Connecting You to Your Community
Lodi, California •

Indexes


November 21st, 2009
November 20th, 2009
November 19th, 2009
November 18th, 2009
November 17th, 2009
November 16th, 2009
November 14th, 2009
ADVERTISEMENT

Galt lawn-watering incident was blown out of proportion


Thursday, June 5, 2008 6:50 AM PDT

Comments (59 comment(s))

During the last week, our public works director, Greg Halladay, has come under fire for a citation that was issued for an illegal water connection in the City of Galt.

Considerable public outcry over the incident seemed to stem from a blatantly misleading article published Tuesday in the Lodi News-Sentinel. The article was nothing more than a tabloid piece meant to sensationalize an issue and sell papers. While this seems to be a common practice at the Lodi News-Sentinel, it was still surprising to see.

Reporter Chris Nichols seemed intent in his article to scare the public into thinking that the City of Galt is assessing $100 fines for neighbors watering the lawns of foreclosed homes in their neighborhood. To the contrary, Galt Public Works staff has yet to issue a citation this year to any homeowner simply watering a neighbor's yard with a sprinkler and a garden hose. The action taken by neighbors to do as much is commendable. Our Public Works staff has followed the direction of the City Council in not writing such citations because we recognize the good work that these concerned homeowners are doing in their neighborhoods.

The incident described by Tuesday's article was much different than merely watering a lawn with a garden hose. By hard piping a hose connection from one home to another, a situation was created that could have resulted in severe property damage inside the abandoned home and could have posed a risk to the entire Galt water supply. In this particular incident, it sounds like care was taken to insure that this would not occur (neighbors walked the home with a real estate agent to insure no faucets inside were left on and that back-flush protections were in place). Had this extra care not been taken, however, a significant risk of liability to a good-intentioned homeowner would have ensued.

I remain deeply disappointed that the isolated incident described in Tuesday's article was sensationalized the way that it was. Even more disappointing, however, has been the negative public feedback directed at our Public Works department. Our public works director, Greg Halladay, has been the recipient of the majority negative feedback, with some residents claiming that he has some vendetta against someone that led him to write the citation. After looking at the facts laid out to Council at Tuesday's meeting (which the Lodi NewsSentinel chose to skip), I believe Greg acted appropriately and am confident that nobody was the target of a deeper conspiracy. Greg is tasked with enforcing the laws of the city and protecting the community as a whole; the citation he hand delivered was consistent with those obligations.

During my time on the council, Greg Halladay has been one of the hardest working employees on our staff. Greg, a salaried employee, often comes to work an hour or more early, and stays late to handle an overwhelming workload brought on by an understaffed department. His dedication to serving the community in an ethical manner should be commended, not dragged through the mud by a misleading and irresponsible article. The City of Galt is lucky to have an employee so dedicated to his job. I hope in the future that the paper will stick to the facts and refrain from sullying the reputation of a commendable man.

Editor's note: We appreciate Galt Mayor Andrew Meredith's feedback. For context, we'd only add that the citation was issued to one of the mayor's council colleagues, Barbara Payne, with whom the mayor has not always agreed. Further, we have received, neither from the mayor nor any other reader, a report of factual inaccuracies in Mr. Nichols' story.
Rich Hanner
Editor.

Reader Feedback

WY wrote on Jun 12, 2008 11:37 AM:

" You know you from Lodi when... your neighbor gets away with flushing everyones natural resorce down the gutter. The water doesn't come from the river fools. Just because the river is full doesn't mean that we get it there. I think that's what my desert region neighbor thinks. I really like him but I wanna jam him up about watering the cement.
oups.... wrong blog again "

Report Abuse

WY wrote on Jun 12, 2008 11:33 AM:

" I don't understand why when you have you sprinkler on a timer on you let the water river through the gutters. You run each station a shortewr time so the water soaks into the lawn. you can run them a few times rotating the stations to actually benifit the lawn. People are lazy. I've confronted the water police and that get NO WHERE. When we're paying 4.00 for a bottle of water then they might wish they would have shut 'r down. One of my neighbors washes the cement everyday. He must think America is made of water and gold. Well the only thing gold around here is our dry hills and he should shut off his hose "

