Posted by: Bethany on 02/13/2008 03:09 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 02/13/2008 05:45 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
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CCWD Approves Surplus Property on Sandy Gulch, Renews Carmen Group Contract (meeting re-cap) ~ By Bethany Monk
San Andreas, C.A.... Calaveras County Water District Board of Directors voted 5-0 today approving the additional declaration of surplus property on a portion of the West Point Wastewater Facilities Parcel for the development of Sandy Gulch Park.....
About 10 people attended the 9 a.m. meeting Wednesday, Feb. 13 in the district’s board room in San Andreas.
An archeologist is currently surveying the three encroachments on the West Point parcel, according to Pat McGreevy of Calaveras County Parks and Recreation. The second encroachment sits on a former Native American Village, McGreevy said referencing the archeologist's findings. Further research has to be conducted, he added, noting that the county will also need approval from the Native American Advisory Council before doing anything with the encroachment.
The county may use state bond money for possible park projects at White Pines Lake, Sandy Gulch Park in West Point (which is currently owned by CCWD), and a regional park with soccer and sports fields in Valley Springs.
The board also discussed funding possibilities for the park in Valley Springs.
“The county has $100 million that they have for Prop 40 … if we don’t spend it by 2010, we lose it,” said CCWD District 5 Director Jeff Davidson, who had proposed the district build a park in Valley Springs near Cosgrove Creek with either Prop 40 grant money or money obtained from other sources. “This project can be funded through Cosgrove Creek grants,” he said, noting the Army Corps of Engineers contribution.
“The (Army) Corps is moving forward to get $200,000 to do all the design work relative to what make sense as a flood project,” said Dave Andreas, CCWD general manager, of plans to clear Cosgrove Creek, which flooded two years ago, damaging several homes in the area.
If approved, further Cosgrove Creek grant money may help fund the Valley Springs park, which would include a spray field and soccer and other sports fields, according to Davidson.
Edward Rich, CCWD District 4 Director, said he was apprehensive of the project. “I don’t know that it’s the perfect place for a ball field and a spray field,” he said of the Valley Springs stretch of land near Cosgrove Creek. “How efficient of a spray field is it? How much benefit does it bring to the agency? Maybe the best place for spray field may not be the best place for a park.”
Calaveras County Administrative Officer Bob Lawton attended the meeting to discuss the County Parks Project. Lawton introduced himself to the board during the meeting’s public comments session to address the County Parks and Recreation and the County Board of Supervisors’ state bond funding for development of county parks. Lawton said the county is still in need of a Parks and Recreation coordinator before moving ahead with plans for the park.
No action was taken on this Valley Springs park issue, which will continue to up for discussion in upcoming CCWD meetings.
Later in the meeting, the board approved the request to renew its contract with Carmen Group (Legislative Advocates in Washington D.C.).
“I’ve been a strong supporter of the Carmen group,” said Bertha Underhill, CCWD District 3 Director, adding that’s she pleased with their work. “We’ve built a solid relationship with them, but this is what needed … I strongly approval renewal of the contract.”
CCWD directed Carmen Group to seek funding for Regional Water and Wastewater Studies, regional recycle water treatment facilities for landscape and irrigation purposes, and continued development of the Cosgrove Creek project, and other items. The district pays the group a monthly fee of $6,000.
“It’s really hard being a rate payer to understand the money that had been wasted,” said Vallecito resident Helen Behrbaum, during the public comments session. “We had wonderful grant people working on staff that could get us grants …. I have a real big problem with this. I’m not for it … a lot of rate payers are not for it.”
“My question to anybody is ‘What is your solution?’” Davidson asked. “We need to have an active legislative lobbyist program. Where are we going to get money if we don’t seek federal (aid)?”
The request passed with a 4-1 vote. District 4 Director Ed Rich voted against the request.
CCWD will hold a special board meeting, open to the public, at 9 a.m. Feb. 27 in the CCWD board room in San Andreas. For more information call (209) 754-3543.
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