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This letter is to Sharon Vanderslice who is Kaz’s next door neighbor. In 1986, Sharon was living in San Diego, Ken Sargent was the 3rd DD1 commissioner and the Ray Gabelein refered to in the letter is the current Ray Gabelein’s father. Kaz’s house is now owned by Rhonda Skubi & Ed Sheets.

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Kaz Skubi – 2530 Sunlight Beach Road                                                      

 March 29, 1986

 Dear Sharon,

I am sending you a copy of the letter which is being mailed to some 50 property owners on the north and south sides of Sunlight Beach Road who are now paying 90% of the dike taxes and may soon be paying a similar proportion of the drainage taxes. 

 At the August meeting of the County Commissioners when the new State law gave them the right to appoint the successor to Tom Kohlwes, they ignored Loren Wills who was superbly qualified and knowledgeable regarding our local problems and chose Art Gabelein, Ray’s brother, who was “championed” by Ray for obvious reasons.  His only qualification as stated by Ray was that Art is retired and has time.  So as usual, we have one man, Ray Gabelein, calling all the shots and making all the decisions.  Very sad because we should have two representatives as we have much more at stake and pay the greatest proportion of taxes so far.  It was obvious that the above deal was rigged from the start—otherwise we could have had a reasonable, honest and responsive Dike Commission.

 Our plan now is to make Ray produce engineering studies and present plans of what he intends to do, as well as costs and benefits to the properties affected before including the Sunlight Beach area in the drainage district.  Legally they are empowered to do so, but if we do not like his plans and ideas as presented at the scheduled hearing supposedly in April, we can demand an independent engineering study.  We already have no confidence in his ability to perform based on past experiences, we have the option to take it to court.  Obviously we want to avoid the latter course, although our attorney, Tim Martin, feels this is probably what will have to occur. 

 Our next alternative is to carry on a vigorous personal face to face informational campaign to include as many people as possible on the hillside property, some of whom have disliked what has been happening for years.  Ray has used these people to sway elections at the last minute when he saw the voting results going against him.  These people can vote, but pay no dike or drain taxes and most could care less.  However, some of them have drainage problems of their own in their own specific areas, so are indirectly interested in drainage.

 Interestingly enough, though the Kohlwes’s and Gabeleins have been battling with each other on a variety of issues, they are both supporting this move.  Ironically their development of the area has helped intensify the drainage problem and now they want our “high valuation” properties to pay for their mistakes and problems.

What Ray has in mind, no one knows for sure and nobody will ever know until it happens, but we think it is the following:

1. A pump cost more than $50,000.
2. Tide gates—new or repair of the present one—cost unknown.
3. Lateral ditches
4. Extend or improve present ditches plus more.

Then the future maintenance bill will go on forever and could exceed dike maintenance.  There could be no constraints as long as his family was doing the work and we were improving his land with basically our money.  Nice deal if you can get it and it has been going on for years, albeit haphazardly and tolerating no outside suggestions.

 We are in need of money and again would ask you for $200 to help pay our ongoing legal, engineering and secretarial costs.  Much more to be said.  Marge is in the hospital with her third hip operation.  Not easy.  Kaz

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