By Marina Gaytan
California - The controversy over the rights of gays and lesbians to get married is more simply, a battle to have the state of California recognize such marriages.
When a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to a marriage license when he overturned Proposition 8 on August 4 - the voter approved ballot measure that banned same-sex couples from getting married – it rekindled a controversy that has burned for more than two decades.
While many refer to the battle as being the right of gays and lesbians to get married, the crux of the issue is the right of gays and lesbians to obtain a marriage license. The ability of same-sex couples to marry if they chose has not been taken away, but many feel having the state recognize such marriages is a constructional right, while others feel the state should only recognize as legal a marriage between one man and one woman.
What is a Marriage License?
The current California
Constitution Article 1 Declaration of Rights SEC. 7.5 states
that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or
recognized in California.
“In the state of California it is a law that you have
to have a license to be married,” said Dale R. Bruder,
a Visalia family law attorney. He also said California doesn't
recognize common law marriage, which is a marriage that
is recognized in other states for people who have merely
cohabitated together.
“Marriage, which is a specific type of relationship, requires the issuance of a license,” he added.
In addition to Proposition 8, or the California Marriage Protection Act, California law also said that in order to obtain a marriage license, both parties must be present.
It also states a person must be 18-years of age or older if an unmarried male or female under the age of 18- years is capable of consenting to and consummating marriage upon obtaining a court order granting permission to the underage person or persons to marry. If divorced, a certified copy of the divorce papers must be presented and couples must have valid picture identification.
The cost of a marriage license is $92 in Tulare, but the fee varies by county.
“Some people (couples) perform the ceremony. If they want to prove they're married, say for an insurance company, they need proof,” said Julie Poochigian, the chief department clerk recorder for the Tulare County Superior Court, of why there is a need for a marriage license.
Roland Hill, county assessor/clerk recorder-elect, said a marriage license is a legal document that can be needed in certain situations, but he admitted, like most, he has never needed to show his marriage license.
Bruder said that under California law, parties including two people of the same gender can enter into a “domestic partnership.” This is a formal arrangement that falls under the Protection and Benefits of the California Family Code.
“This is not a marriage. It's, however, a recognized non-marital cohabitative relationship,” he said. “The term 'marriage' as being a relationship which can only exist between a man and a woman, is what is currently in dispute in the federal court.”
Also under the California Family Code, “marital spouses” and “registered domestic partners” have the same community property rights, financial support obligations, and child custody/visitation rights and responsibilities as married spouses do.
“Registered Domestic Partners,” must also be granted the same access to visit their partner in the hospital as is granted to married spouses.
If a “marriage” is challenged for some reason, the party would need to go through a court order to petition it, if they believe that they are married. Poochigian said they don't get too many court orders.
Although Poochigian said that the only reason you need a marriage license is to be recognized legally by the state of California that you are married, she added that there are a lot of different situations where you might need to show proof of your marriage, including: for insurance companies, changing your name, collecting social security or for tax purposes.
“There are a lot of legal aspects to it,” Poochigian said. Bruder said there may be collateral benefits to being married.
Anytime someone asks for proof of an established marriage, you will need to show that you are legally married, Poochigian added.
However, it is mostly an emotional and moral issue. On Monday, an appellate judge ruled that same-sex marriage licenses could not be issued until an appeal of the judge's Aug. 4 decision is heard. That hearing will not be until December.
Brooke Burk, division leader for gayvisalia.com said that her domestic partnership allows her and her partner to file taxes as a couple but only on a state level and is not recognized federally.
“There are around seven benefits to a domestic partnership versus the hundreds you get when you're a married couple,” Burk said. “We also have the right to see each other in the hospital.”
Prop. 8 Background
In March 2000, California voters passed Proposition 22 to specify in state law that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.
However, in May of 2008, the California Supreme Court ruled that the statute enacted by Proposition 22 and other statutes that limit marriage to a relationship between a man and a woman violated the equal protection clause of the California Constitution. It also held that individuals of the same sex have the right to marry under the California Constitution.
On June 16, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. it was legal for the County Clerk's Office to issue a marriage license to same sex couples. As a result of the ruling, marriage between individuals of the same sex was valid or recognized in the state. When that ended in November of 2008, it was only legal for a man and a woman to obtain a marriage license.
