LOOKING INTO THE PAST

NAVIGATING THE SHOALS OF

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The task seemed simple.  Determine what, if any, 

easements may cross our property. There is no

record of any in our deed and real estate papers, but 

we wanted to be certain.  Off to San Luis Obipso and to the County Recorder.

Nothing in their records of our property, but, we were told, the Assessor might have a record the Recorder does not.

Up to the Assessors Office.  Nope, nothing filed there

but to be sure, we were advised, we should check

with Planning and Public Works. Off we go, over to the old Court House building.  Well, we get a new copy of

our property line, a record of the most recent survey

and explanation of the survey makers and again

no record of easements.  But to be sure we should

go to the County Recorder.  We started there, we tell him.

Well, he says, you can do a search of past property deeds and titles.

Back to the Recorder's Office and we are set up with a computer and given help in doing a search of all of the 

past property ownership chain and transfers. We examine

if any of those deeds contained easements.

Well, we learned the name of our part of the ridge, at 

least the name dating back to the 1920's.  We followed

ownership back about 3 clicks and found no easements.

Just to be real sure we check with our Cambria community

service district (they handle water and roads) and

no record there either.  A half a day of pursuit and

not one person was anything but helpful, courteous,

and friendly.  The young lady in the County Recorders office, with whom we dealt twice, was especially helpful.

And it was very kind of the CCSD office to call us

with additional guidance.

It was fascinating to see the records of our property

from 4 agency views, each with their own facet of the prism.

Interesting also to note how real estate records,

transactions, maps and all have evolved. The

keeping of those records is still transitioning from old books

to computer files.

I've covered government from the Federal to local level and have always thought that government that is best is

that closest to home.  Our little foray today validated 

that for us. Thanks to those who helped us. 

See you down the trail.

RED TAPE?

IS THIS THE ORIGIN?

    We know "red tape" is administrative or bureaucratic procedure that delays progress.  On a trip to the California Capitol in Sacramento we may have come upon the origin.

There in the historic office of the late Secretary of State Charles Curry is an example of what well could be the source of the phrase.

Here a stack of documents, tied together, awaiting signature or distribution.

Our curator told us that when the office was swamped with business and when backlogs occurred, the awaiting official papers would be "tidied up" by being tied up with

red string or tape, the kind winning runners would break at a finish line.  

 That red string kept things from moving forward, through a final processing or disposition.  

"It's caught up in red tape," our curator told us became the phrase.

The concept stuck, but I wonder if any one still uses red tape?

See you down the trail.