This web page is http://rlenews.com/050224.html
The NEWS index

Some items from The Rio Linda Elverta News, February 24, 2005:
Incorporation Committee thanks early donors
Group of citizens announce fund drive for Cityhood study
"Our town"
Main Avenue closed Saturday and Sunday for rail crossing work
Gas bill too high?

Published in Rio Linda Elverta News February 24, 2005 - Scroll for other articles
Rio Linda Elverta News February 24, 2005Incorporation Committee thanks early donors

The RLE Incorporation Committee Spokesperson Bob Bastian announced the feasibility study fund raising effort was grateful to receive initial generous funding from the following donors: Rio Linda/Elverta Chamber of Commerce, Jay and Jan O'Brien, Gene and Charlea Moore, Armand Nadeau, Norma-Lee, Donna Marren and Paula Parker, DVM.
The donations will go to pay for a consultant to study the financial impact of forming a new city through the process of incorporation. The fund drive has just begun this month and more contributions are needed.

For information on how to donate see the related article following on this page.

Published in Rio Linda Elverta News February 24, 2005 - Scroll for other articles
Group of citizens announce fund drive for Cityhood study

By Pollie Parker

The Rio Linda Incorporation Committee announced a drive to fund professional studies on the financial feasibility of cityhood for Rio Linda and Elverta has begun.

The Rio Linda/Elverta Incorporation Committee is a group of concerned citizens who want "local control over local issues". The committee is on a fast track towards incorporation in order to best serve city residents by facilitating delivery of current services and providing new and better services as well.

The committee is composed of members who are elected, appointed and volunteer members of major local community organizations: the Chamber of Commerce; the School Board, the Water Board; the Recreation and Park District; the Lions Club; the Historical Society; and the Community Planning Advisory Council. It should be noted that individuals on this committee are not, however, representing any opinions or positions currently taken by any of the above-mentioned groups on the issue of incorporation.

It is the committee's intent to spearhead a financial feasibility study of incorporation of Rio Linda and Elverta so that a new city may continue to enhance, promote and protect the community's quality of life. Towards that end, the group is soliciting pledges and donations to enable them to finance the initial efforts. If, as is fully expected, the work product of this study proves positive, it is their intent to advance incorporation rapidly through the full LAFCo process.

All manner of assistance will eventually be needed throughout; financial, experience and advice, research and data, and simple moral support. A full effort towards incorporation will be started ONLY if the initial feasibility study indicates that the new city makes financial sense for its residents. At that time, the group will solicit additional members to assist in completing this process.

Residents will get to vote!

As Rio Linda/Elverta faces imminent threats from all its' surrounding areas, time is of the essence. The committee is today appealing to the public for financial help for this feasibility study. Checks may be made out to RLE Incorp and mailed to PO Box 697, Elverta CA, 95626.

The committee believes that our community is precious and the members of this committee are fully committed to shepherding it through this annexation crisis intact and even better than before.

For more information and to find out exactly how you can help, please contact any listed member, or email questions to RLECity@aol.com or visit http://www.RLECity.com.

The Rio Linda/Elverta Incorporation Committee is composed of the following members: Doug Cater, Chairperson; Hal Morris, Vice Chairperson; Armand Nadeau, Secretary; Charlea Moore, Treasurer; Robert Bastian, Spokesperson; and members Judy Garcia, Gene Moore and Paula Parker, DVM.

The cost of the feasibility study is approximately $30,000.

Checks may be made out to RL/E Incorporation Committee, P.O. Box 697, Elverta, CA 95626.

If you prefer to donate online with a credit card, go to: http://rlecity.com and click on contribute.

Our communities are precious, please consider your support.


Published in Rio Linda Elverta News February 24, 2005 - Scroll for other articles
Rio Linda Elverta News February 24, 2005"Our Town"

By Norma-Lee

It’s Friday night and it’s been a long, tough week on my new job.  Add to that, the commute from Orangevale, wading through a sea of endless taillights, I made a decision that ultimately opened my eyes to something I guess I took for granted or just never noticed before.

