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Friday, December 4, 2009 A Fortunado Publication in conjunction with Countywide News Service 10808 Foothill Blvd. Suite 160-446 Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Grand Jury Probing Victorville Operations More
The San Bernardino
County Grand Jury is
focusing on at least three
areas in which embez-
zlements or significant
unauthorized diversions
of money appear to have
occurred within the city
of Victorville’s opera-
tions over the last half
dozen years.
All five members of
the city council as well as
the current city manager
have been questioned
County OKs Hinkley Sludge Compost Plant
Over the protests of
local residents, the coun-
ty planning commission
this week approved a
conditional use permit
for Nursery Products
to locate and operate a
sludge composting plant
at old Hawes Field.
In granting the con-
ditional use permit, the
Biane Defends Uncle’s
Appointment
Supervisor Paul Biane
this week defended his
nomination of his uncle,
Rene Biane, to a posi-
tion on the County Flood
Control Advisory Com-
mission. Following his
nomination of his uncle
at the December 1 board
of supervisors meeting,
the full board of supervi-
sors ratified that appoint-
ment.
Prior to that vote,
which was made as part
of the board’s approval
of this week’s consent
Board Ethics Reform Inadequate, Critic Says
On December 1, the
San Bernardino County
Board of Supervisors
passed an ordinance
aimed at stopping coun-
ty officials from using
public office for personal
gain.
The ordinance was
prompted by criticism
leveled and suggestions
made in the 2008-09
county grand jury report
released on July 1.
by the grand jury and at According to sources
least three subpoenas for close to the investiga-
documents and records tion, the current probe
have been issued. began with a complaint
planning commission regard to the provision
accepted the developer’s of water at the facility
environmental impact and consider the feasibil-
report on the project, de- ity of enclosing the pro-
spite a previous ruling posed facility.
by Judge John Vander However, the land use
Feer that the county land services division made
use services division and a finding, and the plan-
Nursery Products must ning commission ac-
conduct a further envi- cepted, that adequate
ronmental review with water is available at the
Adelanto Trades Sheriff
Space for Coverage
calendar, two county
residents, Barbara So-
kolof and Edward Snell, The city of Adelanto
questioned the appoint- has agreed to provide
ment. 14,196 square feet of
“Is this a relative of space in its police de-
Mr. [Paul] Biane?” So- partment headquarters
koloff asked, “Already for use by the sheriff’s
you have an uncle as part department for the nomi-
of the assessor’s com- nal fee of $1 per year for
mittee for reviewing any the next ten years.
kind of debate.” According to a coun-
Sokoloff’s reference ty staff report authored
was to Michael Biane, by the county’s director
who serves on the coun- of real estate services,
ty’s assessment appeals David Slaughter, and
board. See P 2 sheriff Rod Hoops and
The ordinance, which tive officers, two former
must be voted on again county supervisors, a
at the board’s December former county treasurer,
15 meeting to be final- the county’s investment
ized, prohibits the use of officer, the former asses-
county equipment, offic- sor and four of the em-
es, employees, property ployees of his office have
or resources for personal all been either charged
benefit unless such use or convicted of crimes
is authorized beforehand relating to embezzle-
by the board the board ment, unauthorized use
of supervisors. Over the of county resources or
past ten years, two for- misuse of county funds.
mer county administra- State laws already
to the 2008-09 grand
jury. Insufficient infor-
mation to support a re-
port or indictment was
churned up before that
panel’s charter expired
at the end of June. The
matter was taken up by
the 2009-10 grand jury
and as more detail has
emerged, a special crim-
inal grand jury has now
been impaneled to see
the case through.
What was once char-
site to support the op-
eration. Further, the land
use services division
determined, the cost of
entirely enclosing the
facility would have been
economically unfeasible.
Opponents of the proj-
ect, who have long as-
serted that enclosing the
facility is both affordable
presented by sheriff’s
captain Dennis O’Casey,
the arrangement is the
outgrowth of a decision
by the sheriff earlier this
year to relocated a major
portion of its High Des-
ert operations away from
Victorville into Adel-
anto.
Formerly, Adelanto
had its own police de-
partment but that agency
was dissolved in 2002
when the city council
prohibit the misuse of
public property or a pub-
lic official from partici-
pating in a public action
or decision that benefits
him or her financially.
Because of the prolifera-
tion of such activity in
San Bernardino County,
the grand jury suggested
that the county incorpo-
rate explicit provisions
into its employment pol-
icy and its code of ethics
acterized as question-
able management and
the imprudent expendi-
ture of taxpayer money
entailing the squander-
ing of millions of dollars
is now being considered
in a different light, such
that the grand jury is fol-
lowing up on reports that
council members, city
staff members and city
consultants and contrac-
tors willfully engaged in
the diversion of See P 4
and necessary to protect
the environment, vowed
to appeal the planning
commission’s approval
to the board of supervi-
sors.
Nursery Products,
headed by Orange Coun-
ty-based Jeff Meberg of
Tricilacom Corporation,
was forced to See P 3
voted to contract with
the sheriff’s department
for law enforcment ser-
vices.
At that time the sher-
iff’s department moved
into the police depart-
ment building located at
11613 Bartlett Avenue in
Adelanto.
In the more than
seven years since, the
sheriff’s department’s
unincorporated patrol
responsibilities See P 6
that make it abundantly
clear that such activity
will not be tolerated.
Before the board
passed the ordinance,
however, Sam Clauder,
a county resident who
has previously expressed
outrage and disappoint-
ment at what he consid-
ers to be the board’s self-
serving actions, said the
board was being sancti-
monious in now See P 7
News of Note
from Around the
Largest County
in the Lower
48 States
Erwin
Fallout
Jim Erwin
Nearly sixteen months
ago, over three months
before supervisor-elect
Neil Derry was to be
sworn into office, Neil
Derry persuaded the
board of supervisors, in-
cluding four of its mem-
bers who would become
his future colleagues, to
extend county employ-
ment to the man he had
chosen to serve as his
chief of staff, Jim Erwin.
Supervisor Paul Biane
presented the idea of hir-
ing Erwin on August 26,
2008, more than three
months before Derry
was to officially take
office to the board, as-
serting that Erwin could
make good use of the
time to acquaint himself
with the county’s Third
District, which extends
from the urban areas of
east San Bernardino and
Redlands into a major
portion of the county’s
mountain communities
and then into a portion
of the desert.
Derry had defeated
then-incumbent supervi-
sor Dennis Hansberger
in June 2008 in a head
to head contest, meaning
six months would elapse
before he would become
supervisor. Oftentimes
in San Bernardino Coun-
ty, more than two candi-
dates vie in the primary
election, such that a run
off between the two top
vote getters must be held
in November, See P 2
Friday, December 4, 2009
The San Bernardino County
Sentinel
Published in San Bernardino County
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San Bernardino County Sentinel
Erwin
from front page
which is only one month
from the beginning of an
office term.
While Biane’s pro-
posal on behalf of Derry
and Erwin sounded rea-
sonable to some, tradi-
tionally the county had
a policy of not hiring an
incoming supervisor’s
staff until just one month
before the superviso-
rial term initiated. In this
way, Biane’s proposal
was somewhat unique.
