Lynwood Rotary Meeting Update 09.22.2016

At the September 22th meeting, members and guests heard Basil A. Hewitt, Senior Engineer, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, talk about the responsibilities and operations on the LACSD Agency. 

 

Using a power point presentation, Mr. Hewitt showed photos of the region at the time the sanitation districts were first organized for disposing of waste water in 1923 and also historical photos of the handling of solid wastes around 1950, to include the use of home incinerators and views of the oppressive and dangerous smog in LA areas at that time. Interesting and easy to understand brochures were distributed that explains the functions of the agency.  The Sanitation Districts consist of 24 independent special districts that encompass 78 cities and unincorporated territory within LA County. The 24 Districts work cooperatively under a Joint Administration Agreement with one administrative staff headquartered near the City of Whittier.  (Being a much larger entity than other cities, Los Angeles City performs these functions separately on its own.)In summary, the functions performed are disposal of sewer water, with additional responsibilities of the disposal of solid waste (starting in the 1950's) and more recently water recycling, and two refuse to energy facilities. As described in one of the brochures, facilities include 1,410 miles of sewers, 48 active pumping plants, and 11 wastewater treatment plants.  For solid waste management there are two active and four closed sanitary landfills, two landfill energy recovery/transfer facilities, one recycle center with respect to recycled water, one of the brochures explains that this water produced by the Sanitation Districts is sold through local public and private water suppliers.  And that a network of purple pipes and pumps delivers the recycled water throughout Los Angeles County. Also distributed was a map for District No. 1, in which the City of Lynwood is located, and also a chart of the service charge sewage units for Sanitation District No. 1. Rotary member Raj and several other members had questions about the charges they pay for homes and/or businesses within the City of Lynwood.  Mr. Hewitt suggested that those with questions on charges they pay could send him a copy of the bill and he would discuss the rates. Mr. Hewitt noted that the rates for the sanitation districts are low in comparison to rates elsewhere.  

 

After the presentation, President Ramon Rodriguez mentioned again that the Lynwood Rotary Club has 10 people signed up to attend the Rotary District 5280 dinner on Saturday, October 22, 3pm - 9pm.  Relating to this event, member Raj urged everyone to turn in the raffle tickets for the Rotary Foundation fundraising.  Rotary member Ruben Cervantes talked about his planned Fitness Fair across the street from City Hall on Sat, Oct 1, 10am -3pm.   Rotary volunteer Rowland Becerra attended the meeting and thanked Rotary members for their support of the End of Summer Festival held this past Saturday, September 17, 11am – 4pm, across the street from Lynwood City Hall. Rowland described all the activities at the event, to include involving youth attendees to participate in painting a portable mural.  Rowland mentioned how one youth expressed his thanks for being encouraged to paint on the mural, noting that youth can learn that they can do art that benefits the community instead of destructive tagging.  Rowland mentioned other activities at the festival, including the youth skate boarding competition and also the four bands that played on a temporary stage. Daniel thanked Fernando for the attendance of several Youth act members and their parents and for bringing a canopy for the Rotary table. 

 

President Rodriguez mentioned another Rotary District 5280 Breakfast meeting on Tuesday, October 11, from 7:00 am – 9:00 am at the Westin Hotel on Century Blvd. near LAX.  The program will be about the Olympic Games to include women’s Olympic Team 5 times’ winner, Janet Evans. Rotary guest Cheryl Bradford, Assistant Operations Manager for Teen Challenge International described the Teen Challenge mission of alcohol and drug recovery and their Lynwood campus for housing women, with other locations for women and for men.  In recognition of National Alcohol & Drug Addition Recovery Month, there will be a Walk for Recovery, Sat, Sep 24, at Valley Christian High School, Cerritos.