June 20, 2023 — Kings County Board of Supervisors

Documented by Alejandra Obregon

Here’s what you need to know

  • Supervisors approved an agreement with Champions Recovery Alternative Programs for substance use disorder outpatient and residential treatment services. Supervisor Verboon is concerned that defending these programs without much progress is frustrating due to previous false messages issued by the county health department. 
  • Changes were made in hours for departments for public contact and appointment times on Fridays to 8 a.m. to noon, effective June 26 to September 3. 
  • Board approved the reserve allocation from Fund 7019 in the amount of $109,198 for the operation and maintenance expenses at the Kettleman City Community Services District Surface Water Treatment Plant.  

Follow-up question

  • When will the supervisors get a follow up on Champions Recovery Alternative Programs?

The Scene

According to the Kings County website, Kings County is a “general law” county, meaning the state constitution and 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 on a nonpartisan basis to a four-year term. 

The meeting was held at 9 a.m. in the board chambers at 1400 West Lacey Blvd. in Administration Building No. 1 in Hanford. The meeting is also available on WebEx and live-streamed on youtube. 

Kings County Board of Supervisors members present:

Joe Neves, District 1 (Lemoore and Stratford)

Richard Valle, District 2 (Avenal, Corcoran, Home Garden and Kettleman City)

Doug Verboon, District 3 (North Hanford, Island District and North Lemoore)

Rusty Robinson, District 4 (Armona and Hanford)

Richard Fagundes, District 5 (Hanford and Burris Park) 

Public Comment 

  • Miguel Ramírez, a representative from SoCal Gas, reported SoCal Gas contributions to improving the community, and said the utility company has donated at least $40 million to 60 different charities in Kings County and around the state. SoCal Gas will continue to help the community and its customers, he said.
  • District Attorney Sarah Hacker shared her concern about the vacant district attorney positions in Kings County. She said the positions have been open for a long time, requesting to hire attorneys at the market rate with higher salaries. She said, “We need attorneys to help the community.”
  • A Kings County resident showed a video regarding the “Five Pillars of Freedoms” in Corcoran, which is dedicated to veterans. 

Approval of Minutes

  • A. Report out of closed session from the regular meeting of June 13. 
  • B. Approval of the minutes from the regular meeting of June 13.
    • Council approved the meeting minutes –  unanimous (5,0)

Consent Calendar 

Approval of the consent calendar as presented below – unanimous (5,0)

1. Behavioral Health Department: 

  • A. Consider approving the amendment to Agreement No. 21-168 with the California Health Collaborative for Substance Use Disorder Prevention Services, effective upon execution through June 30, 2026;   
  • B. Adopt the budget change.
  • 2. Consider approving the first amendment to Agreement No. 21-122 with Plumlee’s Board and Care for the residential board and care services effective July 1 through June 30, 2025.   
  • 3. Consider approving the second amendment to the agreement with Kings View Professional Services to provide Electronic Health Record System services effective July 1 through June 30, 2024. 
  • B. Consider renewing the declaration of a local emergency due to flood conditions in Kings County.

C. District Attorney’s Office:

  • 1 a. Consider authorizing the District Attorney’s Office to submit and sign the grant application for the performance period of Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2024, for the Victim Witness Assistance Program;     
  • b. Approve the Grant Subaward Certificate of Assurance of Compliance for the Victim Witness Assistance Program. 

D. Public Health Department:    

  • 1. Consider approving an amendment to the agreement with Dr. Milton Teske to continue providing services as health officer/tuberculosis controller/registrar of births and deaths for Kings County for six months, effective July 1 through Dec. 31, 2023, with an option for an additional six-month extension, effective Jan. 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024.    
  • 2. Consider approving the California Department of Public Health Office of AIDS Agreement 20-10134 for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, effective July 1 through June 30, 2027.   
  • 3. Consider authorizing the advance step hire of Keith Jahnke as an Environmental Health Officer IV, extra help at salary range 227.0, Step 5.

E. Administration:    

  • 1. a. Consider approving an agreement with Compass Health Administrators for administrative services for the county’s health plan effective July 1, with automatic renewal each year unless modified, amended or terminated.     
  • b. Approve the confidentiality agreement with Blue Shield for the implementation of shared advantage services.  
  • 2. Consider approving the fourth amendment to the agreement with Innovative Claim Solutions for Workers’ Compensation Services, effective July 1 through June 30, 2024.    
  • 3. Consider approving the statement of work with Ernst and Young for State Water Project professional auditing services effective July 1 through June 30, 2024. 

Regular Agenda Items 

A. Behavioral Health Department

  • 1a. Consider approving the first amendment to the agreement with Champions Recovery Alternative Programs, Inc. for substance use disorder outpatient and residential treatment services, retroactively effective from July 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2024;     
  • b. Adopt the budget change. (4/5 votes required)
    • Katie Arnst, deputy director of the Kings County Department of Health, said “There’s a 25% decrease in certified substance abuse disorder treatment counselors.” She said that Kings County is in competition with the state prisons, which pay more. 
    • Supervisor Verboon asked, “When do we get a presentation of what you do?” He said defending these programs without much progress is frustrating. He discussed the public’s reaction to a previous false message issued by the health department, and said he hopes to see improvement moving forward.
    • Arnst explained that the board earlier approved their funding at $1.4 million, and she is asking for an increase of $400,000 to the budget. She said that the department would be happy to do a presentation to showcase the impact they make in the community. 
    • Verboon said he shares the public’s outrage about the inaccurate information supplied by the department, and since then, the project has left him with a terrible taste in his mouth.
    • Council motion to approve – unanimous (5,0)
  • 2. Consider approving the first amendment to the agreement with Mental Health System, Inc. for Assertive Community Treatment Full-Service Partnership Services, retroactively effective from July 1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2024.
    • Arnst proposed increasing the budget to $82,013. She said the act would provide intensive outpatient care for community members. She explained that the funding would be geared toward providing housing and an additional 15 months of stay for community members.
      • Council motion to approve – unanimous (5,0)

