Office of Mining Reclamation approves Azusa Rock Quarry reclamation bond

It an elegantly worded letter (sarcasm) the Office of Mining Reclamation responded to Azusa’s financial assurance cost estimate submitted regarding the reclamation bond for Vulcan Materials Co.’s Azusa Rock Quarry mining plan.

The bond would serve as insurance for the planned reclamation, which Vulcan has billed as a more innovative, technologically advanced and environmentally friendly way to reshape the hillsides post-mining.

OMR found the $81 million bond to be “adequate” and had no further comments on its “adequacy.”

Now that OMR sees the cost estimate is “adequate”, Azusa now needs to file the bond with the agency within 30 days, according to the letter.

You can view the letter for yourself following the absurdly titled link below.

SKMBT%5F75110090716510.pdf

Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune

Inequality of wealth explored in series of articles

Considering my earlier post regarding wages and questions of public v. private sector jobs, I thought an article (a series, in fact) over at Slate.com offered some interesting insight into working, wages and money in America.

The series is looking at inequality of wealth and, as NY Times columnist Paul Krugman called it, the Great Divergence. I don’t want to go into much more detail on the articles as they speak for themselves, much better than I could for them. If you are interested, follow the link.

Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune

Duarte, Azusa and Vulcan to sit down next week per court order

As part of the ongoing legal battle filed by Duarte against Azusa’s approval of Vulcan Materials Co.’s Azusa Rock Quarry mining project, the three parties will have a meeting next Tuesday.

In a case like this, the court mandates a settlement hearing for the three sides to discuss any options that could prevent the issue from going to court. A mediator for the meeting is possible, officials said.

All three parties will be there, but expectations are limited. Previous settlement talks between the groups have broken down, and since then heated rhetoric has been exchanged between both city staffs.

Azusa’s City Manager Fran Delach said the city remains open to talks with Duarte, but that he has no expectations going into the meeting.

“I think there is always a possibility of getting a settlement,” he said.

Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune

Holiday weekend edition of weekend recap

Did you enjoy those three long days off? So did I. Although, the catch-22 is that it always makes that first day back that much more difficult.

Anyway, if you are struggling to get into that work mode, here are a few stories from the weekend to pass the time (oh, and make you a better, informed citizen of the republic and all that).

Reporter Thomas Himes did a long researched piece on city attorney fees that showed cities with their own police departments often pay more in legal fees, according to city documents and records for the last fiscal year.

Covina’s police chief made his position known on the a proposition to legalize marijuana. (SPOILER: He is not a fan)

Well, despite a huge push this year for the Census – including hundreds of millions of dollars spent – it looks like national participation is down. The good news? San Gabriel Valley participation is better than the national average. The bad news? It also dipped below 2000 Census totals.

Finally, as a recent post alluded too, Glendora goes for the trifecta in asking the Supreme Court to hear its case after the county won two court cases regarding a redevelopment area designation.

Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune

Glendora asks for state Supreme Court to hear redevelopment case, plus legal fees spent on four year battle

A few months back we reported on Glendora’s failed attempt to appeal a previous trial court decision (initiated and won by the county) that wouldn’t allow Glendora to claim portions of the city as blighted, and thus be in line for millions in redevelopment funds.

Well, Glendora is now asking for the California Supreme Court to hear the case and should hear back within weeks. More in tomorrow’s paper.

One of the questions regarding this issue was how much the city has spent on pursuing, what has been thus far, a losing battle.

Some speakers at recent city council meetings claimed the city spent more than $800,000 in legal fees. That doesn’t appear to be the case.

According to city records, the city has spent $459,714 in legal fees since the complaint against the city was filed by Los Angeles County in Sept. 2006. Those funds are taken from the city’s redevelopment agency fund and not the general city fund.

Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune

Walnut school board fires recently rehired superintendent, justifies thousands lost by saying split was ‘amicable’ (wait…what?)

