Risky business

Your city, your house, your taxes and your water rates are at risk. If you think this is an alarm, it is! Just this past year, your city council made a major adjustment to the water rate schedule, giving more than 50% reductions to some of the largest hotels and restaurants while many residents got increases of 53% to 140%.

In addition, the city gave the Solvang Visitors Bureau a big part of the city’s budget and is considering a bid to bring the Amgen race back to Solvang requiring additional funds.

If anyone has noticed, your Solvang City Council often votes unanimously for most of the items before it, essentially rubber-stamping staff’s recommendations.

This is all nice for the council and the staff. They all get along and there are no disagreements. However, it is not good governance. We need healthy, well-informed, vigorous debate on all city issues.

Debate is good. It shines light on the process. It makes the argument clearer. It nudges the city staff to do its best, and it exposes the special interests that constantly want favors from the city.

To have choices this November and offer some change in leadership, I urge you to run for mayor and city council. Three positions are available: two council seats and the mayor’s seat.

Friday, Aug. 10, at 5 p.m. is the deadline for filing a petition to run for office. If an incumbent does not run, as Mr. Palmer indicated he will not, the deadline is extended to Wednesday, Aug. 15.

All you need are 20 valid signatures of registered City of Solvang voters to sign your petition. (The city clerk recommends 30 signatures.) Petitions are available at Solvang City Hall.

Nancy Orchard,

Past mayor and city councilmember

Solvang


Especially grateful

The 10th Annual Buellton Barbecue Bonanza was a huge success! It was great to see everyone enjoying themselves with the feasting and fellowship at River View Park in Buellton. Surrounded by sweeping views of golden hills and green oaks, the park played host to an old-fashioned community barbecue with plenty of food, live music, games for kids, water slides and activities, prize raffle and exhibits by local community groups and businesses.

All of this would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the many people involved in making this event a great one. We would like to take the time to thank them for their service at the BBQ Bonanza and to the community at large.

First, a big thank you to all of the staff and officials at the City of Buellton for their support in making it possible to put on a recreational event of this caliber. Thank you to all of the dedicated volunteers from the Church at the Crossroads for providing an awesome assortment of water slides and wading pools. Thanks to all the groups and individuals who participated by having a display or table: Buellton Chamber of Commerce/Visitors Bureau, Buellton Medical Center, Buellton Senior Center, Jim Smith, Neary Chiropractic, PAWS, The Ranch Church, South Coast Karate, SYV Botanic Garden Foundation, SYV Fruit and Veggie Rescue, Valley Alternative Healing and Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA.

Thank you to our rocking bands “Soul Mates” and “Coastal Kings” for sharing your musical talents. Thank you to all the volunteers and staffers who helped set up and take down the event, especially Barbara, Bobbie, Paul, David, Melissa and Richard.

And special thanks to Ron and Jamie Anderson, Matt and Cindy Hicks, Henry Alvarado, Buellton Senior Center and Country Garden Catering, and all the food crew for barbecuing and preparing the delicious feast for the hundreds of Bonanza goers – you were amazing!

Finally, thank you to all of the Buellton citizens, Valley residents and visitors who came out to enjoy the day with us at River View Park and participated in the festivities.

Thank you for supporting activities in our community and for making this such a great place to live and work. We hope to see you all for more fun at next year’s 11th Annual Buellton Barbecue Bonanza!

Kyle Abello and Barbara Knecht

Buellton Recreation