WONDER VALLEY MONTHLY MONDAY MEETING
Second Monday of the month, November 9, 2015, 9:00 a.m.
Wonder Valley Community Center
80526 Amboy Road, Wonder Valley, CA 92277
Wonder Valley MAC Delegate and Meeting Chair: Teresa Sitz
Everyone is invited and welcome to attend and participate.
N O T E S
- Call to order and Flag Salute, 9:15 a.m.
Present: Eric Robles and W.L. Green, CHP, Jerry, Almut, Jill, Stewart, Ed, Mary, Glenda, Willis, Bob Adams, Debbie, Joan, Jim B., Bob T., Karen and Ted M., Teresa Sitz
The community agreed to allow the CHP to present before Community Comment (see below). - Community comment on items not on the agendaThe community is also invited to comment after the reports and during the discussions below.
Teresa: a fellow almost burned down his cabin trying to stay warm. Is there any way we can address this as a community?
Jill: commented on the sheriffs
Bob: What’s going on with the road folks? Added to agenda planning
Jerry: Thanked the MAC delegate for her work
Almut: Asked for heating centers to be identified in 29 Palms - Reports and Presentations
A. Stewart West, Veterans Benefits AdvisorVeterans – Bob, Jim, Robert, Willis, Jerry, Ed, Stewart
Stewart is one of two VA advisers at the marine base. Reach Stewart at work at the base at: 760-830-6976, Office Building 1427, or will meet you off base.
Joan: Had questions as her veteran husband recently died. Served in three wars. Still shops at the base.
Stewart: There’s a Veterans Benefits timetable pdf online. Some benefits don’t run out. Chronic medical issues can apply for benefits at any time if the medical issue started during service. Join e-benefits online for medical benefits – fairly easy to use. If you have any problems with the system, call Stewart.
VA Home loan available throughout your lifetime. Can eliminate a down payment. Can be used more than once.
Burial benefits. State or national cemetery when available, marker, medallion, etc.
Jill: Do wounded vets have to drive down the hill?
Stewart: If you have to drive more than 40 miles you can use the Choice Act to visit a civilian doctor.
Ed: Reach Out Morongo takes people down the hill once a week,
Karen: The number for Reach Out Morongo is 760-361-1410 ROM, Robin Schlosser
Stewart: There are two crisis lines: Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255, text 838255
General Info Number: 800-827-1000
Ed: Who do you call about complaints
Stewart: You can call me.
B. Eric Robles, W.L. Green, CHPMary: Could you post a camera on Amboy and 62 to catch speeders?
Robles: Since Jan there have been 6 collisions on 62, 3 on Amboy, 4 resulted in minor injuries. The last fatality was more than a year ago. The Marine Corps ball is coming up, and the holidays, be cautious.
Jim B: Traffic has been very heavy on weekend. Cars hauling boats are passing me and I’m going 70mph. Target Amboy and 62 on Friday and Sunday.
Jill: Do you patrol state and county roads?
Green: Yes. And all adopted roads, those maintained by special districts, and enforcement issues on those roads as well.
Ed: Do you carry emergency medical supplies?
Green: Yes – EMT kit, and O2 – we’re trained in CRP, EMR.
Bob: Why is there a difference in the speed limit on 62 and Amboy.
Robles : That’s a Caltrans determination. The #1 accident in the Morongo Basin is the single car rollover in sand.
Karen: Amboy should be widened and we should have a bike path.
C. Discussion and possible action:Shall the community endorse the delegate’s MAC Report to be read at the MAC meeting tonight? No corrections. No objections - Ongoing Business"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van GoghA. Neighborhood Watch and NextDoor (66 members)There is a new dump started at Two Mile and Shelton – anyone interested in helping clear it tomorrow? A couple of people expressed interest.
i. I did a demonstration of a window alarm – 2 for about $9, and a $15 taser from Amazon. I mentioned that my neighbor has a driveway alarm turned out to the street so he always knows when someone drives into our neighborhood and he checks them out.
ii. I suggested that everyone in the community make sure they have lighted street numbers visible from the street for emergency services.
B. Fire Tax UpdateThe community agreed to bump the Fire Tax Update to the end of the meeting.
The second fire tax meeting will be Saturday, December 12 at the Community Center. We’ll have additional speakers including:
Jim Brakebill – head of the Fire Program at CMC, owns property in WV
Ramon Lomeli, General Manager of Morongo Basin Ambulance
Jim Copeland
Someone from ISO (Insurance Services Office)
The Needles City Council just voted 5 to 4 to accept County’s proposal. The same issue is coming up before Pioneer Town.
Ed: Passed out handouts that showed the labor rates listed for the Twentynine Palms Proposal, and the rates were discussed.
The Community voted unanimously to start a Citizens Fire Committee to research alternatives to the proposal by County Fire. Bob Tellefson, Ed Vallerad, and Jim Brakebill volunteered to be on the committee and Teresa Sitz agreed to announce the creation of the committee and to call for new members.
C. Illegal Dumping – Code EnforcementTeresa reported on several submissions to the county and updates from our current code enforcement office Shari Rotruk. - Agenda planningThe community is invited to suggest items to place on the next meeting agenda.
- There was a request to widen Amboy and add a bike lane. (Meyers)
- There was a request to have a reserve deputy assigned to WV. (Bill)
- There was a request for the latest road report from Special Districts. (Bob) - Announcements
- The agendas and notes from these meetings are posted online at Wonder Valley CSA.blogspot.com
- Time of this meeting? The Community agreed that the meeting will continue to start at 9 a.m.
- MAC meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m., but also a County El Niño meeting in Yucca Valley Community Center, 57090 Twentynine Palms Highway in Yucca Valley
- HEAP Workshop of Friday
- 2nd Fire Meeting, Saturday, December 12 - AdjournmentThe meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
