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County contractor mines a troubled deal
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Photo by Chuck Kirman
Tom Staben's Pacific Rock quarry mine, on a mountain south of the Camarillo Grade, has supplied Ventura County with more than $150,000 in rock, despite Staben's not being on a state "good guys" list of miners who comply with various environmental and regulatory laws.
Timeline
1998: Ventura County Board of Supervisors examines whether the county should be doing business with contractor Tom Staben in light of numerous environmental violations. He is deemed a "responsible" contractor and continues to bid on jobs.
2000: Staben buys Pacific Rock, a quarry in Camarillo.
July 2001-December 2003: Pacific Rock is not on the state's "good guy" list of mines that can sell rock to the government. Ventura County buys more than $150,000 in rock from Staben.
2004: Staben gets a county contract to clean out the Las Llajas debris basin, but for months does not submit the legally required paperwork showing where the dirt is going.
January 2005: Staben files a permit to reclaim land lost along the Arroyo Las Posas in Somis but never gets any of the other needed permits.
February 2005: The Army Corps of Engineers orders Staben to stop repair work at his Somis property.
August 2005: A complaint is filed with the county saying Staben is dumping dirt on his Somis property; project managers for the Las Llajas job were unaware of it. A week later, Staben tells the county he's taking dirt there.
October 2005: The Army Corps issues a cease and desist order demanding Staben stop dumping dirt at his Somis property. The county is not notified of the order.
March 2006: A different county agency, unaware of Staben's contract to clean out Las Llajas, investigates Staben for a grading violation; Staben doesn't tell of importing the dirt, and no violation is issued.
March 2006: Staben is sentenced to 30 days in jail for not filing appropriate permits for expanding his house.
May 2006: Staben is awarded an $873,000 contract to clean out dirt several miles downstream from his property.
October 2006: The county again asks Staben for documentation showing where dirt from the Las Llajas project is going.
January and March 2007: The Ventura County Watershed Protection District issues notices of violation against Staben for filling in the Arroyo Las Posas.
November 2007: The Environmental Protection Agency cites Staben for a violation of the Clean Water Act for filling in the Arroyo Las Posas. An investigation is ongoing.
April 2008: Staben's mine is again removed from the state's "good guy" list for violations.
Photo by James Glover II
Tom Staben makes his way into court at the Ventura County Courthouse on May 12. The contractor, who has taken in more than $11.4 million in county contracts over the last decade, has run afoul of state, federal and local environmental regulations.
STORY TOOLS 
More from County NewsThough one Ventura County supervisor describes Tom Staben as a "renegade contractor" and the federal government is investigating him for illegal dumping, his legal wranglings haven't stopped him from pulling in more than $11.4 million in county contracts over the last decade.
The nature of the county's bipolar relationship with Staben — on one hand citing him for damaging local rivers and on the other hand giving him money to clear out those same waterways — shows a history of government agencies' alternately rewarding and condemning his behavior.
"He's a cowboy," said Supervisor John Flynn, who has been a critic of Staben over the years. "Mr. Staben has a long history of being a renegade contractor."
Since 1998, the last time the board publicly questioned the county's relationship with Staben, he's not only landed county jobs in the lucrative world of hauling and moving dirt, but he has also continued to run afoul of state, federal and local environmental regulations, an investigation by The Star found. He's also sold more than $150,000 of rock to the county during a period when he was banned from doing so.
His defenders, who include county supervisors and department heads, say Staben has likely saved the county millions over the years, with low bids on projects and getting jobs done quickly under difficult circumstances.
Staben, 54, who did not return multiple interview requests, is now under investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for illegally dumping rock and soil into the Arroyo Las Posas in Somis in an effort to reclaim land lost in the 2005 floods. He dumped as much as 5,000 dump trucks of that dirt from a job he was paid $4.2 million by the county to remove, documents and interviews show.
"I'm concerned that he is being able to have the low bid and out-compete the competition by skirting environmental laws," said Supervisor Linda Parks. "I definitely would like to look at how we can not use him if he's going to be continually violating the laws. The fact that the county is enabling a known violator gives me concern."
'Responsible bidder'
At times, county officials have questioned doing business with the Somis man, but his ability to do the work and save the county money has trumped any trepidation in using his services.
