Concern over timber plan
EDITOR: Recently, information has been presented to the public concerning a timber harvest project being proposed in the Felta Creek area (THP 1-17-017SON). The Board of Trustees of West Side School feel that the plan has not sufficiently considered the traffic and safety impact that this project will have on our rural school, as many empty and loaded lumber trucks will pass by the school daily.
At our June 29, 2017 board meeting, we passed Resolution #51466 urging a Transportation Impact and Safety Study to be done when school resumes in late August. Our school is located at 1201 Felta Road, a narrow country road with blind curves, where school buses and private vehicles drop-off and pick-up students at various times throughout the day.
The Board of Trustees and the Superintendent/Principal have the responsibility to ensure students’ safety always. A copy of the resolution is available on www.westsideusd.org.
Patricia Bertapelle, President
West Side School District Board of Trustees
Thank you, Healdsburg
EDITOR: July 4 was a special day in Healdsburg when our community came together to support the Boy Scouts’ breakfast, the American Legion fireworks, and our Duck Dash and childrens parade. The Sunrise Rotary Club would like to thank those who attended and everyone who had a hand in putting on our event. Countless volunteer hours went into making this celebration happen and we would like to recognize the City of Healdsburg for its partnership and help.
A big thank you to our major sponsors (Pigs & Pinot, Vanguard Properties, Big John’s Market, Replay Destinations, Silveira Buick/GMC, and Syar Industries) who contributed to making the day such a success. It was so nice to see all the smiling children having fun on the Plaza. Thank you Healdsburg and see you on the Fourth next year.
Will Seppi Chair of Duck Dash Steering Committee
Dan Erickson President Rotary Club of
Healdsburg Sunrise
From Gore to Geyserville
EDITOR: Dear Geyserville neighbors and friends. As I’ve said since I took office, Geyserville deserves more from its county government.
In that vein, during last year’s Fiscal Year (16/17), I was able to fight for, and receive, the allocation of a lump sum of $1 million from Dry Creek Rancheria payments to the county (for impacts from the casino), into a lock box for infrastructure improvements in Geyserville.
With more good news, we have been able to identify an additional $1.1 million this Fiscal Year for similar projects. My goal is to have the majority of this $2.1 million spent on community dictated priorities, as opposed to my singular authority.
Therefore, later this year (likely in the early Fall), I will work with the leadership of the various Geyserville civic organizations to host a series of community meetings to establish a strategy for those funds.
The groups to engage include: the Geyserville Chamber of Commerce; the Geyserville Unified School District board; the Geyserville Planning Committee; the Geyserville Community Foundation; local merchants, the Geyserville Fire Protection District; the historical society; the Kiwanis and the Oddfellows.
The idea is to begin the process of establishing a community led vision for Geyserville that these funds can support.
The only area where I will be allocating these funds before that planning process are for visible emergencies. I have already directed County Public Works to use $75,000 to clean up all of the drainage systems in town, including the clogged culverts and ditches that helped cause the flooding this past year.
Additionally, I have asked county staff to bring me an estimate for repairing the dilapidated storm drain on Canyon Road. I anticipate getting an estimate in the coming month. That could cost $300,000 – $400,000.
With respect to Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) dollars, Geyserville received funding for all areas except for a traffic sign request. I should be able to get that taken care of with existing county resources if sent the specific information on the need and request.
I also worked with a few neighbors on Canyon Road to do a speed study. That study will result in the speed limit being reduced from 55 mph to 50 mph.
Looking forward to talking with all of you soon to provide more details and start the community process.
James Gore
County Supervisor, Fourth District
People’s Budget
EDITOR: While members of the Republican majority are competing to see who can make the deepest cuts, there is a budget proposal before Congress that would boost the economy for all of us while cutting the number of people in poverty in half. It’s The People’s Budget, proposed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The People’s Budget invests in safe and productive infrastructure, education, affordable housing, health care and nutrition, child care and working family tax credits. It calls for increasing the minimum wage.
These investments will create 3.6 million jobs, and set us on a path to cut poverty in half in 10 years. The People’s Budget invests $2 trillion in infrastructure spending, expanding rural broadband, universal pre-K and free college tuition at state and community colleges.
Every year without fail our elected representatives give over half of the discretionary budget to the Pentagon, leaving less than half to be divided up to fund education, healthcare, environmental spending, infrastructure, and everything else.
Michelle Skinner
Guerneville
