High Desert Insiders
This podcast dives deep into the specific laws, rules, and regulations that shape daily life in California's high desert communities. From zoning changes and water rights debates to city council motions, "The Local Ordinance" translates complex local governance into accessible, engaging conversations.
High Desert Insiders
What Does “A Better Way Of Life” Really Mean For A Small Desert Town- Ted Bohanon
Feeling shut out of decisions made in your own backyard? We sit down with District 3 candidate Ted for a candid, no-spin conversation about making Apple Valley government feel local again—answering questions in plain English, rebuilding trust in spending, and fixing roads the right way instead of papering over potholes.
We start with the basics: why residents feel unheard at council meetings and how a culture of unanimous votes can drift away from what people actually want. Ted lays out a simple transparency plan—quarterly town halls, public agenda requests driven by residents, and set hours where anyone can call him directly. From there, we dig into Measure P. Voters expected stronger public safety, better roads, and healthier parks; instead, early raises, a weak oversight committee, and confusion over reserves vs. true balance damaged trust. Ted calls for visible reporting on allocations and results, plus a real emergency fund that isn’t used to hide overspending.
Growth and identity take center stage next. We get into the Waalew–Navajo truck and trailer proposal and how to weigh jobs and revenue against noise, light, diesel emissions, and neighborhood character. Ted shares clear criteria for when to say no—or “not like this”—and reminds us the Brown Act allows factual answers without a vote. On infrastructure, he proposes a funding mix that prioritizes full-depth reconstruction over chip seal, combining Measure P, Measure I, gas tax, and, if residents support it, a focused bond with strict guardrails. Parks get the same treatment: maintain what we build so new facilities don’t become tomorrow’s problems.
Water and utilities round out the discussion. Ted argues the town shouldn’t run a system it isn’t equipped to manage, and instead should press providers to justify surcharges, protect ratepayers, and improve service. Above all, his pitch is simple: be reachable, be present in the district, and make decisions residents can see and understand.
If you care about roads, parks, budgets, growth, and having your voice actually matter, press play. Then subscribe, share this with a neighbor, and leave a review telling us the one change you want most for Apple Valley.
Apple Valley Agenda’s: https://applevalley.org/government/meetings-and-agendas/
Apple Valley TV: https://applevalley.tv/internetchannel/
Hey there, Apple Valley. Are you tired of feeling like decisions are being made for you instead of with you? Do you ever wonder what the town council is actually voting on? Or why that new development is suddenly popping up next to your favorite spot? Welcome to the High Desert Insiders, a podcast that's dedicated to pulling back the curtain on our local government and the issues that truly matter right here in the High Desert. I'm your host, Scott, and every week we're diving deep into the heart of high desert politics. We're not here for the drama, we're here for the discussion. We'll sit down with people making the rules, from the town manager to council members, and we'll talk directly to our neighbors on the ground about things like water conservation and the health of the Mojave River, the latest on economic development on the I-15 corridor, and how our public safety services are meeting the needs of our growing community. This is where your voice gets heard, your questions get answered, and we will all become a little bit more informed and engaged residents of the High Desert. So whether you're passing by the iconic Apple Valley Golf Course or waiting for the light on Bear Valley Road, tune in. Let's get the real story. Let's make a difference. The High Desert Insiders starts right now.
SPEAKER_02:Well, welcome to the show here, Ted. Um, how are you doing today?
SPEAKER_00:Um, so I always say God is good, and it's kinda good, and then just keep going on, bright shiny day. We're having a good old time.
SPEAKER_02:Yes, sir. That's true. And so um, Ted, you've you've lived up here in the high desert for quite a number of years, uh, originally from the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Now you live up here, northern-ish Apple Valley, kind of near the airport, District Three. And uh, how do you how do you like it up here so far?
SPEAKER_00:Honestly, when when I moved um into District Three, it's a business a difference between night and day. Um I live on a on a big piece of property, and everything, the room, the quiet, it's excellent. It's got five dogs sitting there running around. It's kind of like that was the one thing my wife wanted when we moved here was like she wanted animals, she wanted dogs, and she got them.
SPEAKER_02:No chickens or ducks or goats or anything.
SPEAKER_00:We had chickens, but it was kind of like it became a little bit more than what we're good. We were doing, but as soon as we get a few things um situated, we plan on having some chickens. Okay, nice.
SPEAKER_02:Well, and and the other thing too is you in the last few weeks you have announced that you are running for district three of town council coming up here in the election in November, correct?
