By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
The Crest Forest Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) met at the San Moritz Lodge on Tuesday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. This public meeting is an opportunity for residents to know what government officials are doing in and around the community.
The new Rim of the World Unified School District superintendent, Dr. Paul Sevillano, was introduced by Rim school board member Dana Ridland. Dr. Sevillano moved to the mountain prior to the school district seeking a superintendent because he liked the area to help raise his grandkids. He is happy to be the new superintendent since he has a vested interest in the schools, since his grandchildren attend Rim schools.
Sidney Sonck from State Senator Ochoa-Bogh’s office gave an update on the Senate bills she has submitted this session. SB 1175 will try to get a waiver from California’s food and green yard waste recycle bill (SB1383), passed previously; the requirements to remove the fire-prone grasses that grow in the forest and the lack of green waste pickup seem to be at odds. They have asked for resident input on this bill.
Other bills she is either sponsoring or has an interest in are SB 1108, mobile home evictions; and SB 1186, discount admissions for veterans. She has introduced 20 bills this session. These bills will be referred to committees after having been in print for 30 days to allow for comments.
SB1429 would allow school districts to receive ADA for school days canceled due to snowstorms. Senator Ochoa Bogh has asked Rim of the World Unified School District to be a co-sponsor of the bill and she would like local letters of support for this bill.
Ridland addressed the difficulty of creating school budgets when the state has not settled what the state education budget is yet; the difference on projected deficits varies greatly by tens of billions of dollars.
There will be a Community Wellness Fair at Valley of Enchantment Elementary School on June 14, from 4 to 6 p.m. and the whole family is invited to attend. A meeting will be held on March 14 at 4 p.m. at Crestline’s First Baptist Church on Springy Path to coordinate the event. The CHP already has said they will be there with bicycle helmets. They also will offer an opportunity for adults to experience their drunk goggles.
The representative from Congressman Jay Obernolte’s office said Obernolte has written to President Biden and Fire Chief Munsey about electric cars and the unintended consequences of requiring everyone to buy electric-only cars. Major fires may result from them and fire departments are now seeking solutions as it takes lots of resources to extinguish every one of those hot burning fires that could possibly lead to a major wildfire. Current fire trucks do not carry enough water to extinguish those fires and, on the mountain, this could lead to devastation.
Members of the Crest Forest MAC include (l-r) Penny Shubnell, Kyle Schulty, Steve Garcia, Rick Dinon and Gilbert Flores.
Bill Mellinger and Nathan Godwin from the Lake Gregory Community Advisory Committee announced that the fees for Lake Gregory will remain the same as last season: $30 for a one-day, all-access pass, including the inflatables, water slides, water park and lake; and $15 for a beach access pass. Lake Gregory is now hiring for all job positions at the park and will have a job fair weekend on April 13 and 14. They need at least 40 more employees. “We hire smiles and train skills,” said Godwin.
They are aware there have been parking issues in the past and they recommend during the summer season to purchase beach tickets in advance over their website, Lakegreory.com, so they do not sell out before you reach the gate. Parking is $2 the first hour and $1 two hours after that for a maximum of $10 a day; they do ticket for illegally parked vehicles and tow for blocking access and emergency exits.
So far, Lake Gregory has had 340 people donate to the new playground project. They are also seeking outside grants. Those companies look to see if the community is also supporting the project.
They have a complete schedule of fish stocking for this next year, including several kinds of trout, catfish feeder fish and trophy fish. The schedule is available on their website and their Facebook page. Lake Gregory has become a well-respected fishing destination lake, said Godwin.
The county is seeking the needed permits for lake dredging for this spring. They hope to succeed in acquiring a yearly permit so they do not have to go through this permit process every year.
Lewis Murray’s report for the supervisor focused on county roads. The Mercury Way special road district project is complete and the residents in Skyland are happy as they got their road regraded and repaved; now it is snowplowed and will be maintained by the county. Murray explained some old special district roadways recently had their assessments raised as they had been established 40 years ago, and costs have risen. Those residents who want their roads to become special road districts will find the information on how to create a special road district on the county’s website.
The pothole problem was discussed. The county’s See Click Fix app is the most direct way to report potholes to the county. Photos taken with a cellphone identify the GPS of the potholes’ locations and send the information directly to county Public Works to locate. The hole must be dry before they can fill it.
The MAC is made up of local residents appointed by the county supervisor to hear local concerns and local needs and communicate them to the proper officials. The Crest Forest MAC held their 2024 election, voting Steve Garcia again as MAC chair and Kyle Schulty as vice chair. The other council members are Rick Dinon, Penny Shubnell and Gilbert Flores.
The next Crest Forest MAC meeting will be held April 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the San Moritz Lodge and by Zoom. The public is always welcome to attend.
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