Here’s what you need to know

  • At the October 4, 2022 Madera County Board of Supervisors meeting the board presented a proclamation to honor Monday, October 10, 2022, as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. A representative from North Fork Rancheria accepted the proclamation with gratitude on behalf of the Tribal Council Chairmen. 
  • The supervisors approved two contracts to bring the Kensington Well back online after high levels of Manganese were found above the drinking water standard. A $2.9 million contract with Steve Dovali Construction Inc. and a $5.5 million contract with Smith Construction Company were approved for what was referred to as “the biggest water project the county has tackled to date.”
  • The Measure T expenditure plan was discussed and approved. The measure aims to prolong the life of the current transportation system throughout the county and move in the direction of accommodating higher influxes of traffic as the population of Madera County continues to grow. Public comment was made by Madilyn Harris that another year will pass without any projects being allocated to impoverished areas of the county.

Follow-up questions

  • How will the Public Works department address the concerns of community members that Measure T does not provide a sense of equity with the allocation of funding going primarily to privileged areas of the county?
  • In the future, will the Madera County Board of Supervisors celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day with a community-based event?

Notes

The Scene

The Madera County Board of Supervisors meeting regularly takes place at 9 a.m. on the first three Tuesdays of every month. The meetings are located at 200 W. Fourth Street, Madera, California. Alternatively, the meetings are streamed on Webex and can be found on the Madera County Website to view after the live stream. I arrived virtually early and the meeting started promptly. 

The purpose of the Madera County Board of Supervisors is to provide Directors of 49 subdivided Maintenance Districts and 21 Service Areas throughout Madera County.

Madera County Board of Supervisors Members present:

Discussions/Actions:

The board presented a proclamation to honor Monday, October 10, 2022, as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Supervisor Gonzalez read the proclamation aloud. She was happy to note it is the second time that the board has added this item to its agenda since its original appearance in 2021. The purpose of the proclamation is to promote the celebration of various Indigenous cultures throughout the surrounding communities. A representative from North Fork Rancheria accepted the proclamation with gratitude on behalf of the Tribal Council Chairmen. 

9033: Water and Natural Resources, Stephanie Anagnoson, will receive a performance-based salary increase. The staff of the department recommended her advancement and an annual pay increase to $184,512.10 from $167,738.27. Supervisor Poythress noted that the salary increase is in addition to the position’s hazard pay. Supervisor Rogers said that her salary is funded by the general fund. The Board approved her salary increase (5-0). 

8994: Susan Carter led the discussion to consider the adoption of the Sideletters of Agreement regarding the County’s Health Benefit Plan for the 2023 year. She also suggests that the terms of the Sideletters of Agreement be extended to unrepresented employees. She was cut short by the supervisors and they quickly passed the item (5-0).

8989: The Public Works Department sought the board’s approval for adopting the County of Madera Measure “T” Annual Expenditure Plan for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023. Supervisor Poythress requested the website for constituents to have access to education regarding the measure. 

  • Public comment was made by Madilyn Harris that another year will pass without any projects being allocated by The Public Works Department to impoverished areas of the county. She expressed frustration because community members are actively participating in requesting funding from Measure ‘T’ be used in their areas of the county. 
  • The board passed the item (5-0).

8891: Board voted (5-0) to authorize a contract with Steve Dovali Construction Inc in the amount of $2,985,216. The company will provide the construction of the MD10A Deblin plant storage tank and additional components for Madera Ranchos. Notice to Proceed and issue payments to contingencies up to 10% of the contract award was also included and passed in the item. Board of Supervisors are all in agreement that this is the biggest water project the county has tackled to date. 

8992:Smith Construction Company awarded $5,584,357.28 in a (5-0) approval for the construction of the MD10A water system improvements second phase. The treatment facility will be placed on the Berkshire and Well property. With these developments, the Kensington facility will be back online. 

The meeting lasted until 1:00 p.m. The next board meeting will be on Tuesday, October 11, 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.

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