Report Abuse

dogbark wrote on Jun 11, 2008 9:28 PM:

" WY, if the water police just drove past your house with the sprinklers running into the gutter then that means you are a Lodi cop. Seen it all the time. Been going on for years. THe fake H2O police are scared sightless by the real cops.
As is PGE, Garbage, Bldg Inspection, etc. "

Report Abuse

dogbark wrote on Jun 11, 2008 9:25 PM:

" Another cash flow booster just popped into my head; maybe I should call the Mc camp or the Ob camp? Until equity (real equity) returns to the housing market why doesn't FHA suspend the MIP (Mortgage Insurance Payment)that they allow the lenders to nip out of the escrows each month. It's bogus now, because if the homeowner defaults that insurance isn't going to do much to protect any equity in that property. Suspending it would put monthly cashflow back into the few houseowners still left. "

Report Abuse

WY wrote on Jun 11, 2008 12:33 AM:

" Oh I think this Water issue IN GALT is way more important than th Relay for life raising 196,000.00 dollars for cancer patients.

Galt is part of Lodi now. All this about Galt and where is The Relay For life story? Big bucks brought in by Big people for a big cause. And Where's the story? Did I miss it? "

Report Abuse

WY wrote on Jun 11, 2008 12:30 AM:

" Sorry wrong blog...lol "

Report Abuse

WY wrote on Jun 11, 2008 12:29 AM:

" You know you're from Lodi if you live in the nice west side and let your water run down the gutter like a river and the water police just drives by doing NOTHING! save the money FIRE THE WATER POLICE. or give me the job I'll frick'n write them up! "

Report Abuse

galt citizen wrote on Jun 9, 2008 8:18 PM:

" it's no wonder the staff in city hall refer to barbara, as barbara "pain".the city officials can't stand her. she sits in their offices and bugs the crap out of everyone and is a total nuisance. her own business failed when she declared in her campaign to revitalize our down town area. she will not be getting my vote. she has done nothing in the 4 years she has served. if nothing else, she has lost votes over this. "

Report Abuse

galtmastermind wrote on Jun 8, 2008 5:36 PM:

" So I just saw on the news that we're in a drought situation. Looks like paying customers won't even be watering their lawns. "

Report Abuse

galtmastermind wrote on Jun 8, 2008 3:41 PM:

" In November, voters will get to chose between a candidate and former Mayr who accepts no money from anybody for his election and a councilmember who will likely be financed by big pocket developers. Choose carefully. "

Report Abuse

galtmastermind wrote on Jun 8, 2008 3:39 PM:

" I find it funny to hear Payne supporters say that Meredith is immature. She cried to the media about her petty little ticket and nobody calls her a cry baby. Someday, people will wake up and see that behind all the nice smiles and good gestures that she gives, Payne is a councilmember dead set on selling the city to the highest bidder. Raboy has been ethical all the way. Even Clare fails to engage in the developer subsidizing that Payne does. Meredith has done a commendable job dealing with her and the negative vibes she brings to the meetings. It would be hard for me to sit up there and not yell at her if I were him or any other member of the Council. "

Report Abuse

galtmastermind wrote on Jun 8, 2008 3:34 PM:

" Newsuscrib: I jst watched the meeting on Metrocable website yesterday and I have to say Mrs. Payne did a good job at playing coy during the entire persession of her followers. What you and her other friends did at the meeting was nothing short of disgracefull. The voters of galt will soon get a chance to rid themselves of her back room developer deals (dell webb) and her inability to bring any memorable projects before the city. This was a publicity stunt for her upcoming election, nothing more. Think about it, she just shows up and votes at meetings. If she wasn't up for election this coming November, she'd be prime for a recall effort. But recalls are a waste of money. Just vote her out of office. "

Report Abuse

newsuscrib wrote on Jun 8, 2008 9:00 AM:

" Read Mad Dog June 5, 4:06 a.m. Seems like this person is one of the few that even know the facts! He/she is right on! You bet Meredith didn't like the fact the issue was made public. More people need to either attend the council meetings or watch them on cable. You would know that both Raboy and Meredith at the previous meeting suggested that our citizens take control and go water and cut the grass at the foreclosed homes, then when Barbara Payne did just that, our Mayor chastised her, accused her of tresspassing and NEVER mentioned that he had been in error suggesting that action but instead directed all the attention to Greg Halladay. He thinks he's coated in teflon, nothing sticks to him. He's the most immature and vindictive council member we've had in the last 13 years. "

Report Abuse

Edumacation wrote on Jun 8, 2008 2:15 AM:

" To Scrutiny: I think you have a point. Our local yokels are small potatoes compared to the real carnage on Wall Street. From Collateralized Debt Obligations and Mortgage Backed Securities our biggest issues may be Credit Default Swaps. Its looks so bad that the Treasury Department already has over 200 new banks on the official watch list for 2008. I guess these banks think the taxpayers should bail them out like we did for Countrywide, Bear Stearns? During the Great Depression which started in 1929, blame was placed on the powerful Investment Trusts. But we forget that Mutual Funds are very similar. When Investment banks start issuing credit for their own (and other banks) debt as they do with Credit Default Swaps, it is a short path to a posssible Second Great Economic Depression. Oil is up food is up, unemployment is up, yet salaries are dropping. Why do we believe banks when they tell us there is no inflation? Because they want us to buy more dodgy credit from them to keep liquidity. Its going to be a doozy! "

Report Abuse

Scrutiny wrote on Jun 7, 2008 8:05 PM:

" The issues of which most of you speak are MUCH deeper than simple CC tricks. The world will experience a whole lot worse than simple profiteering by a meager few elected officials. Food and energy costs skyrocketing are just the beginning.... "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 7, 2008 5:27 PM:

" Oh, I forgot, redevelopment will make the eastside beautiful and desirable again. Who's going to buy those 7000 or so homes to come to Reynolds Ranch and the Gateway projects? "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 7, 2008 4:38 PM:

" They're surviving because our own city council and powers to be are sharing in the same profit making machine. I'd like to see the real estate holdings of each and every cc member, even the ones they have that're in someone else's name or trust and who brokered the deals and loans. It's the same names and faces that get that 6% commission and then divvy it up. You can thank your own city leaders for letting these scams continue and not speaking up. I know that as long as I keep seeing these east side rundown properties still selling for an asking price of $300,000 and some being foreclosed on for more than that, the crooks are still operating. These are $100,000 homes maxed out and these unscrupulous realtors and brokers are still selling at 2004 prices. "

Report Abuse

Edumacation wrote on Jun 7, 2008 12:48 PM:

" To papercut 751: I saw a TV special about con-artists and the games they play. They are easy to spot once you know what to look for. They use the same stories and play the same games. They are always smiling and try to look like the people they want to trick. They will change religion, hobbies whatever to look like their intended victims. They will say anything until they get their money. How can they smile when they cause so much misery and suffering? How would you like to lose $3-5 K per month because you made the mistake of buying between 2005 until 2010 or whenever the house market flattens? Thats a lot of money to lose, but they still get their 6%. I saw an eastside shack for sale for the past few years that dropped from 520K to less than 200k and its been listed for a year. That house was built before World War I! I wonder how many coats of green paint on on that lawn? They might need some paint thinner before they can pull the weeds. "

Report Abuse

Robb wrote on Jun 7, 2008 12:01 PM:

" Edumacation:

I know a guy who is making $30,000 per month "painting" grass green, it is NOT against the law.... I asked him what he thought, he said.... Like I care, they keep paying......

AGAIN.... TOTALLY LEGAL... "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 7, 2008 7:51 AM:

" One particular realtor who has a big ad every Saturday in the real estate magazine in the Sentinel even has his son on a private website buying these homes and offer to buy any home. It's the crumbs like these that need to be stopped. When they have their own city council as best friends it's pretty hard to stop these corrupt practices and then have these same realtors tell you how good business is and you should buy now. Of course, from him and his family business. "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 7, 2008 7:47 AM:

" Great point, edumacation, and to hear the city of Lodi accusing the homeless of polluting the river with their human waste while letting Lodi Printing snd even the News-Sentinel get away virtually scott free for knowingly dumping poisonous and toxic chemicals down the drains and on the ground outside their businesses for years. And these are the same council people who voted to let their friends off easily and dump that tens of millions of dollars on the taxpayers, while those guilty parties only were required to pay what their insurance companies ponied up. These realtor and property management companies need to be held responsible and get off their lazy butts and take care of their own properties, many of which they've sold once and now have bought themselves at a dirt cheap price to start the sales scams over again. "

Report Abuse

Edumacation wrote on Jun 7, 2008 1:05 AM:

" Yup its ALL about the law? Here is a quote from the lawn dye label.