In today’s paper, reporter Maritza Velazquez has a story about how the Walnut Valley Unified Board of Education’s decision to fire its recently rehired superintendent is going to cost the district hundreds of thousands of dollars.

From the story:

“The district in February renewed the contract for former Superintendent Cyndy Simms and will pay her $295,500 over the next 18 months. Then the board ousted her Aug. 11.”

In addition, “The board recently approved a $14,842-a-month contract agreement to employ interim Superintendent Charles McCully, who will serve in a temporary position for three to five months. They will also pay him $1,000 a month for automobile and housing expenses.”

In a time when schools are hard pressed for funds, districts are laying off teachers and staff, and the future is uncertain, the board must have good reason to make such a fiscally detrimental decision. Unfortunately, they haven’t been willing to give one.

Instead, following the unanimous vote, the board said the split was “amicable” and amounted to nothing more than a difference in leadership and management style that apparently was worth spending about $16,000 a month for her to be gone. This when the district is facing a $3.3 million budget deficit.

I have never been fired from a job before, but I hope if I ever do, it can work out as well as this one. $16,000 a month to fire her? I have friends who have stayed with girlfriends they didn’t like just because they needed a ride to work and didn’t want to pay for the bus.

The board has to wonder, will this be easy for taxpayers, and voters, to swallow?

(NOTE: I am not saying their decision to fire her was wrong or right. What do I know? Exactly. Nothing, which, conveniently, is my point. When you fire someone after rehiring them and decide to pay them bags of money a month – granted it will probably be in check form, like one of those giant checks they give for winning a golf tournament – you should have a really good reason. A REALLY good reason. Not a, well, she butted heads with the Spanish teacher and you have a difference of opinion on positive reinforcement versus constructive criticism. I mean, you rehired her, shouldn’t you already know her management style? Your reason better be that she was somehow detrimental to the education of the school children or seriously hampered the work environment, otherwise what reason is there?)

Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune

Breakdown of pay for Glendora’s contracted employee association negotiator

A quick note going back to the recent impasse between Glendora and the municpal employees association where the council forced a one year contract on the association with several concessions.

In years past, the City Manager or other members of the city’s executive team would handle negotiations with the association. This year the city hired Richard Kreisler to handle negotiations for the city with all its employee associations, teamed with Deputy City Manager Brenda Fischer and Finance Director Josh Betta.

The total cost for Kreisler’s services (contracted through Liebert, Cassidy, Whitmore Legal Fees)
is $42,797 since March 2010.

Kreisler’s pay breaks down like this:

He was paid $6,682.05 for work ending March 31, 2010.
– $1,296 for work on the Glendora Manager’s Association.
– $1,039.05 for work on the Glendora Municipal Employees Association.
– $2,727 for work with the Police Officer’s Association.
– $1,620 for work with the Police Manager’s Association

For work completed between April 1 and April 30, he was paid $9,855.
– $5,427 for work with GMA.
– $1,161 for work with GMEA.
– $324 for work with POA.
– $2,943 for work with PMA.

For work between May 1 and May 31 he received $6,804.
– $2,106 for GMA
– $2,889 for GMEA
– $783 for POA
– $1,026 for PMA

For work between June 1 and June 30 he was paid $10,681.32. All of that work was with the GMEA. He was also paid $1,701 for work with the GMA during that time.

For work between July 1 and July 31, he received $6,993 for work with the GMEA.

He finally received $81 for work with the GMA at the end of July.

Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune

Azusa’s Cool Kutz (or ‘cuts’ to the less hip folk) for Kids attracts more than 200 shaggy haired children and my secret back to school success plan

Apparently, Azusa’s Cool Kutz for Kids was a success, so says a press release I got yesterday.

The event aimed to give children preparing for their first day of school a free hair cut to relieve some burden off the parents while giving kids the opportunity to look sharp on the first day of school.

