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TAX EVADERS:
Butler, Neal, Palmer
Directors Vote to Deprive State
of Required Sales Tax Payments
by J. F. McGuire
On November 18th,
2008, despite an email from the State Board of Equalization declaring that they
were required to do so, SCSD Directors Palmer, Butler, and Neal voted to
deprive the State of Sales Tax Revenue that the State is legally entitled to.
During the debate of
a Resolution drafted by Director James G. Barrett to make the required payments,
District legal counsel Robert Patterson of Best, Best, and Krieger would not
give any legal opinion on the letter from the BOE. As a matter of fact, and
even though the counselors presence at the Board Meeting was costing the
District almost $600, neither Directors Palmer, Butler, or Neal wanted to hear
his legal take on the matter.
The
BOE email declares that the SCSD is not exempt from paying State
Sales Tax on Photocopy/Incoming Fax Services provided by the District to the
Public. The back owed taxes for the past three years appears to amount to no
more than a total of around $300.
At hearing that such
a small amount of back taxes was owed, Rosa Davis, a new resident and first time
meeting attendee grilled Director Barrett about why it was so important to argue
so much about so little owed. Obviously there were Citizens in the audience
that thought it was completely ok to evade taxes. Even long time Resident and
business owner David Erskine said that the SCSD Management shouldn’t have to
waste their time collecting the duly owed sales tax.
You can read more
and see all the pertinent documents about the Districts tax evasion
here.
SCSD to Capture ill-Gotten Gains
But
There’s Still Time to
Get
Your $1,000 Refund!
by J. F. McGuire
The
SCSD will start taking legal possession of almost $258,000 in unclaimed
Developer Fee Refunds covering fees that we’re paid between July 1st,
2005 and January 1st, 2007. These fees ($1,000) we’re charged,
without any legal authority to do so, to new home developers to mitigate the
impact on the Fire Department and Street Lighting.
On
January 15th, 2007, after determining that they had no legal right to charge the
fees in the first place, the SCSD Board of Directors released the
official refund form to be used in requesting the return on these
unauthorized fees.
Despite
the refund forms “must submit by date” of December 31st, 2007, the
SCSD Board of Directors, at the October 21st, 2008 monthly Board
Meeting determined that the original payers of these fees had 3 years from the
date they paid the fee to request a refund.
See
Resolution 2008-10-2.
Per
Government Code Section 50500, after the three years
passes and a newspaper ad is placed then the SCSD has the right to capture these
monies and spend the proceeds as they wish. At the October 2008 meeting the
Board voted to place the necessary ads to start the process of taking possession
of the unclaimed refunds. As of that meeting there was $258,000 of unclaimed
funds.
The
first $64,000 that is set to be captured by the SCSD was paid between July 1st,
2005 and October 1st, 2005. If you paid these fees between these
dates you must submit a
Refund Request Form to the SCSD before December 8th, 2008 or the
funds will become the property of the SCSD.
Salton
Sea West, with the help of Director James G. Barrett has obtained official SCSD
Documents showing who has yet to claim their refunds.
Click here for a complete list of the names and addresses
of persons/companies entitled to the refunds as well as the approximate date
when the SCSD will permanently capture the funds.
Click here to print out an
Official SCSD Refund Form.
NOTE: The
December 31st, 2007 deadline on the refund form does not apply.
This fact was acknowledged by the SCSD Board of Directors on October 2008, via
Resolution 2008-10-2. The original payers of these fees have 3
years from the date they paid the fee to request a refund.
Editor’s Note:
As well
as being the driving force in exposing these illegal fees and successfully
lobbying for their return, Salton Sea West, is the ONLY local news media outlet
to notify the public about these refunds.
To this
date the SCSD has made no attempts to contact the overcharged persons. No
letters, no phone calls, no posted notices or lists.
Salton
Sea West challenges the Salton Seafarer and the West Shores News to do the write
thing and help spread the word about these refunds. There are no doubt
families out there that could really use their refunds, especially this time of
year.
Salton
Sea West hereby gives permission for anyone to reproduce this article.
Thanks!
You’re on Your
Own:
Fire/Rescue
Services are
Non-existent in
This Area
It is said that 2 more
Firefighters have quit this week because of poor management. Now that leaves
only a handful of Volunteer “Firefighters” to cover all of the District plus the
surrounding areas that the District is under contract with the County to
service. That’s over 80 square miles!