SPEAKER_00:Yes, we kind of like have to get running so it's kind of so people can understand where I'm coming from and what I want to do, and compare what the council's doing now and to a new vision, which I think there needs a big, a big, huge new vision, a change in this, especially in District 3, to where it can be, as they say, a better way to life. I don't want the better way of life, I want the best way of life for the people of Apple Valley.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, yeah. And it's um and it, you know, and I I know some people view it as like, well, it's it's it is definitely early to announce it, but I think it is good to get people out because of reasons we'll talk about here in a minute, you know. Uh, we need to get the word out, we need people to actually get a change in the city, but we'll we'll get there. Um so you've you've centered at least you short your short but awesome campaign so far on uh increasing transparency, right? And um, how how accessible do you feel the town council process is to the average Apple Valley resident?
SPEAKER_00:I think they're very standoffish. When you're in there in the council, when you're sitting there trying to talk for those three minutes that they give you, it's kind of like they look like like they're basically they're looking at you, staring at you, maybe doing the two notes or anything, but it's kind of like you don't feel like you're being heard, you don't feel like you're being listened to. It's kind of like it's a thank you, who's next? And then when they're out and about, and I've seen them out and about doing different things that they're doing, like the car shows and stuff like that. They're they're standoffish. It's kind of like they're not engaging with the people, they're not walking up saying, like, hey, I'm the count mayor, I'm the mayor pro tem, I'm a council member, how are you doing? How's everything going? What type of things do you like what's going on? They don't do none of that.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I've I've definitely I've seen that too. And so uh it's it's really unfortunate because they they are the elected people, but they act like they're you know U.S. senators sometimes. And it's like, well, I mean, and even they are just there for us.
SPEAKER_00:I totally agree.
SPEAKER_02:If if you were elected here coming up in November, um what are some uh specific actionable changes that you would implement, like from agenda setting to formats, uh, you know, to make sure that residents really do feel heard rather than just being allowed to speak for a few minutes each month?
SPEAKER_00:Well, for me, I've got like different things for what I want to do. Is like once I do videos on Facebook, I do it on uh Voices of Apple Valley, our town of Apple Valley. I go out there, I tell people what I'm doing, they respond to me, I answer their questions. Um as far um I want to do town halls. I'm planning on like every three months doing town halls. I want to plan having a town hall in February. I'm I'm gonna start working on trying to find a venue and to have people come and talk and get get it straight from me and that instead of a video, and they actually see a real life person.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Um actually engaging with people at events, kind of like sitting there saying, like, hey, look, I am the town council member. I am I am here. What what's going on as far as what are you seeing? Because I can't see everything. I don't have every single answer. They can sit there and say, like, it's like, hey, let's let's see what's going on and let's see what we can and can't do. And it's kind of like, because honestly, it is a thing. And also with the these interviews, like talking to you, I've already done a podcast with Steve Fabiano. Whenever you want to sit there and say, hey, Ted, it's like, let's do an interview, it's kind of like let's talk about the town. I'm available. Let's schedule it, let's get it done. And as far as the agenda goes, when they're at the town meetings, they sit there and say, Well, we can't talk about nothing because it's on the agenda. It's amazing they never put anything on the agenda to where the people want to talk about. And there's a part in the agenda where um where the mayor says, Well, does anybody on the council have any future things for the agenda? And it's kind of like, okay, well, let's put uh the legacy trail that's not been talked about for a very long time. Let's talk, let's put on that uh on the agenda the water company. What's the status of the water company? That's I mean, that's been a debacle left and right. Yeah. Put the things, I mean, and even when they come up to the the podium and they say something that that's a question of them, okay, let's put that on the agenda, let's talk about it and then let's let's get answers. And this is the biggest one I think that I'm going. I'm putting out my personal phone number for people to actually call me, to actually say, like, call me, let's discuss it. Let's let's do this. And when I'm elected, that phone will stay on. And this is my phone number, 442-438-1497. And it's gonna be uh it's on now, and from Monday through Friday, it'll be on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Because I do officiating stuff, and more time after that, I'm drive after that to two o'clock period of time, I'm usually driving to a game to officiate a uh high school sporting event. So I mean, those are the things that I plan on doing to kind of like say like I need the in I need the input of the people of Apple Valley, and most of the time the people of Apple Valley can't go to a town council meeting and and speak for those three minutes, but if they can come to me when I'm putting anything out there, I'll listen to you.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. And and speaking of being, you know, the videos you posted and everything, bless you, by the way. Um football game results. How'd that go?
