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COMMunIty news | sun lakes lIfestyles | nOVeMBeR 2014 | 3 By George Moyer, SLCC HOA President FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK Over the past several weeks I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with over two hundred residents from all over the community. Although the meetings were more related to the City of Banning they included a lot of conversation relating to Sun Lakes. Many of the issues and concerns that were brought up are not simple and easy to address. Below are some of the topics discussed, and to the best of my knowledge, what is being done about them. What is happening with the KMART building? As of this moment not much. It is rumored that a fitness center may be interested in a portion of the building. The property owner is handcuffed in finding a tenant because Sears holds lease options for the next 50 years, and therefore controls the property. As it currently stands anyone wanting to lease the property would have to sub-lease from Sears. What can be done about the traffic on Highland Springs? At this time very little. The bridge cannot be widened, and the law dictates that the sidewalks under it must remain. Caltrans has been asked, and are considering, allowing the center thru lane to be a thru and/or left turn lane going west. This would increase the number of cars that could turn left during a cycle and alleviate some of the backup. The city would like to move Joshua Palmer St. to the other side of the Chevron station. This would take one part of the problem that causes the backup and move it away from that intersection. The city has not moved forward this plan because one property owner refuses to sell his parcel that would allow this to happen. What can be done to make our RV Lot more secure? The camera system was not working adequately in the lot. It has now been fixed and relocated to provide a more comprehensive coverage. Is anything going on with the 47 acres across the street from Gate #1? I checked again this week and according to city officials there has been no activity relating to that property. You will note that the fence is being completed. When will Sun Lakes Blvd. be pushed through to the east to meet Westward Ave? As of this date there are no funds to do so. It is understood that a city representative has asked Caltrans to help with this project, and is awaiting an answer. Without some kind of outside financial assistance it would appear that the extension of Sun Lakes Blvd. will not happen until the landowner develops their property. Why can't we have our own recycling plant? The answer is money. These plants are expensive, well into the millions of dollars. Our board has been investigating that option, and several others, to lessen our dependency on city well water. We continue to work on reducing our water needs and educating the community on doing the same in their homes. What is Measure "J" (mining tax)? This is a tax of a maximum of $0.80 per ton on aggregates taken out of any mining operation in the city. Please note it is a maximum of $0.80 per ton. The actual tax can be less depending on what the city council ultimately decides it should be. Many cities with aggregate pits and mining operations have a tax like this to help alleviate the impact of the mining operations on the city. Impacts such as the damage to streets caused by their heavy trucks running up and down them all day, or the constant dust and pollution generated by their operations. This tax will not affect homeowners and other businesses unless they buy aggregates generated from a local mine. It will generate tax revenue that will go to the general fund and help restore city services that were lost during the recession. I hope this article has been informational to you. I also wish you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season. Please enjoy every minute of this wonderful time of year, but be safe. Sat., Nov. 15 & Sun., Nov. 16 All Long Sleeve Shirts & Outerwear 30% Off The Member Price & Buy Any Dozen Golf Balls, Get Any Pair of Shoes for $59 Includes in stock items only. No additional 15% annual member discount. SuN LAkeS GOLf CLuB WeekeND SALe!