Dear Friends, 

After two months of public meetings and much deliberation, the Board of Supervisors passed the 2014-15 FY budget.  The good news is that there will be no layoffs, save for the already scheduled layoffs from the ongoing restructuring at Kern Medical Center.  The total budget passed is $2.7 billion, an increase of $87.1 million from last year's budget.  Of that $2.7 billion, only $72 million is discretionary.  All the rest of the monies are either "pass through" funds from the state or federal government that fund certain county departments, or funds that must be spent on certain programs or debt payments.

                The other good news is continued funding for the Library system, ensuring there will be no cutbacks in hours the libraries are open, and the rural crime task force with the Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's crime lab will be fully funded.  I take law enforcement and the protection of the public very seriously, and I am pleased that we are able to fund our first responders and investigators.  Public protection departments (Sheriff's Office, Probation, District Attorney, Public Defender) receive the greatest allocation of the County's budget at 53.5%. READ MORE

My office and other county officials are working with Eastern Kern communities and Fresno State University to conduct the East Kern Economic Strategy.  At this time, Fresno State has met with stakeholders and has put together a funding strategy for the plan that includes 50% from the participating communities (California City, Rosamond, Mojave, Boron, Ridgecrest) and 50% in the form of an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant from the federal government. Funding from the participants can be actual cash or in-kind. For example, communities could provide meeting space and staff time as a part of the required match to reduce the actual cash requirement. The EDA grant portion will run through the county's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) committee. Our Countywide CEDS document, which creates eligibility for EDA funding, was approved by the EDA in June and is valid through June 2015. READ MORE

CONSTITUENT OF THE MONTH JOYCE NASH

TEHACHAPI MOUNTAIN PARK VISIONING

lic meeting at 6:30PM at the Tehachapi Mountain Park Recreation Hall.  All members of the public are invited.  This meeting is being held in partnership with the Kern County Parks & Recreation Department to gather the public's input regarding improvements to the facilities, services, and long-term objectives at Tehachapi Mountain Park.

WHAT: Informational Walking Tour & Public Meeting

WHEN: Walking Tour Begins at 5PM at the Recreation Hall; Public Meeting Begins at 6:30PM at Recreation Hall

WHERE: Tehachapi Mountain Park Recreation Hall (follow signs along Water Canyon Road and County Park Road.

DOWNLOAD FLYER

TEHACHAPI HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION EVENT

The Kern County Waste Management Department will be holding a one day only hazardous waste collection event at the Tehachapi Landfill on Saturday, October 4th, 2014 from 9AM-12noon.  The Waste Management Department asks that:

• Transport no more than 15 gallons or 125 pounds of waste per trip.
• Make sure containers are not leaking and are properly labeled.
• Keep wastes separated from passengers.

Items that will be accepted at this hazardous waste collection day include:

• Automotive Fluids
• Batteries
• Fluorescent Light Bulbs
• Household Cleaners
• Paint
• Pesticides
• Pool Chemicals
• Sharps

ROADS UPDATE

DESIGN:

Diamond Street TE - Design 90% complete.  Allocation Request approved by CTC at June meeting.  Plans are being finalized and prepared for QC/QA review.   E-76 was approved on 8-11-2014; The Landscape Architect consultant for the project unexpectedly passed away this summer, his estate recently forwarded his design files to Roads. His design was substantially complete and is now being incorporated into the project plans. The electrical designer was a subcontractor to the LSA and as a result we are now finalizing an agreement directly with him for the remainder of the electrical design. ($1,000,000 TE Project)

Ming Avenue Widening - Baldwin to Anita Lane - Topographic survey complete.  Negotiations with property owners are on-going. 

Improvements in the Golden Hills Area - Sidewalks along Madre St, Park St, and Sierra Avenue.  Environmental is complete.  Survey is complete.  Design is 100% complete.  E-76 approval received in June. Internal review nearly complete, and corrections/revisions are being made in preparation for QC/QA review. Project is anticipated to be advertised in September, construction would follow in spring 2015.  ($213,000 Fed SRTS Project). READ MORE