SPEAKER_00:Oh, honestly, it was I mean, it was I mean, it was a pretty much a a going back and forth, but Mosley it was kind of like it was that game was so riddled with penalties. It was I've never seen I I officiate football, um, youth football. So I might got a little tick on my throat. Um it was there were so many penalties. Either's top side couldn't get anything going. I mean, they would sit there and come a penalty would give another team a first down. It was kind of like but I mean overall Barstow's defense was I mean, everything that Apple Valley was throwing at them, I mean, they had an answer for, and it was I mean, it was a tight game going back and forth, and Apple Valley had a chance with under three minutes to go last night, and they get the ball in the 15. First play uh of that of that drive was is a five-yard false start penalty, which moved them back to the 10-yard line. It's like I knew at that point it was done.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. So there's a little or or was the wager uh both sides.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, the wager was on both sides, and um I will go up Tuesday and go to the council meeting and in Barstow and I will pay off my bet.
SPEAKER_02:Nice. Well, so so uh more a little bit more um kind of fun stuff, right? We we all enjoy football, and uh, I know you do too. But um as far as the some other town stuff, town business, right? Some some big stuff that I know I've talked to a few people about. Measure P. It's a hot topic, right, in Apple Valley right now. The the sales tax, the the voter-proof sales tax that was intended to like fund essential services, you know, public safety, road repair, that kind of thing. Do you think that the current council is allocating those funds as intended? Uh, particularly given like the establishment of the oversight committee or or lack thereof.
SPEAKER_00:Well, the the thing with the measure P, there is so much to unpack with this thing. I mean, the first thing the first thing that the council did after it passed Measure P was the the they promised on the map that there was going to be like nine million dollars that was gonna be put into from this tax, and then you got the town manager saying, Well, we don't know. This is public record to sit there and say, Well, we don't know exactly how much. Then the next thing that they do is that they give a 12% over four-year period raised to the um town employees before that before a single penny was even raised off the sales tax.
SPEAKER_02:Did they see that in the advertising of that measure? I can't remember. I don't think so.
SPEAKER_00:Well, the thing is, the it was going to the the money was going to the general fund. And that was the one thing it was like I think of a lot of people comments. I just saw a penny for police and they they went for it. I didn't vote for it because I saw money going to the general fund, and they're sitting there saying they're going to have this oversight committee. And the only problem was with the oversight committee is they have no power, they've only met one time in this period since they've been established, and they're not gonna out, and they haven't allocated any funds because they have to to gather up and then wait when they go to the budget, then the that money will actually be going because three million dollars for what they've spent on hiring employ the new police officers, that's a given, that's done for. But anything else they've not allocated no funds to until the budget's gonna be happening. But yeah, when they when they gave that raise to the to the town employees before anything happened, that was that's that's such a bad look. And then they he's the committee members. Let's take a look at who put Terry Leon put on the committee. CJ Porter. I I don't if Sinners given the resumes or he worked for them the board supervisor down the hill. But the thing is what she neglected to say was he worked on her campaign committee. He held fundraisers for her. So I mean, is this legal anything else? I mean, probably is, but I mean, honestly, when they when people are saying that they were going to interview people and people are saying that they weren't interviewed, and then you give it to someone that's your friend. That I mean, honestly, how much of an oversight committee is that if you're hiring your friends?
SPEAKER_02:It's not oversight at all.
SPEAKER_00:It's no, it's it's not, and that's total that's total garbage. So I mean, if who were go ahead.
SPEAKER_02:No, I I I I 100% agree. I I was curious if you had seen or commented uh David's com uh comments on Facebook with Kerry Leone about the budget deficit.
SPEAKER_00:Well, the thing is about this. You with the deficit, you're telling you told people that you were in a deficit. Four years you can look at the back record sitting there saying they they're three five million dollars over budget. And then he called he Kerry Leon asks answers this question saying, Oh, we've balanced the budget and we have a$1.8 billion billion dollar mil not billion but million dollar surplus. Well, exactly how does this happen? You're s and and you tell the when you file to with the county to put measure P on the ballot, you're telling them in it you're in a deficit. Then how are you sitting there telling people that you're in the deficit and you need their tax dollars to be able to do to do these things? Well, I come to do a little bit of digging and some people are helping me. They have an emergency reserve fund that they've been using to balance their overspending, which technically is not balancing the budget, you're just offsetting the budget. You're not you're not doing the cutting, you're not sitting there, you're just spending, and just and the thing is, what I'm afraid of is that this emergency reserve fund is dwindling and it should be done by 20 around um 2028, that you're gonna use Measure P funds to start offsetting your overspending, which is which is, I mean, what's what's the real deal, people? Because you're not balancing the budget, you're just overspending and you're covering your butt.
SPEAKER_02:Yep. None of that is actually balancing a budget, it is just finding ways around actually cutting things that you need to cut.