Last month, U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker said Proposition 8, passed by voters in November 2008, violated the federal constitutional rights of gays and lesbians to marry the partners of their choice. The issue could ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Tulare County - If every man, woman and child in Tulare County got an equal share of the more than $224 million in stimulus money that has flowed into the county the past 18 months, then they would each be about $550 richer.
Last week the state updated how stimulus money has been distributed through California, reporting that Tulare County has collected $224 million and Kings County $64 million. The money has been divvied to numerous cities, schools, agencies, non-profits and even private companies.
Between the city of Visalia and Visalia Unified School District, more than $27 million has been funded. Some of the more visible projects paid with American Recovery Act (ARA) funds are the Ben Maddox overcrossing project, the expansion of the city's transit center and the landscaping and street work along Center Street.
According to the state, the city of Visalia has received more than $11 million.
At Visalia Unified, the $15.6 million has been used mainly to keep teachers employed and to balance the district's budget that has taken great hits from the state.
Ted Smalley, Tulare County Association of Governments executive director, said that nearly $23 million has come to the county for road projects such as Ben Maddox.
“We're going to be able to spend every dollar of it,” said Smalley, saying the money has been used on various projects that were “shovel ready” almost immediately after Congress passed the Recovery Act in February of 2009.
Debbie Vaughn, administrative analyst with the county, keeps track of every recovery dollar that has been allocated to the county (except for the $23 million that has gone to TCAG) and how it is being spent.
“Anybody who receives money has to report quickly,” said, adding that there are severe consequences if proper accounting of the money is not done.
While much of money was allocated last year, Vaughn said dollars are still be allocated. “Within the last six months we got some additional funds that enhanced an existing sheriff's department grant,” she said.
Some major beneficiaries in the county have been the Workforce Investment Board – more than $23 million – and TulareWorks - $20.5 million.
In Kings County, more than $7.5 million has been allocated for various transit projects, including the purchase of new buses for the transit system there.
It is difficult to track the money that has been allocated. The state has reported Tulare County has received $224 million, but when looking at the breakdown, the amount appears to be much higher. However, not all the allocated money has been delivered and in some cases, an allocation is listed twice, causing confusion.
Private Beneficiaries
Logos Technologies, Inc. and EdeniQ, Inc., which is located in Visalia, was awarded a $20.4 million grant to modify and operate a pilot-scale bio-refinery plant to produce low-cost ethanol bio-fuel from cellulosic feedstock, such as corn stover and switch grass. That is by far the largest amount allocated to anyone, especially private companies.
Not all of that money is coming to Tulare County, but it listed as part of the $224 million.
Several low-income housing projects in the region have received stimulus funds, including Dinuba Pacific Associates - $9.5 million – and Lindsay Pacific Associates - $7 million. Both of those are for apartment projects in those cities. Another $6.7 million has been allocated to Hanford Pacific Associates for another apartment project.
There are several private companies on the list of those receiving stimulus funds.
Among those is Eric Ammon, a heavy equipment construction operator in Three Rivers - $3.8 million for a project in the national park.
Sierra Forest Products in Terra Bella is listed as receiving $4 million. That is money being used to deliver logs from the Sonora area to the last remaining lumber mill in the southern half of the state.
Stronghold Engineering Incorporated was awarded a $6 million contract for work at Lemoore Naval Air Station, which has received more than $10 million in stimulus-funded projects, including Stronghold's contract.
Schools
Nearly every school in Tulare and Kings counties has received some stimulus funds, led by Visalia at more than $15 million. Tulare elementary district has received about $4 million, while Tulare high school district has been allocated about $3.4 million.
Hanford high school district and elementary district have each received about $1.4 million, according to the state. Lemoore High has received about a million dollars.
Superintendent Craig Wheaton said most of the money the district has gotten has been used to keep teachers, with a small amount used on supplies.
Reef Sunset District in Avenal has gotten more than $1.2 million and Porterville Unified $9.5 million.
Cities
Visalia tops the list as receiving the most, but nearly every city has gotten some of the Recovery Act pie.
From the city of Avenal's $520,000 to Visalia's $11.6 million, cities have all shared in the Recovery Act pie.
Farmersville, the smallest city in Tulare County, has been awarded $3.3 million, while Dinuba has gotten about $700,000. Tulare has received more than $3 million, according to the state.
Money has come to the cities in various forms. In Visalia, $2.3 million has been used to purchased foreclosed homes, remodel them, then resell them to families who qualify. So far, 16 homes have been sold and nine more are in the pipeline.