In the discussion that
ensued after Biane float-
ed the concept, Derry
made himself available
to provide his rationale
for giving his future chief
of staff a running start
at overseeing, on behalf
of his boss, the Third
District. During this ex-
change, supervisor Josie
Gonzales questioned the
need for Erwin getting a
three month head start.
She pointed out that the
expense of paying Er-
win’s $13,000 per month
salary for a full three
months before Derry
actually would assume
authority over the Third
District would be an un-
necessary burden on tax-
payers, considering that
Hansberger’s staffers
would be simultaneously
pulling paychecks. Gon-
zales gently suggested
that perhaps a compro-
mise might be reached
Biane
from front page
Snell said, “That is
your relative. You are go-
ing to approve Rene Biane
to the flood control com-
mittee. You and [board
of supervisors chairman
Gary] Ovitt were run-
ning around on [devel-
oper Jeff] Burum’s jet
whooping it up, having a
good ol’ time. You might
get away with it with the
rest of the public, but I
know. This has to deal
with corruption in the
county. When you start
appointing your uncles
(951) 274-9798 (Ph)
(951) 274-9036 (F)
and that Erwin could be the board of supervisors.
hired beginning in Oc- Some said that Derry,
tober instead of Septem- fresh off an electoral
ber so that he would get victory over the well-
two months to come up
to speed, which after all,
Gonzales pointed out,
financed Hansberger and
the Redlands political
machine he represented,
was twice the acclima- was merely feeling his
tion term that had tradi- oats.
tionally been extended Others, however, said
to incoming supervisors’ they feared that some-
staff members. thing much more sinister
Derry’s response to was afoot. Erwin, many
Gonzales sent a shock- recognized, was a force
wave around the board to be reckoned with.
chambers that still re- Aside from now being
sounds, in more than one the power behind Der-
way, today. He informed ry’s throne, he represent-
Gonzales that he would ed a wellspring of insti-
accept the opportunity tutional memory drawn
to have his chief-of-staff from disparate sources.
begin his service with Erwin had been a deputy
the county in Septem- with the San Bernardino
ber. Clearly, Derry was County Sheriff’s Depart-
not prepared to have Bi- ment. As a member of
ane’s proposal denied. the union representing
While he did not say so the sheriff’s deputies, the
directly, Derry’s body Safety Employees Ben-
language clearly stated efit Association (known
that he would accept by its acronym SEBA),
no less than a full three he ran, successfully, for
months employment of union treasurer. Later,
his future chief of staff. he stepped up and ran,
Implicit in Derry’s man- again successfully, for
ner was Derry’s tacit as- SEBA president. Eventu-
sertion, remarked upon ally Erwin would leave
by dozens who witnessed the sheriff’s office and no
it, that Derry, who had longer have the status to
yet no authority within be a member of the union
the county, was virtually or, thus, the union’s pres-
dictating county policy. ident. His value to the
What was assumed by union was such that he
many in the aftermath of was hired as SEBA’s ex-
Derry’s show of power, ecutive director.
was that he, together As a sheriff’s depu-
with Erwin, were in ty, the sheriff’s deputy
some fashion engaging union president and then
in political extortion of its executive director, Er-
aunts and cousins and ev- that individual flood
eryone you can think of, control district zone.
this has something to do Those are forwarded
with ...corruption in San to us to either adopt or
Bernardino County. Ap- make changes.”
pointing your relatives, Paul Biane continued,
that’s got a kind of fishy “Rene Biane, since most
smell to it.” of you aren’t from the
Biane responded, west part of the valley,
“The question has been he’s my uncle. He’s turn-
asked about Rene Bi- ing 80 two weeks from
ane and whether he is now. He has been hon-
a relative of mine. The ored over and over again
answer is, ‘Yes, he is my for his commitment to
uncle.’ I think more im- the community founda-
portantly, to add some tion board he sits on. It is
understanding here, in
understanding the flood
sometimes hard to sit up
here and have my family
control zones, there are attacked. They are good
six zones in our county. people. You can attack
This particular zone ac-
tually has 11 members.
Six of those members
me but look at the in-
dividuals I put forward
and their qualifications.
are recommended by They are able to serve
Fourth District supervi- this community and
sor Gary Ovitt. Five of have something to give.”
those are recommenda- Ovitt said, “I might
tions of mine. They basi- add that I have the privi-
cally weigh in and make lege of serving with Mr.
recommendations on the Biane in a number of ca-
budget and priorities of pacities. He truly is high-
Page 2
win became a custodian
of information - infor-
mation of a type often
reposited into dossiers
- derogatory informa-
tion pertaining to the
powerful and influential,
information that would
further the influence
of the sheriff’s depart-
ment and the sheriff’s
deputies’ union. Some of
those dossiers pertained
to members of the board
of supervisors.
As SEBA’s president
and its executive director,
Erwin had played a major
role in collecting money
into, and then vectoring
money out of, SEBA’s
political action commit-
tee. Over the years, this
involved the disburse-
ment of millions of dol-
lars, money that made
and broke candidates
and installed dozens of
individuals into political
office. One of the rea-
sons Derry had formed
an alliance with Erwin
was Erwin’s understand-
ing - indeed mastery - of
how the political game is
played, and in particular,
how that game is played
in San Bernardino Coun-
ty. No doubt, Erwin had
been the architect of
Derry’s longshot vic-
tory over Hansberger,
who had a string of five
victories in previous
races for Third District
supervisor. Previously,
Erwin had used his posi-
Continued on Page 6
ly thought of throughout
of through out the West
End. He’s done an aw-
ful lot The Biane name is
well thought of through-
out the district. It is truly
a privilege to be able to
appoint him.”
Rene Biane, who lives
in Upland, will serve as
a representative of coun-
ty flood control zone
1. Flood Control Dis-
trict One extends over
the Fourth and Second
supervisorial districts.
Paul Biane is Second
District supervisor. The
Second District includes
Mt. Baldy, San Antonio
Heights , Upland Rancho
Cucamonga,
twood, Fontana and a
Wrigth-
portion of the lower High
Desert, Crest Forest,
Lake Gregory, Crestline,
Cedar Pines Park.
Rene Biane will re-
place Richard Avent on
the Flood Control District
Advisory Committee.
