‘We have not yet made a decision’ (November 13, 2015)
The letter by Kevin Brogan calling into question aspects of the Town’s Final Environmental Impact Report alluded to a point I’ve tried to make several times, that being, the Town seems already to have decided to seize Ranchos one way or the other, despite its protestations of not having made a decision in the matter. So I thought I would gather a few of the references I have seen in the documentation that support the viewpoint of the Town having already made a decision.
| Date | Source | Item | Text |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04/12/06 | Daily Press | Our opinion | The council is, according to Mayor Mark Shoup, intent on acquiring both the Apple Valley Ranchos Water Co. and the Golden State Water Co. |
| 04/12/06 | Daily Press | Our opinion | Mark Shoup: Ultimately this may require a condemnation |
| 04/12/06 | Daily Press | Our opinion | Mark Shoup: You as a rate payer should elect the people who set your water rates |
| 04/12/06 | Daily Press | Water systems would cost Apple Valley $102 million | Town Council forges ahead with acquisition plans |
| 04/12/06 | Daily Press | Water systems would cost Apple Valley $102 million | the Town Council unanimously decided to push forward with efforts to acquire the two largest water companies in Apple Valley |
| 04/12/06 | Daily Press | Water systems would cost Apple Valley $102 million | Members of council said it was in the best interest of the town to move forward with the take over. |
| 04/12/06 | Daily Press | Water systems would cost Apple Valley $102 million | Mark Shoup: I think we all agree there are tremendous amounts of good public policy reasons the town should acquire the two water companies. |
| 2011/02/09 | Subject: Apple Valley Memo | KND: The discussion concerning the Town’s acquisition of the Company was helpful and enlightening for us. |
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| 2012/04/09 | Town of Apple Valley | Re: Public Records Request Received March 5, 2012 — Determination | 5. All invoices […] relating to the potential or attempted acquisition of Apple Valley Ranchos Water’ Company, from January 1, 2010 to present |
| 2012/04/09 | Town of Apple Valley | Re: Public Records Request Received March 5, 2012 - Determination | 6. All invoices […] relating to the potential or attempted acquisition of Apple Valley Ranchos Water’ Company, from January 1, 2010 to present |
| 2014/02/11 | Urban Futures | Financial feasibility analysis | The Town is considering the financial feasibility of acquiring the privately held AVR. |
| 2014/02/23 | Daily Press | Proposed water rate hike raises concerns | Barb Stanton: We must control our destiny, but how can we when we’re being held captive by a private company? |
| 2014/07/12 | Daily Press | Apple Valley eyes water supplier | Barb Stanton: Controlling our destiny is vital to the survival of this community |
| 2014/08/22 | True North Research | Survey of Apple Valley Residents regarding Water System Acquisition | is there community support for the Town acquiring the water company? |
| 2014/08/27 | Town of Apple Valley | (cost fact sheet) | The potential sale of Park Water does not alter in the least Apple Valley’s intent in acquiring the Apple Valley Ranchos water system. |
| 2014/08/27 | Town of Apple Valley | (survey fact sheet) | Survey respondents were asked three different times if they support or oppose the Town purchasing the water system from AVRWC. |
| 2014/08/27 | Town of Apple Valley | News release | Survey of Apple Valley voters shows 67% support or probable support for water company acquisition |
| 2014/10/07 | Desert News Post | Barb Stanton Seeks Re-Election to Town Council | Barb Stanton: Water destiny |
| 2014/10/21 | Town of Apple Valley | News release | Apple Valley is pursuing the purchase of AVR |
| 2014/10/25 | Daily Press | Study to purchase AV Ranchos released | The town is pursuing the purchase of AVR in order to gain local control over the town’s water resource |
| 2014/10/25 | Daily Press | Study to purchase AV Ranchos released | Town officials have said that the potential sale of Park Water doesn’t change Apple Valley’s intent in acquiring the Apple Valley Ranchos water system |
