County News 2013

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 Tuesday night to send a letter to State legislators opposing Assembly Bill 604.

The letter states AB 604 “proposes the commercial, for-profit legalization of the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, storage, transportation, and sale of medical marijuana which constitutes a sweeping change from existing law and interpretations of the Compassionate Use Act.”

Read the rest of the letter.

(DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION FORM)

Tulare County’s Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee (TCLCBC) is seeking interested residents to fill three vacancies. 

The purpose of the committee is to facilitate the distribution of grant funds made from the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund. Last year, more than $263,000 was appropriated to the seven-member committee for distribution to eligible entities. Funding allocated for the TCLCBC to administer is mandated by Senate Bill 621 (2003), which makes grant funding available to counties, cities and special districts impacted by tribal gaming from the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund. 

Tulare County Board of Supervisors Chairman Pete Vander Poel today delivered his 2013 State of the County Address with the theme of “Improving Life in Tulare County.”

Chairman Vander Poel pledged to maintain funding for several public safety programs, pushed residents and employees to live healthier lifestyles, highlighted major “community building” infrastructure projects, and announced an effort to plan and implement a project that would address nuisance properties in unincorporated communities.

“Tulare County, like many Counties, faces challenges during these difficult times and our residents have shown their desire to improve life here,” Chairman Vander Poel said during his address. “Like the residents of Tulare County, I too see these challenges, but I also see an opportunity to improve and be proactive in 2013.”

Tulare County is expected to experience temperatures over 100 degrees this weekend, with the high predicted to reach 108 on Saturday in some areas of the county.

Tulare County and incorporated cities offer Cooling Centers during the hot daytime hours.

Influenza is a respiratory infection that produces fever, chills, sore throat, muscle aches, and cough lasting a week or more and Tulare County residents are urged to get the flu vaccination.

"Receiving a flu vaccine this fall season is one of the most important things that you can do for yourself and those around you to keep you healthy,” said County Health Officer Dr. Karen Haught. “There are several formulations of the vaccine available this year and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) does not recommend one over the other but recommends that everyone receive a vaccine."

Click here to see monthly flu clinic schedules.

Tulare County residents are strongly encouraged to get their flu vaccinations, as the influenza infection is on the rise, and the H1N1 strain, the pandemic influenza strain, has been detected. This influenza strain is a component of the current seasonal flu vaccine, so vaccination of everyone over six months of age and particularly anyone with high-risk health conditions is critically important.

"Receiving a flu vaccine this season is one of the most important things that you can do for yourself to stay healthy,” said County Health Officer Dr. Karen Haught. Influenza is a respiratory infection that produces fever, chills, sore throat, muscle aches, and cough lasting a week or more.

Vaccination is recommended for everyone over the age of six months, and the vaccination is available at physicians’ offices and local clinics, at many local pharmacies, or through the Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) immunization program. HHSA immunization program staff can be reached at 559/685-5725. At this time, the vaccine is widely available in the community.

The Tulare County District Attorney's Office is partnering with farmers and ranchers to help prevent theft of farm equipment, commodities, fuel and metals through a "number stamping" tracking system.

The number stamping, known as Owner-Applied Number (OAN), helps law enforcement track and recover stolen goods and acts as a deterrent to theives. The District Attorney’s Office will issue OANs to farmers and ranchers and maintain these designated numbers in a statewide database.

"Crime should not be a factor in the cost of doing business, especially when that business feeds the world," said Tim Ward, Tulare County District Attorney.

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors and senior staff today will begin a series of meetings with Federal officials in Washington, D.C.

Tuesday’s meetings will include the following topics: Lake Success, potential federal budget impacts to Tulare County, marijuana cultivation on public lands, Secure Rural Schools, and the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. All full list of topics and requests are listed below.

Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Pete Vander Poel said past visits to Washington, D.C. have proven to be beneficial and have helped obtain federal funding for Tulare County.

“It’s important that Tulare County provides its representatives in Congress with local input,” Chairman Vander Poel said. “This annual visit helps Federal officials understand Tulare County’s issues, as well as prepare them to advocate for our priority requests.”

During this week’s visit to Washington, D.C., the Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet with the offices of Congressmen Devin Nunes, Kevin McCarthy and David Valadao. In addition, meetings with staff of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy & Water, the Senate Committee of the Budget, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior & Environment, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Justice, and the United States Forest Service have been scheduled.

Earlimart residents and patrons passing through south Tulare County on Highway 99 will soon have new shopping options.

Tulare County officials and project developers today broke ground on a new commercial center in Earlimart that plans to include an AutoZone and Dollar General, a supermarket, national fast food restaurants and other food and retail businesses.  The White River Plaza site is located at the northeast corner of Ave. 56 and Highway 99 interchange.

