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Storms were Placer’s Katrina Dear Editor, The wind, rain and snow storms the first week of January found agencies in Placer County fumbling with uncertainty over jurisdictions that is reminiscent of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Louisiana with hurricane Katrina. While the crisis in Placer County was minor compared with Katrina, some of the same communication problems arose. Fortunately, while Placer’s storm damage was not life threatening (mostly), the coordination of services left much to be desired, especially if a toxic danger were to arise in the future. Where minutes or hours, not days, would be vital for response. One example includes a tree that fell in Meadow Vista during the wind storm on Thursday, Jan. 3., blocking a roadway, knocking down a power pole and leaving about 700 feet of power line on the ground and road. Local residents called PG&E and Placer County administration on Friday morning to report the situation. PG&E did shut off the power line but do not notify the county. Placer Public Works came to the scene, but would not touch the fallen tree since the power line may still be hot, so they left. On Saturday, a series of PG&E people arrived to deliberate over who should remove the tree so they could replace the pole and string new wires. This was repeated on Sunday and through midday Monday. Meanwhile, nothing happened to fix the problem. If this had been a toxic chemical attack/disaster, lives would have been lost if delays lasted longer than hours. County CEO Tom Miller should convene a meeting with all critical agencies – fire, police, PG&E, etc. and set up a crisis management system that works, with a chain of command that can adapt to situations as they happen. Wally Reemelin, Meadow Vista
* * * Kirby is not right choice for Auburn City Council Dear Editor, The
voters of Auburn should be aware that the election of Dr. Bill Kirby to
the City Council would not be in the public interest. I have seen
Dr. Kirby in action the past several years, beginning with his
unsuccessful bid to unseat Congressman John Doolittle to his likewise
unsuccessful bid for a seat on the Sierra College Board of Trustees. I
have observed him up close and personal. Dr. Kirby is extremely
well read and knowledgeable on a variety of subjects and an outstanding
urologist. In my opinion, he is also confrontational and intolerant. His behavior as a member of the Board of Directors of the Auburn
Recreation District at public meetings was sometimes indicative of the
foregoing and an embarrassment to the accepted standard of conduct
befitting a public official. None of his disagreements with other board
members justified his sometimes rude and discourteous conduct. Auburn
deserves a City Council comprising members with diverse views yet every
one of them capable and willing to conduct the public business with
simple courtesy, decorum and without rudeness and confrontation. The voters of Auburn should spare our great city from the like of Bill Kirby. William T. Sweigert, Auburn
Editor’s note: Mr. Sweigert’s letter was received at the
Sentinel office in the mail on Tuesday, Jan. 8, after his passing. For
Mr. Sweigert’s “In Memory” notice, see page B2.
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