Feeling Graton by Jennifer Butler - June 2018

My house has been a flurry of activity as we prepared for not one but two graduations! We held one great big party inviting friends and family from all over. What a wonderful time to connect and celebrate. As I cleaned, planted, mowed, weed whacked, painted and did dump runs, I was hyper-conscious of how everything looked. I have an older house and sometimes feel self-conscious about the long list of home improvements that never seem to get done. We worked every night after work and several weekends so when last weekend, I drove through town to find a mattress laying in the street. The week before it was a sofa sectional and the week before that another mattress. What is going on? I appreciate a good spring cleaning AND I can understand that not everyone has access to a vehicle for dump runs BUT it’s not an excuse to make your garbage other people’s responsibility.

Did you know that Recology Waste provides the following to residential customers?

• Residential customers receive 4 free pickups per year (7 bags or 1 large item

• Up to 3 yards of materials per pickup

• There is a charge for Freon appliances such as freezers, refrigerators, AC, etc.

Sonoma County Waste has $99.00 dump runs and will recycle 70% of it… often to charity! www.sonomawaste.com $49.00 to remove a sofa or mattress.

My husband loves cars so at the risk of being a hypocrite…why all the broken downs cars in Graton? Are they your collection item or are they our junk? Did you know you can donate your car, boat, motorcycle and RV for charity? Great programs like Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club and the Humane Society all except donations, offer free pick up and you qualify for a tax deduction?

You can also bring your unwanted but still useable items to the Goodwill, Hospice and many more non-profits. The NEXTDOOR app is a great way to get quick or one times services done like clean-up. Let’s respect each other, the neighborhood and the environment by properly disposing of our stuff.

FOLLOW-UP to Purple Wine Estates Application for Use Permit

I talked briefly with Aaron Webb, President of Purple Wine Estates. We have a full interview and facility tour scheduled for June 5th. Aaron has agreed to hear and answer questions from the community so if you would like to have your questions included please submit via e-mail butlersjennifer@gmail.com by 6/4. My July article will include the interview. For now, Aaron did want to make clear that while the use permit was submitted to cover a broad scope of projects they have no plan to develop to the full possibility of the application.

They are in process of submitting a revision which is a phase plan that does not increase production. Their idea is to transition into different activities for the facility. Some demands will go away and replaced by others. They are not seeking additional resources for sewer, water or wastewater. Aaron says that they are focused on “figuring out a way to bring more ambiance than just a tasting room for spirits and how to make the facility more compelling to the consumer” They are seeking the best way for the consumer to interact with the brand while creating positives for Graton.

In the meantime, I was notified that the project was reassigned to a company that provides support to PRMD Planning. They have confirmed that the project applicant has indicated their intent to submit revisions to the project in the near future, though there is no firm date on when that may occur. Permit Sonoma has received both letters in support and opposition to this project.

I look forward to receiving your questions.

FOLLOW-UP to GCSD Community Meeting

At the April 18 Community Public Outreach Meeting staff from Graton Community Services District described the District’s financial situation and a possible revenue-generating project, treating wastewater from Occidental County Services District. Early public comments have indicated that while a revenue-raising proposal as described is preferable to raising rates, there is strong sentiment by some residents that the receiving point should not be in a residential area. District staff has begun to identify other locations in industrial or commercial areas as alternatives to an early proposal to have tankers discharge at Lift Station No. 1, located about a quarter mile north of Graton Road off Ross Road.

Staff has identified a few other locations and made some initial contacts as to the feasibility of those sites as receiving points. The responses have been favorable to the concept, but there are many details to be worked out including the pros and cons of each location.

The next steps are to conduct further community meetings closer to the tentative discharge points and to invite comments from nearby residents, businesses, and property owners. Meeting notices will include press releases, posting on graton.org, the District website, and possibly mailers to nearby homes. As always, the meetings are open to the general public.

GCSD anticipates that the next round of community meetings will begin in mid to late June. Throughout this process, they will continue to have updates at the regularly scheduled GCSD Board meetings which are held in the Graton Day Labor Center at 2981 Bowen Street every third Monday of the month at 6:00 pm.