Friday, December 4, 2009 San Bernardino County Sentinel Page 3
Hinkley Sludge plant could reach the riv- facility in Adelanto until and we are getting no debris would be used for after the trucks depos-
from front page er by means of two flood 2005, at which point that help from the county or agricultural food pro- ited their loads of sludge
close down a smaller flow routes near the site, facility was hounded out the department of health. duction. at the plant that they
sludge composting fa- That issue, according to of existence by the com- Mr. Mitzelfelt says that “The only type of would be hosed out to
cility it operated near county planners, was re- plaints of residents. to help us will be to hin- thing that sludge com- prevent sludge residue
Adelanto four years ago dressed. According to the der industry. The indus- post can be used for is from dripping onto local
out of environmental Nearby residents, as- county, roughly 45 try he is talking about a crop such as cotton,” roads and neighboring
concerns. Subsequently, sisted by the Center for trucks per day will un- will employ eight em- Diaz said. “It cannot properties as they drove
it applied to enlarge that Biological Diversity, the load sludge at the new ployees.” be used on food crops. back toward the Inland
operation and locate it Center on Race, Poverty plant, which will take The human waste in There is already enough Empire and Los Ange-
on the grounds of the and the Environment and in up to 401,500 tons of the form of sludge that cow manure available lo- les.
long-shuttered Hawes the Golden Gate Univer- human and green waste will be trucked to the cally to provide fertilizer Such requirements
training airfield 12 miles sity Environmental Law annually. Nursery Prod- project site from the in this area.” would increase the cost of
east of Kramer Junction, and Justice Clinic, chal- uct’s Adelanto facility greater Los Angeles In this way, Diaz said, the plant by around $180
eight miles west of Hin- lenged the approval. received and processed area, Orange and lower it is clear that the com- million, Diaz said, a fig-
kley and south of High- That challenge led no more than 96,000 tons San Bernardino counties post plant is not there ure he claimed would not
way 58, subject to close to the ruling by Vander of waste annually. represents a biohazard, to deliver a product but be unreasonable given
monitoring. Feer, which Nursery A local resident, Diaz said. to serve as a dumping the profit Nursery Prod-
According to an envi- Products appealed to the Norman Diaz, says the “This is not cow ma- ground for waste. Ac- ucts would reap from
ronmental impact report Fourth Appellate Dis- Nursery Products de- nure,” he said. “This is cordingly, Diaz said, its operation, which he
completed at the behest of trict in Riverside. With- sign for the plant and human sewage. It con- Nursery Products should pegged at slightly over
San Bernardino County, out waiting for a ruling the county’s unwilling- tains pharmaceuticals, be required to incorpo- $30 million per year.
the facility will receive from the Fourth Appel- ness to alter that design antibiotics, steroids, hor- rate into the plant’s de- Diaz said the company
up to 1,100 tons of hu- late District, the project is unacceptable. He was mones, all of which rep- sign the same safeguards had utilized much more
man and green waste per proponents then sought a leader in the opposition resent potential health that would be required expensive cost figures
day for processing, put- to address the water is- to the project. hazards. There are trace if it were located in Los for an enclosed plant that
ting out roughly 400,000 sue with the county land Diaz dismissed as in- heavy metals in it. It Angeles, Orange or low- was built by public rath-
tons of composting ma- use services division. accurate Nursery Prod- contains volatile organic er San Bernardino coun- er than private for-profit
terial per year. The final Nursery Products also uct’s assertion that the compounds. ties. entities. He said the en-
product will be marketed submitted documenta- plant had passed envi- “These will create Diaz said he would closure was needed to
to farmers throughout tion showing that hous- ronmental muster. health problems, breath- still not be comfortable ensure public safety.
Southern California. ing the operation entirely “Judge Vander Feer ing problems, reproduc- with the plant’s pres- “This is toxic waste
On August 14, 2008, inside a closed facility ruled that they could tive problems, devel- ence in his community and it’s not environ-
all six members of the would boost the cost of not sever the parts of the opmental and learning but that he could live mentally friendly,” Diaz
California Integrated the project to nearly $1 environmental impact problems,” he continued. with it if the plant were said. “There should be
Waste Management billion. report and that the en- “These will have long to incorporate concrete as much regard for the
Board voted to grant Meanwhile, project tire EIR [environmental term effects. My kids’ slabs upon which the health of the people who
Nursery Products a facil- proponents were con- impact report] was unac- school is downwind sludge was to be de- live in our neighborhood
ity permit for the plant. tending Vander Feer’s ceptable,” he said. from the plant site. As posited that would pre- as there is for the peo-
Several desert resi- ruling meant that the en- Diaz complained that the sludge evaporates vent contaminants from ple who live in the area
dents, including Barstow vironmental impact re- while the appeal of the those volatile organic leaching down into the where this sludge origi-
mayor Lawrence Dale, port for the project had to project was pending, compounds will blow water table; an enclosure nates.”
went on record as being be entirely redone. They Meberg “was attempt- off. You can’t tell me to prevent the wind from In a document pre-
opposed to the project submitted alternative de- ing to work around the there is not a potential scattering the volatile pared for Thursday’s
by means of a real time sign plans for the enclo- process by using [county for problems.” organic compounds; a planning commission
teleconference from the sure of the plant that they supervisor] Brad Mitzel- Diaz scoffed at the filtering system that fur- hearing, the land use
Barstow City Council said would be far less ex- felt’s influence to fix the suggestion that the com- ther eliminated the pos- services division stated,
chambers on August 14, pensive to construct than problems that were not post derived from a mix- sibility that the volatile “Based on the entire re-
2008 that was incorpo- Nursery Products was severable. This was done ture of human waste and organics would spread; cord, the planning com-
rated into the California maintaining. in defiance of the judge, ground up construction and a requirement that Continued on Page 6
Integrated Waste Man- One advantage the who stated the EIR needs Coast-to-Coast Metal Finishing Corporation
agement Board hearing. proponents insist the to be redone completely.
Those residents said Hawes facility has over What Brad Mitzlefelt is
Specializing in metal finishing, powder coating and custom designed
they opposed the proj- the site Nursery Prod- doing is not correct. It lighting fixtures for both indoor and outdoor use.
ect, mainly over their ucts formerly operated is a waste of taxpayer
concern that odors and out of in Adelanto is that money and time. It is a Proprietor Gil Bernal has 25 years experience in all phases of metal
wind-borne contami- it is far more removed travesty of government. finishing and decorating and personally manages his own foundry.
nants from disease-and- from its neighbors. Me- He is doing this as a fa-
All Products made entirely in the USA
chemical-bearing vola- berg said the new plant vor to someone who gave
tile organic compounds will be both cleaner and him and his pal [former
would emanate from the more remote than its pre- supervisor] Bill Postmus (626) 282-2122
plant. decessor. a lot of campaign money.
The Mojave Water
Agency, which had pre-
viously raised the issue
Nursery Products op-
erated the composting
We are citizens who are
going to be hurt by this ASN Depot, Inc.
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Friday, December 4, 2009 San Bernardino County Sentinel Page 4
Grand Jury The city’s 2008-09 vided sufficient power for handed off to deputy city was brought in as the and new plans and per-
from front page general fund was deplet- providing refrigeration manager Doug Robert- city’s utility director and mits, at an equal or great-
ed four months prior to for the candy warehouse, son. The project was in- Foxborough’s plant man- er cost and incorporat-
money and the provision the end of the fiscal year. to meet the needs of tended to eventually have ager in 2005. The Fox- ing major corrections to
of kickbacks. The audit showed the ConAgra and Nutro and a generating capacity of borough project failed to the originals, including
Citizens were alarmed city sustained $36 mil- all of the other tenants 14 megawatts, although meet its April 2006 target larger conductors than
when city officials de- lion in losses for hangers at the industrial park. in its first phase it would opening date and in Oc- the undersized ones that
layed or withheld for ad- at Southern California Those companies were top out at six megawatts. tober 2006, construction had been penciled in and
justment an audit of city Logistics Airport. able to save a combined It would not be linked to on the project, the price purchased, substituted in.
finances through the end Overall operations at $150,000 on electrical the state power grid and tag for which had esca- In addition to the initial
of the 2006-07 fiscal year the airport were $97 mil- costs annually by buying would deliver its product lated to over $54 million, and then follow-on equip-
ending June 30, 2007 lion in the red. their power from the city. directly to users within was abruptly halted. ment acquisition and con-
for more than eighteen The city’s condition Accordingly, the city Victorville, as in the case At that point, boil- struction costs, the utility
months. was so dire that the au- created yet another divi- of Aspen, at rates signifi- ers and small genera- division in 2005 incurred
Two months after Jim dit’s authors, the account- sion, the Victorville Mu- cantly lower than power tors were on site, but the an operating deficit for
Cox, who had served as ing firm of Caporicci & nicipal Power Authority. sold by utilities tied into permanent turbines or the plant of $4.5 million.
