County News 2010

Residents in northern Tulare County now have access to library books any time of the day.

Tulare County Library officials invite the community to attend the unveiling of the Cutler Lending Library, an automatic book machine in Cutler which will make hundreds of books available to residents who choose to use library services. The unveiling is set for 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 1 at the Cutler Public Utilities District office, 40526 Orosi Dr. Cutler, CA 93615.

“This is a pilot project that the Tulare County Library system is extremely proud of,” said Brian Lewis, Tulare County Librarian. “If successful, this project will serve as a model the library can use for other underserved, unincorporated communities that do not have access to a public library.”

Tulare County's Local Agency Formation Commission and one of its members garnered statewide recognition last week at the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commission's (CALAFCO) annual meeting.

CALAFCO awarded the Tulare County LAFCO the "Most Effective Commission" award. Julie Allen, a Tulare County LAFCO member, was also elected as the public member representing the Central Region on the governing board of CALAFCO. The annual meeting was held Oct. 7 in Palm Springs.

At their annual meeting Wednesday, the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County (WIB) announced Carlene Estes as Employee of the Year.  She is a supervisor of the Porterville Employment Connection’s training unit.  “It was a very pleasant surprise,” said Mrs. Estes, who started with the WIB in July, 1990 as an Office Assistant.

“People who nominated her had really positive things to say about her,” said Adam Peck, Executive Director of the WIB.  “She is a crucial part of the Porterville Employment Connection and we are a better organization with her.”

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors today approved a $20,000 boost to the Step Up Service Learning Grant Program – a move that will allow the popular program to be implemented at middle schools countywide. 

The Step Up Service Learning Grant Program is designed to fund school-based projects that target the involvement of school-aged youth who are gang-affiliated or at-risk of joining a gang. Since 2008, 18 high schools from throughout Tulare County have participated in the program. The Supervisors’ approval allocated funding for service learning projects at the middle school level.

“There is no doubt that the Step Up Service Learning Grant Program will make an immediate impact on the middle school youth who will participate,” said District Three Supervisor Phil Cox. “Giving our youth the opportunity to participate in service learning projects is an effective way to positively influence them before gangs can reach them.”

The Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County (WIB) will hold its Annual Meeting 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 13, at the Visalia Holiday Inn and Conference Center, 9000 W. Airport Drive, in Visalia.  There are some seats still available and registration for the event is $25 per person.

“Our theme this year is ‘Driving Economic Success,’” said Adam Peck, Executive Director of the WIB.  “It has been a bumpy road during the recession – and now a very slow recovery – but we served an enormous number of clients during this time.”

October 2010 is the 25th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  The National Breast Awareness Month program is dedicated to increasing public awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. 
 
In commemoration of this ongoing effort, the Tulare County Administrative Office is strongly encouraging departments to go "pink" on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010.  Departments are asked to encourage employees to wear pink clothing or accessories that help bring attention to this worthy cause.  

A number of changes implemented in August at the Tulare County Resource Management Agency (RMA) are paying big dividends for people seeking services at its permit center, officials reported at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.

During a presentation to the Board of Supervisors, RMA Planner Michael Washam said the changes at the permit center have resulted in an increase in customer service and overall efficiency.

“The largest factor in improved customer service is the change in hours to allow staff to review building permits and research and respond to public requests and questions,” Washam said. “Customer service is not only being open to receive applications and questions; it is also the ability to review and respond in a timely manner.”

The Board of Supervisors today approved an urgency ordinance that requires sex offenders – who have committed sexual crimes against children - in unincorporated Tulare County to follow strict guidelines on Halloween.

The guidelines include: leave all exterior residential, decorative, and ornamental lighting off during the evening hours from 5 p.m. to midnight; no posting Halloween decorations on his/her residence; and no answering doors to children who are trick-or-treating.

Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Steve Worthley asked the Board to pass the urgency ordinance as a tool to protect children and empower the residents of unincorporated communities.

“The real purpose of the statute is prevention and it gives parents a tool to avoid a potentially dangerous situation” Chairman Worthley said. “This is a role of government, acting in a preventative measure, to try to protect our children.”

Secured property owners who own multiple parcels in Tulare County will receive an informational letter next week informing them of an error on their secured property tax bills.  The due dates, total amount due on each tax bill and the payment stubs are correct.

