PLAN FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE
PLAN FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE
As this election draws near, I would like to encourage you
to exercise your right to VOTE. If you
have not mailed in your ballot yet and are still undecided about who to choose
as your next Bear Valley Community Services District Board Director, allow me
to share my ideas about how to move Bear Valley Springs toward A Brighter
Future.
I am anxious to get to the work of addressing our
infrastructure needs. In my sights, are
also many policies and procedures I believe need to be re-evaluated by the CSD
Board. Here is what I have already been working on to prepare for these and other
tasks.
For months I have been:
· Researching grants and other funding
opportunities to help finance some of our infrastructure and emergency
evacuation needs in BVS, with some very hopeful results.
· Meeting with many previous CSD Board Members to
get a full historical understanding of what has already been tried, what has
worked, what has not, what hasn’t been tried and why not?
· I’ve been conversing with numerous experts in
the field of water delivery systems to better understand the extremely complex system
here in BVS, and gain insight on how best to approach our water system needs,
based on water engineering study. This
has included tours of a few water plants.
· I’ve been in contact with many professionals in
the field of water engineering services that I previously worked with and
networked with and have identified over half a dozen firms and have already
provided them to current CSD staff in hopes of starting the process of getting
an analysis sooner than later.
· I’ve made several contacts with the county tax
collectors and assessors to explore any possibilities of re-adjusting our
property tax revenue calculation in order to increase that form of revenues for
our general fund, or the possibility to increase our SLESA amount.
· Lastly, I have been in contact with leaders from
communities surrounding Bear Valley Springs to begin collaborating on a
regional level. I feel as other leaders do, that this would is a great way to
share in resource ideas, feedback on local contractors to prepare for and improve
outcomes on infrastructure projects we will need in the future. There is no end
to the value of sharing ideas on how to make our region stronger and more
sustainable for the future.
With regards to our infrastructure needs for our water
delivery system and roads network, I feel having the proper framework to
approach these complex projects is essential. My basic approach would be to utilize three
main components:
1. CHOOSE
YOUR TEAM: Assemble the project
management team with public trust in mind.
· This team must be assembled prior to receiving
any funds for the project, to help lower the concerns of the public.
· In any complex infrastructure project, there is
a large amount of total costs that can be usurped by fraud, waste, and abuse. This can amount to as much as 20%.
· Many smaller public agencies such as our own CSD
may lack expertise needed to detect and prevent this type of project leakage,
which ultimately creates project cost overrun.
· It is critical to assemble a team to monitor
project finances and mitigate the possible problems these issues can ultimately
cause.
2. UNCOVER
and DISCOVER: Perform the initial risk
assessment.
· It is critical to assess project risks up front
to maximize the success of a large-scale project.
· Our CSD will need to identify the most likely
problem areas:
o Internal
controls for accurately monitoring cost and spending
o Oversight,
reviewing of the contractor’s processes and procedure for items such as:
§ Worker safety
§ Scope creep (Worker sign in and sign out, etc).
· This risk assessment and oversight could solve issues before they are costly.
3. FUNDING:
Choose the right funding vehicles.
· Local municipalities have limited choices for
infrastructure project funding mechanisms:
o Government funds
o Grants
o Bonds
o Public Private Partnerships
o The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could provide some funding, that might help gain greater leverage of blended funding.
In Summary:
Obviously, this will be a large undertaking and will require
expertise and careful analysis but will ultimately provide tremendous benefit
to our beautiful Valley and the residents.
We must approach each step of this project with thoughtful insight and
oversight to thwart the possibilities of waste and abuse, fraud and scope
creep. Our CSD staff area already
strained managing multiple projects and may even lack the experience needed in
many of the key areas to fulfill this project.
However, I have full confidence that they are up for the task of leading
the way through the many complexities facing them.
Careful study and planning can help reduce financial risks
and help our CSD keep infrastructure projects on track and successful.
Lastly, I hope the residents of BVS are ready and willing to
help oversee some of what I have just shared. During my campaign I have met
some incredibly talented neighbors with professional knowledge and experience that
could help our CSD be successful as we move into the future. I have started a list of individuals I would
like to call on to be a think tank and review ideas and provide valuable
feedback. I also hope to review our
current committee structure to insure we not only have opportunities for the
public to get involved, but we bring in those with experience to maximize their
time as well as the CSD Board.
Again, please exercise your right to vote by either sending
in your mail in ballot soon, turn it in on November 8th at one of
our local polling locations, or turn it in unused and vote in person on
November 8th, but please VOTE.
May you all have a Blessed Holiday Season.
“Our Valley, Our Vision, Our Voice.”
For a Brighter Future.