Here’s what you need to know:
- The Kings County Board of Supervisors met on August 30, 2022 and approved waiving the $8 administrative fee for flu vaccines offered to Kings County residents at all vaccination locations, such as Hanford, Lemoore, Avenal, and Corcoran.
- The supervisors also approved construction agreements with Agee Construction and O’Dell Engineering for the Senate Bill-1 (SB-1) funded Kings County Roadway Improvement Project, which includes approximately 17.77 miles of roadway. The agreements are for $4,816,441 and $81,533 respectively.
- The supervisors also approved an agreement with California Forensic Medical Group, Inc. to provide a healthcare system in each detention facility to include on-site access to nursing, medical, behavioral health, dental, pharmacy, and radiology services.
- Public Health Emergency Planner Abraham Valencia announced that FEMA would provide emergency management training to the public and elected officials in November.
- During public comments, Rebekah Bell urged the supervisors to provide affordable housing for displaced tenants.
Follow-up Questions
- Will the free flu vaccines increase vaccination rates in Kings County?
- How will the roadway improvements impact residents?
- What services can the county provide for displaced tenants?
The Scene
According to its website, Kings County is a “general law” county, which means the state constitution and state general law determine the county’s governmental structure.
The board of supervisors is the governing body for Kings County and many county special districts. Each of the board’s five members is elected non-partisan to a four-year term.
The board sets policies and depends on the county administrator, county officials, and department heads to fulfill its wishes.
The board of supervisors has administrative, legislative, and quasi-judicial duties and responsibilities prescribed by the California State Constitution and Statutes.
On Tuesday, August. 30, 2022, the meeting was held at 9 a.m. in the board chambers, located at 1400 West Lacey Boulevard Administration Building No. 1, Hanford, California.
Kings County County Board of Supervisors Members present:
- Joe Neves, District 1 (Lemoore & Stratford)
- Richard Valle, District 2 (Avenal, Corcoran, Home Garden & Kettleman City)
- Doug Verboon, District 3 (North Hanford, Island District & North Lemoore)
- Craig Pedersen, District 4 (Armona & Hanford)
- Richard Fagundes, District 5 (Hanford & Burris Park)
Others Present:
- Fire Chief William Lynch
- Administrative Officer Edward Hill
- Assistant County Administrative Officer Kyria Martinez
- Administrative Officer Analyst Domingo Cruz
- Economic and Workforce Development Director Lance Lippincott
- Public Works Director Dominic Tyburski
- Chief Engineer Mitchel Cabrera
- Public Health Emergency Planner Abraham Valencia
- Human Service Director Wendy Osikafo
- Deputy Clerk Diane Badasci
- Sean Cash
- Jay Wood
- Lisa Lewis
- Chuck Kinney
- Sarah Harp
- Rob Knudson
- John Criscom
- Rebekah Bell
- Sheila Grant
- Christine Olvera
- Clarissa Ravelo
- Scott Holwell
- Tyler Pepe
- Garrett K. Jones
- Kelly Luna
- Matthew Boyett
- Nichole Fisher
- Claire Fitiausi
- Marie Waite
- City of Memphis Code Enforcement Inspector Paul West
Discussions/Actions
Public Health Emergency Planner Abraham Valencia announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would provide emergency management training to the public and elected officials in November.
Rebekah Bell urged the supervisors to provide affordable housing for displaced tenants.
The board (5-0) unanimously approved the minutes from the regular meeting for August 23, 2022.
In the consent calendar, the board (5-0) unanimously approved items as follows:
A. Behavioral Health Department:
- a. The board (5-0) retroactively approved the agreement with the California Mental Health Services Authority for Joint Powers Authority and Business Associate Agreement, effective March 11, 2022.
b. The board (5-0) approved the Director of Behavioral Health to sign the agreement and any amendments with the California Mental Health Services Authority for the Joint Powers Authority Business Associate Agreement.
CalMHSA was established as a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to conduct the work on behalf of participating counties to coordinate mental health services.
