San Simeon CSD refuses to identify its general manager calcoastnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from calcoastnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
May 10, 2021
By KAREN VELIE
In a scathing letter, San Luis Obispo County chastises San Simeon Community Services District’s legal counsel for failing to properly respond to questions about an alleged encroachment and the awarding of non-bid contracts. This nondisclosure could cost the district more than $500,000.
San Simeon CSD began applying for grants for upgrades to its water system in 2016, prompting local watchdog Henry Krzciuk to question the district’s failures to put contracting work out to bid as required by state law and by grant providers. At the time, SLO County Counsel Rita Neal deferred to Sam Simeon’s legal counsel, Jeff Minnery with Adamski, Moroski, Madden, Cumberland & Green, for a determination that bidding was not required.
San Simeon CSD versus Hearst, the games begin
May 2, 2021
OPINION by HENRY KRZCIUK
San Simeon Community Services District General Manager Charles Grace and district legal counsel Jeff Minnery, with coaching from Chair Gwen Kellas, a prominent business owner in San Simeon and an unknown developer, are formally challenging Hearst’s ownership of the land they have been encroaching upon. This after years of the district concealing the encroachment.
As the saying goes, the best defense is an offense.
This is a match to watch. The scorecard will be kept in large legal fees. Hearst is presently ahead $54,000 to zero.
Come to think of it, Hearst cannot lose. San Simeon agreed to pay all of Hearst’s legal costs to fight the district. What a fun game for our disadvantaged community.
Posturing aside, San Simeon CSD pays Hearst family for encroachment
April 27, 2021
By KAREN VELIE
After posturing for more than a month, San Simeon Community Services District called for a special meeting on April 22 to approve a more than $17,000 payment it promised to pay the Hearst Corporation for allegedly encroaching on conservation easement land.
San Simeon CSD directors voted unanimously last October to approve an agreement with the owners of the Hearst Ranch, which allows a portion of the district’s water treatment plant to remain temporarily on the ranch, and to pay Hearst for a survey and legal work. A few months earlier, the survey determined the district built 560 square feet of a reverse osmosis facility on the Hearst Ranch Conservation Easement.