YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 15, No. 31
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Meter installation nearly done
August 4, 2017
BVAL Players Ready To Go
Paparazzi perfect
by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
Residents wondering when the town’s watermeter installation project will finally tap out won’t have much longer to wait, according to Mike Davies, Discovery Bay general manager. “We hope to be done by the end of the year, and we are optimistic we will be.” said Davies. “We know it has been an inconvenience to our customers, and we appreciate their patience.” The project, which began in earnest last January, involves the installation of water meters in just over 3,500 homes in Discovery Bay; complying with a state law that requires every home to have water meters by 2025. Taking the fast-track approach to the project in the interest of saving money and allowing for unforeseen problems, the town is nearing the end of the project. see Meter page 30A
Bay Valley Athletic League players and coaches are primed for new season. Page 1B
Boot-Scootin’ Concert Photo by Richard Wisdom
T
hese Discovery Bay Elementary School students and their private paparazzi mark the first day of school on Monday, July 31, with a group shot before the first bell. Schools across East County started up again this week, saying goodbye to summer and hello to a new school year.
Roddy Ranch water debt forgiven by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
Press file photo
The City of Brentwood recently forgave $136,000 in debt owed to the city by Roddy Ranch Golf Club, seen above, after legal experts advised it would cost more money to seek the funds than forgive them.
The effects of closing the Roddy Ranch Golf Club in Antioch have trickled down to the City of Brentwood. The Brentwood City Council recently voted to forgive $136,536 of nonpotable water usage debt owed to the city, after outside legal experts determined it would cost the city more to try to collect the funds than forgive them. “Outside legal counsel recommended the write-off stating Roddy Ranch is no longer in business and there are no funds to be able to collect from them,” said Michelle Hamblin, financial services manager. The course, located at 1 Tour Way, in Antioch, filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy after abruptly closing
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in August 2016, citing the cost of irrigating the golf club as the reason for the closure. Kevin Fitzgerald, longtime general manager of the course, is also alleged to have committed loan and insurance fraud, diverted construction funds and falsified police reports while employed by the course. He turned himself in to authorities in April. The city has had an agreement to provide nonpotable water to Roddy Ranch since the course was in unincorporated Contra Costa County. The agreement remained in place even after Roddy Ranch was annexed into the City of Antioch. Chapter 7 bankruptcy involves selling off assets to pay debt, while the more widely known Chapter 11 bankruptcy procedure calls for see Debt page 30A
CCTA
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Transportation authority to collborate with Intelligent Transport Systems Japan.
A fan favorite, Coffey Anderson returns for a concert at Newberry Estate Vineyards. Page 8A
New Faces In Familiar Places
Staff additions to the Brentwood Union School District welcome students back to class. Page 4A Calendar............................. 11B Classifieds..........................27A Cop Logs............................. 10B Entertainment.................... 9A Food....................................... 8A Health & Beauty...............12A Milestones.........................15A Opinion...............................22A Pets......................................20A Sports..................................23A
Health Warning
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Contra Costa Public Health reminds the community not to touch bats.