Tuesday, September 20, 2006

Kranz's plan for Middle Fork windfall is encouraged

Placer County Supervisor Bruce Kranz should be applauded for his vision and efforts to direct some of the Middle Fork Project's lucrative cash windfall toward desperately needed water-related infrastructure. His vision contains a lot of common sense, strategic thinking and entrepreneurial ideas of how to leverage some Middle Fork funds to catalyze infrastructure improvements through grants and loans.

Many residents in the Interstate 80 and Highway 49 corridors of the foothills suffer from wells that are running dry or are contaminated, and a lack of fire hydrants to quickly prevent a localized brush fire from devastating a neighborhood.

However, the majority of supervisors and the Placer County Water Agency appear to be resisting public scrutiny or discussion of how the Middle Fork funds are going to be used.

I attended the public meeting that established the Middle Fork Project Finance Authority and which was supposed to provide an opportunity for public comment and discussion. But it was clear that the decisions had already been made behind closed doors, and that suggestions or questions from the public, or even Supervisor Kranz, would be largely ignored.

Supervisor Kranz's approach of more transparency and efficiency in how public funds are used for the benefit of taxpayers is like a breath of fresh air and should be encouraged.

Nic Everett

Meadow Vista