Richard Schwartz
PCPOA President

The Pine Cove Property Owners Association’s September meeting began with a timely presentation by Jerry Holldber, Pine Cove Water District general manager and Michael Franklin, Riverside County Business and Community Services.

Holldber explained that the PCWD Dutch Flat facility has been used for many years as a filling station for firefighting helicopters. Foster Lake has been dry because of drought for many years, so the present filling station employs a decades-old canvas tank.

Riverside County has recently purchased Black Hawk firefighting helicopters with a 1,000-gallon tank capacity. It is feared that the present canvas tank will be inadequate for servicing the new helicopters.

PCWD’s proposal with the approval of Cal Fire is to use County Service Area 38 funds to purchase two reinforced steel tanks: one 7,000-gallon tank to replace the old canvas tank at the Dutch Flats location, and a 4,000-gallon steel tank to be trailer-mounted and stored at the PCWD yard. The trailer-mounted tank can be towed to a safe location near an active fire, filled from hydrants and serve as a helicopter fill-up point.

A vendor has been found and the entire project, including the trailer, will cost $93,000. Franklin explained the CSA 38 ad valorem funding process assuring PCPOA members that adequate money is available to cover the cost of these improvements.

After a brief discussion, all members present moved to endorse this proposed expenditure. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors must give final approval for the project to go ahead.

Other business during the meeting was Pine Cove Community Cleanup Day planned for Saturday, Sept. 25. A large trash bin will be located in the PCWD Dutch Flats yard off Franklin Drive. Pine Cove residents are encouraged to bring trash and clutter to the bin. Pine Cove residents may watch for details by email. PCPOA will run an ad in the Town Crier the week prior.