Issue 17 September 22 09

Water, Water Everywhere and We’re Exempt so…….

Apparently WE (Laguna Woods Village) can water any time we want, as much as we want, as irresponsibly as we want. At least that is what John Paulus, Landscaping Committee Chairman of Third would like us to do. I’m sure he’s had it confirmed by his connections with STAFF. Let’s see would that be the infamous Ismael Saenz and Brian Gentry or did he only listen to what Kurt Rahn, Milt Johns’ head of landscaping, had to say?

I asked Paulus why the sprinklers were running at full blast during mid-day which is the highest evaporation period and least effective watering time. We have been pounded with information from the City, from El Toro Water and from all our boards about how we have to cut back on water. We heard how THIRD was going to be fined if the water overage was as great during the next measuring period as it was during the last. Apparently the domestic use (that would be individual manors) was horrendous with some housing units using enough to wash their personal battleships daily. It also appears that there might possibly be some water meter problems! Wow, go figure! It might not ALL be residents just opening all their valves and letting the water pour fourth at full velocity after all.That information didn't come from Paulus, however. That information came from Dick Palmer, candidate for the board.

We are in a Level 1 Water Alert which has been in effect since July 1, 2009. In the brochure received from the City just Saturday it says Laguna Woods may water Tuesday, Friday and either Saturday or Sunday. Ok. Then it says WATERING IS PROHIBITED BETWEEN 10:00AM AND 5:00PM. Common sense would indicate that that is prime evaporation time…that time when the sun is highest and hottest and the water never touches the ground, it just becomes vapor. It makes COMMON SENSE not to water during those hours. But, as Paulus says, “We’re exempt.” (He is using "we" in the Imperial sense and it is only the outside watering done by the mutuals and GRF who are exempt...not individual manors) So it’s okay not to use any part of common sense and just go ahead and water any old way and waste not only the water but the plants that are being killed by neglect.

Being exempt doesn’t excuse irresponsible behavior and that is exactly what is going on with watering when the heat of the day is literally sucking the moisture out of the air before it ever gets to ground. When are boards going to get their glass navels adjusted so they can begin to SEE what they should be doing….OVERSEEING the operations here. I don’t care if we’re exempt from something like watering hours. If it doesn’t make good sense to water then WHY ARE WE DOING IT? I don’t care what Rahn or his underlings have to say….WHERE IS YOUR BRAIN? WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

Thanks for the explanation, Paulus. It was up to your usual standard of getting partial information but not even bothering to take it a step farther and ask the next question…”does this even make sense?”

No, it doesn’t make sense. The system is on a highly touted computer program. So program it to turn on and off during the hours when it isn’t going to go completely to waste. Further explanation is called for from our boards and the managing company who is driving us all into bankruptcy.

PCM has GOT to go and the sooner the better. GRF is bleeding our trust dry and we have no need for them. We can get a “real” trustee” without so much as even blinking. It is long past time to replace these total and complete incompetents.