Statements for Joe Cahak

By Joseph "Joe" Cahak

Position Statements

Keeping Costs Down + The citizens own the Water District, and we know that waste will lead to higher rates. I'm committed to keeping costs as low as possible, so that we don't raise rates for Water, Sewage and Emergency services and work to keep facilities adequate for service.

Reliable Water Supplies + All the drinking water for the San Vicente Valley comes through a single water main. That water main is undersized - during summer peaks it carries more water than it was designed for. A major failure of that water main means that nearly 4,000 homes in the San Vicente Valley would be without water. It's essential that the Ramona Water District build an additional water pipeline to the San Vicente Valley + I'll make sure it's the District's top priority.

Reliable Sewer Service + The San Vicente Sewage Treatment Plant has enough treatment capacity, but the treated water needs to go somewhere. Reclaimed water is potentially valuable for irrigation if it meets State water quality requirements, which the Water District has failed to meet for several years. As residents in the San Vicente Service area we are at risk either of having to pay for expensive upgrades to the San Vicente Sewer Plant or of the State shutting down our sewer service. Customers, who buy reclaimed water, including the San Vicente Golf Course, are at risk of loosing that supply of reclaimed water and paying more for replacement water. It's important that the Water District fix this problem quickly by building new facilities and working with the State regulating agencies. I'll work to get this problem fixed as quickly as possible.

Fire and Emergency Services must be the best possible. The Cedar Fire proved what our needs can be. The Ramona Water District, which provides fire protection and paramedic services, must be prepared to meet those needs. A detailed review of Ramona Fire Protection and Paramedic services needs to be performed. We need to get the best protection for our money.

Promote Parks and Trails The Ramona Water District provides public Parks and Trails on District property. The District's Well Field Park provides fields for our children's sports leagues, adult softball, the junior rodeo and the Ramona Country Fair. I strongly support parks and recreational trails, and I'll continue to work for more parklands and trails to improve the quality of life in our community. Trails that interconnect the community are important from the community standpoint. They are an investment in the future quality of life.

Better coordination with other agencies In 2002 the San Vicente Road was repaved by the County, and in less than a year the Ramona Water District tore the road up for the treated water line to the Country Club. While this is a great project from the use of the water, the poor coordination and cooperation by the Water District with the County Department of Public Works resulted in this wasteful tear-up and repaving of a freshly paved road. I'll propose changes to prevent such waste in the future.

Public Safety High Priority The Water District currently places fire hydrants, valves and other roadsides facilities too close to travel lanes. These facilities pose a danger to drivers, and when cars hit these facilities they are expensive to repair and service is interrupted. I'll propose policy changes to make Ramona's roads safer by locating roadside facilities as far from travel lanes as possible within the Water District's right of way and be working with Department of Publics to provide the highest level of public safety as can be reasonably performed.