Another voice has been added to a growing chorus that says Security National, owner of the polluted Eureka Balloon Track, is stonewalling the California Coastal Commission.

Followers of the controversy know that SN has, in recent months, turned 180° by waving the flag of the Regional Water Quality Control Board — as if the conservative banking class had suddenly embraced a system of regulation.

But it appears Water Quality Executive Officer Catherine Kuhlman won’t be played like that.  In a letter to Security National henchman Randy Gans, she echoes other recent remarks about how SN is stonewalling the California Coastal Commission.  Even better, Kuhlman isn’t offering a skirt for SN to hide behind in its lawsuit against the CCC.

The Coastal Commission has requested from you additional information as part of that appeal process. It is our understanding that you have not yet provided that information and have filed suit against the Coastal Commission, asserting, in part, that pursuant to Public Resources Code section 30412(b) the Coastal Commission does not have the authority to take any action that would conflict with the implementation the SIRAP. We disagree, however, that the Coastal Commission is taking any action that is in conflict with a determination by the Regional Water Board relating to water quality. Our concurrence with your SIRAP was conditioned upon your obtaining all required permits, including a coastal development permit, and was not intended to, nor do we believe it could, supplant the independent regulatory authority of the Coastal Commission or any other agency…

Our concurrence with your proposed SIRAP recognized that several of the activities you proposed required permits from other agencies, which you have not obtained.

Security National is owned by local big shot and failed banker Rob Arkley.

Download the full letter or read it here.

Recent comments on the Humboldt Herald wrongly stated that the county’s C.A.S.T (Child Abuse Services Team) had been disbanded.

But the program was honored by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors this morning, and many of the members stood for recognition of their important work.

CAST will hold an open house on April 21 from 2-4 at 333 K Street in Eureka.  The public is invited.

Eureka voters got their first chance to evaluate candidates for 4th District Supervisor side-by-side Monday night in a debate hosted by the League of Women Voters and the Healthy Humboldt Coalition. Focus centered mostly on the county General Plan Update.

A few things stand out:

Jeff Leonard likes to hear himself talk.  He made a point to tell the moderator to count on him always having a 30 second rebuttal.  Did he always use one?  No. But he got the chance to talk about how he can always burn up the clock with more blah blah blah.

Leonard touted his rhetoric about “putting Eureka on the map” — a non-issue that was settled in 1853 when Eureka won the spot as Humbolt County seat.  Incumbent Bonnie Neely further disposed of Jeff’s malarkey by pointing out that Eureka is represented by no less than three supervisors on the board — Mark Lovelace represents Harrison up to Harris on the East side, Jimmy Smith represents Cutten, and Bonnie represents Eureka proper.

All three said they support trails, though Virginia Bass recycled recent campaign line about keeping an open mind about a train she doesn’t believe will blow through Eureka any time soon.

Bass gave a nod to her developer base when she said she opposed Inclusionary Zoning, which was adopted by Supervisors last year.  She said the county needs to be “creative” when working with developers.  Leonard also opposes IZ, which Neely supported.

Both Leonard and Bass jumped at the chance to blame Bonnie for the slow progress of the General Plan Update. Yet somehow they’ve both missed numerous opportunities to show up to a county Planning Commission meeting and crack the whip and wave a magic wand.  Neely said the process has been slowed by the inclusion of new elements in the plan and public involvement, but said policies will be adopted this year.

When it comes to legalization of marijuana, Leonard is “not worried about it.”  Bass doesn’t want Humboldt to market the prized herb for tourism, and Neely suggested studies to determine how the county will be impacted.

Access Humboldt will upload the whole debate soon.  This post will be updated with a link.