INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Volunteers Honored by Board of Supervisors
During its April 9 meeting, the Board of Supervisors recognized 10 winners of the 21st annual Merced County Volunteer Recognition Program.
The program coincides with National Volunteer Week and is an opportunity for the Board and community to say "thank you" to the many volunteers that make Merced County a great place to live, work and raise a family. Started by the County in 1999, the program aims to shed a light on local heroes.
This year's winners, which were nominated by the public and selected by an ad hoc screening panel, received a certificate of recognition from the Board of Supervisors as well as a Merced County pin during the ceremony.
Here’s a list of this year’s winners:
- Fabi Cervantes (Dist. 1 — Planada in Action Committee)
- Russell G. Winton (Dist. 1 — Livingston Spring Concert Series)
- Rob & Andrea Baptie (Dist. 2 — HateDust Project)
- Cheryl Penner (Dist. 2 — Merced City School District, Peterson Elementary School Library)
- Jennifer Jimenez (Dist. 3 — Atwater/Merced Little League)
- Andrew King (Dist. 3 — Central Valley Honor Flight, Merced County 4-H, Merced Youth Baseball Association, etc.)
- Maxine Price (Dist. 4 — Snelling Community Building Foundation, Snelling Women’s Club, Snelling MAC, etc.)
- Zachery Ramos (Dist. 4 — Traveling Library)
- Kristen Plascencia (Dist. 5 — Girl Scout Troop No. 3022)
- David Carr (Dist. 5 — Merced County Probation, Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex)
To learn more about the Merced County Volunteer Recognition Program or to view pictures of the winners, you can visit Volunteer Recognition or search #MercedCountyVolunteerRecognition on Facebook.
Merced County will start soliciting nominations for the 2020 Volunteer Recognition Program in the first quarter of next year, so start thinking of possible individuals or groups!
Rattlesnakes Sighted at County Park
As Indiana Jones would say, "Snakes, why did it have to be snakes?"
Recently, Merced County Parks and Recreation has received multiple reports of rattlesnake sightings at Henderson Park near Snelling. While this is natural habitat for snakes, they become more active and visible when the weather warms up.
County Parks and Recreation staff has posted caution signs and is working to clean up public areas that could serve as hiding places for rattlesnakes. However, when you're in their natural habitat, there is always risk of encountering a rattlesnake.
Please use caution when visiting County parks or other natural habitats where you may encounter wildlife. Always watch where you step, listen and avoid walking through tall grass/brush.
If you or someone you know is ever bitten by a rattlesnake, stay calm and get to a hospital immediately. Do not use a tourniquet or try to suck out the venom.
Rattlesnake sightings at County Parks can be reported to Parks and Rec. at (209) 385-7426.
County Continues Town Hall Series
This month, Merced County continued its 10-part series of town hall meetings throughout the community.
The meetings are hosted by the respective District Supervisor and include department heads from nearly two-dozen Merced County agencies.
The meetings provide an opportunity for residents to chat with their Supervisor, meet department heads and staff, hear updates from the County, and ask questions.
So far, topics of conversation have ranged from roads, to economic development, to public safety.
"As County Supervisors, we're always available for the communities in which we serve, but this is an important time for us to bring our agencies out and have a direct discussion with constituents," said Chairman Lloyd Pareira of the Merced County Board of Supervisors. "We want the public to know that we're here for them and we care."
As of the publication of this newsletter, there are three town halls left in Gustine (6:00 p.m., April 29th at the Al Goman Community Center), Merced (6:00 p.m., May 7th at the Merced County Administration Building), and Planada (6:00 p.m., May 15th at the Planada Elementary School Cafeteria).
For more information, visit the Town Hall Meetings page.
District Attorney's Office Hosts Victim Witness Ceremony
A solemn ceremony at Courthouse Park in April served as a time for families to remember and honor their loved ones who were lost to violence.
Known as the "National Crime Victims' Rights Week" ceremony, the annual event is organized by the District Attorney's Office and promotes victims' rights and services.
During the event, families displayed photos of their loved ones and tied "remembrance cards" to special trees that were planted in remembrance of victims.
