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Money matters, mussels top supes’ agenda |
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Thursday, 16 April 2009 |
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By Mike Gervais
Register Staff
4-14-2009 Grant money will be the topic of conversation for the Inyo County Board of Supervisors today as it considers three different requests to pursue opportunities for funding assistance.
The board is also scheduled to discuss a new county ordinance that will provide stricter punishments for truant students; hold a workshop on the county’s livestock feasibility study; and hold another workshop with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on the impact of quagga mussels at Klondike Lake.
First District Supervisor Linda Arcularius is also asking that the board approve a proclamation regarding the Altrusa International District 11 Conference, scheduled to be held at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop, Thursday, April 16 through Sunday, April 19.
Altrusa’s District 11 includes all Altrusa clubs from California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Baja California and Sonora, Mexico. The conference is expected to draw hundreds of Altrusans and their families to the Owens Valley.
The first of the grant requests the board will be considering comes from District Attorney Art Maillet. The D.A.’s Office is requesting approval of an application for Recovery Act funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $35,659 to help pay a portion of salaries and overtime for grant-funded personnel with the Inyo Narcotic Enforcement Team.
Following Maillet’s request, Inyo County Public Works Director Ted Pederson is scheduled to discuss local road rehabilitation projects and request approval from the board to pursue $1,367,998 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Surface Transportation Program funding.
The board previously approved and ranked a number of rehabilitation projects, making work on Whitney Portal Road a priority with South Lake Road on deck for funding.
The Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding must be used for federal aid routes and cannot be used for local roads.
Pederson will also be asking the board to provide direction on Public Works and Planning Department plans to apply for the Blueprint Planning Grant, U.S. 395 Corridor Enhancement Grant and the Land Tenure Grant.
According to Pederson’s staff report, “there has been indication from the California Transportation Commission that Blueprint Planning will be required in the future. As Blueprint planning is a multi-year process, this will get the county Local Transportation Commission involved in advance of state regulations.”
The matching funds from the Blueprint Planning Grant are being provided solely with funds allocated by the Inyo LTC and partnering agencies.
The Public Works Department will host a public outreach meeting for the Eastern Sierra Corridor Enhancement Program on Monday, April 20 from 1-3:30 p.m. in the Lions Club building in Lone Pine and from 6-8:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Bishop.
Following talks about grants, the board is scheduled to host two workshops, one to discuss the future of Klondike Lake and the quagga mussel threat, and the second to discuss the Inyo County Agricultural Commissioner’s livestock feasibility study.
The LADWP has asked the county to begin mandatory boat inspections on Diaz Lake during the fishing season to prevent an infestation of quagga mussels. At that time, the board asked what LADWP planned to do about a possible infestation at Klondike Lake, which has a direct connection to the Owens River.
Representatives from the department said they were looking into the possibility of boat inspections there, and added that if inspections are not possible, Klondike could be closed.
Deputy County Administrator Chuck Hamilton is also seeking input from the board on a campground host program that will allow the county to cut back on seasonal staff while maintaining the current level of services at campsites.
Hamilton’s proposal in-cludes hiring a seasonal host in exchange for free rent at the campsite.
Hamilton is also looking to lift the countywide hiring freeze to hire a six-month seasonal maintenance person at $11.75 per hour, contingent on the board’s adoption of the 2009-10 budget.
The board meets at 9 a.m. every Tuesday in the County Administrative Center in Independence. There will be time for public comment before and after the meeting.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 10 July 2009 )
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