Of the remaining Firefighters
only 2 have three or more years of actual Firefighting experience, 3 have less
than two years as SCSD Volunteer Firefighters and the other 4 have less than 6
months under their belt. Of these, 3 of them have never even been to a real
fire, while 2 don't even live in the Community, they live between 35 -60 miles
away.
Only one Firefighter has the know
how or the license to legally drive the fire trucks.
Most of these Firefighters have
no more working knowledge then you or I would get by taking Red Cross First
Aid/CPR classes. Management doesn’t even seem to be concerned enough to provide
hepatitis vaccinations to the Firefighters.
So please what ever you do, heed
this warning: don't get sick, have a heart attack, get lost in the desert, have
a car accident, have a house fire, or hurt yourself in anyway that would require
911 services.
Because You’re Going to Die if
You Do!
This announcement in no way is
meant to besmirch any of the Volunteers of the SCSD Fire Department; we thank
you all for your dedicated service. It is the Management, as well as the Board
of Directors that have hung you out to dry. Their incompetence in making the
best out of the manpower they have is so apparent.
Citizens, Guests, and
Passerby’s
… You’ve Been Warned!
TAX
EVASION:
Board of Directors
Stoop to a New Low
By J.F. McGuire
For
years and years the SCSD has been providing Fax/Photocopy services to the Public
for a fee.
Brought to light recently by Director James G. Barrett is the fact that these
fees are subject to California State Sales Tax laws.
This
is attested to in an
email from the State Board of Equalization (BOE) which is
responsible for collecting State Sales Tax.
On
June 13th, 2008 Director Barrett, during budget talks, mentioned that the tax
code required the district to collect and pay sales tax on Fax/Photocopy
services.
Then
on July 12th, 2008 he notified the SCSD Board of Directors of the tax
requirements in an
email dated July 12, 2008.
Once
again Director Barrett brought up the issue on October 21st, 2008
when the SCSD Board was setting the annual rates for the Golf Park, Pool, and
Fax/Photocopy services. Director Barrett made a motion to include the sales tax
on Fax/Photocopy services as required by law. At this motion the other
Directors sat quietly as though nothing important was being mentioned. The
motion died for the lack of a second.
On
October 31st the
District sent a letter to Mr. Barrett in response to a
Records Request that he had submitted on October 27th,
2008.
The
request was for any documents that showed that the District was paying State
Sales Tax for the Fax/Photocopy services that they were providing to the public.
The reply stated that the District was not paying the sales tax because they
were not required to.
This
is in direct conflict with the
email from the BOE that declared that “Photocopies and
incoming faxes are taxable since a tangible personal property is provided. You
are correct that local governments are not exempt from taxes...only the federal
government is. Sales tax should be collected and remitted to the Board (BOE)”.
State
Sales Tax Evasion is described by the BOE as Fraud and can be prosecuted as a
felony.
Anyone
can report sales tax evasion to the BOE at:
http://www.boe.ca.gov/invest/salestax.htm
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SECTIONS
The Next
SCSD Board Meeting is:
November 18th, 2008
@7:00 PM
NOTICE
The SCSD budget for Fiscal Year 2008-2009 has an
operating deficit of over $250,000.00 for its' Sewer Maintenance Department.
This shortfall will more than likely have to be made up for by increasing
your sewer rates in July of 2009 by as much as 50%.
The years and years of skimming one-third of the
interest off of the Sewer Maintenance Fund by the Board of Directors to
subsidize the General Fund has finally come to a climax. Open wide!
It's time to swallow the bitter pill that our elected officials have
prescribed.
EVENTS
Golf, Golf, Golf

This 9 Hole Pitch and Put Golf
Course is operated by the West Shores Golf Club. It is located in Salton
City at the corner of Atlantic and Pacific Aves.
Saturday Scrambles:
Registration Starts: 8 am
Tee Off Time: 8:30 am
(more
recreation)
Fire Department Buys Brush Truck

On September 4th, 2007
the SCSD Volunteer Fire Department took delivery of a Brand New "Brush
Truck" that will be utilized to fight fires in off-road areas that are
inaccessible by normal Fire Engines.