District Attorney Kimberly Lewis addressed the crowd during the ceremony, letting those in attendance know that victims and their families have the support of her office and the community.
Lewis said the ceremony is an important time for the community to come together to remember those who were lost to violence.
"It's important for us to set aside the time to pause and remember these victims," Lewis said afterward. "These individuals were someone's friend, family member, neighbor ... they're left with the grief of losing a loved one, and we need to be there for them."
This year's Victims' Rights Week theme was "Honoring Our Past. Creating Hope for the Future."
Did You Know?
Pothole Reporting
Did you know that there are three different ways to report potholes and other hazards on County roads in unincorporated areas? By phone, website and mobile application. Here's how:
Phone: (209) 385-7601
Website: Visit the Roads page and click on "Road Service Request."
Mobile App: On Merced County's Mobile App, you can click on "Report a Hazard," take a photo, enter the location and describe the issue. To get the app on an Android/Google Play, search "Merced County" and download. For iPhones, download the "CivicMobile" app, open it and search "Merced County."
Community Cleanups
Did you know that every year, the Public Works Department hosts multiple community cleanup events throughout Merced County? These events allow residents to dispose of tires, appliances, and other throwaway items for a greatly reduced fee—$1 for small cars, $2 for trucks, vans and station wagons, $3 for trailers less than 8 feet, and $4 for trailers longer than 8 feet. More details are available at the Community Cleanup page.
There are three community cleanups left this year:
Dos Palos Y: Saturday, Oct. 5th Dos Palos Y Auction Yard
McSwain: Saturday, Oct. 19th Quinley Ave. (South of Moran Ave.)
Planada: Saturday, Nov. 2nd Broadway (between Mills St. and Fremont St.)
Merced County Advocates at the Capitol
In April, Merced County Supervisors and staff were in Sacramento as part of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Legislative Conference. The annual conference provided counties with an opportunity to learn about and discuss proposed legislation and policies at the State level that have the potential to impact local jurisdictions.
As part of this year's trip, Supervisor Lloyd Pareira and Supervisor Daron McDaniel joined other Valley supervisors (pictured) to meet with Governor Gavin Newsom regarding the importance of water storage, funding to address homelessness, and other topics.
Merced County Supervisors and staff periodically meet with federal lawmakers and agencies throughout the year as well to vie for programs and funding that benefit the local community.
Upcoming Meetings
| Board of Supervisors | Planning Commission |
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- May 7th, 2019
- May 21st, 2019
- June 4th, 2019
- June 18th, 2019
- July 9th, 2019
- July 30th, 2019
Regular Board of Supervisors meetings are held on scheduled Tuesdays at 10 a.m., unless otherwise specified. Meetings are held in the Board Chambers located in the County Administration Building at 2222 M Street, Third Floor, Merced, CA 95340. | - May 8th, 2019
- May 22nd, 2019
- June 12th, 2019
- June 26th, 2019
- July 10th, 2019
- July 24th, 2019
Regular Planning Commission meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month (with the exception of December) at 9:00 a.m. in the Board Chambers located in the County Administration Building at 2222 M Street, Third Floor, Merced, CA 95340. |
| Municipal Advisory Councils |
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- Delhi MAC meetings:
7 p.m. second Thursday of the month,
16091 Locust St., Delhi - Franklin-Beachwood MAC meetings:
6 p.m. fourth Wednesday of the month,
Franklin Elementary on Franklin Road - Hilmar MAC meetings:
6 p.m. fourth Monday of the month.
20077 Falke St., Hilmar - Le Grand MAC meetings:
7 p.m. first Monday of the month,
13038 E. Jefferson St., Le Grand - McSwain MAC meetings:
7 p.m. fourth Thursday of the month,
926 N. Scott Road, Merced - Planada MAC meetings:
6 p.m. first Wednesday of the month,
9167 Stanford Ave., Planada - Snelling MAC meetings:
6:30 p.m. second Wednesday of the month,
Old Snelling Courthouse, SR 59, Snelling - Winton MAC meetings:
7 p.m. third Tuesday of the month,
7091 W. Walnut Ave., Winton
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