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Oct 28, 2009 | Posted by: NewsStar

Heights Water District Releases 40 More Pages on “Perks” for Board Members.

Full story: www.lahabraheights.net

Includes Reimbursement Requests for 12 mile trip all the way up to a $1000 Weekend in Long Beach! La Habra Heights - A Public Records request for reimbursements to Water Board members for the period March 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009 yielded over 40 more pages of documents, raising questions of appropriateness of spending and judgment of La Habra Heights County Water District Board members. This period includes one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression, and with a California unemployment rate over 10%. Receipts indicate that Board member Jeffrey Heintz spent a weekend at the Renaissance Hotel in Long Beach with his wife, with the Water District customers paying the way. Board Member Pam McVicar submitted receipts for a trip to Sacramento, indicating her husband and an undisclosed “friend” Director Bob Wilson spent a weekend in Long Beach, at a cost over $1000, including valet parking. Board members Jeffrey Heintz and Pam McVicar submitted reimbursement requests for a 12.96-mile trip to nearby Diamond Bar. Of note, Board President, Brad Cooke did not submit any requests for reimbursements during the 18-month period covered in the 40 pages released by the Water District. Click Here To Read 40 Pages Released By The La Habra Heights County Water District For Reimbursement Requests Made By Water Board Members.

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Lone Ranger

AOL

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#1
Jun 19, 2009
 
Yeah so the Improvement Association has a secret agenda, so what are you going to do about it? We control the City unlike you pathetic losers.

Hi-yo Silver away
Tonto
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#2
Jun 19, 2009
 
Giddy-up lone ranger!!!!!!
Dufus

United States

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#3
Jun 19, 2009
 
Guess members should think about the annual dues paid and for what. The Heights Life? The LHHIA has now set it's membership to no member input and everyone should stop their memberships and dues at once. The last meeting was a very sorry circumstance.
Heights Lover

Long Beach, CA

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#4
Jun 20, 2009
 
Thank you La Habra Heights Improvement Association (LHHIA)for all your dedication and services to the people of La Habra Heights. The Heights Life, Music in the Park, Easter Egg Hunt, Haloween Haunt are all exemplary events presented for the community by this voluntary non profit community group. La Habra Heights is fortunate to have this private non government group providing these services.
Approximately forty residents attended the LHHIA annual meeting, thirty-eight appreciative residents and two resident gadfly troublemakers, Mr. Anonymous and Mr. Obnoxious.
Zorro
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#5
Jun 21, 2009
 
No one takes away any credit from them for those good community events.

However, they are not what they appear to be. The LHHIA is a political action committee fronting as an Easter Bunny.

The Height Life, more obviously now, is a tool to forward their political agenda and support the 3 amigos in their redevelopment drive.

If they state their mission is to support redevelopment and urbanization, and still put on their events, they would be honest.

However, they get donations and support by claiming they support our rural lifestyle, all the while pushing for its demise.
I see all
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#6
Jun 23, 2009
 
So, I attended the meeting expecting to vote for the Board, since I am a dues paying member. I was not advised of a seperate meeting to vote. This is begining to sound like a Good-Old-Boys&Girls club that the rest of us are no longer a part of. I must say I am getting a little tired of the LHHIA defending political positions certain people take. I will not be renewing until I see a financial statement and an improvement in content.
Heights Lover wrote:
Thank you La Habra Heights Improvement Association (LHHIA)for all your dedication and services to the people of La Habra Heights. The Heights Life, Music in the Park, Easter Egg Hunt, Haloween Haunt are all exemplary events presented for the community by this voluntary non profit community group. La Habra Heights is fortunate to have this private non government group providing these services.
Approximately forty residents attended the LHHIA annual meeting, thirty-eight appreciative residents and two resident gadfly troublemakers, Mr. Anonymous and Mr. Obnoxious.
I see all
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#7
Jun 23, 2009
 
Lone Ranger wrote:
Yeah so the Improvement Association has a secret agenda, so what are you going to do about it? We control the City unlike you pathetic losers.
Hi-yo Silver away
Well LR, after all the lawsuits you and your Amigos are causing there won't be a city left to run and we will have the county back in here to run things. Then we can watch you kiss Don's ass to get things done...
Over the Top

