Letters to the Editor
Pave paradise?
Dear Editor:
Last Fall the people of Mammoth spoke up against the efforts to pave Mammoth Creek Park West. The Town Council and Town Management took offense at the charges that they were “Paving the Park” and assured us that was not what they were planning on doing. The Town’s recently released site plans show that paving the park is exactly what they plan to do: http://www.townofmammothlakes.ca.gov/index.aspx?nid=706.
I urge everyone to go to the website and judge for yourself whether the Town of Mammoth is treating you in an honest manner.
Tom Bell
La Vista Blanc Condos
Insult to injury
Dear Editor:
On the eve of Town Council’s January 29th Public Workshop regarding the proposed Ice Hockey rink relocation to Mammoth Creek Park West (“MCPW”) Council posted 3 site plan alternatives. Unfortunately Council members either were not listening, or caring, about the surrounding neighbors to MCPW, as their previous inputs were not incorporated into any of the alternatives. This is insulting at best, and irresponsible at worst.
The MCPW neighbors asked for the Ice Hockey rink to be located near the road, which was not reflected in any of the drawings. The MCPW neighbors asked for the 14-propellor driven Chiller (aka the Pump Room) to be located away from any residences, which was not reflected in any of the drawings. The MCPW neighbors asked for the Zamboni Garage to be located away from any residences, which is not reflected in any of the drawings. The MCPW neighbors also asked for a totally enclosed Ice Hockey rink to mitigate noise and light pollution, which was not reflected in any of the drawings.
The 3 site locations also were accompanied by 3D drawings of the Ice Hockey rink. The height and pitch of the structures and roof look like they’ve been squashed-down. They don’t look realistic and shouldn’t have been drawn as such. It’s misleading.
Also misleading is that the drawings don’t reflect that the “Pump Room” will not be enclosed. This is not true and is very meaningful because of the noise 14 propellers make is not insignificant; in fact it is a major concern. The same can be said about the Zamboni Garage. It will need to be an open as well to ventilate the engine’s exhaust as it warms up and shuts down. It’s also very noisy!
What’s more, in the Town’s correspondence letter to MCPW neighbors, it asked to hear “other uses” for the remainder of the site. This park, as presented, doesn’t have ANY MORE room! It’s been completely paved and cemented-over. It’s insane that the Town is asking for “other uses” when there is no room left on this postage-sized piece of land that you are stuffing an Ice Hockey Rink, 2 Community buildings, 125 parking spaces, and the existing playground; all packed into under 3 acres.
By the way, about the “extensive due diligence [that] was conducted” by Town staff, along with representatives from MLR and Recreation Commission; this is ignorant and blatantly false. The Recreation Commission’s findings were nothing more than a rubber-stamping, with zero debate and discussion. Don’t believe me? Just review the past-recorded video sessions with MLR and Recreation Commission. The “diligence” was small-time, a total joke, and a waste of this town’s precious resources.
Maria Sandoval
Mammoth Lakes
Heinrich’s rebuttal
Dear Editor:
After reading Ms. Bauer’s letter in last week’s sheet, the following bears mention and/or clarification:
• Ms. Bauer stated that “there has been very little public at PUD meetings”. In fact Ms. Bauer herself has only attended 2 PUD Board meetings in more than four years. Where, then, is she getting her information?
• Ms Bauer asserts that, “The Manager was gone in two weeks (Patti accused him of stealing).” Not only is this a false statement, it also falsely implies that this was the reason the former manager resigned.
• Ms. Bauer claims that, “Luckily BZ Miller and Jerry Allendorf were there as gatekeeper, voting her (Patti) down time after time for many years.”. The truth is that, due to significant PUD cost increases, our highly respected past Fire Chief, Jerry Allendorf, proposed and approved the resolution requiring PUD employees to contribute to their own retirement plan. In addition, I have voted with the majority of the Board of Directors 97% of the time. As for the “gatekeeper” concept, it is important to understand that the PUD Board of Directors is comprised of five (5) Board members, each one having a single vote, and all decisions require a majority vote.
• Since Ms. Bauer has not provided any facts or specifics regarding her statement that, “So now we have a board that is spending more than $80,000 on studies and equipment to protect itself from its own hostile board members,” I can only assume she is referring to the Fern Creek Temporary Urgency Change. The controversy on Fern Creek started in 1998, wherein a complaint was filed and a settlement was reached with California Sport Fishing Protection Alliance establishing a minimum flow of 200 gpm in Fern Creek to support fish and habitat. The PUD was not in compliance with the settlement and was altering the stream bed, which is a Lahonton violation, and, a violation of California Department of Fish and Wildlife Code Section 5937. The PUD applied and received a Temporary Urgency Change from the State Water Resource Control Board requiring the PUD to establish a Long Term Monitoring Plan with flow meter equipment. Those decisions were made by a unanimous Board vote.
• Ms. Bauer declares that, “the manager and the union lawyers are poised to litigate on several counts.” This statement is vague, packed with innuendo, and fails to make any connection to any action or inaction on my part. As stated previously, the manager resigned and Board motions have been coordinated with the PUD legal counsel.
• Ms. Bauer stated, “I know that people will think that I started this all.” Ms. Bauer has essentially admitted that she is spearheading this recall initiative; however, once again, she fails to provide any facts in support of her allegation that this was necessary because “we are being bullied.” Who is the real bully here?
• Lastly, Ms. Bauer states, “I appointed her 6 years ago and have been hearing about her havoc since then.” Although it is true Ms. Bauer approved my Board Application in 2011, she neglected to mention that I was re-elected in 2012, despite any alleged “havoc.”
I sincerely encourage more community members to attend the PUD meetings and to ask questions concerning where and how your monthly service payments and property tax money is allocated.
My goals, as a Board member, have always been to ensure financial sustainability, develop a long range water support plan, increase efficiency and to provide exceptional service to our ratepayers while providing excellent benefits for the PUD employees.
Patti Heinrich
Director JLPUD Board
