EAST PORTERVILLE, Calif. | Yellow wildflowers frame the foothills of East Porterville, where the San Joaquin Valley rises toward the Sierra Nevada. Earlier this month, residents began an important new chapter for their community, coming together to help shape the East Porterville Community Plan and the future of the place they call home. | |
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LATEST UPDATES
FROM THE RMA
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- Good News
- Public Works
- Economic Development, Planning & Tourism
- Building & Permit Center
- Fiscal Services & Human Resources
- Grants & Resources
- RMA Monthly Data Report
| | RMA Public Works engineering staff presented plans for the Road 130 pedestrian improvement project in Orosi during a September 24 community meeting at Palm Elementary School. The meeting marked a new stage for the project by bringing the design directly to residents for review and feedback before the next phase. Similarly, Public Works team members also completed outreach at a pedestrian improvement meeting for the Pedestrian Connectivity Project along Avenue 145 in Poplar on September 30. These projects, in Districts 4 (Orosi, Supervisor Valero) and 1 (Poplar, Supervisor Micari), reflect RMA’s broader efforts to improve pedestrian safety and access in unincorporated communities across Tulare County. | |
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Welcome Message
Putting Resources to Work
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A budget tells us what resources are available. What matters is what we are able to accomplish with them.
At RMA, those choices show up in very tangible ways. They are reflected in roads being maintained, infrastructure being improved, projects moving through development and investments reaching communities throughout the County. Each one represents a commitment of public resources and an expectation that those resources will produce something of value, and that is why the numbers matter.
As RMA completes its first budget review of the fiscal year, we are looking closely at how actual activity compares with the plans made before the beginning of the fiscal year. At the same time, annual road reporting and other financial requirements help us account for investments already made and keep an accurate picture of the commitments still ahead.
That perspective is important because often, as conditions change and projects evolve, costs can move, and new needs can emerge. A budget gives us a starting point, but sound financial management requires us to continually monitor the activity after the numbers are approved.
You will see some of the results of those decisions throughout this edition of In the Works. They represent different areas of RMA, but each is part of the same responsibility to make public resources meaningful in the places we serve. You will hear about pedestrian improvements in Orosi and Poplar, completely funded by Measure R, a local tax measure that requires fiscal oversight of taxpayer money.
For me, that is what good fiscal stewardship should accomplish: accounting for what was spent, while remaining keenly focused on turning the County’s priorities into tangible results that the residents of Tulare County can benefit from for generations to come.
Best Regards,
Scott Motsenbocker, MBA
Assistant Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services
Tulare County Resource Management Agency
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PUBLIC WORKS
ROAD CREWS, ENGINEERING, & LAND SURVEYING TEAMS
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Steven Noland Retires After 38 Years of
Tulare County Service
RMA's Central Road Yard in Visalia celebrates longtime Heavy Equipment Superintendent
| | Retired Heavy Equipment Superintendent Steven Noland, center right, poses with coworkers and guests at the Central Road Yard for his retirement sendoff. | | |
The RMA's Central Road Yard recently celebrated Heavy Equipment Superintendent Steve Noland as he retired following a 38-year career with the County. During his career, he worked alongside generations of mechanics, welders and equipment crews who support public service operations throughout Tulare County. Throughout his career, Steve and his colleagues were responsible for maintaining the vehicles and heavy equipment that support Public Works crews across Tulare County's nearly 5,000 square miles.
Congratulations, Steve, and thank you for your decades of service.
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RMA Data Packet Packed With Updates
A closer look at projects and activity across unincorporated Tulare County.
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The September RMA Data Packet is now available to view, offering a closer look at RMA projects, services, and monthly activity across Tulare County's nearly 3,000-mile road network and more than 40 unincorporated communities. Unincorporated communities are areas of Tulare County outside of the city limits of our eight cities (Dinuba, Exeter, Farmersville, Lindsay, Porterville, Woodlake, Tulare, and Visalia).
The packet brings together project status reports, photos, timelines, budgets and other agency data, including updates on Public Works Projects, Road Maintenance, Economic Development & Planning, Permits, Building & Housing, Code Compliance, Zoning, and Water and Wastewater Systems.
This month’s Public Works updates include accessibility improvements, roadway construction, bridge projects, and pedestrian safety work. The 2022 Community Accessibility Enhancement Project, for example, was reported at 99% construction completion, while the Road 67 Operational Improvement Project was reported at 46% complete.
Whether you are following a project in your community or simply want a better understanding of RMA activity across unincorporated Tulare County, the September Data Packet provides a more detailed look at the work underway.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
PLANNING & TOURISM
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Hellwig Products Celebrates 80 Years
Four generations of family ownership continue a longstanding local manufacturing legacy
| From left, Mark Hellwig and his daughter, Hellwig Products CEO Melanie Hellwig-White, join Congressman Jim Costa and Tulare County Supervisor Larry Micari during the company’s 80th anniversary celebration. | | |
Hellwig Products celebrated its 80th anniversary on September 19, 2026, at its Visalia-area facility, marking eight decades of family-owned manufacturing in Tulare County.
