Film wraps up shooting in Brookings & Crescent City ................................ A10
Cleaning up Toloawa Dunes ............. A2
SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879 www.triplicate.com
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2021
Crescent City, CA
Past-due water fees could be waived By Diana Bosetti The Triplicate
Crescent City’s water and sewer customers who didn’t pay for their water over a 15-month period during the pandemic will likely have those delinquent notices waived. From March 4, 2020 to June of this year, there were 334 accounts past due, for a total of $71,984.60. The accounts include both residential and
business accounts in Crescent City, as well as customers in the Bertsch-Oceanview, Churchtree and Meadowbrook communities. On November 15, the city council authorized City Manager Eric Wier to apply for funding to pay off those bills. The funding will come from $985 million that the State of California received under the American Rescue Plan Act passed by Congress in March. The city will also request an additional $2,159.54 from the
program, to pay for administrative costs associated with contacting customers about the waiver, and cleaning up the account balances. According to city staff reports, the city manager will apply for the funding prior to the December 6 deadline, and there is no income limitation or other requirements for customers in order to be eligible for the waiver. For customers who have delinquent balances for either water or sewer services either
before March 4 or after June 15, payment plans will be offered. After funding is dispersed to pay off the water bills, the State Water Resources Control Board is also expected to create a second program that would focus on wastewater systems. Crescent City’s Sewer Fund is currently facing a $115,487.26 shortfall from residential and commercial accounts in the same 15-month timeframe, which may also be waived. However, whether there will be enough fund-
Crescent City honors America's veterans
ing to cover the entire amount of the shortfall is uncertain. Shortly after the pandemic began, the city council directed staff to not shut off water services or charge late fees of customers behind on their water and sewer bills. In April 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom also issued an order that placed a moratorium on shutting off water for non-payment until September 30 of this year, which was later extended to December 31.
Council again postpones decision on mayor By Diana Bosetti The Triplicate
Crescent City hosted a Veterans Day parade to honor the men and women who have served the country in the military. Above, Ellie Bellinger proudly carries the American flag while collecting a handful of candy. Left, Shylah LaBrasca, Melissa LaBrasca, Ameerah LaBrasca, Charlene LaBrasca, Leigha LaBrasca and Gabrielle Garcia enjoy the parade. Photos by Diana Bosetti/The Triplicate
The Crescent City Council voted to postpone the selection of a new mayor and mayor pro tempore for a second time after two council members were unable to attend the Nov. 15 meeting. The mayor and mayor pro tempore are chosen annually by a majority vote of the council, and the offices are taken at the beginning of the following meeting. The mayor presides over meetings of the city council, and the mayor pro tempore takes on that responsibility in the mayor’s absence. Additionally, the mayor and mayor pro tempore are authorized signers on any bank or financial institution accounts held by the city, along with the city manager and finance director. The mayor also makes appointments to boards, commissions and committees with council approval, and signs all documents that require an official signature unless the city manager has been authorized to sign such documents. The Crescent City Council is scheduled to meet again on Dec. 6 at 6 pm, and will vote on the two positions if the entire council is present.
Old cypress trees at library to be removed By Diana Bosetti The Triplicate
The 70-year-old Monterey Cypress trees in front of the Crescent City Public Library have bacterial and fungal infections and will be cut down soon. In September, an arborist was hired to evaluate the trees after city officials and a company that was fixing cracks in the pavement noticed the trees were shedding branches at an elevated rate. The evaluation revealed that not only were the tree trunks infected, but the crowns of the trees were unbalanced due to large cavities and nesting holes conditions that have put the trees at “imminent” risk of falling and hitting cars and buildings below. Crescent City-based Hemmingsen Contracting Company provided a quote of $38,005 to remove the trees and was awarded the contract by the city council November 15. The project did not require Please see CYPRESS, Page A9
Photo by Diana Bosetti/The Triplicate
The evaluation revealed that not only were the tree trunks infected, but the crowns of the trees were unbalanced due to large cavities and nesting holes - conditions that have put the trees at “imminent” risk of falling and hitting cars and buildings below.
Rower sets off on nine-month journey. Fire-fighters stop Redwood Fire at six acres. AT TRIPLICATE.COM
INDEX Crossword................................................A5 Classifieds................................................A6 Crossword Answers..................................A8
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