Kings County Behavioral Health (KCBH) has entered various participation agreements with California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) since 2013.
Under the JPA Agreement, CalMHSA performs and provides functions, activities, and services to the county that require CalMHSA to create access, receive, maintain, and transmit information that includes Protected Health Information, as defined by the HIPAA Rules provide such functions, activities, or services.
As such, CalMHSA is a Business Associate, as defined by the HIPAA Rules, and is therefore subject to those provisions of HIPAA Rules that apply to Business Associates.
This Business Associate Agreement and its provisions are intended to protect the privacy and provide for the security of Protected Health Information, PSCI, and PII disclosed to or used by CalMHSA in compliance with the HIPAA Rules and DHCS Requirements.
The term of the agreement is retroactively effective March 11, 2022, and follows the duration of each CalMHSA contract with the county.
B. District Attorney’s Office:
1. The board (5-0) authorized the advance step hire for applicant Elizabeth Webb Tedrow for a Deputy District Attorney IV Step 5 position at Salary Range 272.5 ($63.72/hour).
C. Human Resources Department:
1. The board (5-0) appointed Kevin McAlister as the Alternate Consensus Member and Dobie (Mark) Dawson as the Alternate County Member to the Personnel Appeals Board for the current two-year term expiring on November 30, 2023.
D. Human Services Agency:
1. a. The board (5-0) approved the agreement with Kings Community Action Organization to provide Domestic Shelter-Based Programs, effective upon the date of execution;
b. The board (5-0) approved disbursements of funding from the County Domestic Violence Shelter Based Program Special Fund (Welfare and Institutions Code 18305) Trust (Domestic Violence Trust) to Kings Community Action Organization.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 1996-1997, Kings County began retaining one-third of batterer’s fines in the Domestic Violence Programs Special Fund under California State Penal Code 1203.097, which defines terms of probation for domestic violence crimes.
According to Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 18293, the Domestic Violence Shelter-Based Programs Act, the Board of Supervisors is responsible for disbursing these funds to a designated program or programs that provide domestic violence services.
On September 17, 2002, the Board approved a disbursement of these funds for July 1996 through June 2002 for $62,438 (an average of $12,500 per year) to the Kings Community Action Organization (KCAO).
KCAO has submitted invoices through the Kings County Human Services Agency (HSA) for reimbursement from the County Domestic Violence Shelter Based Program Special Fund (WIC 18305) Trust (Domestic Violence Trust).
KCAO also paid said invoices through monthly transfers from that trust account.
The Domestic Violence Shelter-Based Programs Act of 2006 expanded and amended the WIC18290-18309.8 to develop services to ease and reduce the trauma of domestic violence, reduce serious and fatal injuries to the victims of domestic violence, and clarify the problems, causes, and cures of domestic violence.
Additionally, the state shall support projects to aid victims of domestic violence by providing them a place to escape the destructive environment in an undisclosed and secured location on a 24-hour basis.
Also included are provisions for the collection of fees to support domestic violence shelter-based programs and the monitoring of these funds.
Under Government Code 26840.7 and WIC 18305, Kings County sets aside $23 from each marriage license fee issued to fund domestic violence programs.
The Probation Department also collects a fee when a domestic violence crime is committed under Penal Code section 1203.097 (a) (11) (A), two-thirds of which is to fund domestic violence shelter-based programs.
Kings County has three trust funds handling the following three mandated domestic violence programs:
1. Battered Women’s Shelter (PEN 1203.097 a-11 A) Trust
- Revenue from collection fees from courts and probation as conditions of probation.
Conditions may include the defendant making payments to a battered women’s shelter, up to $5,000, and paying victim restitution.
- Funds are used for victim witness expenses, handled by the district attorney’s office.
2. Domestic Violence Shelter Based Program (PEN 1203.097 a-5 A) Trust
- Revenue from: Collection fees from Courts and one-third of collection fees from probation as conditions of probation. Conditions include a $500 fine payable to the county.
