Monte Rio Musings by Chuck Ramsey - May 2018
Expectations for the season are high because many businesses and workers have difficulties making it through slow winter months. The
How can you help? Need help? Workforce Wednesdays (first Wednesdays of the month) are held at Timberline Restaurant (16440 4th St, Guerneville) where you can assist by purchasing a $15 dinner. Timberline has been graciously donating the food for the cause. Smart Pizza (16205 First St, Guerneville) also donates 10% of profits each Monday night. And Nutsack Creations has hosted fundraising events. If you would like to support our local workforce, or want more information and an application, please go to RussianRiverAlliance.org.
If you are a local business seeking financing to purchase real estate or need funds for expansion, please contact me (see email above). Through a partnership with Sonoma County Economic Development Board consulting fees are covered by the county.
Another area where grants and financing will be needed is for septic upgrades. Several agencies are working together to locate funding for those who cant afford to upgrade their systems without aid. Due to State regulations, our upgrade process is now coming to reality this year. Permit Sonoma (formerly known as PRMD) has stated that no houses will be condemned, and no one will be forced out on the street due to a lack of ability to afford the required upgrades.
Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District has opened an office in the former Youth Center building near the Monte Rio Amphitheater. They handle issues such as erosion control, ecosystem health, and water quality. These districts provide non-regulatory, confidential, free outreach and technical assistance to our community.
The next MAC (Municipal Advisory Committee) workshop will be held Wednesday May 9th, 6pm at the Guerneville Elementary School.
This month repaving will begin on Bohemian Highway from Occidental to Monte Rio. This well-traveled road certainly needsthe work.
Have you noticed how much persistence is required to get the right thing done? It’s no wonder most folks just give up trying. Whether it is dealing with government agencies or businesses. I’ll give you a few examples:
Instead of maintaining our roads or responding quickly to issues, when the repairs finally must get addressed, the cost is much higher than it would have been if addressed early on. Another example is financial elder abuse. When I questioned a state agency about why they weren’t following their own regulations regarding making sure work is completed in a satisfactory manner before allowing PACE finance companies to place tax liens on seniors’ homes, I was told, “Chuck we don’t have the personnel to enforce those regulations”. To me, it’s their job, they are the government, and if they don’t follow their own policies, procedures, and regulations to protect the elderly who will? There are many unscrupulous contractors targeting the elderly on home improvement projects and neither the finance companies nor the government do much to stop this abuse.
If you are getting a home improvement project done, make sure you get the municipality to sign off on work permits before the contractor is paid. It’s pathetic to hear people saying, “He seemed like such a nice guy, he served our country in Afghanistan as my son did, etc.“ It’s worse to hear the government oversight agencies saying we don’t have the time or staff to deal with this.
Bottom line is do your homework, be skeptical, read behind the lines, don’t expect much help from government or businesses, and if you think you can make a difference in protecting others, be persistent in your efforts.
Garden plots are still available at our Monte Rio Rec & Park community gardens. $40 a year. Monte Rio Rec & Park also has two new events at the MR Community Center: Sound Emersion Healing classes, Wednesday nights, 7:30 to 8:30pm and Aikido classes starting Tuesday, May 15, 7 to 8pm. Both $10. mrrpd.org
The Russian River Historical Society has a new exhibit and an open house to announce: “Taverns & Restaurants Along the Russian River” Saturday May 5at Guerneville Bank Club, (16290 Main St, Guerneville,) 1 to 3pm; Music by Out of the Blue. No-host wine, pie and ice cream.
“RRHS Archives Open House” Saturday, May 26 at 21482 Moscow Road (behind Bartlett’s) 4 to 6pm. Free to RRHS members $20 for non-members. For more information, including scheduling 15-minute tours, email info@russianriverhistory.org