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#8
Jun 23, 2009
 
I see all wrote:
<quoted text>
Well LR, after all the lawsuits you and your Amigos are causing there won't be a city left to run and we will have the county back in here to run things. Then we can watch you kiss Don's ass to get things done...
Well Done!
LHHIA Member
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#9
Sep 24, 2009
 
With the latest fraud stories about LHHIA, it looks like they are our own A.C.O.R.N. ....... Great : (
3 Amigos and 2 Burritos
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#10
Oct 28, 2009
 

Judged:

1

1

The 3 Amigos, Vipperman, Westerhoff, and Baroldi; are (ab)using their positions, campaigning for and supporting the 2 Burritos, Heintz and Cooke, who feed themselves well at the public trough.
Amigo Westerhoff has been seen on the streets arm-twisting to get votes for his two burritos.
Amigo Vipperman is funding part of Burrito Heintz's campaign, and staged the infomercial for them at the last Council meeting.
Co-Mayor's Vipperman sent an excusogram mailer saying its OK to feast on expensive food and drink with public money, and get paid to do so, because the Burritos are "volunteers" and "everybody else does it". Huh?
Amigo Baroldi puts up signs.
Will voters reject the Burritos feasting on, taxpayer paid for, Filer Mignon, Swordfish, and swilling vodka and scotch?
Will voters reject armtwisting and cronyism of the 3 Amigos?
Curious
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#11
Oct 28, 2009
 
Burritos Brad and Jeff,

Is the food better, liquor smoother, and beds softer when your neighbors are paying for it?
just observing

Mahwah, NJ

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#12
Oct 29, 2009
 
Why is it that these people get reimbursed for alcohol and fine dining but the Volunteer Firefighters of LHHFD who are willing to risk their lives for your community get nothing? The FF's pay for their own gas, meals, uniforms, etc. Good thing those FF's arent in it for the pay or community support (of which their seems to be neither).
Resident
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#13
Oct 29, 2009
 
just observing wrote:
Why is it that these people get reimbursed for alcohol and fine dining but the Volunteer Firefighters of LHHFD who are willing to risk their lives for your community get nothing? The FF's pay for their own gas, meals, uniforms, etc. Good thing those FF's arent in it for the pay or community support (of which their seems to be neither).
Excellent point. The answer is the LHHFD reports to the City and the Water District does not. The Water District is it's own entity, this is why this election is important.
yessirreeee

AOL

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#14
Oct 29, 2009
 
just observing wrote:
Why is it that these people get reimbursed for alcohol and fine dining but the Volunteer Firefighters of LHHFD who are willing to risk their lives for your community get nothing? The FF's pay for their own gas, meals, uniforms, etc. Good thing those FF's arent in it for the pay or community support (of which their seems to be neither).
Very good point!
No Burrito Combo

Chino, CA

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#15
Oct 29, 2009
 
3 Amigos and 2 Burritos wrote:
Will voters reject the Burritos feasting on, taxpayer paid for, Filer Mignon, Swordfish, and swilling vodka and scotch?
Will voters reject armtwisting and cronyism of the 3 Amigos?
Not everyone is ordering the Brad and Jeff Burrito combo. Even though Jean Good and the Westside Manipulators are bullying to force it down voters' throats.

Picture: http://www.electgeorgeedwards.com/photogaller...
LHH Resident
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#16
Oct 29, 2009
 
just observing wrote:
Why is it that these people get reimbursed for alcohol and fine dining but the Volunteer Firefighters of LHHFD who are willing to risk their lives for your community get nothing? The FF's pay for their own gas, meals, uniforms, etc. Good thing those FF's arent in it for the pay or community support (of which their seems to be neither).
In the Oct 21 Whittier Daily News Article, this was covered:

"Board members now are paid $100 per day of service up to three times a month. Edwards said that violates the spirit of La Habra Heights volunteerism.

"In La Habra Heights they don't pay the City Council; they don't pay the Planning Commission," Edwards said. "They shouldn't pay the water board.

Cooke and Heintz said the $100 stipend has been in place since 1980 and never increased.

"If you look at the districts all around us, the stipend we get is the lowest," Heintz said.

Cooke said there's nothing wrong with board members getting paid.

"You would not imagine the amount of hours everyone puts in," he said. "The stipend doesn't come near anything for the time.""

The Board members receive $100 for their 1 hour board meetings. They also get the $100 if they attend a conference, or even sitting at a City Council meeting.

