Los Osos sewer question, for story, please

TO: Wade Horton, Director, SLO County Public Works Department

DATE: 9/28/2015

Hello Mr. Horton,

I'm researching a story, and, at the SLO County Public Works Dept. web page at this link:

http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/PW/LOWWP.htm

... it reads:

"Representatives from the County are available to answer questions from residents... (on) issues related to the Los Osos Wastewater Project. Contact the County at (805) 788-2114 or rruiz@co.slo.ca.us"

Apparently, that is inaccurate information, because, last week, I emailed Mr. Ruiz a question "related to the Los Osos Wastewater Project," but he never replied, of course, so, apparently that web page contains inaccurate information.

So, if you don't mind, I'm just going to go ahead and bug you with my question.

Recently, I read an email from Mark Maier, Public Service Supervisor, Office of the SLO County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector, to a Los Osos prohibition zone property owner inquiring about why there are two sewer assessments on their property tax bill, and Mark responded:

"Several years ago, the Los Osos Community Service District (LOCSD) established a contract with 'The Wallace Group' to begin the Los Osos Wastewater treatment facility. This project was never completed, however bills are still outstanding. As a result, the Wallace Group had been collecting on bills, which are indicated by 'LOCSD WASTE TREATMT'."

I'm just curious: Why was that project "never completed?"

I've searched and searched SLO County documents to find the official answer to that extremely important question, but, very surprisingly, I couldn't find the answer.

The reason I find that so surprising, is because in the official 2007 county document at this link:

http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/PW/LOWWP/BOS+Related+Items/Exhibit+K+BOS+8-14-07.pdf

... it reads:

"The original location for the CSD project remains an alternative (for the SLO County Public Works Dept. to build), certainly to the chagrin of its many opponents. "

So, if the SLO County Public Works Dept. actually considered constructing the LOCSD's "project," why was it "never completed" by the SLO County Public Works Dept.?

And that question gets even more interesting/important when you consider that "more than 4,000" LOPZ property owners are still paying for that failed (apparent) disaster... until the year 2034, as I first exposed a couple years back at this link:

http://sewerwatch.blogspot.com/2013/05/junk-bonds-twice-year-fleecing-of-los.html

For example, the following is a screenshot from one of those "over 4,000" Los Osos prohibition zone property owners' most recent tax bill. [I've embedding the screenshot in this email, so, hopefully you can view it]:

See? "$3,345.18" -- per year -- for "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT," for this particular property owner.

Now, as I'm sure you know, the assessment titled, "SLO AD 1-LO SWR-USDA," is the assessment that is funding the sewer project that the county is currently constructing in Los Osos.

So, for confusion's sake, I just want to point out that the assessment titled "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT" is NOT going to pay for the "waste treatmt" project that the county is currently building within the "LOCSD" boundary -- the assessment titled "SLO AD 1-LO SWR-USDA" is paying for the "waste treatmt" project within the "LOCSD" boundary, and NOT the assessment titled, "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT." That assessment is now going towards paying for a "project" that will never exist... and it will continue to pay for a non-existent "project" for the next 17 years.

Additionally, the property owner from the above-mentioned tax bill owns multiple units within the PZ, and is paying over $3,300 per year -- for the next 17 years -- for an assessment titled "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT," when a LOCSD waste treatment project will now never exist. (A typical single property assessment is about $230/year.)

So, you know, what the heck happened there? Why did the SLO County Public Works Dept. "never complete" the LOCSD's so-called "project," when so many Los Osos property owners are stuck paying for it for the next 17 years?

The property owner from the above-mentioned tax bill has contacted me, and is not clear at all on the answer to that super-important question, and, as you can imagine, that property owner, really, really, REALLY wants a clear answer to that question.

I mean, was the LOCSD's so-called "project" THAT big of a disaster, that it didn't even warrant completion by your department, even AFTER it received all of its permits -- including one from SLO County government in 2003 -- after five years (at "1 million gallons" of water pollution per day in Los Osos) and nearly $20 million of "planning" by the LOCSD was wasted on obtaining those permits, and construction had already begun (in 2005) on the now-failed "project?"

Wow. Sounds like an amazing story.

So, again, why did the SLO County Public Works Dept. simply flush (pun intended) five years, and nearly $20 million worth of LOCSD sewer "development" down the toilet?

There doesn't seem to be an official answer to that excellent question, and the "more than 4,000" LOPZ property owners that are now stuck paying for that failed disaster until the year 2034 certainly deserve a straight, clear, official answer to that super-important question.

Thanks!

Ron

P.S. By the way, just a quick 'heads-up' to let you know that I've set up my blog to where I can now have my emails publish directly to my blog, so, by the time you read this, it will already have automatically been published on ol' SewerWatch, at this link:

http://sewerwatch.blogspot.com/

Cool, huh? It makes blogging SO much easier. Thank again!

- - - - - - -

Here's the email that I sent to Rob Ruiz, on 9/22/15, with no reply.