"He's tough to work with, but he gets the job done," said Jeff Pratt, director of the county Watershed Protection District, which granted Staben much of his work. "He's had a very positive impact on the whole in dealing with the county because he's kept prices down."
Dan Murphy, assistant county counsel, said the definition of "responsible bidder" is what keeps the county from barring Staben from contracts.
"Responsible bidder,' as used in this part, means a bidder who has demonstrated the attributes of trustworthiness as well as quality, fitness and capacity and experience to satisfactorily perform the public works contract," Murphy said.
Supervisor Kathy Long said, so far, she thinks Staben has lived up to those attributes, and she'll wait until the EPA decides its case to pass further judgment.
"Because of his history with being the low bidder," she said of Staben, "it puts him under the spotlight, and that should require him to be as squeaky clean as possible and abiding by all the laws."
Others who have bid against Staben for lucrative county jobs say cutting corners gives him an unequal edge.
"It's an unfair advantage to me and unfair to the contractors who are trying to run a fair business," said Paul Burns, president of Burns Pacific Construction. "He's made hundreds of thousands of dollars by dumping on his property."
A history of violations
Staben owns a property in Somis where a bend in the Arroyo Las Posas eats away at the riverbank during storms. Over the years, his efforts to rebuild the eroded land have earned him multiple citations for Clean Water Act violations, including a recent violation that involves taxpayer dollars.
After the massive floods in January 2005, he filed papers with the county and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reclaim his lemon orchard property that was lost in the deluge. But he never got the many required permits after the initial filing, Pratt said.
In February 2005, the Army Corps told him to stop work there, records show. The county was not notified of the corps' action.
Over the next few months, as more local and federal agencies became involved, there was little communication among them, a fact that some think Staben exploited.
"He knew what was going on," said Antal Szijj, an ecologist with the Army Corps. "It's ridiculous."
Staben began taking as much as 100,000 cubic yards of dirt — or about 5,000 dump trucks' worth — from the county job at Las Llajas near Simi Valley to his property in Somis, documents and interviews show. The county contract was to remove 320,000 cubic yards from the debris basin. County code states all contractors must submit proper permits for where the dirt is going.
It was only after someone complained to the county in August 2005 that Staben informed the county he was taking dirt to his home, but no one checked to see if he had the proper permits. Public Works manager Raymond Gutierrez recently said Staben did not have any of the permits.
Two months later, he was issued a cease and desist order from the Army Corps, and though other federal agencies were notified, the county was not.
"He is filling in portions of the creek well in excess of what may have been eroded last winter," Szijj wrote. "Previous enforcement actions in 1998 and 2001 documented a similar attempt to fill in the creek at this location."
In years past, the Army Corps took Staben to task for filling in this area, including citing him for Clean Water Act violations and admonishing him for planting arundo to stabilize his property. The county has spent millions of dollars to try to rid local rivers of the invasive species.
In March 2006, the county investigated whether Staben violated grading laws on his property. Code states that anyone who moves more than 50 cubic yards of dirt must get a permit. Pratt said Staben later told him as much as 100,000 cubic yards had been moved to the site.
But during the field investigation, no violations were found, and Staben did not at that time mention the dirt he brought to the property or the contract he had with Pratt's agency, Gutierrez said. Staben merely said the dirt near the river was clean because it had been recently scraped, and he didn't mention importing any, Gutierrez said.
"He never brought that up, which kind of bothers me now," he said.
In October 2006, a letter from the Watershed Protection District asked Staben to file the required permits for his dump sites for the Las Llajas project. Around the same time, a group of disgruntled contractors complained Staben didn't have the permits to dump at his property and was getting preferential treatment.
Long's office sent a response saying proper protocol had been followed. Both she and Pratt, who informed her of the district's actions, now say that part of the letter was wrong.
Pratt acknowledges there was an error in not making sure Staben got the required permits to dump on his property. He said much of the problem revolved around the clean-out after the 2005 floods, when there was rampant damage around the county and there was a scramble to get the work completed.
Contractors are allowed to dump dirt on agricultural property under exemptions, and, Pratt said, it is possible county employees erroneously thought Staben had such an exemption.
"What bothers me is that we fell down on procedure," Pratt said. "We fixed all that. Does it bother me that he is potentially violating the law? Yeah. As soon as it's proved he violated the law, then we'll have the next level of discussion."
