Documenter: Dani Huerta

Here’s what you need to know:

  • August 2021 is Child Support Awareness Month in Tulare County and California.

  • There has been a significant rise in COVID-19 cases in Tulare County in the past two weeks of about 100-200%, although there are only about 3/100,000 cases.

  • Delinquency charges presented by the Tulare County Resource Management Agency will be placed on the 2021-2022 tax roll.

Board of Supervisors

  • 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, Chief Clerk

The Scene

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors meeting was held simultaneously both in-person and streamed via YouTube at 9 a.m. on July 27, 2021.

The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence. Chair Shuklian asked to keep the Kern County Sheriff Deputy Philip Campas and Sheriff Donny Youngblood in their thoughts during this moment of silence. Supervisor Vander Poel was absent.

Actions

  • Board of Supervisors matters

    • Supervisor Valero presented a few things he attended. 

      • Governor Newsoms bill signing of SB 156 for Broadband for All

      • Tulare Kings Hispanic Chamber of Commerce ambassador luncheon

      • Shared information with Dinuba Government Affairs Committee

      • Latino CA caucus of California counties in which they toured the Sempra weather center, discussed wildlife mitigation efforts, discussed electric vehicle initiatives with General Motors, and discussed priorities for LCCC.

      • Will attend Ivanhoe Community Council Meeting, CCEJN meeting, a film screening of Fatherhood in which he will be facilitating a panel on mental health. Thursday meeting at perkas & community service center at 6:30.

      • Joe De Luna passed away this morning from pancreatic cancer

    • Supervisor Micari

      • Widening Farmersville Boulevard which he attended with Supervisor Valero

    • Supervisor Townsend

      • Had a call last week with the US Forest Service to discuss a master stewardship agreement. Still following up

      • Call with Cal OES, hazard tree removal of the Sequoia complex fire

      • Lightning fire in Mountain Home. The fire is about 250 acres and about 20% contained

      • Visited Poplar to check on the community after the recent fire there. Some buildings were lost and some people were displaced. About 8 members of The GRACE Project helped with food and backpack distributions. 400 backpacks were lost when the fire broke out. All backpacks were replaced by the Kiwanis Club

      • Meeting with forest supervisor Benson on California fires & future funding

      • Call with the Sun Gizette. Supervisor Townsend is the Tulare County delegate for the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC). He  advocated for rural broadband infrastructure

    • Chair Shuklian

      • Attended San Joaquin Valley Insurance Authority meeting with Supervisor Vander Poel and Supervisor Micari in which they discussed medical plans, approved a budget, and approved and agreement with two mobile vendors who will provide onsite mammograms.

      • Will be attending the Visalia Property Owners Association meeting. She will also be at the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation where they will be honoring Karen Ford’s retirement as operations manager after 29 years.

  • Proclamation recognizing August 2021 as Child Support Awareness Month in Tulare County as well as all of California. Roger Dixon, Director of the Tulare County Department of Child Support Services, was present to accept the proclamation. Afterwards a few people took pictures with him.

  • Chair Shuklian asked about COVID-19 updates. There is a significant rise in cases, 100-200%, over the last 2 weeks. Cases now are about 3/100,000, however this used to be 100/100,000 last year in December. Neighboring counties are seeing higher cases than Tulare. There is a greater number of breakthrough cases (cases infecting those who have been vaccinated) though they experience milder symptoms. Tulare County is working to update testing resources and making vaccines available to those who want them.

    • Supervisor Micari requested clarifying numbers when they are ready to be publicly displayed. He believes the number per 100,000 should be displayed alongside the percentage increase.

  • Item 9 was pulled from the agenda. Supervisor Micari commented about Item 20. He wished would receive more funding.

  • Continued Public Hearing

    • Violations of the Subletting and Subcontracting Fair Practices Act in relation to the Pixley main street improvements. This project used a non-listed subcontractor who performed an excess of $10,000. The subcontractor Todd Companies listed a $14,000 labor cost. 

      • $29,694.14 paid to the subcontractor with a 10% penalty in the amount of $29,69.41. Total project cost is $1,234,320.82.

      • Gordon Tessman Todd Companies said he had not seen the checks. He then looked at the checks but said they are not specific to this project. He said this action serves no purpose and that they have done nothing wrong. He listed projects his company has done for Tulare county in the past. He then handed a paper to the supervisors to read. 

      • He believes this action was precipitated by John Hess from general services because of an issue with the Cutler Park well project. He wants the county to treat contractors better. Todd Companies will finish their work but wants Tulare County to be more professional with how they treat their contractors.

  • Resource Management Agency presented dates when notices are mailed about delinquent charges.

    • Total delinquency amount is $50,639, the lowest it has been in the past 3 years. Between June 30, 2021 to July 27, 2021 the delinquency amount has been reduced by $13,000.

    • Request to place fees on 2021-2022 tax roll, Passed 4-0

  • Adjourn to closed session, convene as Terra Bella Sewer Maintenance District

    • The same information was presented by the Resource Management Agency

    • Request to place fees on 2021-2022 tax roll, Passes 4-0

  • Adjourn as Terra Bella Sewer Maintenance District, reconvene as Tulare County Board of Supervisors

    • Meeting ended to closed session

      • In closed session various conferences with legal counsel and a conference of labor negotiations were discussed according to the agenda.

    • There will not be a meeting next Tuesday on August 3rd. The next meeting will be on August 10th.

  • Items 8-20 were not discussed during this public meeting, although they are listed on the agenda.

Public Comment

  • Brian Thoburn of Southern California Edison praised Chief Norman for helping with the fire. He gave updates for what is happening in Edison. Wildfire mitigation is their top priority currently. They are also upgrading their system and equipment. There will be a three rivers fire safety festival next week. They are working on additional street lights and a new program for a critical care backup battery for people who live in high risk fire areas and need medical equipment in Edison. 

    • One of the supervisors asked if there are maps to show available areas for the backup battery. Thoburn said they share information of where the critical care medical baseline customers are located with the Tulare County emergency management agency. Customer info is confidential.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at Documenters-admin@thefresnoland.comwith “Correction Request” in the subject line.

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