County supervisors agenda: Parlier sworn in as District 2 Supervisor, Greenfield Union's botched election, Borel Fire cleanup ordinance
Dec 17, 2024
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Chris Parlier was sworn in at the Board of Supervisor meeting to take the District 2 seat. It opened up when Zack Scrivner resigned in August, under a cloud of controversy. Chris Parlier's ascension to the Board of Supervisors was just one of several items the full board attended to Tuesday.
The board also heard more about Greenfield Union School District's possible special election after a county gaffe and county supervisors approved an ordinance with the Borel Fire cleanup, making folks who want to clean the debris themselves adhere to standards put forth by Public Health.
In November, former City Council member Chris Parlier won almost 32% of the District 2 supervisor vote. Parlier gave a speech, took photos with visiting Bakersfield City Council members, and took his seat.
Parlier left the Bakersfield City Council and politics in 2022, due to health reasons. He's back and ready to get started.
"Start working hard for constituents, the businesses that are coming in, helping to protect our historic industries, farming, ground energy, oil, and just looking forward to serving the community," Parlier said.
The Greenfield Union School District gave an update on its botched election between Mercy Pena and Ricardo Herrera for the Trustee Area C seat. The county admitted last week that over 100 people were able to vote in that race, who lived outside the trustee area.
The district and the county have been working together to get a court ordered special election. The district has gone to court to keep the incumbent Ricardo Herrera in office until a special election can be held.
Now the district says they have make another filing, to allow the district to fund the court fees instead of the candidates.
"Seven days later and it still hasn't been resolved," incumbent Ricardo Herrera said. Herrera lost the race to Pena. "I don't know what is taking so long. It's a clear black and white issue."
"All this back and forth and this just needs to get down to a judge. I'm the winner of the election, and I just need to get seated tomorrow," said Mercy Pena, the challenging candidate.
After the school district update, Kern Public Health presented an ordinance regarding the Borel Fire cleanup. Families and homeowners can go through a state program to clean the debris left from the almost 60,000 acre fire.
But some are choosing to do it themselves. In order to make sure the ash is cleaned up correctly, Brynn Carrigan, Director of public health proposed a standard that they have to adhere to.
It also gave the county authority to remove the burned remains from private properties, due to the public health threat. Supervisors passed the ordinance.
The form to apply for the cleanup is linked here