It has been about the health of the valley...
I know this blog has been directed specifically at the Kern Valley Healthcare District which has had a myriad of serious problems, and happens to be one of the "hubs" which keeps the valley from becoming a ghost town, but there seem to be many issues taking bites out of the economy here.
I got a nice invitation to a "rate increase workshop" being given by our friends at Cal Water Company.
This is the warm up to the rate increase meeting which will be held by the Public Utilities Commission in December or January, according to the notice.
Some background, the Environmental Protection Agency, lowered the amount of arsenic "allowed" in drinking water causing water companies to have to upgrade to meet this federal mandate.
A few years ago Cal Water asked for a 75% increase which would come over a period of time as they spent money on new equipment and projects.
They're back.
As I said before there are chunks being taken out of the valley, our fragile economy is being hit just about everywhere: fishing industry; camping and access; price increases; a leaking dam; rising costs of gas; cuts in services available in the valley; and of course, utilities costs, such as water.
The Cal Water situation is one which concerns me because, not only the stress put on people with a fixed income, retired, laid off, but the fact that this valley will become more of a fire hazard.
Yes, there is a push up here for fire safe plants, low water, low maintenance, and suggesting to people that they dig up their trees and yard, and landscape, desert style.
A small percentage of people will do this, the rest will not have the money to put into landscaping, and underwatering will likely occur, making the plants around homes prone to fire.
Just like when gasoline prices rose, a small percentage turned in their gas guzzlers for an economy car, the rest stopped driving as much.
The people who don't have low water landscaping, will water less as high utility bills come in the mail.
So, its time to take action again, and the citizens of the valley need to understand that it is now time to make the stand.
I see many people who are trying to help this valley, and their efforts are appreciated. But more are needed as these problems become more numerous and are taking time to resolve. (Look at how long I've been at the hospital, and its not over by a long shot)
Cal Water workshop: Learn how to raise rates this Thursday, at 3 and 6 pm, at the Kern Valley Moose Lodge in Lake Isabella.
See you there...
I know this blog has been directed specifically at the Kern Valley Healthcare District which has had a myriad of serious problems, and happens to be one of the "hubs" which keeps the valley from becoming a ghost town, but there seem to be many issues taking bites out of the economy here.
I got a nice invitation to a "rate increase workshop" being given by our friends at Cal Water Company.
This is the warm up to the rate increase meeting which will be held by the Public Utilities Commission in December or January, according to the notice.
Some background, the Environmental Protection Agency, lowered the amount of arsenic "allowed" in drinking water causing water companies to have to upgrade to meet this federal mandate.
A few years ago Cal Water asked for a 75% increase which would come over a period of time as they spent money on new equipment and projects.
They're back.
As I said before there are chunks being taken out of the valley, our fragile economy is being hit just about everywhere: fishing industry; camping and access; price increases; a leaking dam; rising costs of gas; cuts in services available in the valley; and of course, utilities costs, such as water.
The Cal Water situation is one which concerns me because, not only the stress put on people with a fixed income, retired, laid off, but the fact that this valley will become more of a fire hazard.
Yes, there is a push up here for fire safe plants, low water, low maintenance, and suggesting to people that they dig up their trees and yard, and landscape, desert style.
A small percentage of people will do this, the rest will not have the money to put into landscaping, and underwatering will likely occur, making the plants around homes prone to fire.
Just like when gasoline prices rose, a small percentage turned in their gas guzzlers for an economy car, the rest stopped driving as much.
The people who don't have low water landscaping, will water less as high utility bills come in the mail.
So, its time to take action again, and the citizens of the valley need to understand that it is now time to make the stand.
I see many people who are trying to help this valley, and their efforts are appreciated. But more are needed as these problems become more numerous and are taking time to resolve. (Look at how long I've been at the hospital, and its not over by a long shot)
Cal Water workshop: Learn how to raise rates this Thursday, at 3 and 6 pm, at the Kern Valley Moose Lodge in Lake Isabella.
See you there...
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