It is indeed hard work trying to find new ways to sponge off the ratepayers. "Let's see, I can take my wife for a weekend getaway at a fine hotel, if I can work some Water District "business" in. Hmmm, I think the hotel water looks good. Water business done."

Cheapskates Heintz and McVicar don't even want to pay for gas, and put in to be reimbursed for a 12 mile trip to Diamond Bar. Proably cost more in staff time to process their $10 check.

The Burritos Heintz and Cooke don't want the gravy train to end. That is why they are putting up such a fight, and the 3 Amigos are pounding the pavement for them.

We can be thankful the firefighters aren't featherbedding, hack slackers.
Resident
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#17
Oct 29, 2009
 
No Burrito Combo wrote:
<quoted text>
Not everyone is ordering the Brad and Jeff Burrito combo. Even though Jean Good and the Westside Manipulators are bullying to force it down voters' throats.
Picture: http://www.electgeorgeedwards.com/photogaller...
I think they should be refered to as Nachos, like Nacho candidate.
must be nice

Granada Hills, CA

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#18
Oct 30, 2009
 
I'm a Volunteer FF for LHHFD and get up at 4am the day of my shift to drive 45 miles one way to the 'station'. That's a 90 mile round trip out of my own pocket to serve YOUR city. Then I get to pay for my own meals and an additional amount for 'station dues' that cover stuff like toiletries and food condiments (yes, we pay for all that stuff ourselves). If you don't believe me, feel free to stop by the 'station' any day of the week and ask to see where we keep the station dues box. Every shift puts their money in an envelope and puts it in a box so we can pay for everything. While you're there, be sure to take a look at the condition of trailer and sleeping dorms. Be sure to notice the patched up floors throughout the 'station'. Its not hard to notice where they have been repaired. The carpet obviously had to be taken out to replace the floor boards but then there wasnt money to replace the removed carpet. Uncarpeted pathed up floors it is! I apologize for venting though since it is my own choice to be a Volunteer FF at LHHFD. I just wish that people would realize money could be spent on much better things than a $10 mileage reimbursment for driving to eat a steak dinner on community dollars!
yessirreeee

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#19
Oct 31, 2009
 
must be nice wrote:
I'm a Volunteer FF for LHHFD and get up at 4am the day of my shift to drive 45 miles one way to the 'station'. That's a 90 mile round trip out of my own pocket to serve YOUR city. Then I get to pay for my own meals and an additional amount for 'station dues' that cover stuff like toiletries and food condiments (yes, we pay for all that stuff ourselves). If you don't believe me, feel free to stop by the 'station' any day of the week and ask to see where we keep the station dues box. Every shift puts their money in an envelope and puts it in a box so we can pay for everything. While you're there, be sure to take a look at the condition of trailer and sleeping dorms. Be sure to notice the patched up floors throughout the 'station'. Its not hard to notice where they have been repaired. The carpet obviously had to be taken out to replace the floor boards but then there wasnt money to replace the removed carpet. Uncarpeted pathed up floors it is! I apologize for venting though since it is my own choice to be a Volunteer FF at LHHFD. I just wish that people would realize money could be spent on much better things than a $10 mileage reimbursment for driving to eat a steak dinner on community dollars!
Ask our Mayor why that is so that YOU must live that way. He supports the Water Board Members getting paid for a volunteer job, supports their spirits and drinks and filet mignon. He campaigned to support YOU guys and build you decent quarters...where is it? He deceived YOU and the VOTER's...Anyone who votes for his choice on the Water Board does not care about the fire fighters dilema or the waste and abuse. More of the same unless a CHANGE TAKES PLACE!
Got the another nasty endorsement from Vipperman lieing about one of the candidates and their position. Got something from LHH.net too; thank god their is "proof" in some messages being relayed.
NOT SO STUPID

Los Angeles, CA

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#20
Nov 1, 2009
 
Hello, just a quick observation to share with the people of the Highlands. Why would any voter be swayed into electing two water board members that are on the government take and feast like pigs at public expense just because they are endorsed by Mayor Howard Vipperman? Mayor Vippeman, who publicly refers to La Habra Heights residents as "stupid people" at City Council Meetings and his crazy nut job of a wife Karen, that goes around calling residents "…terrorist" pretty much convinced me to only vote for George Edwards. And yes you can only vote for one person.
Tell me when this thread is updated!
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