I do have an appointment to meet with the chairman of the appropriations committee (Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands), who happens to represent Apple Valley. It is my intention to impress upon him the urgency this project should be held.

If you will hang with us a little longer we will get things worked out. They are complaining to the point where they are not seeing anything worked out, any solution. Something has to happen.

They can really look at cash balances. They can look at other accounts and investigate where money is and where money is being spent and how money can be shifted.

It's a money issue, but it's really more of a safety issue.

I've never know the number to be this high - the percentages to be this high - but I've never seen the revenue situation as bleak as it?s been this year.

We all recognize there are not enough ways to cross the river. There are just not enough ways into Apple Valley as we need.