In January and March 2007, Pratt's agency issued a notice of violation against Staben for illegally filling in the creek on the same Somis property. Pratt said that violation is largely because of the rocks Staben put in the creek, some of which had come from a job a different contractor had replacing rock at the Channel Islands Harbor.
The dumping of dirt on his property has other implications too. In 2006, a company Staben works for was awarded an $873,000 contract to clean out dirt a few miles downstream from Staben's personal property. Pratt went to the property to see whether the soil from Staben's land, which the county had paid him to move, might be flowing back into the river and downstream, where he was paid to clean it out again.
But Pratt said Staben had done such a thorough job of fortifying the bank with rock, it was unlikely the dirt would re-enter the stream.
The EPA is still in the process of deciding if Staben violated the Clean Water Act and if any fines or other punishment is warranted.
Off the 'good guys' list
Staben's mine, Pacific Rock, which is on a mountain south of the Camarillo Grade, has also run into problems.
The state maintains a "good guys" list of miners who comply with various environmental and regulatory laws. Those who are not on the list are not supposed to do business with state or local government agencies.
From July 2001 until December 2003, neither Pacific Rock nor its identification number was on the "good guy" list, but the county still purchased more than $150,000 in rock from Staben, records show.
County records show numerous violations against the mine, ranging from mining outside his permitted area, not doing environmental monitoring of his site and noisily mining outside permitted hours.
After Staben told the officials in 2003 that he would no longer work outside his allotted hours in order to keep the noise down, the county balked.
"You have been issued Notices of Violation on at least four separate occasions," wrote Chris Stephens, then-director of the Planning Division. "Each time you have claimed you were not aware of the condition the county finds no reason to believe the after-hours work was an accident or will not occur again."
Pratt said checking who was on and off the "good guy list" was not part of protocol.
"If we knew about it, we wouldn't be buying it," he said.
When The Star began inquiring about the current status of Staben's mine, the state moved faster and again took him off the "good guys" list for a series of violations, said Carole Aragon, who oversees mines for the county.
He was removed from the list for mining outside his permitted boundaries.
"I don't have any other mines that have been off the list since I've been doing this job," she said.
Lack of building permits
Staben has run afoul of other laws, too.
In 2006, he was sentenced to 30 days of work furlough following a protracted battle over building permits. He didn't file proper building permits for expanding his Somis home from 4,000 to 6,400 square feet. Though Staben has filed various permits since then, the county contends they are inadequate, and Elizabeth Cameron, a senior enforcement officer with Building and Safety, said he has not complied with the terms of his probation.
Staben appealed and the case is ongoing.
But Staben is not afraid to take legal action against the county.
After the 1998 Board of Supervisors noted its concerns about Staben's citations and newspaper stories of the event, Staben's lawyer filed a $10,000 claim against the county, naming many employees, including the head of Public Works, who gave him contracts. He claimed he suffered a breach of constitutional rights, abuse of power, libel, slander and other allegations that led to "emotional distress, anxiety, reduced self-esteem, sleeplessness and loss of reputation," according to the claim.
The claim was later rejected.
Still free to bid
Whether Staben continues as a "responsible" bidder could hinge on how the EPA rules on his dumping at his home. But until then, he's free to bid on county projects, Pratt said.
He said Staben has likely saved the county millions over the years, and many of the allegations come from contractors who are open in their dislike of Staben.
But Supervisor Parks wonders whether the savings are worth it.
"He may be saving the county millions in one aspect because he is so significantly reducing cost, but if it's at the expense of the environmental regulations, to me it's unethical," she said.
Pratt wonders if Staben just hasn't been able to shake off a reputation he's had for a long time.
"Whatever stink he's got on him," he said, "it hasn't blown off."
Posted by Ventura22 on May 18, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Staben is a convicted criminal who still committs crimes and no government agency should be doing any kind of business with him at all. If the feds bust him, they will end-up going after the county too. We don't need this as taxpayers. It's appalling that the county was doing business with him when he was known to be breaking laws. Whoever allowed this to occur should be charged along with him when he goes to federal court. This guy has been known for many years to be a crook, he's blatant about it, yet the county looks the other way when they can save a buck using him and make themselves look good. This is sad and the people should gather at the next board meeting and demand this to stop. Like everything else, the county will end-up being in trouble with the EPA and get fined. This is similar to the MGR case where county officials at many departments allowed an illegal operation to take place and now there is a 9 million dollar lawsuit after it burned down. To avoid these instances from happenning again, the following positions should be replaced with competent and qualified ethical LEADERS: planning director, RMA department head, fire chief, fire marshal, deputy fire chief and others. They have interfered on numerous occassions where the people trying to do their job and enforce the codes have been diverted, reassigned or just told not to take any action against known violators. It looks more and more like many top county officials have a vested interest in these operations and are financially linked somehow. Two of the above-listed positions have been involved in a well-known extramarital affair that has negatively impacted the department they serve. The people should demand better leadership, competence and ethics from all department heads, managers and administrators. We're not getting our money's worth right now and few good examples are being set.
