County News 2011

April 7, 2011

Tulare County and Community Services and Employment Training (CSET) are partnering to assist residents of three unincorporated communities to host cleanup days. These events are being held in conjunction with Earth Day Celebration Month.

Cutler-Orosi will be the first cleanup site from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the corner of Rd. 128 and Ave. 408. Cleanups in Goshen and Pixley will take place April 16 and April 23.

“CSET is a tremendous organization and an important partner in serving the county’s unincorporated residents, particularly with community cleanups,” said Laurie Mercer, Tulare County Community Development Manager. “Residents should take advantage of this important opportunity. The goal is to reduce visual blight and any possible health and safety issues.”

DOWNLOAD CUTLER-OROSI COMMUNITY CLEANUP FLIER

April 7, 2011

Tulare County’s Resource Management Agency and Sheriff’s Departments announced today the Kings River in Tulare County is closed to all recreational use due to potentially dangerous conditions. Recreational use includes swimming and boating.
 
The Army Corps of Engineers is releasing water from Pine Flat Dam, which flows into the Kings River and travels through Fresno and Tulare counties. Currently, the flow at the Kings River is 5,100 cubic feet per second and is anticipated to reach 5,600 cubic feet per second by midnight.

“The Kings River is closed to recreational use due to rapid currents, a great deal of debris present, and cold water,” said Neil Pilegard, Tulare County Parks Manager. “By no means should residents attempt to enter the river. These conditions pose a great concern for public safety.”

April 4, 2011

District Attorney Phil Cline announces the Victims’ Memorial Quilt Unveiling Ceremony, held in conjunction with Victims Rights Week and Child Abuse Prevention Month, will be on Monday, April 11, 2011 at 6 p.m., at the Holiday Inn, 9000 W. Airport Drive, in Visalia.
 
Each year, families, who have lost a family member through homicide or drunk driving, submit a quilt square commemorating the life of their loved one.  The squares are then crafted together to form a memorial quilt, which provides a dramatic and moving memorial to the victims.  The memorial quilt is unveiled each year during Victims’ Rights Week in a special program which includes music, spoken testimonials and words of comfort from various public officials.

March 31, 2011

The County of Tulare Clerk of the Board Office is accepting applications from interested and qualified District One, District Two and District Four residents to fill three vacancies on the Tulare County Assessment Appeals Board.

The purpose of the appeals board is to determine the full value of property or to determine other matters of property tax assessment over which the appeals board has jurisdiction.

March 25, 2011

Tulare County Emergency Operations Center Director Jean Rousseau issued the following statement regarding impacts of storms this past week and going into the weekend:

“Tulare County staff worked diligently this week to allocate resources and monitor impacts of the series of storms that passed through the area this week. Fortunately, impacts were minimal.

One issue of note involved a levee along Cottonwood Creek, just north of the County’s juvenile facility. County road crews fixed damages on Monday by firming up the levee with dirt. On Thursday, County crews went back to firm up the levee with asphalt. County facilities were not damaged.

March 23, 2011

Tulare County’s Alpaugh Branch Library will be closed from Mar. 25 – Apr. 1 due to a new roof construction project.

This marks the second new roof construction project in the past month. The Tipton Branch Library is currently closed through Mar. 25 for new roof construction.

“The two roofing projects will provide for a safer experience for patrons of our Alpaugh and Tipton branches,” said Jeff Scott, Tulare County Deputy Librarian.  “The new roofing is needed at these facilities and will continue to upgrade the buildings in our library system.”

March 23, 2011

Due to the recent storm activity and potential impacts to residents, Tulare County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been soft activated, County Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau announced Wednesday.

Rousseau, who also serves as EOC Director, called for this soft activation at 9 a.m. A soft activation is a precautionary measure which prompts county Office of Emergency Services staff to monitor existing flooding issues and impacts from current storm systems.

“Keeping a close eye on potential impacts is important to ensure the safety of Tulare County’s residents,” Rousseau said. “Should there be any impacts, we will send important resources in a timely manner.”

March 22, 2011

A Visalia-based public relations firm has been hired by the Board of Supervisors to conduct community outreach regarding meetings for Tulare County’s redrawing of supervisorial district lines.

District Three Supervisor Phil Cox said Lali Moheno & Associates has been hired because of its expertise in reaching all Tulare County residents, both in incorporated cities and unincorporated areas. Lali Moheno, a former County supervisor and community advocate, is the owner of the firm.

