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From:
Lila Hayes
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2005 11:49 AM
To: info@oldfirerecoverygroup.org
Subject: OFRG weekly update
There has been a slight change of plans for this Sunday's meeting. George
contacted me and said they would not be able to make our meeting this week.
It just so happens that I just gave a presentation to the Lakeside fire survivors
"Wiring your house for the 21st century". Since I already have all of
the handouts and demonstration items, I will do this presentation on Sunday.
Also, Paul VanDyke Chief of Staff from State
Senator Nell Soto's office will be at our meeting this week to talk about the
bill they introduced for the 2005 session. He is flying in from Sacramento
to meet with us and with Rebuilding Mountain Hearts and Lives so we are very
pleased to have him at our meeting!
Also, remember that this will be the only meeting
in March. Earlier in the year I sent a post card out saying we
would have one on March 27, but I didn't realize it was Easter so we
postponed the meeting until April 10. The topic will be
Interior Design and not only will we have a real live interior designer there,
but Amelia is busily inviting many different people who represent different
parts of interior design such as carpet, drapery etc. I have also sent out a new postcard with the revised
schedule.
Here is a summary of today's update
- Direct From the Homeowners Mouth
- Property Tax Information
-
Gas Service Re-Instatement for Firestorm
Victims
-
DOI Looking for survivors who...
-
Nov 2004 State Senate Insurance Hearing "Up In Smoke"
Transcript Online
---
Direct from the Homeowner's
Mouth
I am passing along these words of advice
from fellow fire survivors. I am posting these types of comments on
our website as well. I hope to collect quite a few!
Rick and Sharon Cords - Total Loss on
Willows, Oct 2003
Mar 02, 2005
We would like to bring to the attention of those who are
in the process of rebuilding to ask their contractors about the security of the
build site and the security of the house. Last Saturday night or early
Sunday morning, our home was broken into and several thousands of dollars worth
of tools and boxed fixtures, that were placed into the garage to be installed
this week, were taken. Our tile man is from San Diego, so he was
leaving his tools on the job site, in a back room not seen from the
street, as he worked while staying in a motel in town. The "bad guys"
took most of his tools, grinders, table tile saw, flood lights,
and more. He figures about $6000. to $7000. worth.
Most of the fixtures taken were faucets, sinks, shower fixtures, toilets,
etc. etc., but costs are in the thousands as well. Guess these things
are easily sold, according to the San Bernardino City Police, at swap meets,
yard sales, etc.
Please tell folks to make sure their contractor(s)
is insured. Have them ask their contractor what they are doing, or are
going to do, for security on the job site? We just didn't think
about this ... the doors and windows were all locked, or so we thought. At
least we were not vandalized, as some other builds have been, or so we were
told.
It is important that any items removed from
property be reported to the police! Even if it is just a few used bricks
... maybe those were needed in the rebuild! Any vandalism should be
reported as well. We have asked that the police patrol the rebuild
areas on a regular basis more often. They made no promises, but if
everyone that has a rebuild going on would request the same, then maybe it could
be implemented for all of us.
Of course now that the "horses are out of the barn"
our contractor is placing a security trailer on our property. It has
lights and a security camera that records any movement on the lot. The
items taken from our home can be replaced. They were insured, but now we
are, once more, behind in getting to move in as we wait for the items to be
replaced. Our tile guy is back working today, but lost two days of work
while getting new equipment. We were victimized by an arsonist on
October 25, 2003 and now we have been victimized again by scumbags in
2005!! Really ticks us off!
Next subject: Lowe's is no longer
offering the 10% discount. They said they were having people come in
asking for the discount and then bragging to people how they got a 10% discount
and didn't even have a house that burned. Too many people started taking
advantage of the company. Lowe's did not want to have to force people to
prove they lost a house, so they just stopped giving the discount in January
2005. Old Fire survivors have to "pay" for other peoples
insensitivity. But, having said that, we have found if we ask the
manager of an establishment if they are giving discounts to survivors, we
usually get one as a courtesy. We plan on inviting all of these wonderful
establishments to our Open House when our home is finished!!
---
Brandi deDoes, total loss on Elm Street,
Oct 2003
Mar 4, 2005
We have one of the best contractors ever and he
will be looking to add two more houses now that our house and Mary Thomas' house
are almost complete. He is a custom house builder and does fantastic work;
is organized when keeping up with the appropriate scheduling of subcontractors;
the homeowner goes in once a week and signs the individual checks to those
subcontractors so you always know where every bit of money is going and you will
have a copy of every invoice. We highly recommend
Denny Carlson. If you know of anyone
needing a general contractor and maybe if they already have their
plans. Let me know.
---
Property Tax Information
My name is Kevin Trax, I work for the County of San
Bernardino Assessors Office. I was asked by Amelia Herrmann to relay some
taxation information regarding transfer of Proposition 13 values to replacement
properties within the County, and the rebuilding of properties. The
following sections can be found in the California
Revenue & Taxation Code:
Section
69 refers to the transfer of Proposition 13 values to replacement
properties
These sections can be found using the attached
link,
or
Please disseminate this information as
needed.
Sincerely,
Kevin B. Trax
Appraiser I
County of San Bernardino
---
Gas Service Re-Instatement for
Firestorm Victims
I received the following reminder from the building
department and was asked to pass the word along.
- Verify with your builder that the Gas Houseline is
installed on the same side of the house as it was previously. If line is
installed in a different location, the homeowner will incur a cost.
- Call 1-800-427-2200 and identify yourself as a
Firestorm Victim. Explain to Customer Service Representative that you
need to schedule a Filed Planner visit to your location for service
re-instatement.
- Field Planner will visit location within
5-7 working days.
- Service re-instatement order will be issued by
Field Planner and competed by Gas Co. personnel or qualified pipeline
contractor within 4-weeks of field visit.*
- Upon approval of Houseline Plumbing by local
Building Department, call 1-800-427-2200. Identify yourself as a
Firestorm Victim and explain to Customer Service Representative that you need
to apply for Meter Set/Turn On Application.
- Order will be issued for Field Service
Representative to set meter and turn on gas within 2 working
days.
* 4-week timeframe is not applicable if
service re-instatement is different than original service
location.
---
DOI Looking for survivors
who...
The DOI is looking for people who had Kapilow and
Sons (Public Adjuster) to see if they can assist in retrieving the fire
survivor's money.
Call Bernadine Spidy -- DOI -
619-525-4799
---
Nov 2004 State Senate Insurance Hearing "Up In
Smoke" Transcript Online
I just found this transcript online. Might be
interesting reading
---