| 2014/10/29 | Daily Press | Voter Guide | By far the main issue in the campaign is the attempt to acquire the privately owned Apple Valley Ranchos Water Co., either by outright purchase or through condemnation proceedings |
| 2014/11/12 | Daily Press | Ranchos Water purchase good for Apple Valley | Art Bishop: it is good and reasonable for the Town of Apple Valley to acquire the water company |
| 2014/11/12 | Daily Press | Ranchos Water purchase good for Apple Valley | Art Bishop: A recent survey indicated strong support for the acquisition from Apple Valley residents |
| 2014/11/12 | Daily Press | Ranchos Water purchase good for Apple Valley | Art Bishop: the Town of Apple Valley has the financial resources and the staff expertise to purchase the Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company |
| 2014/11/18 | Town of Apple Valley | Staff report | Award contract for appraisal services to Hayward Consulting Group |
| 2014/11/19 | Daily Press | Town, water officials steaming over possible takeover | the Town of Apple Valley has the financial resources and the staff expertise to purchase the Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company |
| 2015/02/21 | Daily Press | Apple Valley poised to seize the day | Apple Valley officials think the time is right to acquire their principal water supplier. |
| 2015/02/21 | Daily Press | Apple Valley poised to seize the day | Art Bishop: the council’s inclination to acquire the company |
| 2015/02/21 | Daily Press | Apple Valley poised to seize the day | Town officials are not deterred by AVR’s recent acquisition of Yermo Water Co. |
| 2015/02/21 | Daily Press | Apple Valley poised to seize the day | Apple Valley’s total cost of laying the groundwork for a potential acquisition of the water company includes […] $177,238 in 2014 |
| 2015/02/21 | Daily Press | Apple Valley poised to seize the day | summertime telephone survey |
| 2015/02/21 | Daily Press | Apple Valley poised to seize the day | a series of informational ads on the intended acquisition |
| 2015/02/21 | Daily Press | Apple Valley poised to seize the day | (link to H2Ours.com [sic] propaganda website) |
| 2015/02/21 | Daily Press | Apple Valley poised to seize the day | Frank Robinson: We want to buy Apple Valley Ranchos |
| 2015/02/25 | Register.com | H2Ours.com | (purchase of domain name and creation of a website solely designed to promote the Town’s hostile takeover of Ranchos) |
| 2015/03/08 | Daily Press | Acquiring Ranchos Water Company is right move for Apple Valley | Frank Robinson: Acquiring Apple Valley Ranchos is the right move, and the smart move for Apple Valley right now. That’s not conjecture. That’s a fact. |
| 2015/03/08 | Register.com | AVH2Ours.com | (purchase of domain name and creation of a website solely designed to promote the Town’s hostile takeover of Ranchos) |
| 2015/03/09 | Daily Press | Water company, town hire media consultants | has also hired The 20/20 Network for consultation in the matter of water acquisition |
| 2015/04/08 | Desert News Post | Facts Supporting Town’s Acquisition of Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company | Why is the Town pursuing acquisition?(presented as a news item, but really just a press release from TOAV) |
| 2015/04/28 | Town of Apple Valley | Special presentation | The Town has consistently indicated its desire to purchase the system from AVR |
| 2015/04/28 | Town of Apple Valley | Special presentation | Acquisition benefits and process |
| 2015/04/28 | Town of Apple Valley | Special presentation | Appraisal process #2 |
| 2015/04/28 | Town of Apple Valley | Special presentation | Acquisition procedure […] If AVR accepts or is willing to negotiate reasonably, there is no need for litigation. |
| 2015/05/10 | www.avh2ours.com/?page_id=54 | Sign a petition | (petition form that gives only one option: support the Town’s hostile takeover of Ranchos) |
| 2015/05/27 | Daily Press | Town to make offer for Apple Valley Ranchos | Apple Valley aims to buy water company |
| 2015/06/04 | Town of Apple Valley | Special newsletter | no choice but to put ownership of our water system back where it belongs(back?) |