“The Neighborhood Stabilization Program has enabled us to buy houses and sell them to families. My sense is it has helped the economy,” said Visalia City Manager Steve Salomon.
However, Salomon is not sure that Visalia or the county has received its fair share of the bailout funds. He said if based on population, California should get about $80 billion and if Tulare County is about 1 percent of the state's population, its share should be around $780 million, not $224 million.
He acknowledged that not all the money has been allocated and the city and county could still get more funds. A $1 million Housing and Urban Development grant for more housing could be forthcoming, but it has not been approved.
And, he said, the city has positioned itself to be prepared if more money is made available with shovel ready projects such as the animal shelter or the Sequoia Visitor's Center. “If there's money left over, we're in a position where we can spend it,” he said.
Others Benefit
Family Healthcare Network with clinics in Tulare and Kings counties, has been given $2.5 million, while Avenal Community Health Center was given $500,000. Tulare Community Health Clinic got $1.3 million to help cover people who could not afford insurance because they had lost their job or couldn't find a job.
Community Services and Employment Training (CSET) has been given more than $3.5 million, some which was used to employ young people this summer. Proteus has received $3.5 million.
Family Services of Tulare County has collected over half a million dollars, while FoodLink has gotten just $65,000.
Kings Community Action Organization has been given $1.2 million.
The Tule Indian Reservation tribal council has been given $5.5 million while another $300,000 has gone to the tribal housing authority.
Even the Lower Tulare Irrigation District has benefitted, given $1.9 million.
Visalia - Downtown parking for both customers and employees just got a little easier and less expensive.
Monday night the Visalia City Council agreed to change the Downtown Visalia parking limit from two to three hours, a move many said will give visitors to downtown more time to shop and dine.
“We're trying to make downtown shopper friendly,” said Sam Sciacca who spearheaded the drive to improve parking downtown.
“Every merchant has a shopping issue,” Sciacca said Monday night. He said issues are either with customers getting parking tickets ($33 per ticket) or employees who take up parking designed to serve customers.
“Tickets send a message to customers – don't come to downtown to shop,” Sciacca said.
As a move to hopefully encourage employees to use the parking garage near downtown, the council Monday also lowered the monthly parking fee for the garage from $75 to $25.
“Sometimes employees are the cause of heartburn for downtown parking issues,” said Chris Tavarez, management analyst with the city. He said reducing the monthly fee should encourage more employees to purchase the reserved space.
Right now, Tavarez said, about 80 percent of the spaces reserved for downtown employees are not utilized. He said the lower fee could even allow some employers to pay the cost.
Sciacca vowed to work “diligently” to spread the word on the lower parking fee and to get employees to take advantage of the parking structure. The lower fee will be in effect for about six months, then re-evaluated by staff.
“I will go on a mission. We will send a message to employees to use the parking garage,” he said.
The longer parking stay and the lower fees were endorsed by both the Downtown Alliance and PBID. “We're fully supportive of giving this a try,” said William Martin, PBID chairperson.
Councilman Mike Lane said that downtown merchants and property owners should drive the parking policy, adding he endorsed the idea.
Councilman Steve Nelsen not only supported the three-hour parking limit, but suggested that the $25 fee be made permanent. “Obviously, it's ($75 fee) not working with 80 percent of the spaces not being used,” he said.
Councilman Warren Gubler, who also endorsed the changes, noted that the cost to the city to change the time limit was minimal since stickers will be used to put a numeral “3” where there is now a “2” on the parking limit signs.
Sciacca was pleased.
“This is going to be an open invitation: Come to Downtown Visalia because we are interested in keeping the shopper happy,” he said.
New Facility Incorporates Solar Power
By Marina Gaytan
Exeter - A lack of housing in Exeter will soon be diminished now that the city council has approved a proposal for a 49-unit apartment complex.
The Exeter planning commission had already given the project its OK.
“Exeter hasn't had a lot of multifamily development in a while,” said Randy Groom, Exeter's city manager. “This will serve that need in the community; particularly for those who aren't in the position to purchase their own home.”
A second reading of the ordinance approving the project will go before the council Aug. 24, which has already approved the general plan amendment and the zone change.
“There hasn't been this kind of development in Exeter in about 15 years,” said Greg Collins, contract planner for the city of Exeter.
The approximate $12 million dollar project will be both private and government funded through tax credit syndication, said Tim Sciacqua, housing development independent consultant for Pacific West Community, developer of the project.
