LOCAL Setton plan approved by board

Board extends deadline to apply for small business loans

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors approved an addendum to the Terra Bella Community Plan that paves the way for Setton Pistachio to expand.

The board approved the addendum at its meeting on Tuesday. The addendum deals with environmental impacts of the planned expansion.

As part of the expansion Setton will build a pipeline to increase the recycled waste water land area for the facility and to cut down on its odor.

Setton Farms Inc. located in Terra Bella plans to install 24 new silos and related equipment for the processing and storage of pistachios. The expansion would increase the storage capacity of the facility from 90 million pounds to 133 pounds.

The expansion would also added to Setton’s main facility two receiving/ pre-cleaning lines served by four cyclones, 10 hulling units and 12 natural gas-fired dryers to expand its production capability. The project also includes the construction of an employee break room and an electrical utility room.

As far as the issue of the order from the facility, Setton has agreed to deal with the issue of the order, Setton General Manager Leo Cohen said. He said the agreement to deal with the odor has been a cordial one with all agencies involved.

As part of ongoing efforts to decrease the potential of existing ponds to cause odors, the project includes the construction of a pipeline to significantly increase the land area for the wastewater and therefore reduce the amount of wastewater stored in the existing ponds.

In other business the board approved the application for competitive grants that could lead to multi-million projects that improve the roads around schools

in three surrounding rural areas — Alta Vista School, Pleasant View School and Strathmore Middle School and Strathmore Elementary School.

The Active Transportation grants are provided through the California Transportation Commission. The grants are for projects that encourage an increase in biking and walking such as the Complete Streets program, which would be implemented in Strathmore if the county receives the grants. In the past the county has received $8.1 million in ATP grants.

One grant would be for $2.1 million for Pleasant View School. The project would be for improvements along Avenue 145 between Road 190 and Road 193. Improvements would include installation of curbs and gutters, sidewalk, ADA ramps, drive approaches, asphalt paveouts and drainage improvements.

Another grant would be $2.6 million for the Strathmore Complete Streets improvements.

This project would reduce the size of the lanes on Orange Belt Drive between Avenue 196 and Avenue 198. There would also be improvements along Avenue 198 between Orange Belt Drive and Road 231. The project would be designed to make conditions safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. This project would also include curb and gutter and sidewalk improvements, ADA ramps, drive approaches and drainage improvements.

There would also be a $2.2 million grant for Alta Vista School. Again the project would be to make conditions safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The board also approved funds to be used from Measure R which finances the Farm 2 Market Program. Among the projects to be funded is a Farm 2 Market Route in Terra Bella along Avenue 95 from Road 236 to Road 256 at a cost of $1.25 million.

SMALL BUSINESS DEADLINE EXTENDED

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors also approved an action to extend the deadline for small businesses to apply for the Tulare County Small Business COVID Relief Fund. The application period that was set to end August 16 has now been extended through Monday, August 24.

At its July 14 meeting, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors approved $7.5 million in grants to be given to small businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

The $7.5 million comes from $48.9 million Tulare County is receiving from the federal CARES Act. There will be 1,500 businesses in Tulare County who will be eligible to receive the $7.5 million in grants, so each business awarded a grant will receive $5,000. Three-hundred businesses in each of the five supervisorial districts will be awarded grants.

For-profit and non-profit small business with 20 or fewer employees will be eligible for the grants. Businesses that received assistance such as from the federal COVID-19 Payment Protection program or a disaster loan will not be eligible for the grants. The grants can be used to to cover costs that are going to be experienced from March 19 through October 31.

To learn more about the program and sign up for an e-mail alert go to http://www.tularecountyrelief.com/