Victorville city manager Larson, declined to issue In this way, it hoped to the power grid such as their components, though That hemorrhaging of
from 1969 until 1999, was a standard professional undertake the operation Southern California Edi- purchased and available, red ink increased each
rehired as city manager, opinion of the city’s over- of a series of “pocket” son or Pacific Gas and were not assembled or year thereafter such that
the audit was released. all fiscal state based upon generators directly linked Electric. connected. it had reached an annual
When that book was a lack of reliable controls to its various industrial After contracting for From there, the Fox- operating deficit of $8
finally thrown open, what and available accounting parks, bypassing the the construction of the borough debacle went million by fiscal 2007-08.
was revealed was that the data. necessity of linking up building to house the from incalculably bad to Though the project was
city’s assets as of March In short order, a report to the state power grid. plant, the city undertook even worse as Campbell, originally represented as
were worth $203 million on the matter found its This offered end users to make a direct purchase like Robertson before one that would be funded
less than when they were way to the county grand the advantage of lower of the turbines and other him, found himself over- entirely out of the city’s
previously accounted for. jury, augmented by com- electrical costs, since equipment to go into the whelmed by not just the redevelopment agency, as
Only slightly less plaints from at least two electricity conveyed over plant, bypassing middle- enormity of the project the costs zoomed beyond
alarming was that the entities that had dealt California’s shared sys- men and contractors. and the disarray of the the $22 million mark and
city was running a com- with the city. tem is subject to an auto- Robertson’s confident situation to begin with, then more than doubled to
bined $159 million defi- As the grand jury be- matic ten percent wheel- prediction was that the but the price increases in $54 million without hav-
cit in two major funds. gan to look into the situ- ing fee. Foxborough power sta- energy and components, ing produced so much as
Moreover, the city was in ation, the effort to con- The Victorville Mu- tion would, by selling a lack of expertise in the a single kilowatt, the city
default on an $83 million struct a so-called pocket nicipal Power Author- power at rates below that arena of electrical plant began borrowing from its
bond for the Foxborough generator at Foxborough ity also operated cogen- of commercial utility construction and op- general fund to shore up
power plant project. industrial park proved a erators using natural companies, pay for itself eration among city staff, the project.
Further, on March major red flag. gas-powered turbines within a dozen years. construction delays and With good money be-
6, a deadline elapsed to The concept of con- that deliver power to the Construction on the changes in state law that ing thrown in after bad,
renegotiate a contract structing a modest gen- General Electric hangar project was originally mandated that at least the city council, as qui-
with General Electric for erator at Foxborough- at SCLA. scheduled to begin in Oc- 20 percent of all energy etly as it could get away
equipment for the Vic- had appeared realistic The city made an ap- tober 2004 and come on produced in California with, issued $90 million
torville 2 power plant enough. In 2003 the city parent misstep in un- line in April 2006. by 2010 come from re- in bonds to cover the en-
or settle an outstanding spent $2.3 million to in- dertaking a significantly Robertson’s back- newable sources. In an tire cost of Foxborough
$126 million bill for the stall a single megawatt larger power plant, in- ground was primar- effort to comply with that and hired Glen Casanova
delivery of that equip- power generator at the tended as a centerpiece to ily in administration and standard, Campbell jet- to replace Campbell as
ment. When the city Aspen Distribution Cen- its Foxborough Redevel- management. He had no tisoned the earlier plans municipal utilities direc-
missed the deadline, it ter, where ConAgra, Nu- opment District. Initially, experience in electri- for gas-fired combustion tor.
lost a $50 million deposit tro and M&M Mars had plans called for the Fox- cal operation and under turbines, the pricey com- By April 2008, all of
to the company. The city the remaining three sites borough power plant to his guidance the project ponents for which were the bond money had been
remained on the hook to at Foxborough. The As- cost $22 million. At first foundered. Before it de- already purchased. eaten up by the Foxbor-
satisfy GE’s still pending pen generator, powered managed by community volved into a full-fledged The city then found ough power plant project
bill of $100 million. by a V-12 engine, pro- services director Richard debacle, the project was itself in the position of and another $5 million be-
Bunnell, responsibility again handed off to having to buy even more yond that was consumed,
Founders Scholarships for the project was later Wayne Campbell, who costly generators capable bringing total cost on the
Available to Early Oak Valley College Applicants of running on biodiesel, facility, located on east

Oak Valley College, a residential campus,

nestled into the San Bernardino Mountain Wilder-
Turf Turner while looking for pur-
chasers, presumably ones
that were out of state, of
Nisquali Road, to $95
million even before the
facility’s permanent tur-
ness, offers a curriculum based in the liberal arts,
-Disking -Roto-tilling the never utilized gas bines had begun to gen-
-Field Disking -Weed Mowing turbines. Despite the fact erate electricity. Further
with courses in the sciences, humanities, business,
that the turbines had been insult was wrought when
management, and entrepreneurship. -Lawns -Gardens fired up only for testing city officials, attempt-
The college offers two majors, Business -Fields -Hillsides purposes, no takers for ing to salvage something
and Public Affairs. Business majors may work -Vineyards -Citrus Groves the equipment were im- from the debacle, de-
in private firms. Public Affairs majors may work in mediately available and clared their intention to
non-profit organizations, media relations, ministry,
government or social services. (909) 989-7707 the asking prices were re-
duced to far below what
connect the plant to the
state power grid, in ab-
Classes are small and taught by Christian the city had paid, as the solute contravention to
equipment had already the original intent for the
professionals at the institution of higher learn- been delivered to the city plant, which was to keep
ing, located 30 minutes east of Highland, CA.
by the actual manufac- the plant off the power
Merit and need-based scholarships are turer and was thus con- grid, thereby avoiding the
available. Founders Scholarships of $5,000+ sidered “used.” surcharge the state lev-
will be given to those who apply early. Moreover, the original ies on electricity carried
Contact Kimberly Toole, admissions officer at
(909) 965-2247 or ktoole@oakvalleycollege.org.
Jewelry design and permits for
the plant, completed by
over the grid, to provide
low-cost energy to attract
the firm of Carter & Bur- industry and jobs to the
Free online application to Oak Valley College can Serving the Inland Empire gess at a cost of $3.4 mil- city’s industrial parks.
be submitted at www.oakvalleycollege.org. Alma Jimenez (909) 919-4370 lion, had to be scrapped Continued on Page 5
Friday, December 4, 2009
Grand Jury
from page 4
By the early summer
of 2008, the project was
yet on hold while a con-
version of the generators
to run on bio-diesel were
yet uncomplete.
