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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJ Nielsen letter - snow removal equipmentSTATE GAPITOL P.O. BOX 942849 SACRAMENTO, CA 94249-0002 {916} 319-2002 FAX (91fi) 399-2102 ©[STRICT OFFICE 280 HEMSTED DRIVE, SUITE 110 BEDDING, CA 9fi002 {530) 223.6300 FAX (530) 223-6737 EMAIL assemblymember.nielsen®assembly.ca.gov August S, 2012 Chairman Butte County Board of Supervisors 2S County Center Dr Ste 200 Oroville, CA 95965-3365 near Steve Lambert: ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~X~~~~~ .STaTA ~'fi °~ P '~ r~ ¢,4a~ J><M NICELSEN ASSEMBLYMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT COMMITTEES VICE CHAIR, BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS RULES ~~ ~~pp~~AUG ? 5 2011 I writing you today to update you on an irnpartant issue that my office has been working on over the past two years. It came to my attention in Iate June, 2011 that Caltrans may be forced to give up and sell important equipment it uses to remove snow from our state highways during the winter months. This was one of many proposals to deal with the State of California's budget shortfall. Specifically, Governor Jerry Brown's Executive Order B-2-11 would have required Caltrans, District 2 (which your county operates under) to give up several of its snow plows and snow blowers that it currently uses to keep key mountain passes open during winter storms. This equipment would have been turned over to the Department of General Services (DGS) who in turn would sell it on the open market. This loss of snow removal equipment would have caused Caltrans, District 2 to close many key mountain highway passes for extended periods of time during a winter storm and in some cases they would have been forced to close certain highways for the winter months. Clearly this was a short sighted decision. I was particularly concerned about the fact that this equipment would have been Bald and not available in future years as well was the fact that key highway arteries would have been shut dawn all winter Iong and thereby placing life and property at extreme risk. After several meetings and phone calls with Caltrans and DGS it appears the tides have changed and Caltrans, District 2 will be able to keep its snow removal equipment in place. The attached letter from Caltrans articulates the positive outcome on this issue. Please keep me posted on any problems associated with this matter and do not hesitate to communicate with me on any issue important to you or your community. I can be of any assistance to you or your colleagues do not hesitate to contact me at my Capitol or Redding Offices. I can be reached at the Capitol at (916) 319-2002 or in Redding at (530} 223--6300. Siri ely; -. J NIELS N semblyman, 2"a District ~+ ~~ r ~~ ~`~~ Printed on Recycled Paper STA'1'f;"QF_~'AI.1F:C3RNfA-E3t1SFNGSS" TRANSPORT"ATIOK~Ii71{pCFS[t1G AG~j~? FDM ND I}R ~tim~v llEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION District Z 1GS7 Riverside farivc (9G4U]) P. O. IIpX 496073 Redding, CA 9G049-G073 !'HONG (S30) 225-347 r•Ax (s3o~ z2s-zas9 QTY 71 1 July 25, 2012 Assemblyman Jiro Nielsen STATE CAPITOL P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, Cti. 95 S i 4 Assemblyman Nielsen: I want to thank you for sharing your concerns about the Department's equipment reduction efforts associated with the Governor's LXecutive Order I3-2-11. F'ler your pOwer.+ Be energye~cierrtl Caltrans has been working closely with the Department of General Services (DGS}, over the past several months, to identi}'y a list of equipment that should be eliminated to jneet the requirements outlined in the Executive Order. Caltrans has requested same of the equipment that was initially identified for elimination be retained, specifically snor~+ removal equipment. Fartunatcly, those appeals have been accepted by DGS. Therefore, I remain confident that we will still be able to provide a high level of service to your constituent communities and that State highway winter maintenance operationti ~vi11 not he adversely impacted by the planned equipment reductions. Please contact me if you have questions or Hoed additicmal il7formation. Sincerely, t~ ~~.~ J HN BULINSKI istrict Director JB:Ip "Callrans rnrhrnre.e nmhilrly rrcrnss C:ulifnr~r+7e "