Board of Supervisors meeting summary April 9
EL CENTRO — On Tuesday, April 9, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors held their regular meeting in the Board Chambers at the County Administration Center in El Centro. The following are highlights of the meeting:
According to a press release from the Imperial County Executive Office, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution recognizing and honoring Kristin O’Lear, Executive Director at Imperial Valley Desert Museum. The resolution acknowledges O’Lear’s dedication, leadership, and significant contributions to the museum during her tenure from 2019 to 2024.
Director of Planningand Dev e l opment Services, Jim Minnick, delivered a presentation on developments in Salvation Mountain and Slab City. Slab City, a 640- acre area east of Niland, California, faces discussions about potential sale or transition to private ownership. Concerns have arisen over the lack of infrastructure and regulatory oversight. The County aims to have the State Lands Commission develop infrastructure, instead of selling, to avoid regulatory and financial burdens.
The Board ratified agreements with Rove Engineering for over $3 million in total for cleanup and repair on Imperial County roads affected by Tropical Storm Hilary and a subsequent storm on September 1, 2023. The Imperial County Department of Public Works aims to secure FEMA reimbursements for these federally declared disasters and has also commenced a drainage study in Niland to mitigate future flooding issues.
Per the release, within the consent calendar, the board approved:
A letter endorsing Energy Source Minerals, LLC’s loan application for the Project ATLiS Battery- Spec Lithium Hydroxides to the DOE
Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program.
The ratification of a letter to the Department of Energy Loans Program expressing support for Controlled Thermal Resources’ application to the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program.
The ratification of letters to U. S. Senator Alex Padilla endorsing the County of Imperial’s requests for Fiscal Year 2025 Community Project Funding, including a
Greenspace and Community Garden in Niland, as well as backing a potential North County Public Safety Facility for the Imperial County Sheriff/ Coroner’s Office.
A Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU) with San Pasqual Valley Unified School District to grant access to digital resources. The MOU will provide students access to digital resources via Student Success Cards and USB flash drives, fostering academic success.
The donation of thirty-six (36) travel trailers to sixteen (16) organizations within the County of Imperial entails authorization for processing Department of Motor Vehicle documents and title transfers, culminating in the approval of Travel Trailer Donation Agreements.
Adopted a resolution to submit the total mileage of Imperial County’s maintained roads to the Public Works Department, certifying that the current maintained mileage for the Fiscal Year 2023- 2024 is 2,571.32 miles.
A resolution authorizing the Registrar of Voters to sign an agreement with the California Secretary of State for the Help America Vote Election Security Grant. This agreement, effective from February 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, allows the county to receive up to $135,000 in funding.
The meeting recording, agenda, and backup material can be accessed at www.Board.ImperialCounty.org