Shareholders Discussing Crestview Mutual Water Co.
Part 1 is here. July: The Crestview board considered a draft resolution to reimburse septic system owners within 600 feet of Well #7 for any costs, including costs of advanced treatment, caused by the presence of Well #7. Later, it was amended to limit coverage to 200 feet, but neither Continue reading Crestview year in review—the good, the bad, and the ugly (Part 2)
Regrettably, Crestview achieved nothing good in 2021, but plenty of bad and ugly. January: A Crestview shareholder (who is also a respected CEO of a large public company) advised the board that he had met with opponents of Well #7 and advised that Crestview needed to make significant concessions about Continue reading Crestview year in review—the good, the bad, and the ugly (Part 1)
A partial settlement (subject to court approval) has been reached in the case filed in March 2018 to adjudicate the respective rights of all to pump groundwater from the Las Posas Valley Groundwater Basin. This affects all Crestview shareholders, as the settlement confirms that we individually own the water rights Continue reading It appears our groundwater pumping rights may be set for the long term at about 4% less than our 2022 allocation.
Crestview’s recent rate increase announcement was appropriately on a red card because what it says right after the new rates is a flagrant foul–denying the truth that the rate increase was due solely to the board’s mismanagement of Well #4 and falsely blaming it on the Well #7 fiasco. Well Continue reading The Crestview board falsely blames the rate increase on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors and “fierce opposition” to Well #7.
The Crestview board held an emergency meeting in executive session on Saturday, December 11, to consider “Potential Litigation—Emergency Repairs Pipeline Relocation—Avocado & Ramona.” When Public Works started this month to replace a culvert, they uncovered a “deteriorating” Crestview water main running under the Avocado Place pavement at a depth that Continue reading Crestview’s aging infrastructure makes news with cost and potential health implications.
The contract between Crestview and Calleguas provides that all capital costs above $2.1 million must be borne by Crestview. At the November 29 board meeting, Crestview approved an amendment that raises the cap to $3.3 million, but a realistic cost estimate is $5-6 million. As previously explained, Well #8 cannot Continue reading Crestview still faces millions of dollars of cost overruns for Well #8, even after amending the Calleguas contract.
At the November 29 board meeting, a shareholder asked for a status report on her October 25 email to the board complaining about the board’s taking to executive session matters that are required to be considered in sessions open to shareholders. State law also requires that there be in the Continue reading Old habits die hard.
At its November 29 meeting, the board approved $106,500 for the general manager’s plan to buy a new pump and put it 60 feet deeper into Well #4. The first steps, which may be completed in December, are to remove the pump house roof and pull the existing pump out Continue reading The board approved $106,500 to bring Well #4 back online, hopefully by April 15.
The Crestview board has unanimously approved the FY 2022 budget with a few changes from the draft. The higher rates will not start until January 1. Staff compensation increases were not included in the budget approval motion. If less water is sold than in the average of the last 4 Continue reading Budget approved. New water rates take effect January 1, but might be changed again mid-year.