Feeling Graton by Jennifer Butler - December 2019

I hope that you have peace and joy this holiday season.

Stress Free Holiday Gift Shopping in Graton!

For your holiday shopping look local and please consider getting your gifts from these Graton businesses. There is beautiful art from the Graton Gallery, Spa services from Brittney’s Skin and Lash Artistry, wine from Bowman Cellars, Antiques from Mr. Ryder & Company, a gift certificate for Asyrah's Garden Acupuncture Spa, Wine from Paul Matthew Vineyards, wine produced by Purple Wine & Spirits, and as always you can purchase the gift of a delicious meal from .Mexico Lindo,Willow Wood and Underwood. You can even give the gift of a helping hand from the Graton Day Labor Center. Many people appreciate gift certificates for activities like a series of yoga classes from . Gratons Got Yoga. An activity gift can be particularly nice for parents, so Judo with Lance is something to consider.

We can start the holiday season with a locally grown Christmas tree from the tree farm at the Graton Fire Department. All proceeds go to supporting the Graton firefighters. They open the day after Thanksgiving with hours Thursday – Sunday 9:00AM- 5:00PM. They offer beautiful selection of all shapes and sizes of choose and cut. They practice an annual replanting strategy of new seedlings to sustain the long-term viability of the tree farm. You can also choose a pre-cut Noble or Nordman from a certified, sustainable tree farm partner.

Precious Traditions in Graton with Santa at the Graton Community Club

Every year the Graton Community Club celebrates the holidays with the precious tradition of having Santa come to town. This is a FREE event as a thank you to the community. Sunday December 8th from 2:00 -5:00PM come have your picture taken with Santa in the festively decorated Graton Community Club while Santa’s little helpers serve cookies and warm apple cider. This is also a Toys for Tots support event so please bring an unwrapped gift to donate if you can.

UPDATE ON THE GRATON COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT OCCIDENTAL WASTEWATER TRANSPORT AND TREATMENT PROJECT

On April 18, 2018, Graton Community Services District (GCSD) and Sonoma Water hosted a public forum regarding a proposed plan to utilize GCSD’s facility to treat Occidental’s wastewater. You may recall that not only is this project an opportunity to raise revenues for GCSD, but it is also an opportunity to reduce the cost to Occidental County Sanitation District (Occidental) by reducing the distance of transporting their wastewater for treatment. Additionally, this shorter route would provide a reduction in global warming gases, air pollution, and truck traffic.

Responding to early comments and strong sentiment by some residents that the receiving point should not be in a residential area, GCSD identified a couple alternative locations in industrial or commercial areas. We have entered into an agreement with one property owner to exercise an option to purchase an easement if the project is approved by GCSD. An easement is needed within which to construct the receiving station. Additionally, earlier this year GCSD contracted with a local engineering firm to complete preliminary engineering design services in support of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reviews for the project.

Once the consultant completes the preliminary design and technical studies to support the CEQA reviews, it is anticipated that the consultant will prepare an Administrative Draft Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for GCSD review. The administrative draft will include a description of the project and analysis using CEQA environmental checklists. Following approval, GCSD will publish and circulate the IS/MND for a 30-day public review period. After written responses to public comments have been made and other CEQA-related tasks have been completed, a Final Mitigated Negative Declaration will be presented to the GCSD Board of Directors for Adoption and Project Approval. The current schedule for this project is for the MND Adoption and Project Approval to occur in late November or early December 2019.

If the project is approved, the next steps are to complete plans and specifications for construction of the receiving station; advertise, bid, award, and execute the construction contract; complete construction; enter into an agreement with Sonoma Water for GCSD to transport and treat Occidental’s wastewater; and begin operations. It is anticipated that operations by GCSD will begin in July or August 2020.

As with any project, there have been some delays that GCSD did not anticipate. However, things are going as expected and we are ready to take actions to ensure that this project can be finished, subject to Board approval and community support, of course.

Written by GCSD

A reminder that you are invited to these public meetings. Also, there is a website. If you want to be informed… be involved. There are regularly scheduled GCSD Board meetings held in the Graton Day Labor Center at 2981 Bowen Street every third Monday of the month at 6:00 pm. Please feel welcome to attend. They also have a website www.graton.org

Please let me know if there is something that you would like me to know or write about. You can reach me butlersjennifer@gmail.com