To some vocal crit-
ics, the entire effort was
nothing more than a $95
million boondoggle, one
that had been poorly
conceived, poorly man-
aged and inadequately
rendered. The underly-
ing concept of providing
inexpensive electricity to
potential industrial users
and tenants as an incen-
tive to getting them to
locate into the Southern
California Logistics Cen-
tre or any of the city’s
other industrial parks
had perhaps been worth
pursuing. But a lack of
thorough conceptualiza-
tion, poor planning and
a lack of continuity once
the project was underway
had resulted in a facility
that was far too grand for
the relatively modest de-
mand for its product to
be inexpensive to build
and operate yet not large
enough to embody the
economies of scale that
going to a truly large de-
sign would offer. It was
neither fish nor fowl. And
the decision to connect
it to the power grid, thus
erasing the cost savings
incentives its custom-
ers were to receive, un-
derscored for the city’s
harshest critics the folly
of the public sector in-
volving itself in the prov-
ince of the private sector.
Pointed questions have
been raised about wheth-
er the Foxborough de-
bacle came about merely
because of gross incom-
petence and mismanage-
ment or if those involved
with the project profited
by purposeful looting.
In this regard, the
grand jury’s focus has
logically fallen on three
entities or groups: the
Ontario-based firm of
Carter & Burgess, which
was charged with design-
ing the plant and obtain-
ing its permits; Newport
Beach-based Inland En-
ergy, which served as a
consultant to the city on
the project; and the city
staff and elected officials
who approved and over-
saw the project.
Once the city aban-
doned the concept of us-
ing traditional gas-fired
turbines at the plant in fa-
vor of using a bio-diesel
system, it had to jettison
the design and permitting
work done by Carter &
Burgess at a cost of $3.4
million.
Since the firm of
Carter & Burgess was
responsible not only for
the design of the facil-
ity but obtaining permits
for its operation, there is
a question as to whether
the company’s failure to
anticipate the renewable
energy requirements for
the plant and incorpo-
rate them into the design
constitutes negligence.
Civil negligence would
give way to criminality if
collusion or exchange of
money between the com-
pany and city officials led
to the failure to meet li-
censing requirements.
In fact, the city has
launched a lawsuit
against Carter & Burgess
alleging the firm deliv-
ered plans and designs
that were inherently
flawed and which result-
ed in the delay and even-
tual cancellation of the
plant, contributing to or
resulting in the city’s loss
of over $100 million. to the state power grid
Previously, Carter &
Burgess sued Victorville,
alleging breach of con-
tract, seeking in excess
of $100,000 it claims the
city still owes it plus in-
terest and lawyers’ fees.
Inland Energy, headed
by William F. “Buck”
Johns has also fallen un-
der the grand jury’s scru-
tiny.
According to avail-
able records, the city
of Victorville has paid
more than $13 million
to Inland Energy since
August 2005. The lion’s
share of that - $11.2 mil-
lion - was paid to Inland
for the company’s work
with regard to the Victro-
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San Bernardino County Sentinel
ville 2 power plant that is
now under construction.
Victorville 2 is a hy-
brid power project, com-
bining natural gas-fired
combined cycle generat-
ing equipment integrated
with solar thermal gen-
erating equipment. It is
planned to have a net
electrical output of 563
megawatts, with con-
struction now ongoing
and commercial opera-
tion planned by late 2010.
Inland was instrumental
in obtaining an operating
permit from the Califor-
nia Energy Commission,
delineating and framing
a contract with Kiewit,
the company building
the plant, lining up in-
vestments in the project
through Goldman Sachs
and securing necessary
air pollution off-set cred-
its through the Mojave
Air Quality Management
District.
Inland Energy has
also provided technical
advice to the city with
regard to the develop-
ment of the Foxborough
power plant. Inland and
Johns well understood
the importance of selling
the electricity directly
and avoiding the tie-in
and imposition of the
mandatory ten percent
wheeling fee. Yet the city
is now, after a series of
technical and regulatory
issues interfered with
the completion of the
project, purposed to con-
nect it to the state power
grid if and when it is ever
completed. Inland Ener-
gy was paid $1.1 million
for its work on the Fox-
borough Project.
The grand jury is re-
portedly interested in
determining if there has
been any money passed
back to either elected of-
ficials or staff members
by either Inland Energy
or Carter & Burgess.
Save up to 70%
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Wool Feel Suits
Among those un-
der the microscope are
Robertson, Campbell,
Casanova, former Vic-
torville city manager Jon
Roberts and Victorville
city councilman Terry
Caldwell, a source said.
An area of particular
interest for the grand
jury, sources tell the Sen-
tinel, are frequent con-
tacts between Caldwell
and Johns, including
reports that Johns and
Caldwell have vaca-
tioned together at spots
both inside and outside
the United States.
Johns dismissed re-
ports of any impropriety.
“If they are looking
at Terry Caldwell, the
grand jury ought to try
investigating themselves
for wasting their time
and the taxpayers’ mon-
ey,” Johns said. “Terry
has been in office almost
forty years and he isn’t
any richer today than he
was before he held office.
This is a guy who hardly
has enough money to
buy himself lunch. He is
as hardworking and hon-
est as they come.”
Indeed, Caldwell is
one of the longest serv-
ing elected officials in
California, having con-
tinuously served on the
Victorville city council,
in the capacity of either
councilman or mayor,
since March 7, 1972.
Inland has also been
paid a significant fee
for its assistance in for-
mulating the city’s ver-
sion of the EB-5 Visa
program. That effort
generated controversy
because of the manner
in which the city first
partnered with CMB In-
frastructure Investment
Group to transform the
area around Southern
California Logistics Air-
port - the former George
Air Force Base - into a
zone in which foreigners
11819 Foothill Blvd.
Rancho Cucamonga
Open 7 days
10 am - 7 pm
could make a $500,000
investment to qualify
them for resident alien
status, i.e., a green card.
In April 2008,
Caldwell, together with
Roberts, Johns and rep-
resentatives from CMB
travelled to Shanghai
where they met with sev-
eral Chinese and Korean
citizens who were inter-
ested in making the min-
imum $500,000 invest-
ments under the rubric
of the U.S. Federal EB-5
Visa program. CMB had
previously established it-
self as a qualified agent
to utilize the EB-5 pro-
gram to coordinate for-
eign investments in or
around former military
properties in the United
States.
While in Shanghai,
Caldwell, who was then
mayor of Victorville,
signed a memorandum
of understanding with
CMB that pledged to
include CMB as a paid
broker in Victorville’s
participation in the for-
eign investor recruitment
program for at least two
years. Caldwell signed
that memorandum three
times in the capacities of
mayor, chairman of the
Victorville redevelop-
ment agency and as the
chairman of the South-
ern California Logistics
Airport Authority. By
the summer of 2008,
however, Victorville city
officials reconsidered
and determined the city
could pursue the EB-5
program with potential
investors on its own and
without CMB’s assis-
tance.
CMB in December
2008 filed a $33 million
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Page 5
lawsuit against the city,
alleging Victorville en-
gaged in an “ongoing
and continuing fraudu-
lent scheme to improp-
erly and unfairly com-
pete against CMB.”
