Community Services District Opts to Hold on Clean Bear Site and Old Miners’ Sponsorship; Director Newsome to Run for LAFCO Position

The Big Bear City Community Services District is committed to remaining fiscally responsible and reducing expenditures so, to that end, a couple items discussed at the CSD Board meeting on April 6 will not be implemented at this time. The first of these was a proposed Clean Bear Site, such as in Big Bear Lake, that would allow for trash disposal for East Valley visitors. CSD’s Environment Committee, which consists of Barbara Beck and Jeff Newsome, outlined potential costs that they had determined with CSD General Manager Mike Mayer and Solid Waste Superintendent Mark Motherspaw. It was estimated that site development alone would cost roughly $300,000 or more. This, coupled with operating and maintenance costs and permit fees at both the county and state level, have made the Clean Bear Site project cost prohibitive at this time though, it was reasoned, all residences (including rentals) and businesses in Big Bear City do have trash service, as it is not optional within the CSD service area. The CSD Board also opted not to spend $3,000 on a sponsorship of the Old Miners Days Parade, but will likely participate in the August 2 parade as they did last year, using the Big Bear City Fire Department’s vintage firetruck.
In other news, Newsome received approval from his fellow board members to submit his name as a nominee for the alternate position on the Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO. Of the County governing agency, Newsome said, “What they do is important. Its function is to make sure bad things don’t happen before they happen. It’s proactive.” The current alternate, James Curatalo Jr. (supported by both CSD and the MWD) assumed one of seven voting member positions on the LAFCO Board, to fill the space vacated by Bob Colven, who had served on behalf of the CSD until his term ended last December.
And, lastly, during Information Items, CSD Director Marge McDonald shared her good news: after four years of being blind in one eye, and suffering severely reduced vision in the other, her long-awaited eye surgery on April 3 was successful. “Friday morning,” she said, “when I took the bandage off, I could see! I am so grateful. This is a miracle, and I thank you for the many prayers that went out.”