" Caution - CAUSES EYE IRRITATION. Do not get in eyes, on skin or clothing. Do not ingest and avoid prolonged breathing of spray. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling. Avoid contact with foods. This is a permanent dye and will turn clothing, concrete, etc. green. Use caution around items you do not wish to paint!

First Aid - For eye contact, flush eyes with water for 15 minutes. If irritation occurs, contact physician immediately.

Storage and Disposal - Store out of reach of children. Do not reuse empty container. Discard in trash."

And our Realtors are spraying this stuff on dead lawns. No POISON control number as required by the EPA no, FDA number, No emergency 800 # hotline as required by the CPSC. Where are the Fed and state approvals or permits to dump this stuff on our dwelling properties where it will contaminate our sewers. "

Report Abuse

Edumacation wrote on Jun 7, 2008 12:46 AM:

" I like that idea! I wonder if there have been any non-permitted electrical upgrades at Mr. Snyders residence? Or what about Mr. Halladay? All home improvements were made with appropriate building permits! Yeah right! And everyone who buys major hardware at Lowes has a building permit. Its all about relationships and power NOT THE LAW. I read a post last week from a Lodi Realtor about the allegedly common practice of Realtors volunteering to apply a green stain for unwatered lawns to imprive appearnce. Very intersting...since the firm, that sells the stuff does not have the federally mandated EPA MSDS sheets for each container as required by law. It is illegal to apply any chemical to the soil in city areas without EPA and FDA approvals. I don't see the green lawn police writing tickets to the Realtors. The stuff runs off into our sewers and poisons the water run off, which gets into the aquifer. But wait, one of our city councilmen just paid his pollution fine? Yes, we all know its about "the law". "

Report Abuse

Robb wrote on Jun 6, 2008 10:26 PM:

" Not a realistic argument, again... the law is the law....... "

Report Abuse

T & C wrote on Jun 6, 2008 6:46 PM:

" Well there you are finally Edumacation! I have missed the GOB for so long lol! "

Report Abuse

Edumacation wrote on Jun 6, 2008 4:56 PM:

" TO SportsGuru and Robb: Many of us are concerned about selcetive enforcement of the law. Galt and Lodi have dopers and and gang bangers who have taken over parts of the cities. But we leave them alone and bust a city councilman for technical code violations. Some areas on the west side of Galt and the east side of Lodi look like Mexican border towns. Ten people to a room, people living in their yards. Where are the code enforcement people to cite this activity? Do you want to find gangs? Go to a few unamed parks and wear the "wrong" color shirt and it can be a death sentence. Where is enforcement of those laws? Lodi is not a sanctuary city, so why do so many illegal aliens feel so comfortable here? To them, Its like home in old Mejico. Selective enforcement is the issue. Pretend their are no gangs, and they disappear until the next murder. You better not think about hooking up a hose to your neighbors house. The criminals are laughing at us. We must recognize what is important, safe streets or safe water hoses. "

Report Abuse

Robb wrote on Jun 6, 2008 12:11 PM:

" Breaking the Law, is Breaking the Law... NO justification... "

Report Abuse

SportsGuru wrote on Jun 6, 2008 11:50 AM:

" If Ms. Payne's actions had resulted in the Galt water system being contaminated, most of you would be screaming that the city did not do enough to protect the water system - and that the city was LIABLE because they encouraged neighbors to take care of foreclosed properties.

NO MATTER WHAT, the city of GALT would have been criticized.

So given that, I think that following the letter of the law was appropriate.

Had Ms. Payne just gone out with her hose and watered the lawn, there would be no issue here. But pressurizing the neighbor's house water system was clearly a violation because it was done without city consent (regardless of whether a back flush device was used).