“Lali has an uncanny ability to reach all residents throughout Tulare County,” Supervisor Cox said. “It’s in Tulare County’s best interest to hire a firm with a broad base of connections throughout the County to ensure residents are aware of the redistricting process.”

Lali Moheno & Associates will inform the community of the process, encourage participation, meet with residents to listen to their concerns, and ensure participation from all segments of the community during the redistricting process.

March 22, 2011

Kurt Kilburn has been promoted to the position of Deputy Agricultural Commissioner by Tulare's Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer, Marilyn Kinoshita. He assumed his new position March 13, 2011.

As the Deputy Ag Commissioner in charge of our Pesticide Use Enforcement Division, Kurt will direct monitoring activities which aid the safe use of agricultural use pesticides and protect farm workers. 

"My goal is to have Kurt play a key role in grower education and modernizing our website pesticide use reporting system." Kinoshita said. "We congratulate Kurt and are confident that he will continue to serve our growers and the public with dedication."

March 17, 2011

Construction will soon begin on a four mile stretch of Road 80 between Avenue 384 and Avenue 416, Tulare County officials announced. The contract was awarded at the March 15, 2011 Board of Supervisors meeting.

March 15, 2011

Eleven residents were nominated Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors to serve on an advisory group to make recommendations on how to redraw Tulare County’s Supervisorial district boundaries.

March 15, 2011

District One Supervisor Allen Ishida announced today Denise Akins has been hired to fill the newly-formed water analyst position in Tulare County’s Administrative Office.

“Tulare County is please to have hired someone with extensive knowledge on groundwater quality and supply,” Supervisor Ishida said. “This position is unique to County government. I believe that we have made a very important step in devoting time and staff energy to look at water issues in Tulare County.”

The analyst is charged with oversight of clean-water projects in unincorporated areas and seeking additional water-related grants for Tulare County, among other duties.

March 11, 2011

The Visalia Branch of the Tulare County Library will be offering free homework assistance sessions for students beginning Tuesday, March 15th. The study center will offer academic assistance to students from 1st grade through 12th grade that attend school in Visalia Unified School District.

March 11, 2011

Twenty six residents submitted applications to be either nominated or randomly selected for appointment at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting to an 11-member advisory group to make recommendations on how to draw Tulare County’s Supervisorial district boundaries.

Supervisorial districts are redrawn every ten years based on population counts collected by the United States Census. The 2010 Census data was released March 8, 2011.

The Redistricting Advisory Committee is charged with developing criteria to be applied during the redistricting process and developing proposals to be presented to the Board of Supervisors.  The committee will also conduct outreach meetings in various parts of Tulare County to solicit public input.  The Redistricting Advisory Committee will present their final report to the Board of Supervisors by August 1, 2011.

“We are pleased with the countywide interest to participate in this important process,” said Mike Ennis, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors.

March 3, 2011

The Earlimart and Ivanhoe branches of the Tulare County Library will be closed for renovations through April 30, 2011.

The Tulare County Library is making significant improvements to the Earlimart and Ivanhoe branches. The buildings will receive new roofs, new carpeting and new paint. Additionally, each branch will receive new furniture, book shelving and computers.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Tulare County Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau provided the following update on Tulare County's meetings with federal officials.

Supervisors Ennis, Worthley and CAO Jean Rousseau met with Mike Holland, Counsel and staff from Congressman Nunes’ office and had a very productive meeting on a number of key issues.  Information gathered from Supervisors’ meetings with ONDCP, Dept. of Agriculture and USFS was shared with Nunes staff who expressed interest, made valuable suggestions as to next steps, and offered assistance with follow up in the area of marijuana eradication efforts. 

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Supervisors Ennis, Ishida, and Worthley and CAO Jean Rousseau met with Roger Cockrell, Senate Appropriations to urge that the appropriations committee retain the $18 million for Lake Success projects included in the President’s budget.  Board members explained the intended use of the $18 million ($15 million for property acquisition and $3 million for design) and highlighted the necessity of purchasing the properties below the dam in order to alleviate the potential risks to residents. 

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Tulare County Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau provided the following update on Tulare County's meetings with federal officials.

Supervisors Ennis, Ishida, Vander Poel and Worthley and CAO Jean Rousseau, along with a representative from Congressman Nunes office, participated in a meeting with Benjamin Tucker, Deputy Director, and several members of his staff, in the Office of National Drug Control Policy Wednesday morning.