B. Department of Finance   

  • 1. Consider authorizing the finance director to make necessary budget transfers after final numbers are available, prior to the closing of the county ledgers.
    • Assistant Director of Finance Rob Knudson said if the finance department sees the county overspend, their job would be to cover the shortfall. 
    • Chair Valle asked what the cost would be, and Knudson explained that if the county overspends its budget for any amount; they would transfer the savings to cover the shortfall.
      • Council motion to approve – unanimous (5,0)  
  • 2. Consider approving a resolution establishing the appropriation limits for fiscal year 2023-2024.
    • “This would have no fiscal impact since we are $16 million below our limit,” according to Knudson.
      Council motion to approve – unanimous (5,0) 

C. District Attorney’s Office   

  • 1. Consider temporarily suspending Personnel Rule 13051 for the District Attorney’s Office only and authorizing the district attorney to hire qualified prospective Deputy District Attorney I/II/III/IV up to step 5 without requiring county administrative officer or board approval through June 1, 2024.
    • Hacker said she is concerned about the lack of personnel and employee retention at the District Attorney’s Office. 
    • Members of the board shared concerns about the additional processes that would need to be taken into consideration when hiring personnel.
    • Valle asked Martinez for an opinion on recommending this step and also asked if it would affect the fire chiefs and the sheriff’s deputies. 
    • Martinez said that the district attorney has been working closely with the human resources department  and that staff is taking a neutral stance. The proposal does have some limitations. 
    • Hacker explained how the intermittent loss of personnel is hard on the county and her office. 
    • Sheriff Dave Robinson said it would help Kings County save money if the proposal was allowed to pass because of the impact on cases.
    • Alex Walker said the move would be a temporary fix and would allow ARPA funds to provide bonuses. He said it would help reduce the need for outside help.
      • Council motion to approve – unanimous (5,0)

D. Human Resources Department – Carolyn Leist    

  • 1. Consider adopting a resolution establishing a change in hours that departments are open to the public to 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-noon on Fridays, effective June 26 through Sept. 3, 2023.
    • Leist said the hours change would be a summer pilot program that would allow certain employees to have a shorter work day on the slowest day of the week.  
    • Verboon asked for an update once the pilot program is finished. He asked if there was going to be a public announcement. 
    • Leist said employees will fill out a survey once the program is over and will be sharing the new time changes to the public website and on social media.
      • Council motion to approve – unanimous (5,0)

E. Public Works Department –    

  • 1. a. Consider approving the plans and specifications for 16th Avenue at Tulare Lake Canal Bridge Replacement project;    
  • b. Authorize the Public Works Department to advertise the project.
    • Mitchel Cabrera, chief engineer, said the project would replace the existing Timber Bridge with a concrete box culvert bridge. 
    • Council motion to approve – unanimously (5,0)   
  •  2. a. Consider approving the Plans and Specifications for the Bridge Preventative Maintenance program, Phase II;     
  • b. Authorize the Public Works Department to advertise the project.
    • Cabrera explained that this is the Kings County bridge preventative maintenance project and is requesting approval of phase II project specifications.
      • Council motion to approve – unanimous (5,0)

F Administration 

  • 1. a. Consider approving the reserve allocation from Fund 7019 in the amount of $109,198 for the operation and maintenance of the Kettleman City Community Services District Surface Water Treatment Plant;     
  • b. Adopt the budget change. (4/5 votes required)
    • Matthew Boyett, with Kings County administration, reported that the county would fund the reserve of $150,000 per year from its hazardous waste taxes. The district could use funds for any costs that affect the water plan. 
    • Valle said he appreciated that the district is not asking for more funding.  He wishes to be the representative of the district. He said he wants more information on how the funds offset the water costs. He said, “This is the second or third water rate increase.”
    • Valle asked Alicia Jacobos, a representative from Kettleman City, if the community sees getting away from using groundwater as a positive thing. Jacobos said it took 20 years to get the rate, and the community would be happy with a reliable source of water.
      • Council motion to approve – unanimously (5,0)
  • 2. a. Consider adopting the fiscal year 2023-24 recommended budget as presented;     
  • b. Schedule final budget hearings to commence Aug. 8 at 10 a.m. in the board chambers.
    • Boyett said they anticipate a property tax of $2.6 million. Domingo Cruz, with county administration, said “public safety has the highest expenditures.” 
    • “We do receive 60% of our general funds from state and federal funding,” he added.
    • Melissa Shuffle, also with county administration said the board approved a total of 13 net full-time employee changes throughout the fiscal year.
    • Verboon asked to add more information regarding the population and taxes. He would prefer to add funding for agriculture as well.
      • Council motion to approve – unanimous (5,0) 

Public Hearing 

  • Introduction of an ordinance establishing the booking fee rate for fiscal year 2023-24 and waiver of the first reading of the ordinance
    • Knudson said the new jail booking fee rate would be $163 per booking for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, which is a $13 fee increase.
      • Council motion to approve – unanimous (4,0) 

Board Member Announcements or Reports 

  • Supervisors thanked the public for attending an event about elderly abuse. 
  • Supervisors said they will be working with the sheriff to oversee access to the Kings River before the Fourth of July holiday. 
  • Martinez announced a Cooking for Kids class on June 21 and 28. She said the Kings County Library is hosting a Reptile Ron animal presentation on June 22 in the Hanford Civic Auditorium. 
  • The Kings County employee blood drive will be on July 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 10:34 p.m.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at fresnodocs@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

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