- One-third of funds are disbursed to the state controllers domestic violence training and education fund, and two-thirds of funds are retained by counties and deposited in the domestic violence trust fund.
3. County Domestic Violence Shelter Based Program Special Fund (WIC 18305) Trust
- Revenue from $23 from marriage license fees and the remaining two-thirds of the fees collected by probation (#2 above).
- Funds are deposited into Domestic Violence Shelter Based Program Special Trust Fund; monthly transfers are made to the HSA revenue account to cover domestic violence payments to KCAO.
The County Domestic Violence Shelter Based Program Special Trust Fund (Domestic Violence Trust) will augment the local women’s shelter’s budget and provide additional funding for services for victims of domestic violence and their children.
KCAO began its Domestic Violence Prevention Program in October 1980.
As the sole provider that meets the Domestic Violence Shelter-Based Programs requirements in Kings County, KCAO is eligible to receive these funds.
KCAO Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Elder Abuse, and Human Trafficking programs include:
- 24-Hour Crisis Hotline 1-877-727-3225
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Barbara Saville Shelter
- Sexual Assault Services
- Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE)
- Human Sex Trafficking
- Elder Abuse
- Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)
- Court Accompaniment
- Legal Advocacy Program
This agreement encompasses the requirements of The Domestic Violence Shelter-Based Programs Act (WIC18290-18309.8)
2. The board (5-0) approved the joint recommendation between Service Employees International Local 2015 and the Kings In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority to increase wages to $.60 above the minimum wage effective the first pay period following State approval.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Kings In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Public Authority (PA) and the Service Employees International Local 2015 (SEIU) was approved on August 23, 2022, by the Kings IHSS PA Board.
The term of the agreement will be from August 30, 2022, through June 3, 2025, and includes a wage increase of $.60 above the minimum wage.
The Kings IHSS PA is requesting board approval to increase the wages of IHSS Providers by $.60 per hour effective the first pay period following state approval, resulting in a 4 percent increase in provider wages.
E. Public Health Department:
1. The board (5-0) waived the $8 administrative fee for flu vaccines offered to Kings County residents at all vaccination events.
Waiving the eight dollars administrative fees per flu shot may result in lost revenue of approximately $9,600.
However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Department’s goal is to remove barriers to vaccination and vaccinate as many Kings County residents as possible for COVID-19 and influenza.
Each year, the Kings County Department of Public Health receives approximately 1,000 – 1,200 flu vaccines from the State of California.
These vaccines are free, so local health departments can distribute them to mitigate emerging flu season illnesses.
As part of the Centers for Disease Control grant requirements, the Department also needs to establish methods for vaccinating or dispensing medications to County residents as soon as possible upon receipt of the product.
To increase the number of people served from prior years, the Department plans to administer the flu vaccine in conjunction with local community events and mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinics, rather than relying on the flu-only Points of Distribution (PODS) used in prior years.
In addition, the Department offers the flu vaccine within all four fixed clinic sites: Hanford, Lemoore, Avenal, and Corcoran.
The immunization calendar is shared with providers, schools, and the public monthly, and the County website will include the dates, times, and locations of combined flu/COVID-19 clinics.
2. a. The board (5-0) authorized the Director of Public Health to accept the Moving California Oral Health Forward funding allocation for $186,104 for the provision of the Local Oral Health Program;
b. The board (5-0) authorized the Public Health Director to sign any associated invoices and revisions to the initial work and spend plan.
The Kings County Department of Public Health (KCDPH) was awarded initial five-year grant funding in 2018 to form a Local Oral Health Program (LOHP).
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Office of Oral Health (OOH) are seeking to continue their support of local health jurisdictions to educate and provide linkages to preventative oral health and treatment programs.
The LOHP will work to build upon existing infrastructure and partnerships to support progress towards improved population oral health outcomes.
