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Posts published by “Jim Shields”

The Plight Of Bumblebees

As most of you know, I’m the long-time district manager of the Laytonville County Water District. Our District belongs to a number of state and national organizations that represent and offer different services, including legal…

Questions On Proposed Fire Tax

Next week both the Laytonville County Water District Board and the Laytonville Area Municipal Advisory Council will vote on whether to support a ballot measure, Measure P, in the November election that calls for imposing…

Excised Justice; What Is The Fire Tax?

We are already seeing fallout from the sweetheart plea deal in the case of former Ukiah Police Department Sergeant Kevin Murray orchestrated by Mendocino County D.A. David Eyster, Murray’s lawyer, and ratified by Superior Court…

DA & Judge: ‘Don’t Believe Your Lyin’ Eyes’

I’m sure you’ve all been following the miscarriage of justice that occurred this past week with the sweetheart plea bargain and slap-on-the-wrist sentencing of former UPD Sergeant Kevin Murray, a guy who is clearly a…

When It Comes To Water…You Need The Facts

Without a doubt most County residents know little if anything about something called the Mendocino County Water Agency (MCWA or “Water Agency”). It was originally formed in 1987, with the Board of Supervisors sitting as…

One Set Of Books Too Many

By now most folks are probably aware that at the most recent Board of Supervisors meeting on August 2, Board Chairman Ted Williams made what appeared to be an astonishing statement about the County keeping…

No More Misbehaving At Public Meetings

Don’t be surprised if sometime in the very near future you hear the presiding officer at a local government meeting announce, “This meeting will come to order or we’ll toss you and your behind out!”…

People’s Thoughts On Water/Well Ordinance

The past two weeks I’ve written columns about both proposed state legislation and a draft County ordinance dealing with regulating groundwater wells. As I’ve disclosed previously, I serve on the committee that wrote the County…

Supes Ok Well/Water Hauling Ordinance

Since the Fall of 2021, I have served on a committee working under the auspices of the Board of Supervisors Ad Hoc Drought Committee comprised of Supervisors John Haschak and Glenn McGourty. The charge given…

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