I decided to forego the futility of foraging in my fridge/freezer for something edible and instead headed to beautiful, downtown Rio Linda and Papa’s Pizzeria for a treat.  It was just after 6 p.m. by the time I negotiated the traffic, arrived at the restaurant and placed my order to go.  I found a table and sat sipping a drink while I waited for my pizza. 

I couldn’t help but notice how busy they were.  Almost every table was taken up by families, themselves enjoying a Friday-night treat after their long week of jobs, school, homemaking, and what have you.  There were smiles on everyone’s faces and I kibitzed with a couple at the next table.  Then I watched as 5-year-old James played the claw machine and won a big Barney doll.  James was cool; he didn’t jump up and down in excitement as did his onlookers.  He never doubted his skill.

Still smiling as I left Papa’s, I passed the Oak Tree Diner and through the windows, I witnessed pretty much the same scene; families enjoying a Friday night dinner out.

Both of these scenes left me feeling warm and fuzzy about our 'small town'.  I saw people I knew and felt no qualms about speaking to people I didn’t know and I couldn’t help but wonder how many people in Los Angeles or San Francisco ever experience that feeling?  I’d be willing to bet the answer is few or none.

Then, as I drove west on M Street, I noticed that Amy’s was doing a brisk business as was Rio Java and the other businesses on our main commercial street.  The experience made me realize more so than I already did, that we need to preserve our way of life here in our “Smalltown” and how will that be possible when the County is selling us out to deep-pocketed land developers?  When they get done with us, all of our open spaces will be choked with over-priced-cracker-box houses and strip malls and a way of life as old as America itself, will be gone forever.

There is a movement underway right now to incorporate Rio Linda/Elverta.  That is the only way we can protect our future and control our destiny.  Please visit http://rlecity.com and find out what you can and must do to keep Rio Linda/Elverta from being swallowed up by greedy politicians and land developers.


Published in Rio Linda Elverta News February 24, 2005 - Scroll for other articles
Main Avenue closed Saturday and Sunday for rail crossing work

By Jay O'Brien

Work on the Union Pacific railroad crossing on Main Avenue between Rio Linda Blvd. and Northgate Blvd. will close a section of Main Avenue this weekend, February 26-27.

The closing just east of Northgate Boulevard and west of Pell Drive will allow crews to upgrade the railroad crossing before the City of Sacramento begins construction, in March, of a four-lane bridge to cross over the tracks and replace the current two-lane timber structure.

Local businesses will remain open, but through traffic from Rio Linda will detour via Norwood Avenue and Interstate 80 to Northgate Blvd.

Additional Union Pacific work to move the crossing gates for the tracks is planned for Feb. 28 to March 2. Main Avenue will remain open, with potential delays of up to 10 minutes.

Linda Tucker, the Public Information Officer for the City's Department of Transportation, says groundbreaking on the bridge project is slated for Thursday, March 10 at 10 a.m. The public is invited to the groundbreaking.


Published in Rio Linda Elverta News February 24, 2005 - Scroll for other articles
Gas bill too high?
PG&E meters misread

By Jay O'Brien

In late January, PG&E discovered some intentional misread gas accounts in the Sacramento area including Rio Linda.  It discovered that some accounts were as much as four times higher than should have been. PG&E then conducted an investigation to determine the cause. When it learned the cause was intentional misreads by an employee, PG&E notified all 10,000 customers who could have been impacted.

Christy Dennis, PG&E's media representative, said besides sending an automated message to the customers, they were manually correcting all accounts to assure an accurate bill next month. They stopped automatic bank withdrawal for one month for the 450 accounts that use this service.

The PG&E message asked customers to pay what was paid the previous month, not the inflated amount on their bill. Dennis says that if the inflated bill was paid, customers will receive a credit next month.

Customers may read their gas meter and provide the reading to PG&E to ensure an accurate bill.

"If PG&E discovers intentional misreads by one of its 840 meter readers it is immediate grounds for termination", said Dennis.

jump to top of page