Dear Readers,
You can vote for one FPPUD candidate. The winner will have a 4-year term.
A word about forum rules:
•Working within budgets is one of the most important challenges board directors must conquer. Both candidates in this forum had exactly the same time budget and the same word budgets to answer each question.
•If either candidate exceeded the word budget, we ended their reply at the number of words allocated for that question. This was explained to all candidates in advance, as a measure to be fair to all. You will see “/….” where this had to be done.
•There is no editing on any of these answers. All spelling and punctuation you see here is as submitted by the candidate.
•The candidates appear here and in the following pages in the sequence in which they returned their answers, starting with the first to reply, ending with the last.
•We are honored to bring you this forum. We urge everyone to go out to your
local polling place and vote on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
—Patric Hedlund, Editor
Question 1: Take 75 words: Please tell what you understand about the system improvements that have been made by the Frazier Park Public Utility District over the past 9 years. How much in major public grants and loans have been invested in these improvements?
Brahma Neyman:
BN: FFPUD received 2.4 million dollars ($1,000,000 grant/$1,400,000 loan) to fix 14000 feet of pipelines and three water tanks. $3,100,000 ($1,000,000 grant/$2,100,000 loan) for multiple tank replacements, improve well #5 with new booster house and pumping station, new generator and other equipment $500,000 to dig a deeper well at well three. Kern County money for downtown pipelines prior to the streetscape beautification project. $202,000 for State preplanning for LOW & FP.
Frank Durso:
FD: Recent improvements of which I am aware include town meter replacement, equipment upgrades/replacements including the purchase of a new backhoe, ATVs for cost effective transportation around town, and the instalation of a generator sufficient to keep water flowing throughout town in the event of a power cut. As far as grants & loans are concerned, I have repeatedly requested detailed financials which to date no one has been able to supply me.
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FPPUD Upgrades Fact Check
The Mountain Enterprise has reported these upgrade efforts by Frazier Park Public Utility District in the past 10 years:
2004: $2 million from USDA ($1 million grant, $1 million loan) for repair and replacement of water lines, tanks and hydrants;
2008: $275,000 grant from Kern County Board of Supervisors for replacement of water lines within the ‘beautification district’ of Frazier Park;
2011: $1 million USDA grant plus $2.1 million USDA loan ($3.1 total) for replacement of two or three aging water tanks and the district’s entire electronic motor control (telemetry) system;
2014: (not yet implemented) $500,000 grant for a new well, plus $202,000 preplanning Grant to work with Lake of the Woods for identifying new resources and to research collaboration.
Appx. total: $6,077,000
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Question 2: Take 55 words: What are the most urgent needs faced by this water district today?
BN: Continue fixing aging water system. Exploring new water sources like Cold Canyon Springs and drilling new deeper wells to ensure water supply for the future. Continue to promote sources of water conservation. Additional training and certifications to keep as many repairs in house as possible to reduce costs.
FD: This town needs complete main line replacement. The mains are old, deteriorated and leaking. Maintenance has been working valiently to repair as necessary, however new leaks are appearing faster than they can be repaired. Water conservation efforts are useless if the water is spilling out under the streets.
Question 3: Take 40 words: If you are elected, what will be your top three priorities to accomplish in the next 4 years?
BN: Work on securing another USDA grant for continuing modernization of pipelines to meet the 6” requirement. Continue to reduce operating costs where possible thru training, energy audits, and build prudent reserves. Improving documentation of infrastructure and pipeline replacements.
FD: I hope to push for the issue of main line replacement as this is a matter of great urgency. I want more financial transparency and intend to use my accounting skills to personally assist in this task. I also wish /….
Question 4: Take 70 words: FPPUD and Lake of the Woods Mutual Water Company are in talks about cooperation. Is annexing additional service territory wise for FPPUD to consider? Why?
BN: I think it is wise to remain open to discussions but not make any decisions until State of California completes its engineering feasibility Study as to what is best for our community and whether we have enough water to include LOW.