Posted by KatieTeague on May 18, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What do Supervisors Foy and Bennett have to say about this? Mr. Foy contributed an op-ed piece today on using taxpayer money wisely so I'm sure he has an opinion.
Posted by moorpark118 on May 18, 2008 at 6:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Give me a break. Tom deserves huge thanks for saving the people of Ventura County millions from other “County” contractors. Yes the same ones who complain. Believe me they would love spineless government slugs like Parks and Fox to force Staben from county contracts. I would recommend those two to look at the requests for funds proposed by homeless shelters, battered women’s facilities, non-profits who care for children and the countless, hardworking groups who could use “millions” and ask themselves, here is a list of horrible things Staben has done, (and in most cased rectified) and here is the good I can calculate from the use of his services. Can I or should I vote to continue to use such a contractor and provide monies of the savings to the other, heart wrenching causes or should I shut him down, screw the needy, enrich the contractors like Burns Pacific and sleep well knowing I did my job to operate the county.
This is my opinion. I am not a great writer, rich or influential. I have lived in this county for my whole like. If this guy was doing us wrong then I would through him under the bus. Give him a break, he has given us one.
Staben, do not let spineless opportunist politicians and competitors beat you down. We need you to stay strong and keep saving the people in the county the millions as you have done in the past.
Posted by moorpark118 on May 18, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ventura22. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! You went from Staben’s problems to MGR to extra martial affairs. Sounds loan you need a time our to get yourself together.
Here is the deal with Staben. He is exactly what we need and I will explain why. Tom is a born and raised Ventura County boy. He loves this county, its stream ways, highways, and farmland. He takes on the projects the softy contractors like Burns and the other crybabies want in order to milk the county residences by charging a premium for the work. Tom has not hurt anyone, overcharged, dumped material on someone’s property other than his own (and he DID seek permits) and to the attestation of the county he did the work very well and professionally. He has purchased, cleaned up and profitably operated some of the worst eyesores I the county. (Some you do not even know about) When the fires came through the MGR site, (owned by the same owners of State Ready Mix, you should be bagging on them) Tom was in his water truck spraying the fire from the county road on his own time with his water while the fire trucks drove by.
The Star points out that the work he does is layered with authority. State, County, Federal. You can comply with on directive only to be accused by another of violated their code. This is what happened with the Santa Ana road project.
Posted by moorpark118 on May 18, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As for most of the other violations, they are things like placing cement blocks on his property to stop the water from flooding, the same property he salvaged from previous rainstorms. He was charged I believe for “storing” cement blocks without a permit. Big deal. The county and federal agencies would rather see your property washed away than have you protect it. Everyone of you reading this has complained about the government bureaucracy we live in. Who is love’n the $4+ gas prices! News to the tree huggers, we have not opened up a refinery in 30 years. I hope we saved a few birds and fish cause the pain I feel (even though I drive a hybrid) is killing me. The point is government regulations and making dumb decisions is costing us big time and little things like picking on Staben who has put his heart and soul into taking on the crappy jobs and making them work, adds to the overall BS conduct of our government officials.
Posted by Nosmo_King on May 18, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am very familiar with one job Staben did and he bid it low and did QUALITY work. I am curious after the article...how many rock quarries are in Ventura county?
Posted by Ventura22 on May 18, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A crook is a crook. Saving money for the county by violating the rules that others are following is not an honorable "county boy" thing to do and should not be tolerated. Many other businesses like his are following the same guidelines. For the county to award any bids to the one that breaks the rules so he can underbid the rest is criminal. No wonder his work was so cheap.
It doesn't matter at this point; the feds have him now so he's done with. No more skirting by. As usual, they have to come in and stop unlawful activity due to inept and corrupt local government.