| 2015/06/09 | Apple Valley Review | Are there other motives behind the Ranchos takeover? | There must be more reasons the Town is set on acquiring Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company than lowering rates. |
| 2015/06/18 | Town of Apple Valley | Radio spot | Barb Stanton: Support community ownership(date approximate) |
| 2015/06/19 | San Bernardino County Sentinel | AV employing eminent domain threat to wrest water control from private company | Well ahead of the May vote, the town council gave indication of the serious intent it has with regard to acquisition of Apple Valley Ranchos |
| 2015/06/19 | Town of Apple Valley | Missoula case called milestone by Apple Valley | Frank Robinson: This decision certainly substantiates what we have been saying that water belongs to public |
| 2015/06/24 | Rincon Consultants | Initial Study | The Town of Apple Valley is proposing to acquire the existing AVR System |
| 2015/06/26 | Daily Press | Town submits offer to buy AV Ranchos | Town submits offer to buy AV Ranchos |
| 2015/06/26 | Daily Press | Town submits offer to buy AV Ranchos | Frank Robinson: water is a public asset and should be controlled by the community |
| 2015/07/16 | Rincon Consultants | Amended Initial Study | The Town of Apple Valley is proposing to acquire the existing AVR System |
| 2015/07/22 | True North Research | Tracking survey of voters regarding water system acquisition | the Town’s proposed acquisition of the water company |
| 2015/07/23 | Town of Apple Valley | Survey confirms growing support for public ownership of water | The Town is considering acquisition |
| 2015/07/24 | Daily Press | Town’s survey shows support for Ranchos acquisition | Town officials said Thursday that support is growing for the town’s acquisition of Apple Valley Ranchos Water Co. |
| 2015/07/24 | Daily Press | Town’s survey shows support for Ranchos acquisition | Barb Stanton: This confirms the overwhelming support for acquisition in our community |
| 2015/07/31 | Town of Apple Valley | Read the complete survey | growing support for Town acquisition of the water system |
| 2015/08/11 | Town of Apple Valley | Transparency Report | Ranchos acquisition efforts |
| 2015/08/11 | Town of Apple Valley | Transparency Report | the Town’s acquisition efforts of Ranchos |
| 2015/08/11 | Town of Apple Valley | Transparency Report | (Direct costs of acquisition) |
| 2015/08/19 | Daily Press | Building connections | the town’s continued attempts to acquire Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company |
| 2015/08/19 | Daily Press | Building connections | Barb Stanton: Our pursuit of water acquisition is number one in my book |
| 2015/08/20 | Daily Press | Ranchos Acquisition: Town officials see Montana ruling as a victory | Like Apple Valley, the city of Missoula is attempting to acquire its privately owned water company |
| 2015/08/20 | Daily Press | Ranchos Acquisition: Town officials see Montana ruling as a victory | town council members reported feeling further justified in their acquisition attempts |
| 2015/08/20 | Daily Press | Ranchos Acquisition: Town officials see Montana ruling as a victory | Barb Stanton: We (Apple Valley) are on the same journey as Missoula |
| 2015/08/30 | Town of Apple Valley | The truth matters (ad) | Support community ownership(never an option to oppose) |
| 2015/09/10 | Town of Apple Valley | Adopted budget for 2015-2016 | 8. REVENUE GENERATION — Explore options for departments to provide revenue- generating services. Identify potential revenue streams in both public and private sectors.(adopted April 11, 2012) |
| 2015/09/17 | Rincon Consultants | Draft EIR | The Town of Apple Valley (Town) is proposing to acquire the Apple Valley Ranchos Water Supply System (AVR System) |
| 2015/11/09 | Rincon Consultants | Final EIR | The Town of Apple Valley (Town) is proposing to acquire the Apple Valley Ranchos Water Supply System (AVR System) |
Note that this list does not include the many ads and posts by the Town on Facebook, most of which use similar verbiage, nor does it include the many times Town representatives have made it clear through the manner and methods of their attacks on Ranchos that there can be no other outcome but a hostile takeover.
— Greg Raven is Co-Chair of Apple Valley Citizens for Government Accountability, and is concerned about quality of life issues.