Getting answers to problems
Getting answers to problems
By: Rick Zanutto
Description: Guest Editorial
Topics:
Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
Viewed 460 times
0 responses 3 comments Just the other day I was sitting on my tractor, thinking about my children and grandchildren, and the future they may face in Kern County. And I was also thinking about some of our county officials and the way they confront problems. It reminds me of something Yogi Berra once said to reporters: “I wish I had an answer because I’m tired of answering that question.”
Too often we, taxpayers and voters, get responses that are long on wind but short on insight. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard a supervisor whine, “There’s no money!” That’s just not the kind of response I expect from public officials. Underlying this typical politician’s response, though, lies a deeper issue: the ineffective management of county resources.
Let’s just take a look at two examples from our own district two.
I recently learned that in areas of the second district where there are two-man fire stations, residents and fire personnel face an unconscionable dilemma. If your home is on fire and loved ones are trapped there, by law firemen are not allowed to enter. The law states that at least three fire personnel are needed for rescue, two to enter the burning structure, one to stay outside. Of course, it would be better to have four firemen at the ready, but the law states that three is the absolute minimum. The purpose, of course, is to assure the safety of firemen.
But those writing the law never counted on county officials misallocating precious resources at the expense of citizen safety.
Understand, this is not the fault of fire department officials. They worked hard several months ago to find a federal grant which would have provided 20 percent of staff salaries for all two-person fire stations for five years. After the fifth year, responsibility for funding would have fallen to the county. How did our Board of Supervisors respond? They voted not to spend the money and would not allow the fire department to take the grant.
Now, I’m just a hay farmer, but I translate that to mean, “Since we can only keep you safe for five years and then we’ll have to come up with the money, we’re going to save money now and later. Be careful. Don’t play with matches.”
The total cost to the county would have been $1.1 million. Keep in mind that the state of Californian will be returning between $7 million to $14 million in ERAF monies beginning in October of this year. Do you think, in light of this potentially tragic safety situation, that a creative-thinking official could have found a way to not look a gift horse in the mouth and accept that federal grant?
The second example is known to all of us because it resulted in such a high-profile lawsuit. I have in mind the county’s suit against former Sheriff Carl Sparks over a management misstep (costing $39,000) which he owned up to. In order to retrieve that amount, the Board of Supervisors pursued a civil suit which will end up costing county taxpayers well over a quarter of a million dollars. Do you see the contradiction? Let’s not spend precious county resources protecting the lives of Kern County taxpayers. But, by all means, let’s go after Sheriff Sparks.
Incidentally, if the board is so hungry for lawsuits and if it found absolutely necessarily chasing Sparks for $39,000, what about looking a little more closely at the fiscal debacle at Kern Medical Center. Didn’t physician over-billing warrant a lawsuit.
All I know is, public safety comes before bureaucratic maneuvering. And when you’re filing lawsuits with our money, think it through. Think it through real carefully. Otherwise, you’ll get even more tired of not answering our questions.
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Sat May 20, 2006 19:55:34 PDT
Rick, thank you for your concerns. You are a fresh breath of air and will be a great asset to the County Board of Supervisors. You have my vote and I won't stop telling my friends about you.
Mon May 22, 2006 21:19:33 PDT
Well spoken -- too well spoken. If something just doesn't connect, my former law school Contracts teacher said: "follow the money and you'll get the answer".
Wed Jun 7, 2006 03:55:27 PDT
Your descriptions of fiscal mismanagement bring to mind a memorable comment my contracts, law school teacher said years ago: "If it makes no sense, follow the money and you'll get the answer."