More than 200 children showed for the event, which features Azusa based barbers and hair stylists performing to cuts.

And then they sent them off to school with fancy new hair-dos, a lesson in charity, and the mistaken knowledge that cuts is spelled kutz.

And if you are going to spell cuts funky for alliteration purposes (or just to be hip) why not go all the way and spell cool “kool.” Just saying.

(As a side note, when I was in grade school I would often wear my old clothes and would put off getting a hair cut for the first week of school when EVERYONE else was looking all clean and new. Instead, I would wear all my new duds and got my hair did on the second week when everyone else’s new shine had already begun to dim.)

Here is a snippet of Azusa’s press release:

AZUSA, Ca–September 1, 2010–On Sunday, August 29, Azusa Mayor Pro Tem, Robert Gonzales kicked-off the second annual “Cool Kuts for Kids” free back-to-school hair cut event at Memorial Park in Azusa. Over 200 school-aged children from Azusa and Irwindale showed-up to received free professional back-to-school hair cuts from stylists and barbers who daily work in Azusa.
“I can’t begin to express the immense senses of gratification that overcame me seeing all those kids with their “Cool Kuts” and smiles,” said Gonzales. “They are now ready to face the new school year with some very special free back-to-school goodie bags that every child received with their “Cool Kut.”
This year’s “Cool Kutz for Kids II” was sponsored by Azusa Mayor, Joe Rocha and Council Member, Uriel Macias, as well as Target Stores, Vulcan Materials and Azusa’s Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 2810. Target Stores donated free gift cards, Vulcan Materials contributed free dictionaries and backpacks and the Eagles Aerie 2810 donated some much needed school supplies.

Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune

UPDATED: Four words: Ron Artest. Montebello. Thursday.

45112-458px-Ron_Artest_Lakers-thumb-350x457-45109.jpg

OK, maybe you need like a time and place, oh and the reason world champion Los Angeles Laker and game 7 hero Ron Artest is going to be in Montebello tomorrow.

Apparently, he has teamed up with Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (no, really, I’m serious) to raise awareness about mental health stigma’s and advocate for the Mental Health in Schools Act, a.k.a. HR 2531.

Those who watched the Lakers beat the Celtics in this year’s NBA Finals remember Ron thanking his psychiatrist in his post game comments.

Ron Ron and Grace Grace (not working for ya?) will be at Eastmont Intermediate School at 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept 9. (I screwed up an earlier post and said this was tomorrow. It is a week from tomorrow.)

Sorry sports fans, space is limited and they are only accepting those who R.S.V.P. first.

Sorry if I teased you.

UPDATED: Nathan Landers, spokesman for Napolitano, tells me that the Montebello school involved is already practicing some of the mental health items that are proposed in the bill. Apparently, the Congresswoman started the health program there previously.

Also, apparently we are friends with NBC sports. Nice.

Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune

Azusa Rosedale community has new (kind of) ownership

The much troubled Rosedale community in Azusa has some new owners.

Christopher Development Group and Brookfield Homes Southland Group have partnered to take control of Rosedale Land Partners in a deal that closed escrow Tuesday afternoon, according to a statement.

Brookfield is the real new player in this deal and will assist Christopher Gibb’s company in completing the 517-acre community. Gibbs was originally part of Azusa Land Partners, the first joint venture that started the Rosedale project. At that time, Gibbs was with PLC Land Company.

Much of the community has been on hold for about two years because of the housing market collapse.

The original community project was opened in 2006 by Azusa Land Partners with 1,250 homes planned, 10 parks, a local school, fire station, and a recreation center.

Today much of the amenities aren’t finished or haven’t been started and only 125 homes are built and occupied.

In July, the Agres Group confirmed it had purchased a portion of the project and hoped to start building 96 news homes later this year.

Email: daniel.tedford@sgvn.com | Twitter: @dgtedford @sgvtribune | Facebook: SGVTribune