"The White River Plaza project represents the largest retail commercial development ever built within the community of Earlimart," said Chairman Pete Vander Poel, who represents the Earlimart area on the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. "The jobs that will be created are welcome in Tulare County. The established national businesses associated with it will provide the residents of Earlimart and the surrounding area with quality services that will sustain and improve the community's economic well-being and quality of life."

Three pieces of urban art, inspired by Pro Youth HEART, will be showcased at eleven Tulare County locations through April 2.

Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Phil Cox will unveil the urban art during the "Urban Art Kick-Off Reception" at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15 at Tulare County's Visalia Branch Library located at 200 West Oak St.

The art will remain on display at the library through January 22 then be moved to the Dinuba Branch Library from Jan. 22-29. Other stops include libraries in Woodlake, Exeter, Lindsay, Strathmore, Porterville, Earlimart, Pixley, and Tulare. The last showing of the art will be at Tulare County Government Plaza located at 5961 South Mooney Blvd in Visalia from March 26 through April 2. This marks the third year urban art will be displayed throughout the county.

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors elected a new Chairman on Tuesday, selecting District Three Supervisor Phil Cox to the top position.

Supervisor Cox replaces District Two Supervisor Pete Vander Poel, who served as Chairman in 2013. District Four Supervisor Steve Worthley was selected to serve as Vice Chairman. Each member of the Board of Supervisors performs the duties as chairman through a rotation process. The chairman is charged with setting and running weekly meetings and attending functions on behalf of the Board, among other additional duties.

“Pete took the bull by the horns last year and did a fantastic job,” Chairman Cox said. “His leadership was appreciated.”

Tulare County is one step closer to receiving $40 million in state funds to replace the existing Men’s Correctional Facility and Day Reporting Center located north of Visalia.

A committee of the Board of State and Community Corrections recommended today to allocate $500 million to 15 counties for upgrading local jails to include rehabilitative program space that meets Gov. Jerry Brown’s prison and public safety realignment goals. The recommendations will be considered at the Board of State and Community Corrections meeting on Jan. 16, 2014 in Los Angeles.

“This is very exciting news for Tulare County,” said Pete Vander Poel, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “This is a facility that is certainly needed due to the influx of state prisoners as a result of realignment. I would like to commend the Tulare County team that put together the application that will ultimately meet a very important need.”

Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said the recommendation is extremely good news for his department.

"I am so pleased with the positive collaborative effort from all of the County partners that made this proposal viable,” Sheriff Boudreaux said. “The future of this department and the County as a whole requires us to actively seek opportunities such as this to improve the infrastructure of our Detention Facilities. Our team has been diligently working on this project, making several trips to Sacramento. I am excited for the project and for the future of our department."

Tulare County Board of Supervisors Chairman Pete Vander Poel today requested all United States flags to be flown at half-staff at all County buildings in remembrance of Tulare County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy Meyst. 

“Our thoughts are prayers go out to the family of Jeremy Meyst and all the families who have lost young men who died serving our County,” Chairman Vander Poel said. “Tulare County will fly our flags at half-staff and encourage individuals, businesses, and other organizations to join us in remembrance of Jeremy Meyst for his sacrifice.”

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors announced today it appointed Lisa Bertolino as interim Public Defender following Michael Sheltzer’s appointment by Governor Jerry Brown to serve a judgeship in Tulare County Superior Court.

Bertolino, who has served as the county’s assistant public defender since 2003, has been with Tulare County since 1989. Prior to her career with Tulare County, Bertolino was a certified public accountant. 

“Based on her experience within the department, the Board is confident Lisa will be able to maintain the integrity of the Public Defender’s Office,” said Pete Vander Poel, Board of Supervisors Chairman.

Tulare County Auditor-Controller, Rita A. Woodard, would like to announce the implementation of a new County of Tulare Fraud Hotline: 559-636-5230.

The County has financial and operating controls in place to provide reasonable assurance that fraudulent, illegal or dishonest activity by employees, officers, business contacts or others is prevented or detected. However, the Auditor-Controller recognizes the potential for inappropriate activities and behavior still exists within the County, as it does in any organization.  To ensure our controls are effective, a fraud hotline has been established for whistle-blowers to report improper or inappropriate activities not identified by existing controls.  

Tulare County Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector, Rita A. Woodard, would like to remind taxpayers that the first installment of secured property taxes must be paid by December 10, 2013 to avoid additional penalties, and of the convenient payment options available.  

Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency is co-sponsoring a community forum in Pixley to assist with educating the public about health care coverage options under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

During the forum, the Central Valley Health Network, United Way, and a panel of other partner agencies will provide an overview of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and available health care coverage options. Enrollment assistance will be available at this event for those interested.