The Silver Valley High School hosted the public meeting on CSD consolidation inside the school's gymnasium.
What is it about 'No!' that LAFCO doesn't understand?
Posted December 11, 2014
Citizens of Daggett, Newberry Springs, and Yermo turned out
collectively in force Wednesday night, December 10, 2014, to mock the county's Local
Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) staff's attempt to consolidate the three communities
service districts.
After a lengthly Power Point presentation of different possible
consolidation alternatives, backed by LAFCO's supportive financial analysis, a question
and answer period was held.
One public questioner after another was critical of any consolidation;
the only relief was one who recognized that LAFCO staff was bringing to the table options for
consideration. The audience however was overwhelming critical of LAFCO staff's
recommendation for consolidation; with statements that LAFCO's staff were city folks
that lacked an understanding of rural living.
LAFCO's staff has strongly recommended that all three Community
Service Districts be consolidated for efficiency; or in the alternative, at least Daggett
and Yermo. The public however has strongly favored maintaining the status quo and
the individuality of each community's governance, believing that citizens would have
closer ties to their representatives.
LAFCO staff's continued attempts over the years to consolidate
the CSDs have resulted in costly exercises in futility. A couple of speakers from
the audience stated the public funds expended could have been better spent in training CSD
directors to better understand and perform their jobs.
There are several procedural steps that would need to be taken
should the attempt for consolidation continue. It is highly unlikely that any
consolidation will occur as the final step is approval by the registered voters of the
CSDs who have repeatedly voiced their opposition to any form of consolidation.
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