Letters to the Editor
November 25th, 2010

To the Editor:
THANK YOU FILLMORE
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the citizens of Fillmore for your continued support and faith in my leadership. I will continue to work hard for our community in every way I can. I am humbled and honored to be given the chance to represent you and Fillmore for the next four years. I continue my promise to listen to your issues and address your concerns.
I have been truly blessed with a strong support system in my family and friends. I thank those who contributed many hours to my campaign and who provided words of encouragement during this election cycle. I would be remiss if I did not extend a special thank you to those who donated their time and encouragement these many months as we worked on the campaign trail - Bob Stroh, Gloria Hansen and Bob Smith. I appreciate the many residents of Fillmore who made generous monetary donations to my campaign. And, of course, my treasurer, Donna Cruz for her time and support when I thought there wasn’t enough time, or money, to get it all done. To the many in the community who offered words of encouragement when the going got rough it was because of you I was able to keep focused on my mission and the issues.
I cannot thank my husband Steven enough for his unwavering support and his unending faith in my abilities.
I am honored to have the opportunity to continue in my service to this great city, my home, Fillmore.
Sincerely,
Patti Walker
Fillmore

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To the Editor:
Friends and Customers in Fillmore,
We at the Double A café would like to thank all of you for the warm reception into the community. Opening the restaurant has been the culmination of a dream and involved a lot of planning and hard work but it has been all worth it. Business has far exceeded our expectations at this point in time thanks to you. It has been a pleasure greeting old friends and meeting new ones and we look forward to serving you for many years.
We will be having a lot of fun at the café where we provide a dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere, serving the best and freshest product possible at a reasonable price. No frozen or deep fried foods are used. Although I am an experienced chef, I am a brand new business owner so please be patient as we work out the “kinks” and look for ways to improve our service. The cafe is a work in progress and I think you will see improvements every time you visit.
Our business style lunch, Tuesday through Sunday, offers an excellent meal for a very reasonable price. Dinner, from Wednesday through Saturday, involves more gourmet fare with a menu that changes with the seasons. We have recently introduced an Early Bird special at a reduced price from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. Starting soon we will offer a family style dinner on Wednesday nights where you can enjoy a three course meal with a choice of five entrees for a reasonable price. Our Sunday brunch has already become a very popular attraction. Please call 524-4052 for business hours, information or reservations.
Once again, thank you to everyone in Fillmore, citizens and businesses, who have helped make our venture a success. I am proud to have been raised in this great town and look forward to a mutually rewarding relationship for years to come.
Bon appetite!
Dustin Anderson

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To the Editor:
Re: Gazette Editorial (11/11/2010)
To address incorrect information and clarify issues.
“Gazette: Construction Costs”
The total capital cost of the Fillmore project is $82 million. This includes $26 million for effluent disposal. So if the plant was only $39 million, where did the other $17 million go? The Santa Paula plant is twice the size of ours and their plant capital cost was $44 million with $8 million for effluent disposal.
The truth is that the extreme costs of this sewer plant are due to the plan (undisclosed and unknown until recently) for ratepayers to subsidize the Business Park. The cost of the land, the levee and River Street extension would not have been incurred had the City used another site on land we already owned. In addition, the extended sewer mains, utility infrastructure and storm drains (from D St. to Plant) increased costs. THE MAIN REASON THE PLANT WAS SITED AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION WAS TO FACILITATE AND SUBSIDIZE THE BUSINESS PARK. KDF is NOT helping the City, the City and taxpayers are helping KDF. The question is whose plan is this?
Gazette: “Fillmore owns its plant outright while Santa Paula has a buyout clause”
Fillmore does not own its plant outright because it carries a 40 year bond debt of $57 million principal plus $77 million in interest, ($134 million). This does not include $19 million taken from the Redevelopment Agency. Plus whatever debt service is associated with that.
Gazette: “In every way Fillmore’s plant is far superior in cost and efficiency.”
Santa Paula's plant has a much smaller footprint, saving millions in land costs. (Fillmore paid $2.4 million just for land purchase.) Santa Paula's plant can be operated by 3 operators. Fillmore requires 6. Both plants have won awards and are recognized as state of the art.
It seems like the Santa Paula paper is keeping its citizens informed. If the Gazette did, citizens would know about the issues with Fillmore’s plant. Including; the delays to get an APCD permit, that W. M. Lyle’s took all of the “open book” funds(intended for cost savings sharing), and the 21 change orders, some of which were implemented prior to Council approval. In Santa Paula, this is what caused their Public Works Director to be fired.
The Gazette continues to smear citizens of Fillmore who have a right and responsibility to question the enormous cost of this plant. If the Gazette was doing its job, it would have asked the same questions.
Bob Stroh
Fillmore

Read a responce to Stroh's letter here: www.fillmoregazette.com/editorial/realities-117