In April of 2020, Ranch Matters (RM) published a report titled

“THE 7Ps-PROPER PLANNING & PREPARATION PREVENTS PISS POOR PERFORMANCE.”

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The story dealt with the lack of CLEAR Plans, Protocols and Procedures on the part of the Ranch Manager and HOA Board regarding Crisis Management-Emergencies of all types.

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We pointed out that according to CRR’s Policy & Procedures Handbook:

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“CRISIS MANAGEMENT-

The Ranch Manager will normally be the FIRST RESPONDER to any emergency or crisis on Association property or with staff.

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The Board will be brought into the emergency/crisis response planning and direction as soon as the initial crisis response has been addressed.”

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WORDS ON PAPER?

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The 7Ps story included statements from retired Sheriff Jim Adkins.

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Adkins:  “The 7Ps is good advice. If things go really bad, the Sheriff’s Office can’t always be there.”

Adkins: “Ranch Officials and Association Members need to be self-sufficient and develop plans for all emergencies/crises and they need to explore out of the box options in all matters related to safety and security for the Ranch Homeowners.”

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The Safety and Security of Association members lives and property has been a controversial issue for several years and apparently NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

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At the last (07/01/24), CRR/Special Road District (SRD) meeting there was a Badger Road right-of-way update along with the SRD Directors discussing a recently discovered 2010 agreement between Jefferson County and the SRD.

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The discussion triggered a question from the audience.

Resident “Ms. Stevens”:

“Regarding Badger Road, Contracts and MOU’s, this was brought up, about four weeks ago at an HOA Board meeting when talking about the disaster on Badger. It was reported extensively by Ranch Matters.”

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SRD Chairman Lynn Breeden asked Ms. Stevens to be more specific and she responded by explaining how the Policy and Procedures rule regarding Ranch Manager Judy Lapora’s First Responders responsibility was ignored during the 2021 snow incident on Badger involving a Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputy’s crashed vehicle.

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Ms. Stevens further quoted Manager Lapora’s latest HOA Board meeting comments regarding this serious matter:

“BEATING A DEAD HORSE AND WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.”

Ranch Director Ara Erdekian attended the SRD meeting along with his colleagues Kelly Davis and Bob Beveridge. Director Erdekian shot back at Ms. Stevens:

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“She’s (Lapora) is not the sum of all evil...”

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Ms. Stevens: “I did not say that.”

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Erdekian continued defending Lapora’s First Responder’s role by muddling the wording in said Policy and by implying the deputy was at fault for the accident and lost his job over the positioning of his vehicle.

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Ranch Director Davis reinforced Erdekian’s position and mentioned that he read in the newspaper that the deputy was at fault for the accident on Badger and indeed lost his job.

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Beveridge suggested the subject matter was not relevant for a SRD meeting and wanted to move on.

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Why?

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RM reached out to Sheriff Jason Pollock for a comment regarding the Badger Road deputy involved accident.

He confirmed that deputy Poole was the responding deputy and did not lose his job and still works at the Sheriff’s Office. He added, there haven’t been any deputies terminated for any crash.

In an earlier report, former Sheriff Marc Heckathorn told RM he was thankful nobody was hurt, including deputy Poole and commended him for going above and beyond while serving the community.

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WE ARE LIVING IN STRANGE, UNCERTAIN AND UNSETTLING TIMES

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For seven plus years we have reported on the Ranch Manager and/or Board of Directors failure to address emergency issues related to the safety of all Ranch residents.

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Several years ago a volunteer driven loss prevention/security/safety program for the Association Members was in developmental stages.

The concept was dismissed with little fanfare by Manager Lapora and/or her Board and intentionally sabotaged.

The program specifically was designed for Crooked River Ranch at low to no cost for the residents.

Prior to 2017,

John Stevens received an appointment letter from the Association stating in part:

“We would like you to serve as an advisor to the Board of Directors and our staff on security issues on the Ranch.”

The letter indicated the advisory position carried with it a “high profile” status in the community and suggested Stevens’ write monthly related articles in the Telegraph.

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Shouldn’t CRISIS MANAGEMENT be prioritized by the Board given the potential CRISES facing all 5K plus Ranch residents that are local and global in nature?

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POST SRD MEETING

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RM contacted Director Kelly Davis for a comment. Director Davis: “I agree that safety and security issues need to be looked at and all options explored.”

Davis Added: “I believe a SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) needs to be developed to ensure continuity in times of crisis. I believe the safety and security of the Ranch residents is of the utmost importance.”

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RANCH MATTERS CRR, LLC

JOHN STEVENS & DAVE STANGLAND