LOHP program objectives include an increase in oral health education, an increase in preventative dental services, a decrease in tooth decay and untreated tooth decay, an increase in sealant application, a decrease in the use of tobacco products, and a decreased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
The LOHP will facilitate and evaluate school dental programs, beginning with the youngest children in urban elementary schools where greater than 50 percent of students are on the free/reduced lunch program and in all rural elementary schools in Kings County.
The LOHP will also provide oral health outreach and education to the general population at community events and include linkages to dental providers and treatment programs.
F. Public Works Department:
1. a. The board (5-0) approved the construction agreement with KC Partners Corp, Dba B&T Service Station Contractors, for updating the motor pool fuel system.
b. The board (5-0) adopted the budget change.
The capital budget includes $125,000 in the fiscal year 2022/2023 for upgrade needs at the Motor Pool fuel system.
A total of two proposals from specialized contractors were submitted and evaluated based on their understanding of the work to be performed and the contractor’s past performance.
Based on the above mentioned criteria, B&T Service Station Contractors was selected to construct the improvement.
2. The board (5-0) accepted the dedication of In-Lieu Parcel Map 21-07 (Walter E. Ouellette and Helen J. Ouellette) into the County Maintained Mileage.
The parcel owners to be subdivided (Walter E. Ouellette and Helen J. Ouellette) were required to dedicate additional right-of-way along the frontage of Houston Avenue as a condition of approval of this land division to the minimum 30-foot half-width required by the Improvement Standards.
This land division is located on Houston Avenue east of 16th Avenue.
G. Sheriff’s Office:
- a. The board (5-0) authorized the Sheriff’s Office to purchase fourteen rifles;
b. The board (5-0) adopted the budget change.
The full purchase cost, not to exceed $55,000, will be paid from the Sheriff’s Office Detentions Budget unit 223000 and reimbursed by the COPS – Jail fund (Fund 100804). There will be no fiscal impact on the General Fund for the purchase.
The King’s County Sheriff’s Office Detentions Division would like to purchase 14 rifles to be utilized by members of the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T) and members of the Transportation Unit.
Ten rifles would differ from the standard department rifle, best accommodating SERT-specific tasks.
The remaining four standard department rifles would be issued to the Transportation Unit.
The most feasible time a rifle may be utilized by a Detentions Deputy would be during a high-risk transport, active shooter situation, or the taking of a hostage.
In high-stress conditions such as those listed above, the need for accuracy and fire superiority is imperative to increase the survivability of members and gain a substantial advantage in hostile encounters.
Each member would require a rifle to be zeroed to their eye for good accuracy.
The standard department rifle, a 16” Colt M4 platform, does not allow for rapid deployment from a vehicle due to its size or length; therefore, a short barrel rifle would be better suited for this type of response.
Regular agenda items are as follows:
A. Administration (presented by Administrative Officer Edward Hill, Assistant County Administrative Officer Kyria Martinez, and Administrative Officer Analyst Domingo Cruz)
1. The board (5-0) received information and updates about the Corcoran Veterans Memorial Park Project.
The board authorized $1 million from the High-Speed Rail Project settlement to the City of Corcoran on November 8, 2019.
2. a. The board (5-0) approved the agreement with California Health and Recovery Solutions, P.C. retroactively, effective from July 18, 2022, through June 30, 2024, for entry-level access to competency treatment;
b. The board (5-0) approved 2.0 Detentions Deputy I/I-STC/II to implement the Early Access and Stabilization Services program;
c. The board (5-0) approved the Memorandum of Understanding Between the County and the Department of State Hospitals for the subrecipient funds of the Early Access and Stabilization Services;
d. The board (5-0) adopted the budget change.
The California Department of State Hospitals (DHS) entered into an agreement with California Health and Recovery Solutions (CHRS) for the provision of Early Access and Stabilization Services (EASS) in correctional facilities located throughout the State of California.
CHRS is a physician-owned entity managed by Wellpath LLC., the jail medical provider.
The county currently has a contract with Wellpath for medical provider services for adult and juvenile populations and jail-based competency restoration services.
