After two weeks of odor from Oso Reservoir, a group of families stormed the lobby of City Hall Thursday afternoon demanding an end to the stench. After gathering in front of the Library, they went searching for City Council members. Children were carrying picket signs and some adults were wearing breathing masks.
City Hall knew they were coming since morning, but no Council Members were available, nor the City Manager, nor any high-ranking officials. City Engineer Rich Schlesinger met the crowd telling them they needed to go see the Santa Margarita Water District, because the City had no jurisdiction over the reservoir. He told them the City was in touch with SMWD, but was operating basically as a conduit for information from the District. Despite Schlesinger’s polite nature, the group became angrier after surmising the City had no answers and that officials would not lead their fight with the Water District.
The families described breathing problems, asthma attacks, hacking coughs, and general illness from the strong sulphur smell emanating from the reservoir. One woman purchased her home recently, saying her family wouldn’t have closed escrow if she knew about the coming odor problem. Another homeowner speculated the problem would be fixed more promptly if the bureaucrats had to spend one night on his porch. The problem seems to intensify during the coolness of evening and nighttime. Neither the City nor Water District is any longer making predictions when the problem will dissipate.
Paul Catsimanes, who oversees MV Emergency Operations, arrived and was asked about the persistent health problems and possible evacuation. He told them to contact the Orange County Health Department.
The protestors were primarily from the Pinecrest Homeowners Association, but many other tracts and neighborhoods are affected. The smell appears to have reached almost one-third of town at times. It is most prominent north of Trabuco, but residents in other areas also have encountered the foul smell.
After the protestors left, the City issued a release defending the 24-hour efforts of the Water District, failing to note the SMWD Board of Directors has not met once since the crisis began. The first opportunity for affected homeowners to address the Water Directors will be at a Board meeting next Wednesday at 7 pm.
Yesterday a status report from City Hall claimed “the City is hoping to complement those efforts [of SMWD],” but the City Manager did not respond to a Dispatch question inquiring how the City was helping.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Just another example of how incredibly helpful our city council can be! Where were they hiding? Why aren’t THEY demanding answers from SMWD?
Come spend an evening at my house, city council members, and let’s see how long it takes you to react!
DO YOUR JOBS!!!
The non-response from City Hall is ridiculous, because the precedent is clear that the city DOES cross agency lines. For example, the city has two lawsuits against school districts. The justification was that “the districts affect Mission Viejo residents.” If the city has an “interest” in school busing to the point of lawsuits, then it needs to get interested real fast in the putrid air that is covering a large portion of the city.
The odor emanating from the reservoir and the conscious decision to continue using water from the reservoir after the problem was known are city hall’s problems. The water district should have immediately owned responsibility and made public announcements instead of allowing our residents to wonder if a gas leak or a break in a sewer line caused it. How is it that I received a recorded message last month about testing the emergency equipment but not a call about a real problem?
This has gone on for more than two weeks, and it has reached my neighborhood, which is more than a mile from the reservoir. Residents are right to expect a quick and effective response from city hall.