FD: No. Not at this time. The wells in LOW are dry. Until this drought breaks we are operating with limited water resources. None of the homes in LOW have individual meters, so residents receive unlimited water service for a flat monthly fee. Until this situation is corrected, annexing LOW would be burdensome to the FPPUD and monetarily unfair to the resident of Frazier Park.
Question 5: Take 70 words: Are use of email and the internet necessary to be an effective FPPUD board member? Why or why not?
BN: We should use all technology available today to effectively communicate to the public and document any information we are transmitting, however; board members need to be careful in their communications as to not violate the Brown Act between board members. As always we need to be clear, accurate, and concise on any communication going out to the public as to not misconstrue or misrepresent any issue.
FD: E-mail and the internet are very cost effective and efficient modes of communication and research. However, conventional methods of communication and research are just as good. Use of E-mail and the internet are not absolutely necessary to be an effective board member.
Question 6: Take 60 words: Is California’s Ralph M. Brown Act useful to board members? Why or why not?
BN: Yes, it sets guidelines on how board members should interact with each other and the public. It ensures that everything we meet and discuss is transparent and open to the public. It sets guidelines to prevent conflict of interests and the appropriate conduct as a public figure.
FD: No. The Brown Act is not useful to the board. It serves to protect the general public. Where the act is good (and important) as far as making sure that interested citizens have full access to information, the board might consider it to be an incumberance in that it severely restricts flexability in the ability to conduct business.
Question 7: Take 70 words: What are the unique skills and talents you will bring to the FPPUD team?
BN: I am very disciplined and organized from my time in Military Service. I have previous job experience in accounts payable and auditing knowledge. I managed several million dollar accounts working with Mead/Westvaco as a production scheduler, supervisor, and Account manger which included emphasis working in teams and meeting ISO9001 requirements. I am very flexible, logical and open to new ideas and new ways of doing things.
FD: I have accounting skills and wish to assist the FPPUD in keeping proper track of finances, including (but not limited to) prepairing line item p&l analysis of the budget.
Question 8: Take 60 words: Please brag a little. Give two examples of past accomplishments of which you are proud, and that illustrate capabilities you would bring to the board position.
BN: I am very proud to have served my country in the United States Army. I am always available to help this community whenever anyone needs help. As scripture says, “much is given, much is required.” I am proud to have served in several ministries of my church helping the homeless, One from the heart (bereavement and administering support groups).
FD: I have served this nation proudly in combat in the USMC and thus bring with me military dicipline. Also, for 20 years I owned and operated a successful recycling business with a payroll of 25 persons.
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Pick up your copy of The Mountain Enterprise at these locations:
Frazier Park
Frazier Park Market
Frazier Park Post Office
Don’s Liquor Market
Caveman Cavey’s Pizza
Frazier Park Pharmacy
Alpine Lumber & Hardware
La Sierra Mexican Restaurant
Factory Direct Appliances
Ace Hardware / Frazier Park Lumber
Falcon’s Nest Restaurant
Big John’s Restaurant
Tecuya Feed
The New Coffee Cantina
Lebec
Sam’s Liquor Market
Flying J Denny’s entrance
Shell Gas Station
Chevron Gas Station
Los Pinos Mexican Restaurant
Clinica Sierra Vista
Lebec Post Office
Ridge Route Antiques
Lake of the Woods
Midway Market
Mountain View Market
Mike’s Pizza Co.
Pinon Pines
At the mailboxes
Pine Mountain Community
Pine Mountain Post Office
Pine Mountain General Store
Bear Claw Bakery
Mommy’s Roadhouse Restaurant
Pine Mountain Pizza Co.
Cafe Silva Bella
Pine Mountain Clubhouse (Bistro entrance)
Gorman
Carl’s Jr.
Gorman Plaza Market
West Antelope Valley
Antelope Acres Market
Wee Ville Market
Fairmont Market
This is part of the October 31, 2014 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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