News Briefs from April 8 Board of Supervisors Meeting • Board of Supervisors • 04/14/2025

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APRIL 11, 2025

PORTAL PROJECT ON TRACK

Inyo County Public Works Director Mike Errante told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that Whitney Portal Road is still anticipated to reopen by the end of the month.

The announcement comes as Speiss Construction of Santa Maria wraps up emergency repairs necessitated by the discovery of a failing culvert in early February. The damaged infrastructure - estimated at 50-60 years old - is located just above the entrance to Lone Pine Campground and NOT part of the section of road that was washed out by Hurricane Hilary in 2023 and underwent extensive rehabilitation work.

The road has been closed during construction just below the normal winter closure area, so impacts on motorists have been minimal. Errante told the Board that the project is on track to be completed no later than April 30, when Public Works typically reopens the upper portions of Whitney Portal Road for the spring season.

SCHOOL BOND ACTION

The Board on Tuesday gave both the Owens Valley Unified School District (OVUSD) and Lone Pine Unified School District (LPUSD) the authority to issue and sell general obligations bonds on their own behalf. The move comes after both school districts successfully floated bond measures during the November election to fund much-needed facility repairs.

The default under California Education Code is for the County to issue the bonds, but the law also allows the County to transfer that authority to school districts' governing boards under certain circumstances. The school districts will be required to work with the County Auditor-Controller and Treasurer-Tax Collector so the County can establish tax rates and necessary funds or accounts.

OVUSD's bond measure, Measure T, passed on Nov. 5 with 65.15 percent of the vote. It authorizes the district to issue $7.3 million in bonds. Measure U, LPUSD's bond measure, passed with 60.95 percent of the vote and authorizes the district issue $7.5 million in bonds.

It is anticipated that residents in the Lone Pine Unified School District and Owens Valley Unified School District will see the new tax rate on their property tax bills this fall.

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the Board of Supervisors moved to fill two of three vacancies on the Child Abuse Prevention Council on Tuesday, as well as strengthen local efforts to prevent child abuse.

Stephanie Tanksley and Griselda Ortiz were each reappointed to unexpired two-year terms ending December 31, 2026. All three vacancies were advertised but no letters of interest were received for the third term.

The Child Abuse Prevention Council coordinates the community's efforts to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect, with the mission of eliminating child abuse and neglect and the adversity it causes by ensuring a safe and nurturing home environment for all children. Representation on the council is sought from a wide range of agencies, organizations, and the community at large.

Anyone interested in filling the remaining vacancy is asked to call (760) 873-6453.

The Board also approved an agreement between the County and the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Sacramento to establish a formal collaborative partnership with the Child Prevention Councils of 13 other counties as well as Tahoe/Truckee, in what is known as the Innovative Partnerships Program Northeast Region.

The goal of the partnership is to facilitate coordination of prevention efforts among the councils, as well as mobilize resources, work collaboratively to assess strengths/needs, and learn from and engage with each other as well as community partners.

In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Inyo County Health and Human Services will hold a flag raising ceremony in memoriam of children who have died from child abuse and neglect. The event takes place at 9 a.m. Friday, April 25 at the Clint Quilter Consolidated Office Building in Bishop.

There will also a Superhero 5K starting at 7 a.m. Saturday, April 26 at Bishop City Park. Participants are encouraged to dress up as superheroes. Visit https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/CA/Bishop/Superhero5kRacingForHeroesfor more information and to sign up.

MORE FUNDING FOR HAZARD PROGRAMS

The Board took the official position on Tuesday to support Assembly Bill 993, which would expand the Rural Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) Reimbursement Program to 12 additional counties and increase funding to account for inflation.

CUPAs are local agencies certified by CalEPA to implement and enforce six state hazardous materials and waste programs, including hazardous waste management, underground and aboveground petroleum storage tanks, and emergency response programs. In Inyo County, the CUPA is the Environmental Health Department. While CUPAs are typically funded by fees from regulated businesses, rural areas lack the regulated entities needed to sustain their programs - hence the creation of the reimbursement program.

Inyo County currently receives $60,000 per year in reimbursements for carrying out the hazardous materials and waste programs. AB 993, in addition to making 12 other rural counties - including Mono County - eligible for reimbursements, would increase Inyo County's annual reimbursements to as much as $100,000.