“This project will have some home financing, we hope,” he added.
Through work force housing, which means-affordable, the tentative rent cost will be around $300 to $600 a month.
“We always give consideration to provide affordable housing,” Groom said.
The 3.49 acre project will sit near Visalia Road and west of Belmont. It will have two and three bedroom apartments. It will include a community center, swimming pool, barbeque area, and an on-site resident manager.
Another feature of the complex is solar panels. Most of the panels will be located on the car port areas but there will also be some that will sit on the backside of buildings. These panels will produce electricity for the tenants, which will lower their monthly electricity bill, said Sciacqua. Complexes in Lemoore and Farmersville are using solar panels.
“The average tenant's (electric) bill so far has been between $5 and $6 (a month),” Sciacqua said.
With Exeter having a population at around 10,752, Collins said there aren't a lot of apartment complexes and that there certainly is a demand for the multifamily complex.
“Exeter definitely needs this,” Collins said.
The area between the site and Visalia Road is commercial property developed as a shopping center, while the surrounding area is vacant along with agricultural land.
Exeter city is currently moving things forward to get the designs finished.
“Our goal is to build it within the next couple of years,” Sciacqua added.
Farmersville, Lemoore and Dinuba all have similar projects.
By Marina Gaytan
Tulare County - While 49 million marijuana plants were being grown on public lands last year by illegal marijuana growers living in remote areas of the mountains, there was plenty of garbage and damage left behind.
To restore the mountains to their pristine state, the High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew is called upon to clean up what was left behind.
Warren Sargent, environmental reclamation team director and volunteer for High Sierra Trail Crew, said that there are a lot of environmental issues to deal with at nearly all the illegal grow sites.
The trail crew, which has been around for 15 years, was initially focused on trail maintenance on public lands - mostly in the National Forest.
After being asked to help with the environmental restoration, which is cleaning up the elicit marijuana grow sites, Sargent knew he wanted help.
Directed by National Law Enforcement, Sargent and the crew travel into the National Forest for days at a time to collect and clean up fertilizers, pesticides, rodenticide and possible herbicides that are left behind. They also dismantle irrigation systems, clean up food, clothing, shelters and take away other trash.
While providing their own equipment, Sargent, along with approximately 15-30 people, all volunteer for a three-day reclamation mission. US Forest Service, Department of Fish & Game, and other law enforcement agencies also help in the reclamation process, including various helicopter lifting services to help lift out materials.
Collaborating the manpower and time to clean up the sites is just one of the many things the crew does to prepare for the mission. The GPS coordinates which is given by law enforcement, aren't always the easiest to find, Sargent said. Some trails can be hard to find as well, which raises a level of danger.
“We don't believe that we are a threat to the cartels,” he said. “If I were stopped by the cartels and asked 'why are you doing this?' I would tell them I'm doing them a favor.”
Cleaning up the sites after an eradication occurs helps keep the animals away from the waste, he added.
Since water is already a concern throughout California, water is a main concern to the trail crew as well.
The amount of water illegally diverted to supply illicit marijuana growing operations in Fresno County alone could have provided water to a community of approximately 500 families for one year, he added.
“That is a lot of water,” he said. “That water is taken away from us, and we don't have any say about it, which makes the [water] problem worse.”
If the natural water flow doesn't run downstream, as it should, it could potentially hurt the growth of an endangered flower or plant.
Another problem they see in the grow sites is animal poaching including an endangered pelt of a ringtail cat, found in one particular grow site. The ring tail cat is a fully protected species, he added. Other animals included a skunk, mountain lions, a turtle and snakes that have been killed by those tending to the gardens.
Very heavy doses of fertilizers are found in every grow site, which allows the plants to grow and mature as quickly as possible. Since some of the fertilizer isn't taken up by the plant it usually ends up back in the water – which then contains phosphates, nitrogen and phosphorus, which need to be removed from the water to make it safe again.
One of the newest discoveries found within the grow sites is a water pit with unknown ingredients being mixed in and siphoned out to irrigate the garden.
On a recent trip, Sargent and his team found a water pit that could hold approximately 7,350 cubic feet of water or 54,978 gallons.
A number of rodenticides and deer or rabbit repellent is also found by the trail crew.
Pesticides that are not available in the United States contain known cancer-causing agents. One particular toxic substance found in the sites is known as Furadan, which is a Carbofuran and is the most toxic of the carbamate pesticides. It has the highest acute toxicity to humans of any insecticide widely used on field crops. A quarter teaspoon can be fatal.
