MCSD Issues

By David Elsebusch

As your director, I will pursue a moratorium on new water and sewer connections and avoid the millions of dollars required to upgrade the water and sewer facilities to accommodate an unnecessary increase in development.I will oppose the development of low income/affordable housing units unless I feel they represent a normal market force, rather than forced development.

As your director, I will vigorously oppose excessive and unnecessary expenditures. I will advocate for dismissal of a law suit filed by MCSD against Humboldt County.I believe this is a waste of McKinleyville rate payer and taxpayer funds for litigating an issue that involves land use planning that has nothing to do with any legal powers or authority of MCSD, as it is clear and undisputed that MCSD does not have land use planning powers.

I will advocate for immediate restrictions on the use of herbicides and pesticides on MCSD properties, whether owned or leased. The use of toxic herbicides can have serious ecological consequences for years to come and should be taken seriously and occurrences addressed immediately.

I will advocate for rotation of the position of Chair, President of the MCSD Board each year among the Board members to give each Board member an opportunity to represent his or her constituency and prevent concentration of power or corruption.

I believe the General Manager's position should be held by a person who is qualified and has experience, training, and knowledge of water, sewer and recreation, and has managed a stand alone public agency, and believe the position should not be compensated at $115,000 a year and does not require unlimited personal use of a District car.

I will advocate for recognition of the fact that the Board of Directors acts as a body, and no individual member has the right or authority to direct staff to take any action without approval of the Board in a public meeting.

I will advocate for responsiveness to the public by the General Manager and increased transparency, returning the obligation to provide copies of public documents in-house instead of incurring charges with an outside business to make copies.

I will welcome public comment and advocate for returning the public comment period to one of the first items on Board meeting's agendas instead of at the very end of the meeting which requires any person wishing to make comments to wait an indefinite period of time, perhaps two or three hours, before making a comment and probably having to listen to items of no interest to that person.

I will advocate for a much more flexible time limit for public comments and for disposing of the three minute lights and buzzer that I find objectionable and disrepectful.