Kirkwood In The News Sacramento Bee
FIRST HOUR
SECOND HOUR
Important Note: Due to a capturing technical problem, approximately 2 minutes are missing between the first and second hour. Here’s the transcribed version of the missing segment:
In answer to the question: What additional services do you see KMPUD taking on?
Bruce Giannola:
“(KCA) We don’t do snow removal. We don’t do waste water. But, we do try to build a community and a lot of the things that are being talked about are very similar and I think there is a great deal of crossover. One of the things that needs to happen in the valley is to be able to get people to work together. Every entity in the valley sort of does its own thing, likes to push itself forward and do it and develop it within their own boundaries. I think that we need to reach across the aisles and bring people together so they all work together. It will be much more effective, much more cost effective. I think that in answer to this question about the additional services. I think everyone is going to be faced with the issue of trying to do it in an affordable fashion. You can’t all do it alone, it costs too much. So, We have to work together. We do need to put together a strategic plan, whether it be for the KCA, KMR or for KMPUD so we can sort of see what the vision is going forward in to the future.”
Peter Dornbrook:
“Our charter is pretty filled up with what we can do. I see some future participation in the roads, if the community so desires. The Board’s policy along has been to wait for the community to ask us to take on a new task and when we do take on a new task, make sure that it doesn’t jeopardize tasks that we have already been performing in terms of expenditures. I would have to say that I don’t see us taking on a lot of new roles, but I see us expanding the roles we already have.”
Raejean’s Editorial
KMPUD Holds Candidate Forum
Six Candidates were fighting for three seats last night. The structured format was in the way of questions (not known in advance), responded to by each candidate in turn.
Some of the main questions were: Why do you want to be a Director, what qualifications and skills can you bring to the job, What is the Mission of the District, What do you see as the future role of the KMPUD, what additional services should KMPUD offer Should KMPUD buy Mountain Utilities, and Do you think Kirkwood gets its “fair share” of the property taxes collected by Alpine and Amador County?
Candidates had 2 minutes to respond, and each gave a 2-minute closing statement.
Disclaimer: These may not be exact quotes—but they are close—and represent the flavor of what was said.
Highlights of some of the views:
“The KMPUD is the place where Kirkwood meets democracy”
Eric Richert
“I want to help the community grow. There is a great need to pull the community together.”
Bruce Gianola
“If elected, I will fight to make sure the KMR has adequate employee housing. It is not good for us to a have caretaker-type situation. We need people who live and work in the Valley”
Peter Dornbrook
“I do not believe that Kirkwood should install community-wide alternative energy. I believe that individual homeowners can do this.”
Peter Dornbrook
The District needs to concentrate on getting more information out to the community, and getting more information in from the community.
We need to have a better website, pay our bills on line, even blog through an improved KMPUD website.
Anne-Flor Perroud
“I want Kirkwood to be known as a mountain community which excels in its stewardship for the environment.”
Eric Richert
“It is almost more important for the District to take over propane, because it is unregulated.”
Bruce Odelburg
“The key is right now . . .concentrating on getting the Out Valley electrical completed”
Leo Smith
There seemed to be general consensus around the PUD directing a community-wide conservation program, connecting to the Grid, and taking over Mountain Utilities. The word “sustainability” was used frequently.
Leo Smith also spoke of the need for more voter registration. Leo wants more people to have a say in deciding who our community’s leaders are.
There are just over 100 registered voters, in a valley with @600 KMPUD hook-ups—if there were even 2-3 people per household—this would amount to 1,200-1,800 potential voters, minimally. The registered voters, under this scenario, represent less than 1 % of the total people impacted by services and rates of the KMPUD.
This was a civil, professionally run panel, where there was good opportunity to hear each candidate’s backgrounds and views. Due to the nature of the way this event was structured, there was no debate or follow-up on any of the comments made.
My Endorsements:
Eric Richert- Eric has run large capitol projects in the Silicon Valley, has lived on both sides of the meadow, has an excellent, well-educated brain, is open-minded and flexible. His values for stewardship of the total picture of our valley, with all its elements in balance is right on target. He may well be our next Chairman. Something this writer would very much like to see,
Leo Smith – Leo is probably in his last term (I’m guessing). He wants to finish out the Out Valley project. He is motivated to get this done in the next 4 years.—this is a good thing! Leo will likely be interested in election reform—or any effort to get more people to vote. Very, very important for full representation of all the interests in our community.
Anne-Flore Perroud –Anne-Flore is a bright, serious new star on the horizon of our community. She is knowledgeable in environmentally sound building practices, alternative energy and technology. She can ensure that these priorities get put on the top of the list.
The above commentary represents the opinions of this author
The full video is promised to be up on the local Cable Station. Michael Sharp agreed to accept my Internet connection help to get it loaded up so that all the people who are out of valley (which is most of the residents and voters) can watch the Forum.
We will hopefully get an Internet link on Monday—so you can watch it on the Net.
Watch for the link on the KMPUD website. If you want the link e-mailed to you—just let me know.
Enjoy! And above all VOTE!
Raejean