Posted by moorpark118 on May 18, 2008 at 10:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ventura22. Your way of thinking sounds like if you got a ticket for parking in a red zone you are just like an gang member or someone who has killed someone. Someone who is cited for a permit violation is not a crook. Someone who replaced dirt on their own property that was washed away is not a toxic dumper. You have to agree there are grey areas. I have red some of the violations for water shed violations and they were written to Staben becouse he followed the plans the county gave him which called him to go into the area the "feds" claim he violated. See nowhere does any one claim he hurt anyone, or otherwise just failed to permit the job properly. This boils down to permit issues that can be fixed. I have met Tom and his boys and there are no harder working honest (but tough) business men. These guys would give you the shirt off of their backs. That is more than the other contractors that bid high can say. They are the slimy snakes that want to charge us more for the same projects.
Do the right thing people, back this guy up, he has saved your tax dollars.
Posted by Ventura22 on May 19, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He's vioated his terms of probation, sorry he's a crook and cheats to underbid HONEST law-abiding businesses. The county is just as guilty for allowing this to occur while they did business with him. That has hurt other businesses that abide by the laws and is wrong.
Posted by vwhunter on May 19, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How does criminal disposal of material make other contractors soft? The reason he got the jobs in the first place was knowing he would be dumping illegally.
I can't think of a job Staben has done that wouldn't have been done faster with higher quality by any other contractor.
The bureaucrats that support him are in his pocket. Public servants have colluded with Staben knowing his illegal activity. When they defend Staben they are desparetly defending themselves.
And if you have ever spoken to Tom, his love of the county falls way short of his desire to make money at any cost.
Posted by vwhunter on May 19, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is moorpark118 possibly Mr. Pratt, who should be fired.
Again, for those jobs that are competitively bid, how could the "legal" competition be "milking" the county?
Posted by vwhunter on May 19, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
moorpark118
Interesting that your remarks consistently refer to Staben's competitors in the negative. Funny that most of the other area contractors don't find themselves in the hot seat. It isn't as if Staben is the only one who gets county jobs. If being low bidder means doing the county a favor, than many of the "slimy snakes" you poorly named are providing far greater value to the county. There is a reason you are odd blogger out.
Staben aside, county officials and their favoritism for shady deals has and will cost the county much more than supposedly saved.
Posted by moorpark118 on May 19, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not really vwhunter. Let me see if I can dumb this up enough so you can understand.
Most contractors have experienced some sort of violation. In fact the arroyo problem involves two violators, Staben and a farm up stream. (11 acres for the farm and 4.5 for Staben) No one calls out the others. People like Staben bail out lously business people like the former owner of the mine and ads employees. Additionally, I am not aware of any construction jobs Staben has done where he has not completed the job on time, and with quality work. The only violations appear to relate to him and his personal property, not the jobs he is completing. You think I might be Pratt, which I am not and you think the county officials favor "shady deals" and you point out that most deals go to others than Staben. So what is it Einstein, are the contracts generally going to "shady deals" other than Staben or are you so limited in your scope that you feel the county only favors shady deals with Staben?
You should get back to work (probably the fryer) and stop bogging.
Posted by vwhunter on May 19, 2008 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pot shots from the illegal dump
moorpark118, an unruly defender of Staben.
Well moorpark, having been in the business for 25 years I have accrued a reliable database of knowledge on the general engineering community. My reference to shady deals is that when they come up it would appear Staben is close at hand. I am well aware of the violations cited. The problem I have is that there are many respectable contractors who have none. Refering to a neighboring farm does not avsolve anyone.
I have been personally involved in more than a dozen county contracts that all went without violations, on time, certified quality work.
Unfortunately you ignorance shines bright.
Posted by BeaHappi on May 19, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"He's also sold more than $150,000 of rock to the county during a period when he was banned from doing so."
"Pratt said checking who was on and off the "good guy list" was not part of protocol."
Granted I'm not "in the know" about Mr. Staben or any of this mess, but the above just seems stupid to me.
What's the purpose of the list if no one refers to it?
And to me this seems less about impacts to the environment and more about money (as in who is making it and who is not) from these jobs.
Posted by vwhunter on May 19, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Granted Staben is innocent until proven guilty. I'm just surprised that according to moorpark we should accept that all the other contractors should be considered "slimy snakes".