CMB maintains it
openly shared contacts
and business plans with
Caldwell, Roberts and
Johns while they were in
China to meet with po-
tential foreign investors
and that the city is now
pursuing EB-5 arrange-
ments with a large num-
ber of the 200 investors
CMB lined up.
The city’s lawyers
have posited a legal ar-
gument that Caldwell
did not have the author-
ity to commit the city to
contractual obligations
on his own and that such
commitments require an
advance-noticed vote of
the entire city council.
In addition to mon-
etary damages, CMB
wants the court to grant
an injunction prevent-
ing Victorville from us-
ing proprietary methods
CMB uses in interesting
foreign investors.
It appears that CMB,
its attorneys or its agents
were instrumental in
bringing information
about misdeeds at Vic-
torville City Hall to the
attention of the grand
jury.
The grand jury is also
functioning on informa-
tion provided to it by a
whistleblower, the Sen-
tinel has learned.
That individual has
consulted with an at-
torney, a source told the
Sentinel, and may be
one of 47 city workers
laid off in July.
Ask for John
(909) 532-3330
Friday, December 4, 2009
Erwin
from page 2
tion with SEBA to vec-
tor money to former San
Bernardino County su-
pervisor Bill Postmus in
his successful 2006 run
for county assessor. Post-
mus rewarded Erwin by
appointing him assistant
assessor in 2007. Erwin
left the assessor’s office in
November 2007 and went
to work on Derry’s cam-
paign shortly thereafter.
In short, in August
2008, Erwin cast a long
shadow across the San
Bernardino County po-
litical landscape. He and
Derry represented a seem-
ingly irresistible jugger-
naut, and the best the rest
of the board of supervisors
could hope to do was lay
down and offer no resis-
tance.
But Derry’s show of
power - and arrogance -
before the board of super-
visors on August 26, 2008
had not gone unremarked.
Adelanto
from front page
for the greater Victor
Valley area were handled
out of the county-owned
facility located at 14455
Civic Drive in Victor-
ville, with satellite offic-
es in Phelan and Lucerne
Valley. The Victorville
facility also handled,
and continues to handle,
dispatch operations for
the desert region, as well
as having responsibility
for Type I jail operations.
As dispatch needs have
grown over the years, the
available space for patrol
operations has been lim-
ited to only 4,957 square
Hinkley Sludge
from page 3
mission finds that the
project has demonstrated
an adequate water sup-
ply and the project will
not have a significant en-
vironmental impact on
In fact, that display may
have set in motion the
eventual undoing of the
juggernaut and the decon-
struction of Erwin as a
controlling political entity.
The Redlands political
machine in which Hans-
berger had been a charter
member also counted dis-
trict attorney Mike Ramos
as one of its prime con-
stituents.
The successful un-
seating of Hansberger - a
friend, mentor and sponsor
to Ramos - was perceived
by the district attorney as
a challenge - one to his
authority and future po-
litical viability. Ramos did
not take immediate action.
But nearly seven months
later, on March 19, district
attorney’s office investiga-
tors arrested Erwin on the
basis of an arrest warrant
prepared by prosecutors
that charged him with ten
felony counts of failure
to disclose on economic
interest forms he was re-
feet of space for 44 per-
sonnel, i.e., daytime of-
fice staff and patrol staff
working shifts.
“While the station
has been able to manage
working within these
confines, the need to ex-
pand dispatch operations
is becoming imperative,”
according to Slaughter
and Hoops’ report, dated
December 1. “Addition-
ally, the Type I jail there
now books an average of
1,200 prisoners a month,
just 16 per day less than
the Central Detention
Center and receives an
additional 1,500 inmates
for court. As a result, su-
water resources. Further,
the planning commission
finds that adequate analy-
sis of feasible alternatives
has been undertaken and
that no feasible alterna-
tive exists to satisfy the
project objectives. The
San Bernardino County Sentinel
quired to complete as as-
sistant assessor income he
had received from Rancho
Cucamonga developer Jeff
Burum.
The arrest and filing of
criminal charges, which
remain pending, resulted
in Erwin’s resignation as
Derry’s chief of staff on
March 23 of this year.
While Erwin has plead-
ed innocent to the charges
and maintains that Ramos
is on a politically motivat-
ed vendetta against him,
the court has turned down
a request by Erwin and his
attorney Rajin Maline, to
recuse - i.e., remove the
district attorney - from the
case.
Erwin has filed a claim
against the county, alleg-
ing Ramos used his au-
thority as district attorney
to retaliate against him for
political reasons. In the
meantime, the county has
filed a civil suit against
Erwin, claiming he acted
pervision needs for jail
operations are exceed-
ing the station’s current
staffing capability.”
In July 2009, the city
of Adelanto began dis-
cussions with Sheriff
personnel regarding the
possibility of chang-
ing their contract from
a stand-alone to a dual-
operation model to save
on management and su-
pervision costs. Under
other circumstances, this
would have necessitated
the current contingent
of Adelanto deputies to
work out of the county-
owned patrol station at
the 14455 Civic Drive
planning commission
finds that the additional
analysis of greenhouse
gases from the project is
adequate and the impacts
are less than significant.
Finally, the planning
commission finds that
improperly when he was
assistant assessor.
At present, Erwin has
been neutralized as a po-
litical force in San Ber-
nardino County.
Last summer, the coun-
ty grand jury, disturbed by
the August 26, 2008 spec-
tacle before the board of
supervisors where Derry
had virtually demanded
that his soon-to-be col-
leagues put Erwin on
the county payrol three
months before his actual
authority to officially act in
the capacity of Third Dis-
trict chief-of-staff com-
menced, recommended
that the entire practice of
supervisorial staff transi-
tions be looked into, refer-
ring to the allotted three-
month duration of Derry’s
chief-of-staff’s work be-
fore Derry was sworn into
office as “arbitrary.”
This week, the board of
supervisors, led by board
chairman Gary Ovitt, took
up that issue.
facility in Victorville.
Because of the space
availability issue in Vic-
torville, Adelanto of-
fered, and the county
accepted, the use of
Adelanto’s 4,196 square
foot police facility to ac-
commodate both the Ad-
elanto contract service
deputies and the depu-
ties patrolling the unin-
corporated areas.
Adelanto made the
offer of what is practi-
cally free use of its po-
lice headquarters on the
condition that the new
arrangement will result
in savings to Adelanto
and an increase in local
the impact from volatile
organic compounds can-
not be reduced to a level
below significant after
application of mitigation
measures, either out-
doors as proposed, or in
an enclosed facility. The
According to Ovitt’s
report to the rest of the
board, dated December 1,
“In the past, the supervi-
sors elect have been al-
lowed to staff a transition
team prior to assuming
office. The transition staff
was implemented to allow
the members to familiarize
themselves with the opera-
tions of San Bernardino
County and prepare for the
new supervisor to assume
office. However, there are
no formal policies in place
with regards to the date
staff may begin work, the
location of work, the num-
ber of staff, how the transi-
tion staff members will be
funded, etc.