SPEAKER_00:I mean Well, I mean, you got a golf course, you got a golf course that's 800, that's over year in year, hundreds of thousands of dollars that the town is throwing into it and it's just flushing it down the toilet. Why aren't you figuring out it and and they're giving an award to the manager of the golf course and say, like, I would I would love to get an award for screwing up that bad.
unknown:I know, right?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I don't I don't I don't understand how they can give that award to him. Well, I mean, maybe he's doing a good job at like improving it, but it's still how can we justify that? Why not sell the golf course to a private investor or something who can work it out on its own? And there's what 500k right there, whatever we're gonna, it's probably a couple million, really, but I don't know.
SPEAKER_00:I I just don't know. Well, I mean, what I would do is I would say, look, you're gonna your your funds are going to be dwindled. You do not need to sit there and spend that this type of money. You're gonna either start dealing with what you have, and if you can't make it work, then we're then sell sell this sell this sell the property. Make sure I would sell it to a to another golf course who would come in to come in to make sure it was a wasn't open to the public property. And and and just rake in the revenue that way, and then you've got millions of dollars to put in the bank. I mean everybody tells me, and I've I've I've got tell that tons of people saying like it's hard to be a councilman. It's kind of like honestly, I'm every time I'm looking at this, most of this is stupid common sense. These are business people. I mean, you've got NASA who ran Napa, you've got Cusack who runs um who run A V Comp. I mean, Leon's a realtor. I mean Emmerich is um in the pharmaceutical business. If they ran their businesses the way they did this council, honestly, we'd be we'd be part of San Bernardino County. Again.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:It's all it's just freaking damn common sense.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. Yeah. And so I I guess the question would be for you with that running for town council, uh, if you were elected, what would your like what would be your priority shift for like especially future measure P allocations, but budget in general? And how would you like enhance the accountability, you know, because that's a huge topic. Accountability and transparency, right?
SPEAKER_00:Oh yeah, I mean, honestly, transparency basically is kind of like one, whoever I put on the committee, everybody who put in an application, even if it took me three months to sit there and go through through a hundred applications who people want to do it, they would get interviewed and they I would dwindle them down. If if if someone who I knew, that's a strike against you, in my opinion. Because I don't want to sit there and look like I'm giving something to my friend. But if I think that person is the best choice, if this person gave me a glass of water at at Denny's or something, I would say this person gave me a glass of water at Denny's. So it's kind of like there would be no my I think my integrity would be intact because it's kind of like I don't want anybody to question oh he's did this for that or that reason or that one. No, I I'm gonna be straightforward, I'm gonna be I'm gonna shoot straight with you. As far as money-wise is 50% of it of uh price uh of the funds would go to factually fixing the roads. Not this chip, not this chip chip seal chip sealed junk that I mean they're just covering a covering putting lipstick on a pig, as I call it. They're not fixing the holes or not fixing the ditches, the pr the alligator cracks. I mean, honestly, it's kind of like and they're going and that's their plan with the roads, and we'll get in the roads in a second.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Then I'm gonna get 40% into actually fixing these parks. These parks are falling down, they just put McConnell Park in there, which is great. It's gonna be looking random spanking new when it's all done and everything else. But my question is okay, you got this brand new great m McConnell Park. Are you gonna sit there and just let it fall apart like you do James Woody or some of the other parks? Because honestly, it doesn't make sense if you're gonna have a this great wonderful park that after 10 years looks like junk.
SPEAKER_02:Or gets taken over by people who need help.
SPEAKER_00:You know, and and then and then what I would do is with the 10 with the 10 uh the 10% of it, I would put it into a rainy day fund and just let it build year after year after year, and and actually use it for not to cover over Spain, but if emergencies happen, something that people like I mean, honestly, we're in the desert. I mean, someone we're gonna have a fire or something like that. I would just let it build until it actually needed use, not to cover the town's butt.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. Oh no, I like that. I like that idea because I mean we all we all pay the price, especially for road repair, you know. I mean, the roads are just absolutely terrible, you know. Uh we all deal with it every day. And you know, we have we have um I've and I forgive me, I forget the name of the park down here on Central, just north of Walu. I mean, it used to be a park. Uh it closed down a few years ago just because they it just I don't know. I don't I don't know why. It's just not a park anymore.
SPEAKER_00:I remember when I live I live by that park. Yeah, yeah, it's completely blocked off, and it's kind of like I I've I saw people um people go in there, I saw um people playing soccer there. It was a uh people play adult soccer there all the time. Yep, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:So I don't I don't know, but you know, you know, and speaking of that area of Apple Valley, um, you know, the the town is dealing with a lot of increased commercial and industrial pressure, right? And uh we've we've I know personally talked a lot about about this topic, but so like the contentious Walu Navajo truck and trailer project as an example, where you know, I know a lot of residents, myself, you, David, and a number of people have raised some significant concerns. How do you think that you would strike the balance between attracting businesses, you know, and industrial growth and protecting like the established quality of life and residential character of our neighborhoods?