Posted by Allegro63 on May 19, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree that all contractors shouldn't be considered "slimy snakes", but there isn't a contractor in Ventura County who hasn't pushed limits and rules, and that includes Mr. Burns and his storage yard . . .oooppsss!. . . . I mean nursery (wink wink) on the 118.
Supervisor Flynn's comments are particularly ironic. As the unions' toady, if anyone knows about "cowboys" and "renegades", it would be him.
Posted by FineDesign on May 19, 2008 at 9:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh for God's sake, VC Star, give it a rest. Your journalistic boner for everything Staben has gotten way old.
There isn't ANYONE, either in business or in their personal life, who hasn't done something that couldn't be viewed as a "violation". At least Staben's judicious spending of the taxpapers' money is a welcome contrast to the normal m.o. of pillaging by government contractors.
Now, Zeke & the VC Star, go out and find an extramarital affair or two at the Government Center. And please let it be in the DA's office.
Posted by ChiChiCha on May 19, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone have a really yummy recipe for bread pudding?
Posted by Contrary_Viewpoint on May 19, 2008 at 11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
After working over 15 years in Ventura County I’d heard a lot of things about Tom Staben, mostly bad. A little over a year ago I had my first opportunity to work with him, his sons and their employees on a large private sector job.
In my dealings with Tom, he has done everything from brush clearing to constructing large flood control structures that other “more reputable” contractors wouldn’t even return a bid on.
I have personally seen Tom walk into a room and glance at a set of plans that had been previously reviewed extensively by seasoned contractors, licensed civil engineers and geologists, and other construction consultants with decades of experience and quickly recommend revisions, that none of the other reviewers noticed, that saved the builder a VERY significant amount of money.
I don’t know how Ventura County award contracts but I in my recent dealings with Staben/Coastal Grading/Pacific Rock all the work that he was eligible to bid on was competitively bid out to at least three other contractors. Tom didn’t win all the bids… just most of them and he did it legitimately by providing the most competitive bid.
As to the quality of his work, based upon my experience, it is second to none and he has my strongest recommendation.
Posted by moorpark118 on May 19, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Parks is way to wishie washy to be in the position she is in. Lets all spend more for the services and fell good abut ourselves. Hey, bone up Linda and put away your feelings. He did the contracts according to the contract and saved us money so you can provide financing to the non-profits that need it. Maybe we should take contracts from contractors like Burns, pay them more and let Staben "suffer" for not getting permits to put dirt on his own land. Or maybe we should just move to China.
Give me a break. Pratt should get the county employee of the year. My competitions hate my guts because I do a better job than them at a better price. This sounds like Burns and the rest of the "cant we all get along" type contractors who cannot get contracts without blowing Staben (out of the water).
Her is one way to avoid dealing with Staben, competitive contractors need to bid low, get the job done and shut up. Until then, lets cheer this guy on.
PS: Per the photo he should get a hair cut, he is kind if scruffy looking!
Posted by moorpark118 on May 19, 2008 at 11:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OK lets all say it together:
Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom ,Tom Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom ,Tom Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom ,Tom Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom ,Tom Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom , , Tom, Tom, Tom ,Tom Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom ,Tom Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom , Tom, Tom, Tom , Tom
Posted by FineDesign on May 20, 2008 at 12:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Last week, the Star did an article on 5 wedding reception/event businesses in the County. And unbeknowst to the brides who are dropping big deposits, all are building facilities and operating without permits. Why no outcry and accusations about "violating the laws" from our public officials regarding these business owners??? The sewage, trash, noise and traffic issues surrounding these operations should be enough for Parks to have a nuclear meltdown.
Could it be that moving dirt and mining rock isn't as nice as brides, dancing, wedding cake and kiss kiss?
The County's history of targeting Staben reaks of selective and personally motivated enforcement. The supervisors love the chance to tell VC citizens they've provided community services within the taxpapers budget . . .all the while throwing one of the businesses that helped them meet that goal under the bus.
It's so unbelievably hypocritical.
Posted by FineDesign on May 20, 2008 at 1:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And to Ventura22 . . . that's a mighty high soapbox you're standing on.
Probably giving you a birds eye view of all the "crooks" in your neighborhood . . . .
