The Crimson Crusader is back again after a brief delay while the
Red Phone devised a new way to get things done in San Benito
County.
The Crimson Crusader is back again after a brief delay while the Red Phone devised a new way to get things done in San Benito County.
Do you ever feel like your problems fall on deaf ears? Call up the Red Phone and let the Crimson Crusader hold local officials’ feet to the fire. That’s right the Red Phone will no longer let the significant problems in Hollister and throughout the county fall by the wayside – it’s time to hold those in charge accountable for needed change.
Introducing the Red Phone on Hold. You call and we keep track of what’s being done, who’s responsible and how you can talk directly to the people in charge.
Got a question, problem or comment? Call the Red Phone – always listening, always online, always at 635-9219.
-Red Phone on Hold
Cause of Lake Santa Ana determined
The Free Lance’s Red Phone was in it’s infancy when the first call about the pool of water forming at the corner of Santa Ana and San Felipe road was first reported. The caller said cars making a right turn onto San Felipe Road off of Santa Ana had to drive through the puddle nearly every morning.
Initially, the water was suspected to be leaking from the Ranch Milk gas station’s car wash, but after investigation by city staff it was determined the water was indeed coming from the nearby gas station – only not from its car wash.
The pooling water was becoming more than a nuisance to only drivers, officials with the city of Hollister said it was beginning to deteriorate the concrete sidewalk and asphalt street.
The staff was puzzled by where the water was coming from, but Deputy Public Works Director Steve Wittry promised Red Phone an answer would be found in “a few weeks.”
That was on Oct. 5, but Wittry, true to his word, had the answer when contacted by the Red Phone yesterday. He said the water is actually, believe it or not, coming from a drinking water machine at the gas station. It’s the type of machine that allows people to fill up their own bottles and the water is draining from the machine into the road when people spill water while using it.
“It’s coming out of Ranch Milk,” Wittry said. “It’s coming out of their bottled water machine. It’s not waste water, it’s bottled water.”
Wittry said the city met with the owner of the business and gave him two weeks to come up with plan to stop the water from draining and another four weeks to implement it. At worst, it should be no longer than two months until the lake is all dried up. Red Phone will keep this one on hold until then, keep you posted on developments. Keep the calls coming.
-Days on hold: 182
