Documenter: Josef Sibala
Here’s what you need to know
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Tulare County Chief of Staff Tammie Weyker-Adkins announced the draft resolution placing authority on local school districts regarding COVID rules.
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For the next meeting, the board unanimously agreed to continue the public hearing regarding the violations of the Subletting and Subcontracting Fair Practices Act by the Contractor JT2 Inc. doing business as Todd Companies, connected with the notice of completion for the Pixley Main Street Improvement Project.
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With the drop in tourism revenue and jobs caused by COVID, Manager Martinez hoped “programs and collaborations” under the Economic Development Office can spur economic recovery.
The Scene
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors, according to its website, sets policy for County departments, oversees the County budget, adopts ordinances on local matters, and establishes land-use policies that affect unincorporated areas of Tulare County.
They respond to the needs of County constituents daily by meeting or discussing issues individually with County community members to help resolve problems and address their concerns.
The meeting coincides with the situation in Teviston, in which low-income households are affected by contaminated water.
The meeting is held live on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at 9:00 am through the county’s YouTube channel.
Tulare County Board of Supervisors Members present:
Larry Micari (District One), Pete Vander Poel (District Two), Amy Shuklian (Chair-District Three), Eddie Valero (Vice Chair-District Four), Dennis Townsend (District Five), Jason T. Britt (County Administrative Officer), Jennifer M. Flores (County Counsel), and Melinda Benton (Chief Clerk).
Others Present:
Tammie Weyker-Adkins, Tulare County Chief of Staff
Cameron Petilla, Tulare Board Representative
Maria Jasmin Torres, an employee at the Tulare Health and Human Services Agency
Reed Schenke, Director, Tulare County Resource Management Agency
Julieta Martinez, Economic Development Manager at County of Tulare Gordon Tessman, General Manager at Todd Companies
Charlie Norman, Tulare Fire Chief
Kevin Riggi, Tulare Fire Deputy Marshall
Macy, Tulare student
Casey Hearn, parent
Tesla Hall, parent
Becky Hanson, parent
Jimmy Malloy, parent
Lily Hart, parent
Chelsea Leon-Decker, parent
Kelley Neufeld, parent
Melissa Steward, teacher
Aly Scout, teacher
Discussions/Actions
After the pledge of allegiance and moment of silence, each member of the Board of Supervisors gave updates of their meetings with various organizations and constituents.
Tulare County Chief of Staff Tammie Weyker-Adkins introduced Cameron Petilla as the new board representative. Petilla said, “looking forward” to serve the community.
Maria Jasmin Torres, who works as a self-sufficiency counselor in the Tulare Health and Human Services Agency and the call center for TulareWORKs, pressed the board for a “livable wage,” which ensures a “better quality of life.”
She cited rising workload due to the pandemic, turnover rate of employees, and living expenses.
The board unanimously approved items #5-22 while mainly discussing the following:
#21. From a request from the Board of Supervisors’ staff, the board unanimously approved a resolution supporting delegating authority for school COVID-19 safety protocol to local school boards to advocate for parental choice and allow students to return to a normal classroom setting safely.
Tulare County Chief of Staff Weyker-Adkins announced the draft resolution placing authority on local school districts regarding COVID protocols.
Members Micari, Townsend, and Vander Poel thanked Weyker-Atkins for the draft resolution, which they remarked, “look for the best interest of the youth.”
On the public comment on Item #21, parents, teachers, and students lauded the draft resolution.
Parents Casey Hearn, Tesla Hall, Becky Hanson, Jimmy Malloy, Lily Hart, Chelsey Leon-Decker, Kelley Neufeld argued for “local authority to handle local issues.”
Meanwhile, kindergarten and independent student teachers Aly Scout and Melissa Steward shared how masks affected their student’s learning and mental health. Macy, a Tulare student, meant masking as “dumb, in my opinion.”
Members Valero and Shuklian echoed parents’ views in favor of local school boards’ autonomy.
Member Townsend advised parents to air their concerns in local school boards.
#4. A separate public hearing continued to focus on the violations of the Subletting and Subcontracting Fair Practices Act by the Contractor JT2 Inc. doing business as Todd Companies, connected with the notice of completion for the Pixley Main Street Improvement Project.
Since the previous hearing, the use of an unlisted contractor such as Don Berry Construction by JT2 Inc. followed an assessed penalty of $3,480.20 based on the Subletting and Subcontracting Fair Practices Act.
The Subletting and Subcontracting Fair Practices Act prohibits unlisted contractors from being paid more than $10,000.
Director of Tulare County Resource Management Agency Reed Schenke noted staff inspection reports that Don Berry provided paving work for two days. The certified payroll for the subcontractor showed a labor cost of $14,000.
Todd Companies provided three invoices and cleared checks last Friday, which amounts to $9,221. In addition, the invoices are for equipment rentals and excluded labor. Schenke sought a review of the documents sent by JT2.
General Manager at Todd Companies Gordon Tessman claimed its deal with Don Berry as a fixed price contract and wondered why the board is “dragging this thing out.”
The board agreed to continue the public hearing for Item #4 for the next meeting on July 27, 2021.
