Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Ohlson resigns from CSA No. 81 advisory board

Following the August meeting of the County Service Area No. 81 advisory board, Craig Ohlson submitted his resignation from the board of the group which advises the county on parks in Fallbrook, Rainbow, and DeLuz.

“Because of the real estate market I’ve had to take on additional employment,” Ohlson said. “I wasn’t able to make very many of the meetings and wasn’t able to commit the time to it that I would have liked to have committed to it.”

Ohlson is still in the Rainbow Real Estate office he owns in the afternoons and on weekends, and another agent is in that office when Ohlson is at his other job.

Ohlson’s employment as an ironworker in the construction industry currently has him working on a commercial warehouse in Alpine, which prevents him from attending the Thursday late morning meetings of the CSA No. 81 advisory board. “It’s just been hard for me,” he said.

Ohlson resigned from the CSA No. 81 advisory board so that the board (whose recommendation must be ratified by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, who serve as the actual board for CSA No. 81) can fill his seat with a member who would be able to attend the meetings. “I just don’t feel good about holding them up indefinitely,” he said.

Ironically, Ohlson’s work in the construction industry is giving him more knowledge about that field, which is a significant component of park development. “It has given me more depth of construction knowledge,” he said.

The CSA No. 81 board prioritizes expenditures of Park Land Development Ordinance funds obtained from developers to fund park facilities in the development’s community.

PLDO fees can only be used for active recreation parks and not for open space or trails. The fees can be used for acquisition of land but not for maintenance or operations, and they can be used for replacement of playground equipment or other renovations but not for restoration of historic structures.

“It’s been a great board,” Ohlson said. “We’ve accomplished a lot, so I’ve really been blessed by working with those folks.”

One of the accomplishments of CSA No. 81 during Ohlson’s time on the board was the fruition of Rainbow Park. “Rainbow Park was a dear project to my heart and to the community,” he said.

“I feel like I can still contribute to the needs of at least our park here in Rainbow,” Ohlson said. “As far as my involvement with the group, I’m still going to be able to make input through the Rainbow Planning Group on any needs.”

Ohlson is a member of the Rainbow Community Planning Group, which has evening meetings, and he will continue to be involved on that board.

He is also president of the Vallecitos School District board and president of the Rainbow Property Owners Association, and his job will not affect his ability to hold those positions. He has lived in Rainbow for the past 19 years after moving from the Denver area.

Ohlson has not ruled out a return to the CSA No. 81 advisory board if a vacancy occurs and his work schedule allows attendance. “I think it’s a great attribute to the community,” he said of the board.

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