Like the one who built a storage shed without a permit. Or maybe the guy quietly operating a part time business in his garage. There's the neighbor who also (illegally) dumped soil on his property in the hopes that erosion doesn't take away his life's investment, and the business owner who might be pushing a tax law a bit too far. And let's not forget the person who called in sick at work, but who is really at home.
Staben's violation of parole was regarding his personal property.
I can only hope you don't live in my neighborhood.
Posted by vwhunter on May 20, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! Staben is my hero! I had no idea that all of the contractors are crooks, piling on violations! Funny how this whittled down to Staben vs Burns. Staben's defenders sure can turn to personal attacks in a hurry.
Posted by FineDesign on May 20, 2008 at 8:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, vwhunter. . . then Mr. Burns should have kept his mouth shut, and not offered the Star any kind of comment or opinion. He opened that door. . . . and I'm stunned at his arrogance since he ain't got a clean house.
And what part of being called a "crook" isn't personal????
Posted by Shearluck on May 20, 2008 at 11:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The nonstop reaming Tom Staben gets by the Ventura Star is obnoxious. I am wondering where all you critics were during the fires the last couple years??? I do not recall seeing anyone here on the Tom Staben hate list, saving homes and groves with their own tractors, watertrucks, and employees. I hope those at the county who have stepped up and supported Mr. Staben in the past, do not bail and start up with the P.C. mantra as Linda Parks does. Finedesign is correct in wondering why the non-permitted wedding sites are getting a giant pass for their illegal activities, and yet Staben is an endless source of infractions for the county. Ventura22, you seem a little angry, what is the problem??? P.S. I have a terrific recipe for rice pudding.
Posted by Shearluck on May 20, 2008 at 11:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
By the way vwhunter, feel free to allow the county and the Star do a complete background investigation on your 25 years of business. I am certain they will come up with something. Perhaps we will then see a new topic in the Star.
Posted by vwhunter on May 21, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Shearluck,
Many companies helped with equipment, water trucks, etc. during the fires. Maybe not in your backyard, but in theirs.
Mr. Staben aside, there is still a question of fairness. All the contractors could be saving the county money by illegal dumping. We all look for advantages but the cowboy days are past. For county officials to imply ignorance is a joke. Let’s find out why the county releases basin cleanouts during the rainy season, etc.
Oh, and by the way, in 25 years of business, I have had no “major”, “fineable” or “criminal” violations. The only legalities have been collecting money.
Posted by vwhunter on May 21, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It would be a good time just to sit down and have cold one with you all. Maybe I'll catch you on the next one.
Posted by SOMISRAISED on June 9, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Ventura22,
Your comments seem almost like a personal vendetta. Its almost embarrassing to see such an emotional response in your comments. If you were to study the facts and let your "heart" (although cold and bitter) do less of your thinking, you may come off a TAD smarter.
As MOORPARK118 stated, Tom and his boys deserve much thanks from the inhabitants of Ventura County. Tom and his boys have saved tax dollars and valuable time that other higher bidders normally take control of. As for Ventura22, he has even saved you valuable tax dollars which is a crime in that case. You need no break, you are the criminal here. Slander is an offense in California, and you Ventura22 should try a new form of argumentation.
County contractors don't necessarily need to be looked at in a negative way but then again if you enjoy paying $4.65 per gallon and watching county contractors take there sweet, sweet time doing their jobs than keep up the amazing slander.
I as well as everyone else in this county see the orange vested, Levi wearing contractors everyday. I'd rather watch Mr. Staben and his boys do the high quality work , in less time and more affordable than ever watch the so called "golden boys" of county contracting.
Ventura22 does seem to be rather upset. Your name is confidential because you wish not to speak of a true personal opinion. I'd like to know what kind of honest, decent work you MUST provide the people of Ventura County in order to be able to speak so freely about such a decent hard working construction family. A family who Ventura County has respected and worked with for decades.
BeaHappi, thanks for providing valuable quotes and no useful commentary to back them. This is if your not aware my form of sarcasm.
Mr. Staben and sons, Tom Staben and Matt Staben do walk into loud rooms and quiet them. Mr. Staben is an extremely intelligent man with more experience than any over paid county contractor could ever comprehend. He bids relatively lower than most contractors, promises to save time and then completes the work with better quality and higher improvements. This is fact, not opinion. Anyone in Ventura County who has had the opportunity to work with Mr. Staben has been blessed with the ability to learn from him
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