Thousand Oaks Sewage Spill

The Thousand Oaks sewage spill has been declared an “act of God” by city staff. They have stated that El Nino washed away the great volumes of earth, which protected sewer pipes below ground level. These sewer lines became directly exposed to the tremendous forces created by the recent storms. The sewer lines failed under those conditions. They would have failed, most likely, if they had been new lines.

If Councilwoman Elois Zeanah is responsible for this act of God, how come she hasn’t been elevated to a higher level on the City Council?

I offer a counter theory: For more than two years, the majority of the City Council failed to vote for a more affordable sewer plant and line renovation. They insisted on spending an extravagant $75 million instead of the $45 million that Zeanah and Linda Parks supported. For two years, the majority on the council hindered the renovation. Was it their delay that caused the sewer lines to break? Should we blame them for the sewer lines’ failure?

Members of the majority, Andy Fox, Judy Lazar and Mike Markey, feel free to relax--I happen to believe the city’s engineer, Don Nelson.

As taxpayers, we all need to believe Don Nelson. An “act of God” determination would save us from further taxation that could result from penalties for any council members’ culpability. My taxes are high enough. How about yours?

Council members are not fortune tellers. Let’s chill the debate.

SAL TERRUSA

Thousand Oaks