District 1 supervisor gives update on Northeast Kern County road work, trash tax

It has been a busy few weeks as we approach the start of summer. From State mandated trash collection, to washed out roads, and threats of East Kern Courthouses closing, Kern County has been scrambling to deal with these new challenges. One common thread in many of the issues we are contending with is, as usual, the State of California. There has been much confusion regarding many of these issues, so I will do my best to provide an update on how we got here, where we are, and where we’re going from here.

Let’s start with county roads. In the first district, the Public Works Department has completed 20 work orders in the month of April, and is currently working on completing additional projects, resolving road complaints, and addressing storm damage as it occurs. In one month alone, 41 dump sites have been cleaned up through the County’s R.A.P.I.D. program and Open Door Network. Additionally, throughout the County 161 illegally dumped mattresses were collected, and 38 encampments were removed from the rights-of-way, alleys, and sumps.

As we all know, many roads throughout the County have been damaged by flooding, including State Highway 155 and 178. Regarding Highway 155, CalTrans has hired Griffith Construction to begin work on drains and conduct other minor repairs at the many locations that have been damaged. As the State’s Hydraulic and Geotechnical Engineering Departments conduct their assessments, it is likely that major repairs will begin soon. As for Highway 178, repairs are still in the planning stages with initial construction likely to begin in the next several weeks. Initially, the goal will be to stabilize the roadway so that at least one lane of traffic can remain open, with larger scale repairs to follow. Unfortunately, it will still likely be a matter of months before construction on these roads is completed, with a majority of road work still dependent on water levels as snowpack runoff peaks later this month.

In Kernville, Sierra Way has been undermined by the Southfork of the Kern River, causing the road base to become saturated and unstable, and creating a major safety issue. The road will likely remain closed until repairs can be made once the water recedes. Fortunately, funding for a bridge study is already in place through the Regional Surface Transportation Program. This survey will recommend a course of action that, in turn, will allow the County to pursue grant funding to not only repair this road but create a better, more permanent solution. The County is also looking at Lake Isabella Boulevard at Tank Park and planning for future culvert repairs as well. Lastly, the County is investing over $10 million in roads and improvements throughout the Kern River Valley through the Active Transportation Program, the Highway Safety Improvement Program, and the American Rescue Plan Act.

These projects which will be constructed over the next few years will include pedestrian improvements on Lake Isabella Boulevard from Tank Park to the Library and Erskine Creek Road from Lake Isabella Boulevard to the schools, a pedestrian bridge over Borel Canal at the Lake Isabella crossing, sidewalks on Lake Isabella Boulevard, Warren Way, Canal Street, Elmwood Avenue, Lakeland Street, Driftwood Avenue, Balboa Street, and Beechwood Avenue. Lastly, on Wofford Boulevard at Panorama Drive, the County will be constructing pedestrian crossing improvements including installation of flashing beacons, radar speed feedback, sidewalk, curb and gutter, ADA ramps, thermoplastic markings, and advance warning signs.

Now, with regard to the trash situation, and SB1383. This bill was signed into law in 2016, and then went through the State’s rulemaking process until the end of 2020. By 2021, the County had begun negotiations with franchise haulers. In 2022, many of the haulers in the metro-area were sold to Burrtec Waste Industries, and later that year the rates and agreements were finalized. In May of 2023, the plan for implementing SB1383 came before the Kern County Board of Supervisors, and was voted down. There are many issues with this plan, including large proposed “Universal Collection Areas” that diluted community voices and didn’t take into account their unique characteristics. Residents also justifiably voiced many concerns, ranging from the costs, method of payment, and lack of self-hauling options. While staff worked hard to achieve the mandates set out by the State, this plan does not work for our diverse community. Regardless, the State has threatened fines of $10,000 per day to the County for non-compliance, which would devastate our ability to provide critical services. As of now, the plan is not going into effect in our outlying communities, and the County will be going back to the drawing Board to find a new solution to this daunting issue that both complies with State mandates and serves residents in the most efficient means possible.

Lastly, I would like to address the State’s proposal to build a new East Kern Courthouse in Tehachapi. In 2013-2014, the California Judicial Council closed the Taft and Kern River Valley Courthouses, limiting access to justice for residents in these areas. In 2021, the Council recognized the need for maintaining the two existing court facilities in Ridgecrest and three in Mojave. Then, without warning the Superior Court recommended to the Council that all three Mojave courts be closed, as well as the main Ridgecrest court, leaving only the small Division B courthouse. It was further recommended that these four courts be consolidated into an “East Kern Courthouse” in the Tehachapi area. The existing courts currently serve a far larger population in more remote areas, and locating a new centralized facility in Tehachapi would drastically impact residents access to justice, increase drive time, hamper future growth, and show a lack of commitment to public safety. Fortunately, Presiding Judge Bradshaw decided to hold several public meetings to hear concerns about this proposition, although only a matter of days’ notice was given. Thankfully however, many community members and elected officials came out to voice their opposition to this project, including the Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senator Shannon Grove, Assemblyman Vince Fong, the Kern County Board of Supervisors, and City officials from both Ridgecrest and Tehachapi.

This year has held its share of challenges, but also its share of achievements. There are many great things happening in our community every day, that give us reason to look to the future with optimism. While we continue to face a seemingly endless barrage of obstacles, if we stand together, and make our voices heard, we will continue not only to survive, but thrive. It’s what Kern County does best.