Due to an error in the printing process, the detail tax amount on line six was duplicated with line five and is incorrect. The printing error does not change the total amount of property taxes owed, which is printed on the "total amount" line on tax bills, payments due dates, or the amounts on the payment stubs.

The incorrect tax bills were sent on Sept. 15 to 7,250 property owners in Tulare County. The 7,250 property owners all own multiple parcels throughout Tulare County.  Property owners who own a single parcel did not receive an incorrect tax bill.

Rita A. Woodard, Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector, would like to remind taxpayers that Unsecured Tax bills are now due.  Please note that the delinquent date has been extended to September 30, 2010. If your payment is not received or postmarked by the delinquent date, a 10% penalty will be added to your bill. 

The 2010/2011 Unsecured Tax bills were mailed during the month of August 2010. If you have not received your Unsecured Tax bill, please come into our office, or you may view and print a copy from our website at www.tularecountytax.com. 

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors today announced Jed Chernabaeff will serve as the County Media Officer.

Chernabaeff has served as a Board Representative for the Tulare County Board of Supervisors since September 2007, where he has been responsible for constituent issues and special projects, including the Board's Step Up anti-gang activities. Chernabaeff will retain his Board Representative duties in addition to serving as media officer. The addition of media officer duties was approved Tuesday, September 21 during the Tulare County budget hearings.  

“The Board is confident Jed will do a great job in his new role as media officer,” said Steve Worthley, Chairman of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors.

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved a $947.8 million balanced spending plan recommended by County Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau for Fiscal Year 2010-11.

“Tulare County’s balanced budget is the result of being fiscally conservative,” said Steve Worthley, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “Tulare County will continue its practice of spending within our means.”

Inmates and Tulare County Sheriff's Department employees housed at the Tulare County Correctional Center at Sequoia Field will be moved to a nearby facility in conjunction with a capital project to replace an aging natural gas distribution system, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors announced today.

Tulare County Board of Supervisors Chairman Steve Worthley said the facility was constructed in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s and the county has maintained the system and made needed repairs over the years.

"In light of the recent events in San Bruno, Tulare County has decided to take a more proactive approach by completely replacing the gas lines to ensure the safety of the inmates and county staff,” Chairman Worthley said.

Tulare County’s residents experiencing economic hardships may be eligible to qualify for a one-time $1,500 grant to pay off past due bills and avoid utility shutoffs.

Residents can apply for these funds through a new state program called “TEAF,” which stands for Temporary Energy Assistance for Families. The deadline to apply for TEAF funding is September 21, 2010.

TULARE - With a special two day event celebrating art, music, community, and suicide prevention and awareness, the Tulare County Suicide Prevention Task Force is poised to debut a one of a kind event, the Festival of Hope Chalk Mural & Music Festival on September 4th and 5th, 2010.

With professional chalk muralists from around the world creating breath-taking 12'x12' street paintings, the Galaxy Theatre is hosting free documentaries & workshops, free concerts will take place under the tower,  community members have a chance to create their own murals, information & resource booths will provide linkage to a variety of services, and children will be able to create their own chalk drawings near the main fountain.

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors will seek more than $32,000 in fees in a lawsuit that will be dismissed alleging Brown Act violations.

Tulare County Counsel represents the Board of Supervisors. Deputy County Counsel Julia Langley said a motion was filed today seeking $32,270.10, which includes attorney fees and costs of defending several petitions. Richard P. McKee filed the lawsuit in March 2010. The Visalia Times-Delta/Tulare Advance Register and the California Newspaper Publishers Association later joined as plaintiffs. (View motion for attorney fees)

“The petitioners and their counsel knew or should have known that they had no basis for filing either of the petitions,” Langley said. “The actual costs incurred by the County during this lawsuit should be paid by the petitioners.”

Tulare County’s Mooney Grove Park in Visalia will host the fourth annual End of the Trail Classic disc golf tournament during Labor Day Weekend.

The End of the Trail Classic is just one of five nationally-ranked pro-am Super Tour events that will be held in California this year.

“Tulare County is honored to host a disc golf tournament of this stature,” said Steve Worthley, Chairman of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. “Participants will travel from throughout the country to play disc golf in Mooney Grove Park, the crown jewel of the County’s parks system.”