SPEAKER_00:Well, the thing is, people understand that growth needs to happen for the town to be better, but not to the point to where I think the council wants to make Apple Valley like a big town down the hill or something like that. And it's kind of like, no, people came here because they like the peace, they like the quiet, they like their acre lots to where they can have space between their neighbors, they like that, and a big thing that the town's doing right now is kind of like you got the history of Apple Valley is very important to people, and they like knocking it down. So there has to be that balance, and it's kind of like you have to realize where things are going, what what kind of impact is it going to have on the overall feel of what Apple Valley was, is, and could be. I mean, you got Terry Leon, who sold that um the AGO building that was over on D 11s in 18.
SPEAKER_02:Yep.
SPEAKER_00:And that was a historical property, and she and she had every right to do with it. I'm not gonna sit there and say that that she didn't have a right, but she she knocked it down, made a made a couple million dollar profit off of it, and watch there, a stupid car wash. People are pissed off at car washes. Yeah, it's kind of like honestly, it's kind of like that's the thing that's kind of like another car wash. I see it all the time, another car wash, another car wash. It's kind of like I get it. To knock down history and it and for a car wash, I mean, and as far as this big rig parking lot on Walu and Navajo, it's a it's a little bit of 50-50 here. It's kind of like, yes, the property owner does have a right to do whatever he wants with his with his land. I mean, it is industrial zoned for what's going on there. But as a council mean, it's like you've got to look at the big, huge environmental fact environmental effect that's gonna happen to that area. I mean, you got all the noise pollution, the lights being on as soon as it goes dark, it's gonna be lit up all in all over the place over there. I mean, you've got all the diesel fumes for 300 and 400 trucks that you're talking about. I mean, I have a son who who survived cancer. I mean, you're talking, I mean, that's a big huge effect over there. That I mean, you're you're gonna get the quality of life over there, but I mean you got you do have a right, this this is and should have an idea. But as of right now, there's no way in the world I could support a big rake parking lot over there. It would take a lot to make me change my mind. Am I open to change my mind on an idea? Yes. If it benefits the town, the people, because I mean that's what it is. It's it's the people of Apple Valley that that counts first. And and if I do go against what the town's money, I should be able to answer for why I did something. And that's one thing they don't do either. It's like, why did you vote this way? There's no answer. I should be able to say this is why.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, the Brown Act.
SPEAKER_00:Well, the thing is with the Brown Act, let's talk about the Brown Act for a second.
SPEAKER_02:Sure.
SPEAKER_00:They always sit there and say, Well, we can't talk nothing about the Brown Act if it's not on the agenda. And it's always, it's kind of like there's never anything that we want to talk about on the agenda. And I think that's a big thing. That's why I want to put things on the agenda. But as the Brown Act says, if you if you a person on the council, as long as it does not take an action of the council to answer a question, the question can be answered.
unknown:Yep.
SPEAKER_00:So it's so I'm so it's kind of like, but that never happens because what it does, it takes an action of the council to be able to answer, and they're and honestly, they'll never answer you. No, they make it a they they like the people to be complacent.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:And it's kind of like, and that's and it's just kind of like, and like I say, it's kind of like I'll work with the coun once I get on, I'll work with the council, but I'm not gonna go along to get along with them.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, you shouldn't.
SPEAKER_00:Because I mean, I'm not gonna rubber stuff well, because isn't it amazing how Scott Nassif and Larry Kusak, they're always recusing themselves because it affects them. How many times in their years have they had to recuse themselves because they're gonna it's a a profit that they're gonna that their their friends are gonna make or they're gonna make? So it's like, oh, but how ethical is it to kind of like you're on the council and you're make and you're profiting off of it and and honestly, the other council members like Leon or Emmerich or our bishop don't have a spine to sit there and tell them no. Yeah, I've never seen them to sit there and actually why is it all their votes are 5-0? No one has said, well, I don't think so. Well, I'm gonna go the other way. Never. They're always going to take care of themselves.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. It's it's really unfortunate. And what they really need to do is stand up for things, you know, and if they do need to reject something, you know, because they believe they should, and they need to go against the other council members, then they should. And I I mean I and I think that leads into the a quiet another question for you is like if if you did have to have to reject a project, um, like what criteria would you use to do that, you know, that's deemed detrimental to a residential area like this, you know, like this truck and trailer facility, right? Like you mentioned, it's it's his legal right because he owns the property, but I mean, how do you how do you stop that?