- - - - - - -

Hello Rob,

At the SLO County government web page at this link:

http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/PW/LOWWP.htm

... it reads:

"Representatives from the County are available to answer questions from residents... (on) issues related to the Los Osos Wastewater Project. Contact the County at (805) 788-2114 or rruiz@co.slo.ca.us"

That's why I'm sending this email to you.

I'm researching a story, and, recently, I read an email from Mark Maier, Public Service Supervisor, Office of the SLO County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector, to a Los Osos prohibition zone property owner inquiring about why there are two sewer assessments on their property tax bill, and Mark responded:

"Several years ago, the Los Osos Community Service District (LOCSD) established a contract with 'The Wallace Group' to begin the Los Osos Wastewater treatment facility. This project was never completed, however bills are still outstanding. As a result, the Wallace Group had been collecting on bills, which are indicated by 'LOCSD WASTE TREATMT'."

I'm just curious: Why was that project "never completed?"

I've searched and searched SLO County documents to find the official answer to that extremely important question, but, very surprisingly, I couldn't find the answer.

The reason I find that so surprising, is because at the official 2007 county document at this link:

http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/PW/LOWWP/BOS+Related+Items/Exhibit+K+BOS+8-14-07.pdf

... it reads:

"The original location for the CSD project remains an alternative (for the SLO County Public Works Dept. to build), certainly to the chagrin of its many opponents. "

So, if the SLO County Public Works Dept. actually considered constructing the LOCSD's "project," why was it "never completed" by the SLO County Public Works Dept.?

And that question gets even more interesting/important when you consider that "more than 4,000" LOPZ property owners are still paying for that failed (apparent) disaster... until the year 2034.

So, you know, what the heck happened there? Why did the SLO County Public Works Dept. "never complete" the LOCSD's so-called "project?"

Was it THAT big of a disaster, that it didn't even warrant completion, even AFTER it received all of its permits (after five years [at "1 million gallons" of water pollution per day in Los Osos] and $20 million of "planning" by the LOCSD), and construction had already begun on the now-failed "project?"

Sounds like a GREAT story.

Thanks!

Ron

P.S. Last week I asked this question to Mark Maier... uh, twice, but he never responded, of course. So, that's why I now have to bug you with this. Hopefully, the SLO County Public Works Dept. is better at responding to the citizens of SLO County than the SLO County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector's office.  : -)

Thanks again.

- - -

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sewerwatch.blogspot.com

Re: Fwd: tax bill question

TO: Mark Maier, Public Service Supervisor, Office of the SLO County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector

Hello Mark,

As I await your response to my email from Wednesday (reprinted below), I just had one more quick question, well, actually it's more of a "heads-up" on some errors that your department is telling the property owners of the Los Osos PZ.

For example, as I show in my email from Wednesday, you write:

"Any questions on the line item "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT" should be directed to Lonnie Richardson-Lepore at Wallace & Associates, (805) 544-4011."

Well, after reading that quote, just this week, I sent Lonnie the following two emails:

- - -

Hello Lonnie,

Mark Maier, Public Service Supervisor of the San Luis Obispo County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector's office wrote:

"Any questions on the line item "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT" should be directed to Lonnie Richardson-Lepore at Wallace & Associates..."

I do have a quick question about that line item.

I've noticed how, for the past 12 years or so, the "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT" line always seemed to hover around $225, but this year, it's "$233.98."

Here's a screenshot from a recent LOPZ tax bill:

See? "$233.98" for a "LOCSD waste treatment" system (when a "LOCSD waste treatment" system will now never exist, but I digress.)

Now, last year, I exposed at this link:

http://sewerwatch.blogspot.com/2014/10/hey-other-more-than-4000-los-osos.html

... how the LOCSD recently issued "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT" assessment refund checks to seven (that I know of) of their friends.

So, now I'm curious: Is the reason the OTHER "more than 4,000" LOPZ property owners are stuck paying an extra $8.00/assessment/year -- for a non-project that will now never exist -- is because of the assessment refunds that the LOCSD issued to their friends and/or neighbors?

It just seems like, maybe, due to those assessment refunds to just the LOCSD's friends, that there might be now some sort of "shortfall" in collecting that assessment, and THAT's why the OTHER "more than 4,000" LOPZ property owners -- the ones that did NOT get a refund -- are now stuck paying an extra $8.00/assessment/year?

Is that what accounts for that extra $8/year? To make up for the LOCSD's refund-to-their-friends shortfall? Or, is it something else?

As always, much thanks,

Ron

- - -

She didn't respond to that email, so, I then sent her this email:

- - -

Hello Lonnie,

As I wait for a reply to my email that I sent you yesterday, I just have one more quick question involving the Wallace Group collecting the assessments for the LOCSD.

I was reading the SLO County government's "special assessments" page, at this link:

https://services.slocountytax.org/SpecialAssmnts.aspx

... and on that page, it shows that the LOCSD is the only CSD in the County that does not collect its own "special assessments," and instead, contracts that work out to a private company, your company -- The Wallace Group.