Shame on her for ignoring the law - or at least not doing discovery - before taking that extra step. She should just take responsibility for her naivete and move on. "

Report Abuse

edumacation wrote on Jun 6, 2008 11:02 AM:

" To patton1: Please read my post on the Prop 98 and 99 story. I have evidence from the an LNS article in 2001 where eminent domain was used to grab property for developers. Why should the developers pay one dime for private property if they can get it for free? "

Report Abuse

Edumacation wrote on Jun 6, 2008 9:11 AM:

" To papercut: I found an interesting article for you. LNS dated September 6 2001. Read my post about props 98 and 99 in that LNS article. The GOB uses eminent domainm to suit their purposes. If you won't take nickel for your vacant land we will just take it. "

Report Abuse

goodgoing wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:39 PM:

" The Lodi Sentinel doesnt get off easy on this either. I didnt appreciate the trite Editors note: we have (not) received from reader(s) a report of factual inaccuracies. Well Mr. Hanner let it be known the first sentence contains an error. You understand better than most people that a story can be biased and contain accurate date. It is a trite statement that an article is not biased because if contain no inaccuracies. But, the first sentence isnt even accurate. Barbara Payne received the fine for connecting her house water to the neighbors house water NOT for watering the neighbors lawn as stated. This article starts with a biased attitude making ridicule of the City of Galt and has inaccuracies to boot. Im sure the city is sophisticated enough to make the adjustments to deal with the housing debacle without ridicule. "

Report Abuse

goodgoing wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:05 PM:

" What Ms. Payne needs to do is get to work as her constituents expected instead of making a public spectacle of her ignorance. If she wants to enjoy her exalted position, she is in a prime position to develop and introduce a new policy for the City of Galt. Instead of reveling in your prestigious position as a council member, get to work woman. Lodi shuts off the power but leaves the water. I watered the lawn manually turning on the automatic valves, mowing the lawn and spraying for weeds of a neighbor for 11 months while the other neighbors looked on. The house still dropped 25% from the price that it sold for 3 years earlier. It has affected the value of the whole neighborhood. "

Report Abuse

goodgoing wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:04 PM:

" As several people have expressed, Ms. Payne broke a city ordnance and should fess up to it. She should have known that it wasnt right to use her water allotment for another property. She should fess up to the violation but I think it was ridiculous that there was a fine to go with it. An ordinary citizen a normal person without wealth or position would just have to pay the fine and there would be no newspaper article. If the ordinary citizen had complained to the city council, it would probably have been well tooo bad but it was sure thoughty of ya pay the fine and go home. "

Report Abuse

dogbark wrote on Jun 5, 2008 8:22 PM:

" Another thing, Andrew, I know the scruffy unshaved look is hip with your generation, but make up your mind; grow it or shave it!
And while I'm at it, you kids pull up the dang pants!
And ladies, tattoos are for bikers and sailors!
That is all, carry on. "

Report Abuse

dogbark wrote on Jun 5, 2008 8:18 PM:

" galmastermind, you forgot to post the address of where you are doing this watering. It is needed before tomorrow's roll call at the PD.
Bwa hah hah "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 5, 2008 5:44 PM:

" damn, you're pretty smart commonsense. How did you know? "

Report Abuse

T & C wrote on Jun 5, 2008 5:26 PM:

" Either you officials in Galt WANT citizens to help maintain vacant yards next to each other, OR you want to fine anyone for using water allegedly in the wrong way! You can't have "Your Cake and eat it too"! Get your act together! "

Report Abuse

Scrutiny wrote on Jun 5, 2008 3:29 PM:

" I think this needs to be decided in the usual Galt fashion. Either a beer drinking contest at the Pizza Palace or a greased pig catching/goat roping competition. "

Report Abuse

john95632 wrote on Jun 5, 2008 1:50 PM:

" I still want to know who made the phone call??????? Someone called it in. Hmmmm I better check and make sure know one is watching me watering my lawn or the next door yard. "

Report Abuse

commonsense1 wrote on Jun 5, 2008 12:47 PM:

" Papercut, think about this. I bet "Scrutiny" is really, Patton, commonsence, commonsense1 or galtmastermind. Now that I think about it, it could be Marty, Rich or Barbara. The possibilities are endless, aren't they? Sounds like it's just about time for your pill and muzzle. "

Report Abuse

TMR wrote on Jun 5, 2008 12:33 PM:

" So if they knew about them going back through the house and checking backflush systems and all that (every precaution was taken), why did they fine her still? it was obviously a politically motivated scheme. "

Report Abuse

roxycocoa wrote on Jun 5, 2008 12:12 PM:

" All Andrew Meredith and his partners were trying to do was to run councilwoman Payane down. She does not agree with what he and his friends want to do to Galt, so trying to run her out anyway they can. Personally Meredith got my vote once but sure won't get it again. Nor his friends. I encourage all of Galt to stand behind what is best for the people of Galt and not just what a couple of people want for Galt. We have way to many unkept lawns here. Thank God for one woman who wanted to keep her neighborhood decent. And she gets a ticket for it. No Way. "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 5, 2008 10:40 AM:

" scrutiny, you sound like one of those kids that're delivering the paper for $4 an hour in Lodi. "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 5, 2008 10:38 AM:

" scrutiny, I've got a job, my own company. Got a couple of nice government contracts and a lot of great contacts. And Lapdog, you're so right. It's impossible to even try to put up a rebuttal against an issue, with the sheepherd being the majority of bloggers and always defending the undefendable. You go Mayor Meredith and start stepping on some toes like Mayor Mounce of Lodi does, except you'll never get any help or sympathy from the pathetic and one-sided Sentinel. "

Report Abuse

Lapdog wrote on Jun 5, 2008 10:12 AM:

" She lied to the Press and her constitutents. Barbara Payne is playing the poor victim seeking publicity. In her interviews and on KFBK yesterday she said she hooked up to the sprinklers. THAT IS FALSE, she hooked up directly to the house's main water supply - a health and safety hazard. She said the citation was left under her door. THAT IS FALSE. The public works department tried to contact her and she was not home. The citation was left at her house only AFTER they tried to reach her in person. She is the most pathetic, whiny, lying excuse for a public servant in recent years. She broke the law. Good law or bad law, she did it. Stop playing the victim, pay the fine and do something to change the law. Oh, next time you or anyone else wants to help keep up your neighborhood, get off your lazy butt and manually move a sprinkler around on their lawn! "

Report Abuse

Scrutiny wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:57 AM:

" Hey papercut, for someone who hates the LNS so much, you sure hang out in the blogs a lot! Get a job or something for gawds sake! "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:48 AM:

" I think they've also got a backflush and a backflow device very mixed up. I've never seen either that hook up to a water hose. A garden hose is to small inside diameter to flush any larger particles and wouldn't be used on such a small line as residential 1/2 or 3/4 inch copper residential line. Let's move on to another excuse, that one doesn't hold water, if you know what I mean. This whole thing stinks. Thanks News-Sentinel for giving me an article to ridicule you and your limpid reporter. How many times are you going to change the story and your minds, rich, marty and barbara? There should be an immediate press conference. Please hope Mr. Payne doesn't come to your house to do any plumbing. "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:40 AM:

" If her husband was a plumber he knows the ramifications of that hookup and the easy possibility of cross contamination to both homes and the public water supply. How'd they get into that home to check the faucets and taps and assure that no appliances, like the fridge water and icemaker, weren't disconnected if they took that appliance? Or did they just look through the windows? Or did they break in or jimmy a window. The fact is, they were trespassing just being on the property and if they entered that residence to inspect the taps and make sure they didn't flood the interior, they were guilty of breaking and entering. Pretty simple. The Lodi News loves to ridicule Galt and show their weaknesses while refusing to own up to their own Lodi readers and the corruption there. "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 5, 2008 9:33 AM:

" Mr. Meredith, looks like you got the Lodi boys riled up. Shame on you, bad boy. Thanks to Marty and Rich, they've shown me how crooked and corrupt you and your public works employee are. Shame on you for enforcing the code enforcement and actually giving a citation and fine to one of Galt's elite. And then having the bulls to actually refute the Lodi News-Sentinel, and their owner and editor, who never lie nor protect their town elite from the shame and ridicule they deserve. Good job Mr. Meredith, it's nice to see someone with some gumption take on a loser like the Lodi News- Sentinel and the Weybret family. Maybe you can be one of the lucky and intelligent persons to get them to tell the truth and quit hiding Lodi's political and leaders blunders and hide the fact from us citizens that they're as stupid as hell without their money and influence to back them up. That's why advisors' get rich. "

Report Abuse

Cogito wrote on Jun 5, 2008 8:26 AM:

" Mayor Meredith, I propose we all start watering our abandoned neighbors homes with water from plastic bottles. No ordinance against that! "

Report Abuse

john95632 wrote on Jun 5, 2008 8:23 AM:

" Mayor Meredith: Your Quote:Greg is tasked with enforcing the laws of the city and protecting the community as a whole; the citation he hand delivered was consistent with those obligations.

What are you going to do about all these yard sale signs being posted on street sign? I would like to see some action taken. "

Report Abuse

john95632 wrote on Jun 5, 2008 8:18 AM:

" I would like to know who made the phone call???? "

Report Abuse

carlos wrote on Jun 5, 2008 7:55 AM:

" Hold on mastermind, sounds like your dislike of Payne is affecting your comments. Although the article doesn't explain why a direct connect was made instead of running a hose to the house, it is clear that there was no bad intent with the action. No one was injured or defrauded and precautions were taken to the realtor's satisfaction. So why the big deal? "

Report Abuse

Scrutiny wrote on Jun 5, 2008 7:46 AM:

" So Galt has its Director of Public Works handing out tickets? Somehow I can`t see Rich Prima witing tickets. Something smells when the Public Works Director is sicced on a city council person, especially when its the Mayor`s political enemy. "

Report Abuse

john95632 wrote on Jun 5, 2008 7:37 AM:

" Sounds like WATERGATE all over again.!!! "

Report Abuse

galtmastermind wrote on Jun 5, 2008 5:39 AM:

" Lodi Editor: Choosing to leave out the fact that no tickets have been issued in Galt for simply watering a foreclosed home's yard with a hose from your story is still an innaccuracy. Just you just wanted to defend yourselves. "

Report Abuse

galtmastermind wrote on Jun 5, 2008 5:37 AM:

" Mad Dog: How was the staff supposed to know they did all that? Take their word? Staff issued the fine as they should have. You or I would have been treated just the same. For Payne to put herself on a pedestal is disgraceful. This in nothing more than a publicity stunt from a candidate who can't get money from the Chamber of Commerce anymore (see other Galt Story). Anyone who chooses to defend just does so because they like her, not because of the facts. "

Report Abuse

galtmastermind wrote on Jun 5, 2008 5:30 AM:

" So wait a minute; this says that Galt hasn't issued a fine for watering yards with a hose. Why didn't this Councilwoman just do that? Why tamper with the water connection? That should have been talked about in the last story. No fines for watering the lawn of a neighbor with a garden hose have been issued in the city, even thouh it is common practice in my neighbohood to do that to foreclosed homes. "

Report Abuse

Mad Dog wrote on Jun 5, 2008 4:06 AM:

" So a back flush device WAS used and the house WAS checked to be sure all faucets were off. What IS the violation then? It sounds to me like all precautions were taken. Someone at the City of Galt just did not like that Mrs. Payne was being a good neighbor. Since no inaccuracies with the article were listed, Mayor Meredith just didn't like the fact that this issue was made public. "

Report Abuse

Comments on this story are now closed.

Special Sections

Photo Reprints

Find Ads




Leaf Pickup

Services

Contact Us

Office

125 N. Church St.
P.O. Box 1360
Lodi, CA 95241
(209) 369-2761
Fax: (209) 369-1084

Newsroom

E-mail

(209) 369-7035
Fax: (209) 369-6706

Subscriptions

Subscribe

Problems with your subscription?
(209) 333-1400

Advertising

E-mail

(209) 369-2761
Fax: (209) 369-1084

Classifieds

Place an ad E-mail

(209) 333-1111
Fax: (209) 369-1084