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By James Rhodes –
The Coulterville Community Service Area No. One had a rare public meeting August 26 at the Odd Fellows Hall on historical Main Street, which could result in a new era of cooperation to resolve long-standing problems with water and sewer issues in North Mariposa County.
Although water and sewer issues are a serious concern for this area, the last public meeting occurred in 2021. Because members of the Water and Sewer board are not allowed to call their own meetings, they must be called by a member of the Board of Supervisors, and many in Coulterville feel this has been a long-standing legal tactic “by Mariposa” to keep affected ratepayers and community members in North county in the dark, voiceless and at the mercy of unaffected “bureaucrats.”
As there is historical precedent for these emotions, the relationship between “Mariposa” and North county has approached a boiling point, causing some to feel this meeting could digress into something like a Hatfield-McCoy family feud reunion.
Back in April, there was a town hall meeting in the community park, addressing some of these same issues, hosted by a variety of Mariposa County officials. But that gathering was significantly different.
South county did not account for the frustration levels that exist in North county and our collective outrage at being ignored, discounted and disenfranchised. The excuse “That happened before my time… I was not a county employee then and am unaware… I did not know…” was deemed unacceptable by a vocal minority who expressed their extreme displeasure of being “lied to” and “incompetence” – or even malfeasance or corruption – on the part of county officials.
This degraded into a few in attendance name calling, shouting insults and profanity, because the bottom line is that nobody living in our water community service area can afford an increase in water-sewage rates to what was reported in consultant report proposing an estimate of $800 a month per meter. It appeared county officials did not care and continued to defend their position, which enraged some in attendance.
It really was an “Us vs. Them” meeting (again). When it became known that those with delinquent water bills would have that debt tacked onto their property tax statements, at that point, I think, listening on each side stopped. This was a very counterproductive meeting with some county employees feeling they were unduly “insulted” and “attacked” not taking into account the reasons so many in North county felt the need to blow off steam.
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The August 26 meeting had a totally different “feel” and although no one sang KUMBAYA, no one raised their voices either. The groundwork had been set for this meeting to secure a shot at mutual cooperation and working together. That process has clearly begun.
Extensive research and documentation was provided by a number of county employees including Melinda Rice, Nora Cole, John Luther, Robbie Stark, Maureen McCormick, and District 2 Supervisor, Shannon Poe. Danielle Bondshu provided an e-address to continue the dialogue and secure additional information (specialdistricts@mariposacounty.gov); County Administration Officer Joe Lynch took extensive notes and provided a laundry list of items he would research and report back to the Coulterville community.
The 500 pound gorillas in the room were not agenda items and would not be discussed; but, they are having a direct impact on the current Coulterville water and sewage issues. Former county administrator Dallin Kimble didn’t have much use for North county. Before he resigned and relocated to Arizona, he let me know he didn’t have much “use for me” and that conversation degraded with veiled threats that if I did not “cut it out” the county “had the right to reevaluate my Coulterville properties” – the inference was I would be paying higher property taxes.
Although the bureaucracy lauded his “services to Mariposa county” they failed to provide adequate oversight of his administrative duties and were unaware, or overlooked, the fact that Kimble failed to file multiple state audits, making Mariposa county ineligible for a variety of grants that would have drastically reversed the fortunes of Coulterville’s water and sewer dilemma. Apparently the expensive computer system Kimble authorized before he departed California, provided little user training and still has bugs that are being worked out.
Another example, many feel, of bureaucratic incompetence that cost and penalizes retired, disabled residents on fixed incomes while those responsible consistently get “passes.”
Public Works Director Mike Healy was another Mariposa bureaucrat that turned out to be no friend of North county. More than one knowledgeable Coulterville resident provided him with data (grants for water-sewer systems) that would have prevented the situation Coulterville now finds itself in. Healy was quoted, on more than one occasion, as stating “Coulterville (due to population and a small number of water rate users) wasn’t worth his time.”
Healy was fired by the county in 2021 for “misconduct.” He did appeal this decision but the courts ruled in the county’s favor. Healy oversaw the water-sewer program for Coulterville and it has been speculated part of the reason he was fired was due to falsification of time cards for North county. Again, the county has not been forthcoming as to the exact reason Healy was fired nor have they commented on any Coulterville water-sewer connection making it appear, yet again, a bureaucrat screws up and disadvantaged people in Coulterville pay the price.
Dave Shettler, certified engineer, water and sewer expert, for the past several years – even in person at two county meetings – has offered his services to the county as a volunteer. The county refused his offer and stated Shettler “had to be a county employee.” Dave then responded he would work for the county at $1 per year to assist Coulterville in getting our water-sewer systems upgraded.
Amazingly, this offer as well was refused by the county. Dave then sent to Nina Rhodes data on a water grant Coulterville would be eligible to obtain. Nina hand delivered the information to the Public Works Department and the county did apply for and receive a $2.3 million water grant for Coulterville.
Although NO WRITTEN agreement was obtained, outside e-mails, the county began drilling on the property Jesse Salcedo owns outside of town on J132 on the site of a proposed veteran’s Memorial Park development. That particular well in that specific location is exactly what Coulterville needed and apparently the water flow was deemed adequate.
But something happened, or did not happen, between Salcedo and Mariposa county, causing Public Works to destroy and cap the well. Again no other information has been provided.
Had the county allowed the community to become involved, we assure you NONE of this would have happened. But, yet again, the bureaucrats opted to leave us in the dark.
According to Sammy Naventhan, one of the state administrators of the grant, as information is difficult to obtain from the county, this grant was scheduled to have been completed in June 2025. Mariposa County did not complete the project and were given an extension until June 2026. The project still isn’t complete and what appears is the final extension will expire this December.
To add insult to injury, Robbie Stark reported that Coulterville was not eligible to be considered for the newly developed Zones of Opportunity targeting underserved, low-income, disadvantaged areas; however, Mariposa town was eligible? This defies all logic. How this was allowed to happen. No one from this area knows.
Our collective frustrations were summed up by local “Farmer Bill” who lamented “Why are we (Coulterville) always paying for your (county) mistakes?”
Some unusual brain storming ideas were then thrown out referencing the bail out of John C. Fremont Hospital District, and tax revenues. The point here is this – while Mariposa county whines about not having the time or resources to devote to North county – we have competent, qualified people that can help, if you would only let us.
The meeting was also attended by Self Help Enterprises (Sue Ruiz, Jessi Snyder) a non-profit that specializes in water related issues and leadership training. Nina and I have attended their institutes for about six years now and hosted Self Help Enterprises a few years back with a Town Hall in Coulterville. At that time the county refused to attend.
This meeting ushers in a new day of collaboration and cooperation. We have seen Self Help Enterprises become involved in communities far worse than ours; their track record is lengthy. Our community trusts Joe Lynch and we have always had great relations with Danielle Bondshu. These are good beginnings.
If the county can understand the basis of our discontent and mistrust and will allow us to actively participate in the problem solving process, I truly feel we can adequately resolve the issues before us.
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