#19. With a request from the Resource Management Agency, board 4-0 approved the Business Opportunities Work, Film Commission, and Tourism work programs. During the vote, Member Valero was absent.
Economic Development Manager at County of Tulare Julieta Martinez highlighted programs under the Economic Development Office in Tulare.
First, the Business Opportunities Program focuses on cater the needs of businesses and developers, especially expediting projects.
Second, the Film Commission assists the Tulare film industry in securing locations and permits. Their staff partner with agencies and industry partners.
Third, the Tourism Program seeks to generate economic activity through tourism while working with the Tulare Local Chamber of Commerce, Sequoia National Park, and the United States Forest Service.
With the drop in tourism revenue and jobs caused by COVID, Manager Martinez hoped that “programs and collaborations” under the Economic Development Office can spur economic recovery.
Aside from the programs, she stressed several grants funds.
CV1 is a $1 million project with a partnership with Self-Help Enterprises, which gives countywide mortgage and utility assistance.
With the partnership with Tulare Health and Human Services Agency and UPholdings, CV 2/3 is a $1.8 million project providing homeless housing in Visalia and revitalizing the Sequoia Lodge.
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) focuses on economic development planning and health & safety repair.
In the City of Lindsay, CV 2/3 provides $1.5 million for subsistence payment and business assistance loans. Applications for loans are close to the tune of “$5 million”.
In the City of Lindsay, CDBG centered on health & safety repair and code compliance.
Alongside Self-Help Enterprises, Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) administers $3.5 million towards housing-related projects that assist unmet housing needs.
SB 2 planning grant, which rose to $500,000 from $310,000, is on infrastructure feasibility analysis and completion of housing programs and policies.
Local Early Action Planning Grant concentrates on infrastructure feasibility and municipal service reviews.
Recognizing the situation in Teviston, the Countywide Bottled Water Program Delivery bottled drinking to households experiencing contaminated water or dry wells.
In recent years, the Countywide Bottled Water Program extended to small communities with contaminated water. However, these communities need approval from the California State Water Resources Control Board.
Next, she briefed the board on the current economy in Tulare.
As seen by the value of building permits, from $190.4 million in 2018/2019 to $495.3 million in 2020/2021, building permits rose.
Regarding agribusiness, the Setton Pistachio West Coast Headquarters has opened in Terra Bella.
In renewable energy, several facilities have opened as follows: Rexford Solar Farm in Southeast Tulare, Ten anaerobic digesters for dairy in Visalia/Tulare, Four ground mount solar dairy at Tulare, Tipton, and Visalia; and California Bioenergy: Biogas Pipeline at Visalia/Tulare.
On healthcare, the Sierra Vista Health Clinic opened in Terra Bella, while Adventist Health in Earlimart.
In community development, Anderson Village has opened in Kingsburg.
On retail and commercial, several establishments in Goshen have opened as follows: a Starbucks and Subway at Valley Fuel Travel Station, and United Pacific, which includes a convenience store, car wash, and pump stations.
Lastly, she sees the outlook for next year with facilities opening such as:
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Burger King at the Valley Fuel Travel Plaza in Goshen,
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Smee Homes in Goshen
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Arco Travel Center in Pixley, which includes Yogurtland, Deli Delicious, and Truckers Diesel Fuel
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Villa del Caribe in Pixley.
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Salt + Light housing project in Goshen
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Goshen Village East
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New Water Treatment Facility in Traver, to be built by the Del Oro Water Company
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Pitman Family Farms in Dinuba covering 6 new poultry structures.
#20. With a request from the Fire Department, the board voted (4-0) to accept a donation of $572,714.95 from D.H. Blattner on behalf of the Rexford Solar Project for the benefit of the Fire Department for the specific purpose of purchasing a 2022 Spartan Emergency Response Type III Fire Engine on an International 7400, 4 x 4. Diesel Powered Four-Door Crew Cab Chassis as a proposed alternative material/method. Likewise, Member Valero was absent in the voting.
Likewise, the board approved (4-0) a Capital Asset and authorized the Fire Department and Purchasing Agent to purchase one (1) 2022 Spartan Emergency Response Type III Engines on an International 7400, 4 x 4, and Diesel Powered Four-Door Crew Cab Chassis with said donated funds in the Fiscal Year 2021/2022.
The board authorized (4-0) the pre-payment of the purchase price for the said fire truck and associated equipment to Emergency Vehicle Group, Inc.
In closed session, the board mainly discussed the items as follows:
Item C Conference With Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Significant Exposure to Litigation (Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2))
Number of Potential Cases: 1
Item D Conference With Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation
(Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1))
Name of Case: Mary Jones v. County of Tulare
Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Nos.: ADJ7416725,
Unassigned, Corvel Claim No.: 142T-07-0024
Item E Conference With Labor Negotiators
(Government Code Section 54957.6)
Agency Designated Representatives: Jason T. Britt and Shelline K. Bennett Employee Organizations: All Certified Employee Organizations
Unrepresented Employees: All Unrepresented Employees
The meeting will be on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, available on its Youtube channel.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at Documenters-admin@thefresnoland.com with “Correction Request” in the subject line.