Voice of the People: Comments from Final MAC Meeting

by Joseph Okon, B-BAR-H Resident

Towards the end of the final MAC meeting held on October 13, 2011 at Bubbling Wells Elementary School, the subject came up that the golf course across from the B Bar H Ranch had been purchased by a Canadian group. They are trying to finance a project of approx. 250 million US dollars. They would also need to raise 10 million to bring  water to the location. Their project may bring a new type of time sharing whereby Canadian's would become condominium owners that share properties for a 3 month period out of the year. 

The layout of the architectural structure  of the condos is unknown to us at this time. So there is concern as to the height of the structure possibly blocking the view of our buildings. But as this project has so far been finacially unachievable. The likeliness of the property being annexed into Desert Hot Springs when all is said and done is still a reality yet to be seen.

The question was presented to us as to whether the B Bar H Ranch owners were willing to hear a proposal presented by the DHS city administrators as to accepting us into the DHS city limits. Several flattering remarks were made about the new  DHS administration's accomplishments. However the fact remains that they were less than seven years ago bankrupt and are still financially incapable of providing us with sidewalks, natural gas, and a sewer system. They already admitted that they cannot even provide these things to the project across the street at the Golf Course site. They asked the Canadians to pay for everything so that they can be accepted into the DHS city limits.

I am making this point to say that the 10 B Bar H Ranch residents at the meeting who said that they would like to hear what DHS has to say post haste. Should be more concern with the B Bar H Ranch water project being completed and the reduction of taxes that will now entitle us to only street cleaning, the resurfacing of existing roads to county road status, the cleaning of the road surface and the maintainance of existing street lights. 

Things that we did not get are being put aside as money collected from previous property tax has up to this point not been utilized. So why focus attention on DHS instead of the money already spent on something that is pending.

This is peculiar behavior to me. Why would someone want to pay DHS taxes for missing services. We are in an economically down turned period in US history. Some of you have purchased homes at 25cents on the dollar value from cost at time of development. So I image that you saved a good amount of money during the purchase of your home. Why spend more for less. That is what you will be doing if we become part of DHS at this time. They do not have money for the utilities that make the difference between remaining unincorporated and being part of their city.

Hope that we all are thinking clearly on the subject. Hearing a proposal when other issues  are not resolved is tantamount to moving from a position of weakness.

We should handle the business that is at hand. Not the two in the bush...

B-BAR-H Ranch Residents Get By With a Little Help from Our Friends!

Photos Taken by Walter Gaines - B-Bar-H Ranch Resident

It was long overdue, but not forgotten.  The residents of the B-BAR-H Ranch finally got the job done, and they did it themselves with the help of Steve Wilkes -  long time desert home owner who volunteered to help!

There were many vacant lots within the B-BAR-H Ranch being used as roads and entry ways into the desert by cars and off-road vehicles.  The make-shift roads were causing problems for residents.  Regardless of our requests to STOP,  drivers insisted on using empty lots for illegal drives.  

B-BAR-H Ranch Resident Walter Gaines took lead with the project to get boulders placed strategically to prevent roadways.   Neighbor and friend, Steve Wilkes helped!  Steve brought his tractor over to the B-BAR-H Ranch and together he and Walter completed the job as shown in the photos!

We believe in team work at the B-BAR-H Ranch!  The placement of boulders was approved by lot owners who were very happy to hear we were taking safety measures to prevent illegal trespassing on their land.

Special thanks are extended to the residents who voiced their opinions openly at our neighborhood meetings, and those people who actually got the job done -- Walter Gaines and Steve Wilkes!