“Addressing these and
other policies for staff
need to be considered in
order to better define the
roles, responsibilities,
scope of duties, and limits
of authority as they begin
to work with county em-
ployees to facilitate the
patrol coverage.
In examining the pro-
posal, the sheriff’s staff
considered impacts on
county patrol; jail and
dispatch operations; per-
sonnel; the community;
lease agreement issues;
and relocation and oth-
er cost considerations.
Sheriff staff determined
the change in contract
models and the move
into the Adelanto police
facility are workable and
will reduce the contract
services cost to Adelanto
as well as allow for im-
proved dispatch and jail
operations at the 14455
Civic Drive facility in
together, represent the
entire environmental im-
pact report for the project;
and find that the environ-
mental impact report has
been completed in com-
pliance with California
Environmental Quality
Page 6
transition of the new su-
pervisor elect,” the report
states.
Ovitt’s report contin-
ues, “This item for the dis-
cussion of transition staff
policy guidelines is being
brought forward in re-
sponse to the 2009 Grand
Jury Report.”
Ovitt asked that his
colleagues to set a policy
whereby county elected
officials would be allowed
to hire no more than two
staffers prior to that offi-
cial taking office and that
those staffers not be paid
for any time they work pri-
or to 30 days before their
boss takes office.
Three of the board
members, however, said
they thought the period
could be extended to 45
days.
No final decision was
made, however, and the
board is scheduled to re-
visit the policy at the De-
cember 15 board meeting.
Victorville.
During discussions
regarding the proposed
move, a review of the
original and existing
service agreements with
Adelanto revealed that no
provisions were included
for the sheriff’s use of
the city-owned building
at 11613 Bartlett Ave.
The proposed license
agreement provides for
use of the facility by the
sheriff, includes indem-
nity and insurance provi-
sions, and defines the ob-
ligations of both the city
and the county regarding
use of the facility.
ning Commission.”
The commission then
voted to adopt the find-
ings, facts and statement
of overriding consider-
ations; approved a condi-
tional use permit to estab-
lish a site for composting

Fast-Fix
planning commission
certifies the supplemen-
tal environmental impact
report and recertifies the
environmental impact re-
Act, that they have been
reviewed and considered
prior to approving the
project and that these re-
ports reflect the indepen-
of bio-solids and green
materials on an 80-acre
portion of 160-acre par-
cel; and adopted the find-
ings for the conditional

Jewelry and Watch Repair port [SCH#2006051021],

which, when considered
dent judgement of the San
Bernardino County Plan-
use permit.

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(909) 390-2234 Sunday Closed
(909) 646-7221 Fax
Friday, December 4, 2009
SVL Dues up as Investigation Advances
SPRING VALLEY
LAKE–The Spring Val-
ley Lake Association is
increasing its member-
ship dues by 7.25 percent
this year.
The association’s
board has voted in the
$63 increase, which will
hike membership fees
from $866 in 2008-09 to
$929 in 2009-10.
The association’s fis-
cal year runs from No-
vember 1 to October 31.
According to the as-
sociation, the increase is
needed to fill in the gap
created when departing
Spring Valley Lake As-
sociation members de-
parted over the last year
and failed to pay dues
they owed. The total
on delinquent accounts
in this manner totals
$250,000. Many current
residents are also in ar-
rears.
The failure of mem-
bers to pay dues is not
the only matter ailing
the association. The
sheriff’s department has
been investigating the
disappearance or embez-
zlement of funds from
the association’s coffers
since July.
Nevertheless, associa-
tion officials downplayed
such reports, saying that
they are seriously over-
blown. They acknowl-
edge only that the asso-
ciation is facing financial
Board of Ethics
from front page
attempting to champion
reforms that its own ac-
tions necessitated.
“It’s difficult for me
to figure out what the
purpose is here,” Claud-
er said. “We all know
when you put lipstick
on a pig, it’s still a pig.
This looks like lipstick
to me. You think you
are going to get some-
thing accomplished by
adopting a resolution?
This is so obvious. Ev-
eryone you hire should
know this. Why does
the county need an or-
dinance? There are state
laws. There are federal
laws.”
Clauder, who occa-
sionally writes articles
for the Sentinel, sug-
gested that the board of
supervisors was cyni-
San Bernardino County Sentinel
difficulties. this allegation is that the
SVLA General Man- reports presented and my
ager Jon Sabo is relying comments did not state or
on an audit continuum suggest that funds were
provided by Haney Ac- missing. What follows
counting, which is the is a more detailed ex-
association’s accounting planation for those who
consultant. somehow mistranslated
According to Don the meaning, motive and
Haney of Haney Ac- intent of the reports and
counting, a report he my comments:
presented at the asso- “Unfortunately, due
ciation’s board of direc- to the nature of the al-
tors’ meeting on July 28, legation and certain CPA
2009 has been miscon- related standards of care
strued to suggest there issues my response will
was $1,139,930 of funds contain certain account-
missing from the asso-
ciation’s bank accounts.
ing terms that may not
be familiar in our every-
“There are no known
funds missing. There is
day language. However,
I will attempt to mini-
a difference between the mize such usage. The re-
audited cash position at ports presented were an
October 31, 2008 and the accrual basis unaudited,
cash position at June 30, interim, for internal use
2009 of $1,139,930. The only balance sheet as of
association’s cash posi- June 30, 2009 and a re-
tion peeks at the end of lated income statement
the fiscal year due to the for the eight months then
annual billing and natu- ended. We cobbled these
rally runs low toward the reports together from
end of the fiscal year,” the information that we
Haney said. could initially extract
Nevertheless, Haney from existing account-
acknowledged, the nu- ing books and records.
bers were tricky. They were intended to
“I was notified that provide the board of di-
some individuals were rectors and the attendees
alleging there was a “first look” at the as-
$1,139,930 of funds miss- sociation’s balance sheet
ing from the association’s and income statement
bank accounts,” Haney and to serve as a starting
stated. “The association point for further remedi-
leadership has asked me al work on the account-
to respond to this allega- ing policies, procedures,
tion. The short answer to classifications, and other
cally manipulating the tem of enforcement. You
issue for positive pub- don’t have any system of
licity. Clauder said the supervision and it’s just
board did so with an perpetuating the same
understanding that the corruption. We have the
district attorney, whom Ten Commandments.
Clauder said was as self- We have Hammurabi’s
serving as the board of Code. We’ve had these
supervisors, would ig- laws for millennia and
nore the regulation. you think you are going
“Who is going to to get something accom-
enforce this?” Clauder plished by pretending to
said. “Not [district at- put a different face on
torney Mike] Ramos. the situation with this
Ramos won’t enforce resolution?”
anything against any of Clauder said the
you or your employees board was engaged in
unless it’s to his politi- an insincere and self-
cal benefit. So just what serving manipulation of
exactly are you doing public perception.
here? You expect to run “What is it that makes
this up a flag[pole] and you think you can con-
have the rest of the na- tinue to get by with fool-
tion salute and say, ‘Oh, ing the people all the
the day of corruption is time?” he said. “Because
over for San Bernardino you have done it for fifty
County’? No. This is just years? You can’t change
more lipstick on a pig. a pig by putting another
You don’t have any sys- face on it. It is impor-
Page 7
issues.” the reduced cash posi- marketable securities
According to Haney, tion eight months into position would be about
the balance sheet pre- the accounting year is a $800,000. Whether
sented displayed three normal occurrence and this cash position is ap-
columns of numbers - not a cause for alarm.” propriate given the as-
the audited numbers as “[I]t appears that the sociation’s known and
of October 31, 2008, the association normally in- contingent financial ob-
unaudited ‘per books’ curs about a $300,000 ligations is a question to
numbers as of June 30, per month negative be addressed later.”
