues to be the second largest water retailer of imported water, second only to the city of San Diego. The district’s population is 25,441.
The 79% water purchased by growers was similar to the 81% purchased in 1995–96, a percentage that has held relatively steady for the past decade.
Since May of 1994 the Metropolitan Water District’s Interim Agricultural Water Program (IAWP) has provided a discount for growers who qualify. In return for the reduced rates farmers agree to have their supplies reduced first during droughts and other emergencies.
The district buys 100% of its water from the San Diego County Water Authority, which buys most of its supply from the Met. This costs the district $20.9 million, which is 57% of the district’s operating expenses.
The district’s water system includes eight aqueduct connections, 42 reservoirs, 26 pumping stations and 291 miles of water main.
It also provide sewer service to about 2,530 customers at two water treatment plants. One of these is the Lower Moosa Canyon Water Reclamation FAcility at Circle R Drive and the other is the plant at Woods Valley Ranch.
It was the year that Valley Center residents learned how to live with (or at least tolerate) the drastic change that road widening has on our lifestyles, and occasionally on our very survival.
2006 was an eventful year, and in the next couple of weeks we will relive it with you.
JANUARY
On the last day of the old year three people died in a private plane crash that occurred moments after the plane lifted off from Blackinton Airport.
The Roadrunner named Rob Gilster Newsmaker of the Year for leading the Jaguar football team to another CIF championship.
Work was completed on cutting down the trees along Valley Center Road to make way for Phase II of the road widening.
New school superintendent Lou Obermeyer started her tenure at the district, replacing retiring super Karen Jobe.
The Chamber installed its new officers, including Tom Bumgartner in his second term as president. At the installation the Chamber also recognized J.R. Peters as Citizen of the Year.
Residents of the water district were asked to conserve water for about ten days during a shut-off of the system to do maintenance.
Keith Simpson was named chairman of the VC planning group.
FEBRUARY
Three were left dead and two were wounded in a shoot-out on the Rincon Reservation that was apparently rooted in racial tensions between Indians and Hispanics.
Valley Center’s Catholic Community dedicated their new church with ceremony and festivities, including a pilgrimage walk from Escondido.
The Coates family, owners of the Rancho Guejito Ranch, gave a $100,000 endowment to the VC History Museum.
Mark Brashear and David Hagen were honored for their heroic quick action on Dec. 31 in preventing flames from spreading from a fatal small plane crash off Old Castle.
MARCH
Lower enrollment and cuts to federal aid put the VC school district into deficit spending. At the same time negotiations with the school employees were dragging out for the first time in years.
Fat Ivor’s Rib Rack celebrated its 25th anniversary.
The All Tribes Charter school was put on notice by the VC-P school district to correct several issues or face losing its charter.
More than 300 homes were left without power after a heavy storm dumped as much as four feet of snow on top of Palomar Mountain.
Palomar Mountain residents organized to save their picturesque, tiny school from the budget-cutting knife at the VC-Pauma School District.
The VC History Museum came through unscathed after a smoke producing fire caused when a heating unit ignited.
Seventeen year old Holly Hart, a senior at VC High School was crowned Miss Valley Center 2006 at the first pageant held at the new Maxine Theater.
To be continued . . .
As of Jan. 12, smoking will be prohibited in parks, open space preserves, and trails operated by the County of San Diego.
On Dec. 6 the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved the introduction and first reading of an ordinance to ban smoking in county parks and also appropriated $15,000 to buy materials to provide signs about the ban. The ordinance had its second reading and adoption on Dec. 13.
The supervisors had been concerned about the fire hazards caused by cigarettes and matches as well as other smoking materials, the environmental problems caused by cigarette and cigar butts, and health problems from inhaling cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke.
In September the supervisors voted 4–1 to direct the County’s Chief Administrative Officer to develop an ordinance to ban smoking in county parks.
The text of the ordinance states that “no person shall smoke in a County park.” The enforcement provision does not stipulate a fine, other than noting that failure to obey a park ranger's order to leave a county park is a misdemeanor, but a park ranger may revoke any park permits issued to violators without refunding fees paid.
The ranger may also require the person or group to vacate the park premises.
Since the ordinance will primarily be carried out through self-compliance, signage will be provided to inform the public about the smoking ban.
The supervisors and the county’s Dept. of Parks & Recreation also used the ordinance amendment opportunity to make clarifying non-substantive changes to an ordinance section regarding fees and permits for overnight camping in county parks.
Because the County has apparently not lived up to its commitment to provide an up-to-date ambulance, Mercy Ambulance is being forced to answer service calls with an antiquated ambulance.
Rick Roesch of Mercy Ambulance, at the VC Fire Protection District’s December meeting, gave an update on the service that the company provides to a large area under contract to the district.
The district, in its turn, serves as contractor to the County of San Diego for a paramedic ambulance service area that includes Valley Center, Pala, Hidden Meadows and much of the Backcountry.
In other words, the County contracted to VCFPD to provide the service, which contracted with Mercy Ambulance.
In an interview with The Roadrunner last week, Roesch commented that when Mercy was first contracted that the County’s representative verbally promised a new ambulance.
“In the contract it just says that the County will provide an ambulance, which it has done,” said Roesch. “The contract doesn’t say ‘new.’ But at the RFP [request for proposal] conference they said they would replace the old one by November of 2004. They are supposedly working on it,” he said.
Fire Board Pres. Mel Schuler told The Roadrunner: “I felt like they [the County] wanted to provide the ambulance and we provided the venue for it. The thing that concerns me is that one of the ambulances is running sub par.
“There’s certainly a problem. We’ve been talking about this ambulance a long time,” said Schuler.
John Currier, who held the position of chairman of the Rincon tribe’s business committee for four two-year terms has been replaced by his cousin, Vernon Wright in an election by the tribe.
Bo Mazzetti has been elected vice chairman. Charlie Kolb was re-elected to the five-person committee. Returning members whose seats were not up for election were Stephanie Spencer and Gilbert Parada. Members serve two-year terms.
The election was held last week.
Rincon was the only tribe in the area which held elections that resulted in a change of leadership.
Wright had previously been vice chairman of the tribe. He also held that position in 1995–96. Wright was returned to the business committee in 2000, and has served three terms since then.
Currier has led the tribe through a tumultuous time, and a time of unprecedented growth, during which it negotiated a gaming compact with the state, forged a partnership with Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., built a casino and hotel, and expanded the casino several times. Rincon is one of the more successful gaming tribes in Southern California.
Currier has been one of the most visible gaming tribal chairmen in the state. He has been very critical of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his political maneuvering to get a larger share of gaming revenues. His tribe also sued when the governor signed a compact with neighboring tribes, including the Pauma tribe, that gave the state a larger share of revenues in return for giving those tribes the right to have an unlimited number of slot machines.
The 650-member tribe also has one of the most contentious political climates.
Camp Pendleton Dec. 12 honored Harrah's Rincon Casino & Resort for “Operation Turkey.” Representatives of Single Marine Program make the presentation: (from left) Ken Warren (Mgr., Risk Safety, Harrah's), Larry Haines (manager, security, Harrah's), Adela Cornes (Cashier Coordinator, Harrah's), Danielle West (Director, Single Marine Program, Camp Pendleton), Judy Haines (Banquet Training Manager and H.E.R.O. co-chairman, Harrah's), Willie Coleman (guest safety officer, Harrah's), Janet Beronio (Senior Vice President and General Manager, Harrah's), Corporal Barry Jointer (president, Single Marine Program, Camp Pendleton), and Michael Swift (Guest Safety Supervisor, Harrah's).
The Valley Roadrunner
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