SPEAKER_00:You know, well, I mean, honestly, you look at my biggest thing is what type of uh detrimental effect is it going to have to the people around it? The roads. Is it really going to be something that's going to be beneficial? Are we just kind of like doing something to throw something there? What do the people think? And if if if another if enough checks could say like this stinks to high heaven, it's kind of like when it comes to vote, I'll I'll sit there and say like I can't see I can't see myself voting to approve this because of A, B, and C reason. And I mean, I know being one vote on a council because you need three to really under, but at least I can vote my conscience and my integrity. And it's like the the the people will know it's kind of like, you know what? What's what I'm thinking and what's on my mind, and this is how I went into this decision, people can sit there. I people can sit there and say, you know, you know what, I don't agree with Ted, but at least I could respect him for what what he says and does.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:That's what I'm looking for.
SPEAKER_02:And that's what we need. We need someone who's actually gonna stand up, you know, and and will if you are the only one that that gets changed out, are you know, is there gonna be a significant change? Maybe, maybe not, you know, because of that four to one, you know, instead of five to zero. But at least it's a change, it's a start. Because we can get it.
SPEAKER_00:And then and the thing is the and and I'm I'm sorry to interrupt you, but the people will be informed. And that that's the one thing is like uh that's lacking this town is people are not informed. Yep.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, 100%. And and uh because they they just don't want to talk, they don't want to answer questions that they could because they I think they I don't even know. I want to I I don't want to think that low that they don't understand the Brown Act completely, but I think that they use it as a crutch because I think they know that most people don't, you know.
SPEAKER_00:Honestly, I don't think they I think they know I don't think they use it as a crutch, I think they use it as a wall to hide behind.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, yeah, it's truly unfortunate. But you know, so be we'll move we'll move to the next question here so we get them all in. I could talk about hours. Oh, yeah. So like so we mentioned like pothole repair, you know, which is a common, you know, campaign promise. We've heard that before. Um, what do you see as like a single greatest long-term infrastructural challenge facing Apple Valley over the next uh decade? And I mean, pothole repair is a big one. We talked about that already, and you can speak more on that if you'd like as well.
SPEAKER_00:But well, basically, it boils down to one thing when it comes to that. It's the roads, pure and simple. And what third solution is chip seal. I was at the meeting when they're sitting there talking about the roads, and they're sitting there saying, like, oh, the chip seal, we can do a lot more roads this way, and we can stretch the dollar that far. And that's their solution is chip seal. And everybody knows it it gets on their cars, it doesn't actually do nothing to fix the road or anything like that. So honestly, my solution for roads is pretty simple. Is that we get there's plenty of different solutions that we could to fix the situation. And I'll just sew out a few and maybe some other people have other ideas and we can throw it into the mix. One, we can continue to do the chip seal. Two, we can do a bond, a bond act to where they could pay so much in property taxes to do nothing but fix the roads. Three, we could put that portion of 50% of the property money, included with the measure I money, and the gas tax money to actually fix the roads. Not to actually dig up because there's no underbed, the rains come, destroys the roads and everything else. And if there's any other types of solutions, put in the mix, then sit there and say, Okay, people of Apple Valley, these are the solutions we have, these are the pros and cons of each one. I need your we need your input and do something to get the input of the of the town through a poll, a mailer to sit there and say to go out, whatever. And then bring it all back and sit there and say, This is what the majority of the people of Apple Valley is willing to do. Okay, like okay, we'll say the prop P measure I money. Okay, this is what we're going to do to actually go around and fixing the holes, not filling up in a pothole, filling a dish or whatever, actually fixing the road. And the roads will take time. And as long as there's people are seeing results, they can sit there and say, Oh, the council's doing it, it's going to take some time. But actually, because it's going to take the people of this town to to to do this, and let's see what the town people are willing to do and then go with it, right? And just this is what we're this is what the people are are willing to do. Okay, let's do it.
SPEAKER_02:Sorry, I'm sneezing. Apologize. No, you're fine. Um, so okay. I I like that. I I like that a lot, to be honest, because I think I think the town, you know, you can only do so much as a city government, right? And and and I think the basic stuff needs to be thought about, you know, your your food, you know, water, your, you know, parks, your roads, you know, basic things like that. Um, and so with that, like what what would be your plan for making sure we have like reliable, sustainable, you know, affordable, you know, like water and utility services up here, you know, especially considering the town's past, you know, well, we'll call it issues with the water system.