2009 and difference be- cash out flow during the While Haney said,
tween the two positions. months in between the “I hope that this com-
[T]he $1,139,930 alleged annual billing and col- mentary resolves this
missing funds amount lecting months,” Haney particular concern,” it is
is merely the difference said. “Therefore, the known that the sheriff’s
between the operating association’s estimated department is continuing
cash position as of Oc- end of the year cash and with its probe.
tober 31, 2008 (the asso-
ciation’s fiscal year end)
and the June 30, 2009
Speed Limit Drops On
position eight months
later. Meanwhile, the
Peninsula Drive
funds invested for longer County transportation
term purposes increased officials requested, and the
by $653,251 for a net board of supervisors this
reduction in cash and week granted, the adop-
marketable securities of tion of a 35 miles per hour
speed zone on Peninsula
$486,679 for the eighth
Drive, from Rhine Road
month period,” Haney east to North Bay Road in
said. “The annual billing the Lake Arrowhead area.
for assessments explains According to Granville
why the association’s M. Bowman, the director of
cash position declines the county department of public works, which includes
from the beginning of the county’s transportation division, “Subsequent to a
the accounting year as request from a local resident of the Lake Arrowhead
it progresses toward the area, the department of public works conducted an en-
end of the accounting gineering and traffic survey investigation on Peninsula
Drive in the Lake Arrowhead area. A speed survey was
year. Because the asso-
performed and revealed that the majority of motorists
ciation bills the owners were traveling the approximate speed of 35 M.P.H.
in early October for the “The existing speed limit is an unposted 55 M.P.H
next fiscal year’s assess- speed limit,” Bowman continued. “The department
ments, its operating cash has determined that a 35 M.P.H. speed zone is safe and
is at its peak on October more reasonable for Peninsula Drive. Therefore, in the
31. For the rest of the interest of public safety, the department recommends
year the association in- establishing a 35 M.P.H. speed zone on Peninsula
curs monthly negative Drive, from Rhine Road east to North Bay Road in the
cash flows. Therefore, Lake Arrowhead area, pursuant to County Code sec-
tion 52.0123(b).”
tion that individuals thinking anyone thinks great people who work
who have some kind of you are getting anything here. This is simply an
concern come forward accomplished with such item that’s in front of
and do something. The an infantile proposal.” us, a recommendation
history of corruption in Supervisor Paul Bi- of the grand jury, a kind
this county goes back ane downplayed Claud- of clean up item, but it
more than 50 years. You er’s characterizations is an important item as
are feeding the public and chided him for we continue to move
a long line of bologna. “play[ing] to the cam- forward and I’ll make a
Don’t be fooled into era. There are a lot of motion to approve it.”
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 Friday, December 4, 2009 San Bernardino County Sentinel Page 8

Golden State Hits Barstow with 28 Percent Water Rate Increase

BARSTOW–On No-
vember 17 administrative
law judge Linda Roches-
ter conditionally okayed
a whopping 27.9 percent
increase in water rates to
be paid by Barstow resi-
dents and businesses. The
Golden State Water Com-
pany had asked for a 32.67
percent increase.
Rochester functions as
an arbiter to the California
Public Utilities Commis-
sion [CPUC].
Her decision is not final,
but it is anticipated that the
full CPUC board will con-
firm her finding by the end
of the year.
Rochester said she
deemed the 27.9 percent
increase, effective Janu-
ary1 for Region III of the
Golden State Water Com-
pany, acceptable. Region
III includes Barstow.
Procedurally, the com-
pany can add any further
comment it wishes to
make or supply any further
information with regard to
the decision up until until
December 7. Those with
standing in the region will
then have until December
12 to protest or make any
further comment they
wish.
The CPUC will take all
of that input into consider-
ation in making a final de-
cision on the rate increase
request. It is anticipated the
decision will be entered by
December 18.
Golden State wants the
rates bumped up to pay
for operational and acqui-
sitional cost increases as
well as for maintenance of
the system and to cover the
cost of anticipated capital
improvements.
In Barstow, the rate in-
creases would fund the re-
location of pipelines in con-
junction with street repair
projects.
Sixteen months ago,
Golden State requested a
32.67 percent increase to
Region III water rates in
2010, a 1.69 percent in-
crease on top of that in in
2011 and a 3.2 percent in-
crease for 2012. The pro-
posed rate increase resuled
in a general rate case being
lodged with CPUC, which
involved several ratepay-
ers, along with the the
town of Apple Valley.
Rochester found that
the company has a legiti-
mate need to up its charges
to customers to cover its
own costs.

County Working With Chino on Roswell Rehab

The county of San $510,000 estimated cost corporated county land. ily in the unincorporated county will advertise, on September 9, 2009.
Bernardino and the city to rehabilitate the pave- According to Gran- area of the county (95%) award and initially fund The county needed to
of Chino have entered ment on Roswell Avenue, ville M. Bowman, the and partially within the the construction of the receive an approved
into a cooperative agree- between Chino Avenue county’s director of public incorporated area of the project. The project cost contract change order
ment whereby the county and Walnut Avenue. works, “[F]or the purpose city (5%), and therefore is estimated at $510,000. from the city as the
and city will contribute Nineteen twentieths of of allocating funds and the project is of mutual The County’s share of original agreement did
$484,500 and $25,500, the property is located in setting forth the respon- benefit to both entities. cost will be $484,500, not include the required
respectively, towards the the Chino area on unin- sibilities of each agency “In accordance with while the City’s share insurance language.
relative to the pavement the proposed cooperative will be $25,500. The As a result, the county
Lady Justice, Inc. rehabilitation project on agreement, the county, project will extend the department of public
Roswell Avenue, the de- as lead agency, will ad- life of the pavement and works was unable to
A Full Service Legal Corporation partment of public works minister the design and provide a smoother driv- bring the agreement be-
Khandi R. Greer staff conducted a study construction phases of ing surface.” fore the board of super-
of the road segment and the project,” Bowman The city of Chino ap- visors for approval until
President determined that the road said. “Additionally, the proved the agreement this week.
is in poor condition and
255 N. “D” Street, Ste. 220
San Bernardino, CA 92401
requires rehabilitation.
The city concurs with
Gilbreath Again Redlands Mayor
(909) 383-2346, Office the county’s assessment For the third time, Pat last two years has held the
and has agreed to jointly Gilbreath has been select- post of mayor pro tem, was
(909)723-9363, Fax
participate in a project ed to serve as Redlands elevated to the mayor’s post
(909) 714-4640, Cell mayor. on a 3-2 vote. She replaced
to rehabilitate this road.
lady.justice4u@yahoo.com The project is primar- In Redlands, the mayor Jon Harrison, who had
is not directly elected, but been mayor since 2005.
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