Here's my question, if I conducted a California Public Records Act for any/all documents from your office associated with a LOCSD "special assessment" collection, would your office, considering the Wallace Group is a private company, be legally obligated to provide the documents, like all the other CSD's in the county would be legally obligated to?

I'd like to do a PRA request for some LOCSD documents out of your office, but the PRA only applies to government agencies, [so] if you're not legally obligated to comply (because The Wallace Group is a private company, and not a government agency, even though you do contract work for a government agency), I won't even waste my, and your, time trying.

So, if I did a PRA request for LOCSD documents, would you comply?

Thanks again,

Ron

- - -

Well, she finally got back to me, and here's what she wrote, yesterday:

- - -

Good Afternoon Mr. Crawford:

 

I have received your emails dated 9/16 & 9/17. I have clear direction to run all inquiries through LOCSD General Manager, Kathy Kivley. Unless the District has given authorization for you to pursue these questions with me directly, I am unable to assist at this time. I am certain that the District will contact me if my assistance is necessary.

 

Best Regards,

 

Lonnie E. Lepore | SENIOR PROJECT ANALYS

- - -

So that's the error that I wanted to give you a "heads-up" on: The office of SLO County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector is telling the citizens of SLO County (especially the property owners of the Los Osos PZ) to contact Lonnie Richardson-Lepore, at Wallace & Associates, for "any questions on the line item "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT," yet, when someone does exactly that, Lonnie tells them, "I am unable to assist at this time."

So, clearly, this:

"Any questions on the line item "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT" should be directed to Lonnie Richardson-Lepore at Wallace & Associates, (805) 544-4011."

... is not accurate.

Additionally, on the above-referenced SLO County government's "special assessments" web page, it states that the "Contact Office" for "Special Assessment" "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT," is "Wallace and Associates."

Again, obviously, that is not accurate.

So now, I just have two more very quick questions:

1) Who is the real "contact office" for "line item LOCSD WASTE TREATMT?" (Because, obviously, it's not "Wallace and Associates," and my questions are still outstanding, so, it's very important for my story that I find out, from your office, the real "contact office" for "line item LOCSD WASTE TREATMT."

and;

2) When will your office update your web site to reflect the accurate contact, and clean up that glaring, and extremely important... uh, "error?"

Thanks again,

Ron

- - - - - - -

Here's the email I sent on 9/16/15

- - - - - - -

Hello Mark,

I'm researching a story, and, in an email (reprinted below) from March 30, 2015, to a Los Osos property owner inquiring about the "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT" assessment that appears on "more than 4,000" LOPZ property owners' tax bills, you write:

"Several years ago, the Los Osos Community Service District (LOCSD) established a contract with "The Wallace Group" to begin the Los Osos Wastewater treatment facility.  This project was never completed, however bills are still outstanding.  As a result, the Wallace Group had been collecting on bills, which are indicated by "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT".

I'm just curious, why was that project "never completed?" If you don't know the answer, could you please direct me to someone in SLO County government that knows the answer to that question. I would really appreciate it.

Also, how much longer are the "bills... still outstanding?" In other words, how long will the "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT" assessment appear on the tax bills... for a "project" that was "never completed?" Years? Decades?

I mean, it just seems like such an obvious, and important question, yet a question that doesn't seem to have an official answer: Thousands of LOPZ property owners are being taxed for a project that will never exist?

Huh?

That situation doesn't seem to make any sense.

So, you know, what happened with the project? Was it exposed to be some sort of "infeasible" disaster AFTER the assessment passed, and that's why it was "never completed?"

Something like that?

Sounds like a great story.

Thanks!

Ron

Begin forwarded message:

From: ttc@co.slo.ca.us

Date: March 30, 2015 at 1:58:28 PM PDT

Subject: Re: tax bill question

Dear [name redacted],

Thank you for your email regarding property address [redacted] in Los Osos.

Several years ago, the Los Osos Community Service District (LOCSD) established a contract with "The Wallace Group" to begin the Los Osos Wastewater treatment facility.   This project was never completed, however bills are still outstanding.  As a result, the Wallace Group had been collecting on bills, which are indicated by "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT".  

Currently, a new waste treatment facility is being established and is funded by a bond measure.  This collection has been indicated on bills as "SLO AD 1-LO SWR-USDA", and is being administered through the SLO County Public Works Department.  For further questions about these two assessments, both agencies have separate contact information.

Any questions on the line item "LOCSD WASTE TREATMT" should be directed to Lonnie Richardson-Lepore at Wallace & Associates, (805) 544-4011.

Any questions regarding the line item "SLO AD 1-LO SWR-USDA" should be referred to Ken Cardoza at SLO County Public Works Dept, (805) 781-5294.

Sincerely,

Mark Maier
Public Service Supervisor

Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector
San Luis Obispo County

(805) 781-5889

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sewerwatch.blogspot.com