Family Water Alliance
Yolo County Taxpayers Association
PAST PRESS RELEASES
Wednesday, July 20, 2004
YOLO COUNTY AVOIDS CONSTITUENTS … AGAIN
Town Hall Provides Equal Time for Differing Views on Conaway Ranch’s future
Woodland – In response to the Yolo County Board of Supervisor’s decision to duck another public forum, Jeff Sutton from the Family Water Alliance and Dudley Holman from the Yolo County Taxpayers Association issued the following statement:
“The people of Yolo County have become increasingly frustrated with their County Supervisors for failing to appear before their constituents and explain the risks associated with seizing 17,300 acres of farmland and water rights from unwilling sellers. It has also been our longstanding desire for the County to appear with ranch owners to articulate why it’s in the public interest for the county to get into the business of ranching.
Despite our best efforts, it is clear that County Supervisors have no intention of appearing before the public until they have secured ownership of Conaway Ranch. It has been our longstanding contention that the public has the right to know the financial and legal risks to taxpayers and property owners before any decision is final.
Earlier this year, family farmers and concerned citizens expressed numerous concerns before the Conaway Ranch Joint Powers Authority. No member attempted to answer questions and the next week the JPA was suspended. The County stated that the Board of Supervisors was the appropriate venue for public questioning. In return, the Yolo County Taxpayers Association requested in writing a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors to discuss Conaway. Request denied. The County recently entered into an agreement (handshake) with a local gaming tribe to finance their multi-million dollar eminent domain action. When asked if the public would have an opportunity to view the terms of the agreement in advance, Supervisor Thomson responded “maybe.”
Given these circumstances, the Family Water Alliance and Yolo County Taxpayers Association developed a town hall format that allows both the County and ranch owners equal time to share their views on the benefits of public versus private ownership of Conaway Ranch. While ranch owners have expressed great willingness to address questions from the general public and press, the County has not demonstrated the same willingness to address their constituents.
And today, the Board of Supervisors refuses to attend a town hall under the pretense that the format severely limited their ability to communicate their position. Incidentally, the county was awarded the same amount of time as ranch owners.
Today, the County failed to appear before Woodland residents again nor has it complied with public document requests filed under the Freedom of Information Act. Since county representatives refused to release details of their eminent domain actions to the public, seeking internal public record requests have been our only recourse.
Despite our obvious concerns related to seizing farmland from unwilling sellers, we remain committed to the principle of fairness and open dialogue with our elected representatives. We hope that they too embrace these values.”
Attachments: People’s Advocate letter to County Counsel & town hall agenda
Contacts:
Jeff Sutton, Family Water Alliance
Work: 530/438-2026
Cell: 530/301-1030
Dudley Holman, YCTA
Work: 530/666-3646
Home: 530/662-5166