The cost of this truck was
approximately $53,000. The United States Department of
Agriculture donated $30,000 to the cause and $20,000 was utilized from the
2007/08 Fire Department Budget that was previously allocated for vehicle
acquisition The other $3,000 came from a capital reserve account that was
established a few years back from the sale of Borrego Springs Bank stock.
There is currently around $55,000 left of the General Funds' portion of
that stock sale.
Thanks again to all the Volunteer
Firefighters for your time and devotion to a truly noble cause!
(more)
More to Follow!
Every Drop Counts
Protest Held
by Torri Barrett
January
1st, 2008 was the first day of many more to come for the Every Drop
Counts Protest founded by Mr. Rick Davis of Salton City. Mr. Davis wants to let
Sacramento know that the people of Southern California don’t approve of the
State’s plan to dry up almost 60% of the Salton Sea.
The
State’s “preferred plan” is to make a small saline lake at the north end of the
current sea and a salt marsh at the south end, drying up everything in the
middle. This would leave the residents of all of the communities surrounding the
Sea victims to what ever has been dumped into the Sea over the last 100 years as
the winds would kick up the dry lake bottom thus polluting the air with all
manners of substances including selenium a highly toxic substance.
At 11am
sharp over 100 concerned residents poured 100 gallons of clean water into the
dying sea to protest the States inaction and empty promises. Petition
gatherers also passed out petitions demanding that the Lawmakers restore the Sea
ASAP.
Mr.
Davis a long time resident of the area started the idea that Every Drop Counts
when it became obvious to him and many others that the politicians in the rest
of the State don’t care about this dying ecosystem that is so vital to so many
species of migrating birds as well as its’ human inhabitants.
Every
Sunday Mr. Davis will be pouring 7 gallons of fresh water into the sea.
Click to see
photos
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NEW WEBSITE FEATURES!
(4) Grand Jury
Complaints Filed -
Click for details
Did You Know? -
Short, Sweet and to the Point Blurbs about
District Shenanigans
Click to View
Quotes of Note-
They said what?!
Read and HEAR for
yourself the latest quotes from around the district
Click here for the latest sound bites
Director Agenda
Packets-
Have you ever wondered
what backup information is used by Directors when they vote on an agenda
item? Well wonder no more! As a courtesy to the public, Salton Sea West
will be posting EVERYTHING that Directors see in their
Agenda Packets online, FREE!
Click here to see all of
the November 18th's info
"Statement of Economic Interests"
Directors Form 700-
Click
here
Approved Budget for 2008-2009
Click here
2006-2007
SCSD Audit
Click here
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Gardening Tips For November -
by Torri Barrett
7 tips to make gardening stress free
While gardening is one of
America's favorite leisure activities, many people may not recognize the great
mental and physical health benefits that go along with it. Gardening is an
excellent way to relieve mental stress and is good exercise at the same time.
Here are 7 tips to make your gardening stress free.
-
Remember gardening is not a
race to see whose garden is biggest or the best. It is for the enjoyment of
growing something where there was nothing.
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Gardeners typically become
very absorbed in their work, so let your worries and cares flow from you.
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To prune all day will give
any gardener blisters. Take your time, enjoy yourself, smell the roses and
flowers you are pruning.
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Try decorating a mailbox that
can serve as a container to hold small hand tools in the garden. Mounted on a
pole or on your fence, it will add charm to the garden.
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Use a plastic garbage can
with wheels to carry long handled tools. The wheels are on the back so the can
stays in one place when you park it and your tools don’t fall over in the
garden.
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Place a stool, garden chair
or a bench at strategic places in the garden so that you have many
opportunities to rest as you garden.
-
After you have finished for
the day sit back and enjoy your handy work, for there is always tomorrow.
Spot Light of the Month:
When
choosing the different types of carrot seeds to plant you must remember that the
longer the carrot the deeper you will need to till the soil. Carrots also grow
best on the top of tall rows, less digging during harvest for you too. You must
make sure all rocks are removed from the planting area and that the sand to
compost ratio are about the same. Carrots like loose sandy soil, if the soil
compact around them you will have very small thin carrots.
My Carrot favorites:
·
Danvers 126 –
These are best if you have a heavier ratio of clay to your soil. They are very
sweet, short, and broad. Great for blanching and freezing.
·
Burpee’s Orange
Rocket – 8” long, very broad, sweet and bright orange. Great in soups and
salads.