SPEAKER_00:Well, I mean, honestly, the town does not need to be getting into a water business.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Because one, there's no one there that really knows how to fix or run a water department or anything like that. And the conditions of the of the water system that's already there, it's going to cost a whole heck of a lot of money to start fixing these roads. And they and honestly, where I'm I'm at, I'm not on Liberty Water Company. I'm on Golden State Water. I'd rather have Liberty Water's rate because honestly, what I pay in a month at Golden State, I can play, I I pay two, I was, I could be paying two months of water. So it's kind of like to sit there and say they're going to lower the rates of the water, that's not true. Because when you when the government is in control of the water, they control the rates. And if they're needing money for something, they can raise your rates. And the water system already that is in, you got underground pipes that's going to need to be replaced and everything. You're going to cost it's going to cost hiring a bunch of people and everything else. But I mean, as far as affordable water and stuff like that, the only thing you really can do is go to these companies and say, like, what can we as a council, as a as the town that you're doing, help to do to help lower the cost of water? But I mean, as the private entity, we I mean, whatever we could could do to to try to. I mean, I just heard that Liberty was um I um put a nine dollar surcharge on people's bill to help pay with um for the pension pensions.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:And it's kind of like, what I mean, honestly, if I was on the council, I'd be going over to say, who in the hell do I need to talk to and saying, like, who in the hell thought that was a freaking damn brilliant idea to pay you someone's pension because you want to get you want to be generous? You're generation you're being generations with with my people's money. That's bullshit.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:I'd be, I would, I would be live, live, I would be livid as hell.
SPEAKER_02:Maybe you just operate your business well enough so that you can do it with your own money without gouging people either.
SPEAKER_00:But then that's exactly what they what they did.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:I mean, uh I mean, I know David Detner. Uh um, I'm I think I'm gonna let because I mean I'm hopeful because I know my wife, my wife's gonna be at the next town meeting. I think I'm gonna I know David Deckner's gonna kind of like address that one issue with the with the thing. I think I'm gonna address the Liberty Water Company with with them. I'm hoping to get there on time. I have to be in Barstow to kind of interesting. I have to go to Barstow to referee us uh varsity um soccer match and have to run down to Apple Valley. It's kind of ironic there, but yeah, something like that. It's like, where's the mayor to sit there and say, like, to call out and say like this, say like, you know what, this you what you're doing is is is completely wrong. You're taking someone else, you're taking someone else's money to to fatten your wallet. And that's what it is. Yep. And that and that that I I would I'd be sitting there saying, I'd be I'd be calling BS right away as soon as I heard it.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, it it it really is, and unfortunately. And you know, but um, you know, speaking of the mayor and other town council members, so right, you're you're running in district three, you're running against uh Carrie Leon, right? Um what what is your what is the most profound philosophical difference between your approach to leading Apple Valley and hers, if you would have if you could put it into words?
SPEAKER_00:Well, I mean the the as far as the decisions that they're making is kind of like one of the top ones is kind of like how much they're wasting money. It's kind of like the things that they waste their money on that other thing, other priorities should have taken place. I mean, they've spent a few a couple million on that Sing Center over there, and it's kind of like, and all it is is most of the time it's an empty empty building that was given to them, and they're they've put more money into it, and then you got the mayor of the town sitting there saying, Well, we don't know if it's even going to break even. Then why in the hell do you have it? And why are you wasting our money in it?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:That makes zero sense. They put up they put a million, they they allocated a million dollars to put a pickleball court in civic uh in Civic Park. And it's kind of like, really? You couldn't convert one or two of them at a cheaper rate? They're already playing pickleball like at James Woody. That's not a time it's all about fun for you. It's not about priority. Yeah. And I mean, when it comes down to I think the thing that really kind of set me to kind of like really just kind of like saying like Carrie Leo needed to be gone gone, is it comes down to a water fountain at James Woody Park. I was I've been I was made aware of this in February of this year. And I've been fighting to get this thing fixed. I made the report and they closed the reports and they're saying, like, okay, it's been it's we we know about it. I'm watching it, I'm watching it, nothing's being done. And in um July of this year, um you got the the I had Park and Rex saying, like, well, we're we're waiting still, we've got too many things going on. And I saw Carrie Leon at a yard sale, and I told her that you know what, this part this fountain at James Woody Park is not working. No one can get a drink of water. My son is in a wheelchair, he can't get a drink of water because if he can't go to the park, if he's if he's thirsty, if I don't have a bottle of water, then that's pretty sad. And sh this these are the words for from her lips. Well, I didn't know that. This is the word and you're telling and and the thing I I found out later on, this fountain has been like this for two years.
SPEAKER_02:Really?
