Taxpayers Group Joins Sup Sweeney in Reexamination of Whiterock Connector JPA Eminent Domain Powers

The Taxpayers Association wishes to request the Board of Supervisors give full support for Supervisor Sweeney’s requested action regarding the reexamination of powers of the Whiterock Connector JPA.  As stated it concerns the powers of the authority to use eminent domain and powers to levy against funds of the County of El Dorado, and to levy against private properties in the County of El Dorado.

Having previously taken exception to the authority being granted to the JPA to make levies on our County and on properties in our County, Supervisor Sweeney’s current recommendation are:

I believe it is incumbent on staff to answer these questions and identify options that would resolve the issues I have raised.  I am attaching the questions from my 01-03-12 e-mail for consideration and attaching Section 7 (from page 6) of the MOU so that this Board and the public can consider these issues and create positive direction for the appropriate continuation of the JPA.
 
I would caution that I also believe that the adoption of the JPA was made conditional by the Board at the time such that any budget that increased the burden on our County, that any effort to tax or bond our County or, any effort at eminent domain on properties in this County was to be brought back to our Board for consideration before the sitting member on that JPA Board took action or voted on the item at the JPA Board.
 
Of the”attached questions” mentioned above, one question of vital concern for the Taxpayers Association and county residents is included below:
Following are some questions that come to mind and that also may have been previously asked but remain unanswered or confused:
 
I still believe that any levies or actions against the County of El Dorado or its citizens as set forth in MOU section 7 should require a majority vote of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors! I strongly urge an amendment be brought back to our board. I believe I raised this issue when we adopted the MOU 12-12-06 and again on 10-05-09.