Friday deadline for San Simeon CSD applicants

The deadline to apply for San Simeon Community Services District general manager is 5 p.m. Friday.

The deadline was shortened from August 3.

The San Simeon Community Services District selected Patrick Faverty to serve as an acting general manager pending contract and start date negotiations at a June 23 special meeting, according to the New Times. At the time of his selection, the board made clear Faverty was not interim or permanent, simply as assisting with the transition.

The general manager position is considered part time and the selected applicant will be expected to be on-site at least once a week, as well as:

DA settles civil lawsuit with San Simeon Community Services District’s private-party manager and operator

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney settled a conflict of interest lawsuit against the private manager of the San Simeon Community Services District.

The contract with Grace Environmental Services to provide both management and operations was found to create an unlawful financial conflict of interest under the laws of California. The District Attorney filed a civil complaint against Charles Grace and Grace Environmental Services, LLC on September 28, 2021. 

The settlement and resulting judicial order have resolved the lawsuit filed by the District Attorney on September 28, 2021 that alleged nine violations of the Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and False Advertising Law (FAL) based on facts concerning the contract between GES and the San Simeon Community Services District (District). This settlement was the result of a day-long mediation held on May 26, 2023.

San Simeon director resigns

San Simeon Community Services Director Gwen Kellas has resigned from her position amid ongoing investigations into conflicts of interest, according to a report by CalCoast News.

Kellas blamed local whistleblowers for her legal troubles and cited a "toxic, harassing, and demeaning" environment perpetuated by two critics living in and near the community. Whistleblowers Julie Tacker and Hank Krzciuk reported conflicts of interest to multiple government agencies, leading to investigations, canceled grants, fines, and civil charges against Kellas. 

For over two years, the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) investigated Kellas for allegedly voting on or discussing issues in which she had a personal financial stake. Despite the FPPC barring Kellas from participating in discussions regarding the wastewater treatment plant site near her home, Kellas argued to prioritize replacing a bridge near her property, leading to a new FPPC complaint filed against her. 

The board plans to discuss plans to replace Kellas at their upcoming meeting, but district officials are concerned about finding eligible candidates in the divided community with approximately 185 voters.

San Simeon CSD votes not to pay its attorney

San Simeon Community Services District won't pay its attorney until he provides unedited billing statements, CalCoast News reported.

San Simeon quick facts:

• At a San Simeon Community Services District meeting on Tuesday, the directors voted unanimously not to pay their attorney firm because attorney Jeffrey Minnery is refusing to provide them unredacted bills.
• During the past two monthly meetings, the San Simeon board voted not to pay the legal form of Adamski Moroski Madden Cumberland & Green until they provide unredacted bills to board members.
• Minnery is the attorney for 11 districts, and in the past members of the public have asked to review unredacted bills, a request Minnery has denied.
• In July, with the district battling several legal threats, the bill was $11,655.In comparison, San Miguel, a community of 2,536 residents allows all board members to review unredacted attorney bills.
• In July, with San Miguel also battling several legal threats, the bill was $10,287.In the past, an attorney for Los Osos Community Services District was terminated after it was discovered he was padding his bills, according to former director Julie Tacker.

Read the full story here: 

Some San Simeon land owners may get off waitlist soon

A legal settlement may clear the way for property owners in San Simeon to develop their land.

The settlement between Bob Hather and the San Simeon Community Services District, may clear the way for eight San Simeon property owners to soon be taken off a water waitlist. This will allow them to move forward with developing their land.

The tentative agreement between Hather, who lives in San Luis Obispo and owns an acre of undeveloped land in San Simeon, and the North Coast board will make Hather $50,000 richer and bring him one step closer to making his development plans come true. He wants to build 15 units that people can afford, according to a report by New Times.

Hather sued both the federal government and the state last year because the district wouldn't give him water service and wouldn't let him out of the water moratorium, which has been in place since 1986.