·
Purple Haze – 10”
- 12” novelty purple carrot has smooth surface, bright orange centre and very
sweet flavor. Cooking dissolves the purple color.
Planting
You still have time to order your seeds but act fast while
the supplies last.
To order a Stokes Seed Catalog: website
www.stokeseeds.com or call (800)263-7233.
For more hints and tips pick up a copy of Lush & Efficient
Gardening in the Coachella Valley at the CVWD office 85-995 Avenue 52 in
Coachella, last time I checked it cost around $20.
Best basic soil amendment is:
2 parts garden soil, 1 part manure, 1 part Peat moss by the
shovel full, mix well. Blend this mixture with the soil from your garden area
(make sure to remove any rocks). Your soil will become light and fluffy and
ready for planting.
If your garden area soil is mostly clay add 1 part sand to
the basic soil amendments for better drainage. You may even want to remove some
of the clay soil from the area. Use a 1 to 1 ratio old soil to amended soil.
If you
have any questions/comments about carrots or gardening please feel free to
e-mail me at
gardening@saltonseawest.com or visit the gardening web pages at
www.saltonseawest.com
Vegetables:
Seeds
Beets, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Carrots,
Cauliflower, Chard, Collard Greens, Endive, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leaf Lettuce,
Mustard, Onions (Bulb & Green), Peas, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Radishes,
Rutabagas, Spinach, Turnips
Plant Transplants
Asparagus, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Chinese
Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chard, Garlic, Kohlrabi, Lettuce
Roses:
·
Apply the finial
fertilization of the year, then water deeply.
·
Plant container
roses.
·
Mini Roses are
best known for their prolific blooming so plant some for that splash of color
all over your garden. Deadhead Mini Roses just like their bigger cousins.
.
Trees:
·
For Deciduous trees water once every two week because our
winter rains are very unpredictable
Fruit:
·
Do not fertilize
this month
·
Do not prune this
month
·
Deeply water
Citrus trees once a month during the coldest parts of winter.
·
Tangelos, Navel Oranges, and Mandarins began to ripening by
the end of this month.
Landscape Plants:
·
Cut off spent
blooms to stimulate re-bloom
·
Cut back watering
frequencies for cooler days, too much water can cause root and stem rot.
·
Plant winter
hardy trees, shrubs and vines.
Annuals - Transplants to plant
this time of year:
·
Cockscomb,
Iceland Poppy, Laskspur, Lobelia, Pansy, Petunia, Snapdragon, Stock, Sweet
Alyssum, Statice, and Strawflower
Annuals - Seeds to plant this
time of year:
·
Plant these seeds
any time this month: Nasturtium, Geranium, Mexican Primrose, and Four o’clocks
·
Late blooming
wildflower like Clarkia, Calliopsis and Coneflower should be planted now for a
longer blooming season.
Don’t forget the native plants
in and around your yard; with no measurable rain in the last 2 years they will
be thirsty as well.
Happy Planting!

Old Peg Leg A
plaque is dedicated to Thomas L. Smith, better known as Peg Leg Smith,
1801-1866, he was a mountain man, prospector, and spinner of tall tales.
Legends regarding his lost gold mine have grown through the years...(more)
Sun Catchers
An artist can use anything as a medium, and I do mean anything. From
painting fine art on beans seeds to assembling junk into great towering
sculptures. (more)

Red Sky at Night
Is the old adage
“Red
sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning”
true, or is it just an old wives’ tale?
(more)
Bird Watch / Nature Trail
Receives Funding from SCSD
by James G. Barrett
At the December 19th, 2006 Board meeting the Directors
unanimously approved over $3,000 worth of funding for repairing and
upgrading the
Salton City Nature Trail & Bird Watch, which is located
between the West Shores Golf Park and the Salton City Dry Camp.
The Nature Trail & Bird Watch is maintained strictly by
dedicated volunteers, usually with donated cash and materials. This
month however the Board stepped up to the plate and took a swing at helping
the volunteers' efforts with some much needed funding.
We here at Salton Sea West applaud all the volunteers
that have struggled to maintain this sometime Board ignored part of the
Districts Park and Recreation System.
Thanks go out to Joe & Rachel, and Dean & Carlene (hope
we got the names right) and everyone else that has donated their time and
resources over the past years. Thanks!
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