There is an opportunity for the county to be one of the first counties in the state to be able to start an Early Access Stabilization Services program in the jail medical facility.
The EASS program is entry-level before an inmate can enter the Jail Based Competency Treatment (JBCT) program.
CHRS, at their expense, shall provide services at the county jail facility in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and the DSH Agreement.
The county will provide 1.4 full-time equivalents (FTE) Detentions Deputy I/I-STC/II to facilitate the provision of Services at the Facility.
In exchange for the detentions deputy, CHRS shall reimburse the County, 189,200 dollars annually, paid in monthly installments of $15,767 in Budget Unit 223000.
The Sheriff’s Office will absorb the .06 FTE in their budget through salary savings.
3. The board (5-0) approved the second amendment to the agreement between the County of Kings and the California Forensic Medical Group, Inc. for the provisions of medical, behavioral health, and dental care services for individuals detained in the Kings County Jail and the Kings County Juvenile Center.
The County entered into an agreement with California Forensic Medical Group, Inc. and its management services organization, Wellpath (Wellpath), for medical and behavioral healthcare services in the County’s local detention facilities on July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024.
The agreement provides a healthcare system in each detention facility, including on-site access to nursing, medical, behavioral health, dental, pharmacy, and radiology services.
The negotiated agreement is for four years, starting July 1, 2020, with two (2) two-year extension options.
The county is entering its third year with Wellpath, and an amendment is requested to add additional staffing services from Wellpath and a contractual Consumer Price Index increase.
The annual expense for all services was $ $4,873,305 for the second year of the Agreement. Additionally, the county is responsible for pharmacy and offsite medical charges for $494,400.
B. Fire Department (presented by Fire Chief William Lynch)
1. a. The board (5-0) approved the resolution authorizing participation in the Federal Excess Personal Property Program;
b. The board (5-0) authorized the Fire Chief to sign the agreement with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) program refers to Forest Service-owned property on loan to State Foresters for wildland and rural firefighting.
Most of the property belonged to the Department of Defense (DOD).
Once acquired by the Forest Service, it is loaned to state cooperators for fire fighting purposes.
The property is then loaned to the State Forester, who may place it with local departments to improve local fire programs.
State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service have mutually participated in the FEPP program since 1956.
C. Public Works Department (presented by Public Works Director Dominic Tyburski and Chief Engineer Mitchel Cabrera)
1. The board (5-0) approved the construction agreement with Agee Construction for roadway improvements throughout the county.
On June 14, 2022, the Board approved the project plans and authorized the advertisement of the Senate Bill-1 (SB-1) funded Kings County Roadway Improvement Project, which includes approximately 17.77 miles of roadway improvements throughout the county.
On July 14, 2022, nine bids were opened, all considered responsive and responsible. Agee Construction Corporation submitted the low bid for $4,816,441.
This project will not impact the General Fund. SB-1 transportation funds needed for this project are included in the Adopted Fiscal Year 2021-2022, Budget Unit 311000, Account 92001. The project is estimated at $4,816,441, barring change orders.
2. a. The board (5-0) approved the professional services agreement for surveying to O’Dell Engineering;
On June 14, 2022, your Board approved the project plans and authorized the advertisement of the Senate Bill-1 (SB-1) funded Kings County Roadway Improvement Project, which includes approximately 17.77 miles of roadway improvements throughout the County.
To complete this project, the county must hire a land surveyor to reestablish monuments on roadway segments receiving an Asphalt Concrete overlay.
Public Works has chosen O’Dell Engineering through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to complete this work. The estimated cost of surveying is $81,533.
Staff ranked all proposals submitted, with O’Dell Engineering earning top based on their project understanding, professional presentation, and previous success with similar work.
b. The board (5-0) authorized the Public Works Director to sign the agreement with O’Dell Engineering for roadway improvements in the County.
The meeting lasted until 1 p.m. The next board meeting will be on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at 9 a.m.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at Documenters-admin@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.