Desert Local News - Index

Desert Local News - Desert Local News March 18th 2008 Print and Virtual Edition - Index

12
LOCAL NEWS
SIDEWALKS GROW
IN CITY CORE
Staff writer
Sidewalks and new streets
are beginning to define Desert
Hot Springs, creating a
safer and cleaner city. An
ambitious project on First,
Second and Third Streets is
underway. A large section
of Palm Drive is next where
sidewalks will be installed.
One of the original founders
of Desert Hot Springs,
L.W. Coffee, might well
have hired our celebrated
first founder Cabot Yerxa to
drag the streets smooth with
rude implements pulled by
antique vehicles in month’s
long effort.
Today, it’s a modern effort
with 3000 feet of gutter
and curb being laid in a day.
At the same time, streets are
pulverized by big grinders
that make way for modern
paving equipment working
just as fast.
The issue of pedestrian
safety has not received this
much attention since the late
Councilman gary Bosworth
inspired the Rotary Club to
take action with sledge hammers
to bust up old style
sidewalk and install handicap
friendly ramps.
“We just went out and
did it,” said long time Rotary
member Buzz gambill.
Kelly Bolster, Palm
Springs Staples Manager
and homeowner on First
Street said, “This is the best
thing that has happened on
my street since we bought
our home. It’s going to make
everyone feel better. People
will want to keep their yards
maintained.”
The necessity of sidewalks
jumped to the forefront
with the tragic death
of Carissa nwene by a hit
an run driver. That driver is
now considered a murderer.
A $10,000 reward is offered
for his capture.
In the wake of that tragedy,
some citizens are suggesting
a public safety bond
to build the city infrastructure
of curbs, drainage, sidewalks
and bike lanes all at
once.
BANK DISAPPEARS
Staff writer
It took a month to bust up
and remove the vault of the
old Bank of America building
on Pierson Boulevard just east
of Palm Drive . But with it out
of the way, the last vestiges
of the old bank was cleared
away.
The finishing work was
completed and now the prime
downtown lot sits in wait for
the city’s plans.
The vault that had once sat
guarded by steel doors sat in
near ruin guarded instead by a
chain link fence. That is how it
was left when the first demolition
contract was completed.
Actions to finish the demolition
and completely clear the
lot became a priority for a new
council set on not leaving jobs
half done.
“The site was a liability to
the community,” said councilman
Russell Betts. “It was
a real eyesore. It’s important
our downtown redevelopment
take shape.”
The site had been a church
before it burned down. using
redevelopment funds, the
city had the burned out parts
removed but left behind the
vault, a parking lot and dead
vegetation from lack of water.
To clear the lot, the city
spent $47,000. The process
to clear the vault and parking
facilities involved removal of
1,800 tons of concrete, rock
and blacktop. nearly 23 tons
of steel were pulled from the
wreckage of the vault.
What’s next for the now
vacant lot is not now known.
LOCAL HOTEL IN HOT WATER
By Dean Gray
The Hotel Shilla has frequently been
in the news of late for many reasons.
One of the most interesting claims is
that the hotel is not using the naturally
hot mineral water to supply their pools.
The whole strange story unfolded this
last month.
The city of Desert Hot Springs acknowledges
that the Hotel Shilla has
not paid the Transient Occupancy Tax
for the last 6 months. The exact figure
has not been released but the amount
suggested ranges from $30,000.00 to
over $100,000.
Other local hotel owners have expressed
bewilderment as to why Desert
Hot Springs has not enforced monthly
collection of the TOT from the Hotel
Shilla. With the Shilla flush with
money enough to perform expensive
improvement projects, purchasing the
bar, and the rumored purchase of the
restaurant, it seems unfair to other local
hotel owners that they pay the TOT
in a timely manner as specified by the
ordinance.
“The city needs …to collect its due
and I certainly don’t understand why
they don’t make more effort to collect
what’s coming to them,” says Judy
Bowman, President of the Hoteliers
Association.
City Manager Rick Daniels went
on record that the City had a deadline
for collections that has come and gone.
“We fully intend to collect the total
amount due the City,” says Daniels,
“We’re not interested in a payment
plan. It doesn’t work that way.”
Hotel Shilla owner, Tae young Jang,
purchased the liquor license to operate
the upstairs bar of the hotel once
known as The Firerock Tavern and The
Cave. Jang, known as Mr. “T”, spent
considerable money stocking the bar
and performing construction improvements
in the hotel and bar.
new Food and Beverage Manager
Lee Martin states, “I will be managing
bar operations,” and explains that
charges made by former employees are
simply fabrications made by disgruntled
employees.
Former employees claim they have
not been paid overtime, were not paid
in a timely manner, did not get a W2
and were provided inaccurate W2’s.
Additional charges surfaced that employees
were discriminated against
due to nationality, fired for being “fat,
lazy Americans,” and that women were
fired for being over weight… with suggestions
of sexual impropriety.
Two stories appeared in one week
associating criminals with the Hotel
Shilla. The “valley Bank Robber” was
arrested as a hotel guest and David
Christian Wright, former head of maintenance,
was arrested for alleged identity
grand theft via credit card fraud,
burglary, receiving stolen property and
violation of a court order. In addition
Wright has been accused of having installed
wireless cameras on hotel property
and in rooms.
Additional reports contend alarming
fire, building and Health Code violations
as construction was performed
without inspections or building and fire
department approvals.
Still, the most interesting allegation
remains of the hotel not using the hot
mineral water that is a signature distinctive
feature of Desert Hot Springs.
Coffee’s, the city’s first hot water spa
once stood across the street atop some
of the hottest water in town. Instead of
providing the advertised “hot mineral
water” the hotel is allegedly heating
tap water instead.
Johnny Alvarado, former head of
maintenance confirms the what former
general Manager glenn O’Hagan,
claims that the hotel is simply using tap
water. “The heating costs were astronomical
and always a problem,” said
O’Hagan. Since day one I was trying
to find out why we were heating water
that’s supposed to be hot.”
The Hotel Shilla recently installed
a solar pool heating system. In addition
to the solar system, standard natural
gas pool heaters are also used to heat
common tap water. Desert Hot Springs
natural hot mineral water is pumped
out of the ground anywhere from 100
to 160 degrees or more depending on
depth and location. Some are lucky
enough to have such really hot water
that requires cooling before entering
the pool or spa.
natural hot mineral water is distinctive.
It’s pumped from up to 200
feet or more below ground. Water is
heated by the earth’s magma near the
San Andres Fault running down the
middle of town.
The town was built on our hot mineral
waters that have amazing curative
effects on arthritis, rheumatism, joint
inflammation, and polio, to name but
a few of the infirmities known to have
benefited from our waters. Natural hot
mineral water’s the city’s claim to fame
and recognizable brand.
Well maintenance is no small expense
says Hotelier Association President
Judy Bowman. “We must spend
several thousand dollars every other
year on the pump and well maintenance.
There’s no way around that. It’s
just the cost of doing business properly”
“The Hoteliers Association has
high standards. Our members voluntarily
state that they are using real hot
mineral water,” says Bowman who
acknowledges the Hotel Shilla is not a
member in good standing due to nonpayment
of the Transient Occupancy
Tax to the City.