SPEAKER_00:And you're telling and you're telling me you did not know. Then get in your damn district and find out what in the hell is going on in your district, Harry.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:I've done more since since January of this year than you have, than that you don't even know what in the hell's going on. I don't care if you go to the League of the League of Cities. I don't care if you say, Oh, you I heard the story about oh, we went over to the prison over there, they made us a meal, and it was a good meal. I don't care.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:All I flipping care about, and when they're I care about what's going in your district, and they and she'll sit there and say, like, oh, we've had all this growth. Great and wonderful, but district three has been staying the same year after year after year. And how long have you been on this council? And it stays the same, the same, the same, the same. My wife loves the idea of having a hobby lobby over over in Apple Valley. Great, wonderful, thank you. But what changes has districts three happened? Haven't seen them, and you don't even know what's going on in your own park.
unknown:Yep.
SPEAKER_00:That's the thing that really kind of sits there and say, like, no, I'm in my whole thing is how I'm different from her. I will go visit the businesses. They'll they'll know my name. And that's the thing, is no one knows her name, no one knows anybody on that council's name. I'm gonna make sure people in that town know who I am. I will walk in that park. I'm already in that park like twice a week.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00:And you're not gonna know anything about your district if you're not in it.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. It's unfortunate that they don't come out and like actually spend time in the community. They're they're up there in their really nice houses, really nice restaurants, you know, making all the money. And I and I, you know, as to kind of sum everything up here, uh kind of what I've what I'm hearing in general is that the current administration is really wasting money, non-transparent. And I I I'll I call it like if you've heard the song, I forget the guy's name, it came out a year or two ago. It's like Richmond, north of Richmond style of government, you know, yeah, and uh it's really unfortunate. And so what what to to kind of close all this down together a little bit? If you were able to say anything to people of Apple Valley who are listening to this and say, Wow, I had no idea all this is going on, like what can I do to make a difference? What would you what would you tell them?
SPEAKER_00:Stay informed, figure out what's going on in your in the district. Go to go to the all the community events that you can go to, like the car shows and stuff on anything that's going on. I mean, they have the Sunday um farmers market, just go out and just be be part of Apple Valley and just find out what's going on so you stay informed. Because it's kind of like the information is there, people are willing to find it. It's kind of like, and you can do that in this in the comfort of your own home. And it's kind of like you and and as me running, just kind of like knowing that as the song goes, I'm just a phone call away. If I will I will go out and you say, like, hey, Ted, you want to I'd like to meet you. Can you be at Apple Valley Walmart at this time? If I'm um if I'm free, sure, I'll go. Even if even when I'm a councilman, if I if if if we can I'll make arrangements to kind of like, hey, look, I'll come to you. I don't have an issue with that.
SPEAKER_02:Nice. I think that's what we really need here in Apple Valley. Someone who's actually reachable, relatable, you know, and uh is good with the resources that it's given to them.
SPEAKER_00:Um and honestly and honestly, Scott, I'm honestly while I'll sit there saying like honestly, I'm not no businessman. I'm I have my my struggles. I'm make my house budget. Me and my wife sit there and get everything done, and we do the best we can. But it's kind of like it's one person it's called a town, and one person one person or five people aren't the town. That got that council is not the town. Yep, the people in this place that live call this place home, that's the town of Apple Valley.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. And so with that being said, and uh and everything else going on, obviously you're running for District 3 town council coming up here, but uh is there anything else that you'd like to share with everyone listening here? Uh get it out. Any any any anything at all, Ted?
SPEAKER_00:Just stay Apple Valley strong.
SPEAKER_02:Well, thank you, Ted. I I really appreciate your time here. I know I could talk with you for for literally hours about all of these different things, uh, and uh we appreciate it. Hopefully we can talk to you again uh as the uh election ramps up here next year and uh see how things are going. How's that sound?
SPEAKER_00:Hey, whenever you want whenever you want me to come on, I'll I'll come on.
SPEAKER_02:Sounds good. All right, well, you will definitely be coming back soon. Thank you, Ted.
SPEAKER_00:All right, all right, no worries.
SPEAKER_02:And that wraps up another episode of the High Desert Insiders. We wanted to thank Ted Bohannon for joining us today and for shedding light on a number of the key issues that are facing our local government, um, including the roads, the parks departments, the stink center, everything. We're truly appreciative. So remember that your involvement is what makes Apple Valley thrive. Don't let the conversation end here. You can find all the resources we discussed, including links to the town council agenda and how to reach your local representatives on our website below in the description. We love hearing what's on your mind, so send us a text at the link below with any of your questions, ideas for future topics, and feedback. Uh, we really appreciate that we might even feature your comment on the next show. So thank you for spending your time with us, staying informed, and being a high desert insider. Join us next week when we continue to tackle important issues for the High Desert. Until then, be informed, be involved, and have a great week.