Candidate for
Director; McKinleyville Community Services District

The next Board will have to make important decisions on major investments in the sewer treatment plant to meet the State mandated standards for wastewater disposal. I want to make sure that the solution is the one that is the most economically feasible and is a long-term solution as this is going to be very expensive and the ratepayers bear that cost. An engineering firm is currently studying the issue and will bring various recommendations to the Board for their decision which will probably include tertiary plant, ocean outfall pipe or other types of solutions.

The Board must decide on water rate increases as a result of the pulp mill closing and MCSD will be required to bear an additional percentage of the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District cost. To keep the rates low, we need to find a way to spread out any increases so that they are manageable. I believe those increases should not have any profit factor but should be simply the cost share for MCSD.

Measure B currently pays for much of the costs of operating and maintaining recreation and sports facilities and expires in 2011/12. There will not be sufficient funds for all of the maintenance or operation of the sports fields or facilities unless the voters agree to a new property assessment as a replacement, look to other creative financing or a bond measure. The Board must develop a proposal for the voters' approval to provide funds to continue the operation and maintenance of the recreational and sports facilities. I believe a low cost parcel assessment would be the best solution.

There are many seniors that are living on very small Social Security incomes and families that are struggling to make ends meet who cannot afford additional costs.