As a long-term member, and current chair of the El Portal Planning Advisory Committee, I have worked successfully with both candidates for District 1 Supervisor. I look forward to continuing our committee’s positive working relationship with whoever is elected.

I do not wish to publicly attack nor endorse either candidate, but I feel it is necessary to correct false statements published in the April 1 GAZETTE. In that issue, Midpines-resident Jack Webb mocks Lee Stetson’s job performance on El Portal’s speed bump situation. He erroneously states that “…this issue has been on the table for 10 years. Obviously, Mr. Stetson did not come up with a solution during the four years he was in office.” This claim could not be further from the truth.

Speed bumps have indeed been on the EPPAC agenda for many years. In 2004 a door-to-door safety survey of El Portal residents resulted in a request for speed bumps around the kid’s play-park. Within six months Supervisor Stetson worked with both NPS and Public Works to coordinate the installation of five bumps on Foresta and Crane Creek Roads. In 2005 concerns were raised by residents that these “humps” were too gentle, and were not adequately reducing speeds. Stetson again worked with County Roads to get additional asphalt added to the existing bumps to make them more effective.

In the fall of 2006 supervisor-elect Aborn began attending El Portal town meetings alongside Supervisor Stetson in order to ensure a smooth transition. He witnessed the monthly discussions about the need for additional speed bumps in “downtown” El Portal. In December, 2006 our committee publicized and held a special meeting to determine the optimal bump locations. In January 2007 Supervisor Aborn took office, was welcomed to our committee, and stated that one of his top priorities was to get the speed bump issue off our agenda. For half a year Aborn worked diligently on El Portal’s speeding issue; completing a traffic survey, installing a stop sign, and convening a “walk-through” with officials from public works where locations for additional “humps” were determined.

In the fall of 2007, all of this progress came to a standstill. We were told that there was no longer a speeding issue in El Portal, and bumps (or humps) were not warranted. From 2007 to 2010 the frustrating speed bump issue has been on our agenda regularly. Despite repeated requests for action, and strong public support for speed control, we still do not have any “downtown” speed humps. Supervisor Aborn and I maintain a good working relationship, despite our continuing unresolved discussions about speed bumps. He shares my frustration over this languishing issue, but says he is still carefully considering his concerns about liability.

If Mr. Webb had attended the last six years of El Portal town meetings, as I have, (or gone online to review the posted agendas and minutes) he would know that Supervisor Stetson produced five speed bumps for our community, while Supervisor Aborn has yet to provide any. Those are the facts.

Paul Amstutz