Published: June 27, 2007
By CRAIG CASSIDY
The Union Democrat
Valley Springs will not get a long-anticipated community college campus
any time soon.
San Joaquin Delta Community College District officials this week
confirmed plans to acquire 60 acres of land along Paloma Road, between
Campo Seco Road and Highway 12, have been called off — citing snags in
property negotiations and financial constraints at the district, which
takes in half of Calaveras County.
"The district is still very open to, and desires to, have a campus in
this area. But this seller is not one we could follow through on," said
Andy Dunn, vice president of business services for the San Joaquin Delta
Community College District.
The district board in 2003 resolved to buy land for a Calaveras County
campus. It was to be paid for with proceeds from a $250 million bond
measure on the following year's ballot, Measure L, which, while it
passed, was rejected by a majority of Calaveras County voters.
In December, the district's board voted to move forward with an offer to
buy 40 acres from Calaveras County businessman Thomas Coe for $1.4
million. Coe, who has talked about building an industrial park in the
area, offered to donate 20 additional acres.
A big hurdle holding up the Calaveras project: getting sewer and water
service to the land.
Extending lines 2-plus miles to the property would cost $50 million,
according to college district board member Ted Simas, who voted in
December against buying the Coe property, saying the district couldn't
afford it.
An even bigger snag lay 68 miles southeast, where the district has
promised to build a massive education center in the burgeoning Mountain
House development, between Tracy and Livermore.
The district is deeply committed to eventually building the campus
there, Simas said, and the financial commitment means no bond money will
be left for Calaveras County.
"The main issue is the bond is way over budget," Simas said.
"The Mountain House project is just escalating and escalating."
Maria Serna, the board's chairwoman, said as much, explaining that the
Mountain House campus has been in the works since 1996.
"We would like to do everything. But we have wants and we have needs,
and we need to take care of our needs first..."
The college will continue to offer a handful of classes at its foothills
location, Calaveras High School in San Andreas, Serna said.
There, students can take a smattering of vocational courses geared
toward future electricians, EMTs and child care providers.
Neither Coe nor Bill Claudino, a member of the county Board of
Supervisors who strongly supported Coe's plans, could be reached for
comment.
