Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/228210
4A Daily News – Saturday, December 14, 2013 Opinion Sign removal DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes letters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submitted will be considered for publication. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong community newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehicles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its communities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the residents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Editor: I have been a Corning resident for many years. For at least the past 10 years I have been having yards sales. I always make my own signs on wooden or medal frames. I take my time while making these signs. I have never had any problems. I normally place the signs at the ends of my block on the properties of residents. I always ask permission before placing any signs. On Aug. 28, I went to the city of Corning and filled out a yard sale permit. I advertised my yard sale in the newspaper. I had my yard sale Aug. 30Sept. 1. On Thursday, Aug. 29, I went to the residents I wanted to put signs at and asked if I could place my signs on there property at 6 a.m. and take them down daily at 4 p.m. On Friday, Aug. 30, I put my signs up at 6 a.m. At about 8:20 a.m. a yard sale customer asked me why I don't have signs up with such a large yard sale. I told him I had four signs up at all corner and he stated he didn't see them. I then got in my truck to find all four signs were missing. I then went to the city office. When I walked in I asked the two men if they knew what happened to my sign. One of the men pointed at the city official sitting next to him. The city official then stated that, in fact, he had taken my signs and stated he did so because they were "city easement." I then went to the city yard to get my signs. I was then told they were up on the rack and I needed a release from the city in order to get them. I was then forced to make new signs to put out. I am a little confused why my signs that were nicely made and on resident's property with permission were removed when there was multiple signs on telephone poles for over two weeks across the street from mine. I was told by a city worker that this particular worker drives the city truck to pick up signs on Sat- urdays. For one, if this is his job he is Editor: not doing a good job because their The conservatives are turnare signs on poles everywhere and also, as a taxpayer, I don't find that ing and trivializing the anti-war slogan of "He lied they died," to be good use of my money. I can think of many more around to "He lied now they lost important jobs he can be doing their insurance." While I don't deny besides this or many Obama having faults, things around the city Your he has probably told a that can be improved few whoppers like with the money being anyone else over the wasted on a "yard sale age of 2. However sign picker." calling a prediction In the city of Corning there are many over grown trees that failed to come to pass a lie covering stop signs, cracked side is a stretch. If someone were to walks causing tripping hazards, promise to meet you at a certain over grown trees in alleys causing place and time but due to circumstances fire hazards and not to mention a unforeseen huge dip next to my house that couldn't, would you accuse multiple passing cars rip there oil them of lying to you? On the other hand if, like pans off on spilling gallons of oil Bush, you base your whole war on the ground. I am not sure what the wait is to campaign on something you know to be false, that is the fix these things. worst kind of lie anyone could A car wreck? ever make. A child to get run over? But even if what was said I don't know about the other taxpayers but I am pretty sure a about Iraq was true, what right city worker to pick up signs on does this nation have to dictate Saturdays is not a good use of our what another sovereign can have within its own borders? tax money. Orval Strong, Gerber Armando Perez, Corning Conservatives Turn Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 150 Amber Grove Drive, Ste. 154, Chico, CA 95928, 530-895-4217 STATE SENATOR — Jim Nielsen, 2635 Forest Ave., Ste. 110, Chico, CA 95928, (530) 879-7424, senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 5583160; E-mail: governor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Doug LaMalfa 506 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-2253076. U.S. SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 3930710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary Doing summer work in December, part two Last week I wrote about the lengthy and disorganized City Council meeting of December 3rd. This commentary continues to describe more of what happened at that meeting and looks forward to a more organized and functional City Council in 2014. There were several items this summer that this Council finally got around to addressing at the last meeting. Some of these items are not trivial, but this Council is slow to act and is reluctant to make decisions unless all five members are present. One important item was discovered early in the summer when the budget committee acknowledged it had not been thorough enough when developing the budget. They had not anticipated the needs of the fire department; some of those items included overtime and training. In the meantime, the Fire Department is suffering through a difficult time with staffing issues, and those issues could very well impact the safety of the residents of Red Bluff. It wasn't until October that the Council decided they needed to have an Ad Hoc committee study the matter; the committee will "review service and safety standards and look at ways to more cost effectively provide an appropriate level of service." It was not until the December 3rd meeting that the committee was actually created, and even then it was difficult to watch the Council try to decide who would be on the committee, whether or not there should be citizen participation in the committee; and determine who would appoint any citizens to help them. In the end it appeared likely the Coun- cil would appoint one citizen member. This summer the Council failed to garner a second to the motion to purchase chlorination equipment and supplies as insurance against failed water testing and the possible inadequacy of current methods to deal with that possible failure. The quality of our water at its source is unquestioned, but the delivery system is very old and finding and correcting problems is not easy. The summer meeting included several inane questions by Councilman Schmid who did not seem to understand the issues which had been well spelled out in the materials given to the Council. Councilman Schmid asked the same questions again and got the same answers. Apparently he was satisfied with the answers, and only Councilman Brown voted against this measure. There were some items on the agenda asking for more supplemental appropriations to continue to fix the bleeding technology problems at the city which were alluded to this summer. My guess these problems required supplemental appropriations because either the budget committee did not consider the technology needs of the city operations when they built the budget, City Staff was not assertive enough about the problems, or the budget was so tight there was no room for anything the city might possibly be able to do without. In any case, fate stepped in to force a decision. One of the concerns that brought this technology crisis to a head was the fact the Police Department does not back up its records off site; it uses a fire- proof safe at city hall. Regula- members; it excluded the most tions require off site backup. qualified member from key roles. Sometimes it is diffiCurrently the backup cult to keep from records are in a tape laughing as it tries to format. In the old days understand what is hapmany entities used off pening. Sometimes site secure facilities to some members go off store such items. task and wonder about Whether this was still "big government" or an option was not disgiant-sized sugar cussed at the meetings. drinks. Sometimes the If there were an bland recommendaintegrated and well tions from the City thought out technology Manager do not proplan last summer, it vide guidance about could have been part of Joe what would be best for a well thought out budthe city. get. At this point, howFor some reason the ever, it was really not Council has been relucpossible to stop in midtant to act when all five stream in the technology implementation. The total of members are not present, which this latest supplemental appro- was the case for several meetings priation for these technology this year. It does not seek long items is $13,586 according to range plans, and it does not seem to want to address the public the agenda. During the meeting there was about the very serious fiscal crisis no mention of the ongoing con- the city faces…and the limitacern about the higher than esti- tions that crisis presents. As we approach a new year mated costs of running the City Pool or the increase in auto theft with a new Mayor and a relative recently reported by the Police newcomer who is growing into his role as a Councilman, we can Department. I was one of three volunteers hope for a more organized and to fill a vacancy on the Council well informed Council, more last summer. Like most of us, I apparent direction from the City had taken the City Council for Manager, a vision of its leadergranted, but once I attended a few ship preparing us for what we can meetings it became very apparent and cannot expect from our city there are problems with the way it and its diminishing resources, and attempts to carry on its business. I a proactive Council that will now make it a regular practice to make and require long range attend Council meetings, and I plans. That is my New Year's wish wish more of our residents would. One might describe the City for Red Bluff. Council 2013 as reactive, disorgaJoe Harrop is a retired nized, hesitant and unprepared to the address the public's needs. It educator with more than 30 was unsure of itself and seemed years of service to the North unwilling to disrupt a close rela- State. He can be reached at tionship between certain council DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. Harrop