Founded in 1946, the company is now led by fourth-generation CEO Melanie Hellwig-White, alongside a family legacy that includes her father, Mark Hellwig, representing the third generation of the business. Hellwig Products manufactures suspension products, including sway bars and helper springs, for automotive, truck, and recreational vehicle applications, and is located between Farmersville and Visalia.
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East Porterville's Community Plan Kicks Off
Residents help launch a year-long planning process focused on East Porterville’s future.
| East Porterville residents participate in an interactive activity identifying community priorities during the first East Porterville Community Plan meeting at John J. Doyle Elementary School. | | |
East Porterville residents recently joined Tulare County RMA at John J. Doyle Elementary School to kick off the community’s year-long planning process. Residents used interactive maps, bilingual polling boards, and hands-on activities to identify priorities, including transportation, housing, parks, drainage, jobs, and community safety. The unincorporated community of East Porterville is in District 5 (Supervisor Townsend), and located between the City of Porterville and the unincorporated community of Springville.
The conversation continues at the next East Porterville Community Plan meeting:
Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 6 p.m.
Alta Vista Elementary School
2293 E. Crabtree Ave., Porterville, CA
Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to attend and continue sharing their ideas for East Porterville’s future. Use the links below to learn more about the project and submit feedback.
A big thank you to our school partners for their support throughout the process!
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RMA Economic Development Manager Alida Verduzco Silva and RMA Planner III Emily Gage led the East Porterville Community Plan kickoff meeting and are available for questions.
Questions? Alida may be reached at averduzco@tularecounty.ca.gov, and Emily may be reached at egage@tularecounty.ca.gov.
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RMA Permit Center Leveraging New Technology
Modernized lobby at Government Plaza makes accessing permit services easier.
| Office Assistant Matthew Cazares assists a customer at the RMA Permit Center in Government Plaza, where digital check-in technology and updated lobby services are helping visitors navigate permitting services more easily. | | |
The RMA Permit Center at Government Plaza in Visalia is making it easier for customers to navigate services both in person and online. Digital kiosks in the lobby help visitors check in and connect with the appropriate staff, while plans and permits can also be submitted online for review.
Office Assistant Matthew Cazares is among the staff assisting customers at the front counter and helping connect visitors with the permitting services they need.
Questions? Please contact the RMA Permit Center at (559) 624-7000.
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FISCAL SERVICES & HUMAN RESOURCES
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2026 Annual Roads Report Underway
Fiscal Year 26/27 First Quarter Closing
| | Overhead view of Mountain Road 109 over White River Bridge in the community of Fountain Springs. | | |
As the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2026/27 comes to a close, our Fiscal Services team is busy at work completing the 2026 Annual Roads Report. The report aims to give a view of how money was utilized for everything from road maintenance to bridge rehab throughout our vast Tulare County road system, which encompasses nearly 3,000 miles and over 350 bridges.
Prior year accomplishments were shared with the Board of Supervisors on June 23, 2026, as part of the 2026/27 County Transportation Improvement Program (CTIP) presentation delivered by RMA Director Reed Schenke.
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County of Tulare Career Opportunities Here at the RMA
Explore meaningful careers that help shape the future of Tulare County.
| | Gage Flack, Heavy Equipment Mechanic II with Tulare County RMA, helps maintain County fleet vehicles across departments, including this SWAT vehicle used by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. | | |
Want to work toward something great?
Consider working for the County of Tulare. Government is a place where every role makes a difference in strengthening our communities and shaping a brighter future.
Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to grow your skills, we offer opportunities that matter, supporting vital services, building infrastructure, protecting natural resources, and serving the people and businesses who call Tulare County home, as well as those who visit to make lasting memories.
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Low-Cost Internet Options Available
See whether your household qualifies and where to find enrollment assistance.
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Did You Know? Some Tulare County residents may qualify for low-cost home internet. To be eligible, at least one person in the household must be enrolled in CalFresh, Lifeline, Medi-Cal, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the free or reduced-price school lunch program, or the Pell Grant program.
For more information, please visit InternetForAllNow.org or call the Get Connected Call Center at 833-938-3298.
| | | Latest RMA Data Packet Now Available | | | | |
RMA Data is now available in a single data packet including information regarding:
- Project Status Updates
- Public Works Field Operations
- Monthly Planning Report
- Building and Housing Report
| | Follow Us On Social Media | | Several RMA initiatives also have an online presence. Search for the following accounts to keep up to date with the latest at our agency. | | |
Send over your story idea, and it may just make it into a future edition of this publication! To learn more, please contact the County of Tulare's Economic Development Office (EDO) by emailing (economicdevelopment@tularecounty.ca.gov). The EDO is a division of the RMA, maintaining the agency's media and communications efforts, including public information outreach.
RMA Media Team
Alida Verduzco Silva, Economic Development Manager
Kevyn Tinoco, Media Specialist
Alejandro Martinez, Economic Development Analyst
Elva Parker, Administrative Aide
Caleb Smalley, Extra Help Student Worker
Contributors: RMA leadership, staff, and community partners.
| | RMA Contact Information and Quick Links | | | | |