Although the trail crew works through dangerous conditions like tough terrain, steep hills and even snow, they have been 100 percent successful in reclaiming every single grow site.
Last year they collected enough trash to fill two 40-foot long tractor trailers, irrigation tubing that would stretch from Fresno to Tulare and enough excess fertilizer to fertilize a 10,000 tree orchard.
“If the trail crew wasn't doing this then all of that material could go back into the water,” Sargent said.
SECOND FRONT PAGE
What's New
City officials are again eyeing the old Brown Lumber site. The city block has been up for sale for several months and in January the city backed off looking into purchasing the property that was once the site of Ft. Visalia. Now that prices have dropped slightly, the city is looking at it again and if purchased, would look at it as a possible site for housing and others uses, with maybe space left to recreate the fort.
Fred Scott is looking to build a 35,000 s.f. grocery store at Country Club Plaza on North Demaree. Scott said he does not have a tenant signed up yet, but hopes to land one soon.
Dennis Davis may have an uphill climb in getting approval for a 28-unit apartment complex at 843 Chinowth. Davis will need a general plan amendment and city planners said that might not be easy as the city is going through a complete overhaul of its general plan. Davis plans a gated complex of seven four-plexes, each two bedrooms.
Hobby Lobby signed its lease for the old Mervyn's building at Sequoia Mall and took out its building permits Friday. “This is great, great news for the city of Visalia and the owners of the Sequoia Mall,” said Ricardo Noguera, housing and economic development director for the city.
College of the Sequoias has been notified that it has been awarded a federal TRiO Student Support Services grant for $550,000 over five years. The funds will enable the college to serve 140 students each year with extensive student success interventions similar to the Puente Project (counseling, tutoring, mentoring, career and transfer services — in a cohort model that creates a positive and supportive environment).
WC Wood Industries, a green waste wood recycling facility in Visalia since the 1980s is now part of West Coast Sand and Gravel, sharing the same site near the intersection of Highways 99 and 198. Previously, West Coast Sand and Gravel was located a short distance south of the Wood Industries site. Wood Industries receives about 25,000 tons of green waste annually and turns it into nutrient rich compost used in organic farming and in soil blends produced at the facility. The company also sells bark, decorative rock and recycled base rock in small and large quantities.
Work has begun at the Whitendale and Mooney intersection. The three-month long project will improve that intersection and is the city's part of the Mooney widening that is all but complete except for the city's work. The bulk of the project is to widen Whitendale.
By Marina Gaytan
Visalia - An office on wheels is what the Visalia Police Department's Ford Crown Victoria police car is like.
Long gone are the days that police would purchase
a standard sedan and make minor modifications for police
work.
Today, the cars are specially made to include as many modern
tools available to officers out on the streets upholding
the law – including bullet proof doors.
“I love my car,” said Visalia Police Officer Leroy Hickey.
The Police Interceptor, which runs on E85 flex fuel, is equipped with many features including a Dell laptop computer that has wireless internet.
“I can Google any location when I need to,” Hickey said.
Most of the Interceptors are fully equipped with computers that have a Mobil Data Terminal which is a secured site that they can use to see all incoming calls. Not everything goes over the air, he added.
Some calls also go through the dispatch radio just in case the officers are away from the computer. Earpieces that can be worn by the officers allow information to be heard only by them. A Motorola radio worn on their belt carries the same frequency as dispatch which enables the officers to hear calls at all times.
Another feature that the Interceptor has is known as a Cool Cop, which is a vacuum-like hose that runs off of a vent through their air conditioner. Hickey said that wearing the bullet proof vest under his uniform can get very hot in the summer. The Cool Cop was invented so that the officers can stick the hose into their shirts and have an additional way to cool off. A Cool Cop is also used for their K-9's as well.
New this year for VPD, two ICOP digital cameras are installed right beside the rear-view mirror. One records everything that goes on in the front of the car while another records the back end of the car. A wireless microphone that can be attached to the officers clothing also records every conversation or noise that goes on during traffic stops as well as what goes on inside the vehicle.
A 3.8-inch screen that replaces the section where a normal vehicle's radio would go gives the officers a clear view of what the two cameras are recording. A red light indicates the ICOP is recording video and the green light records audio. Each ICOP system has a removable 40 GB hard drive that keeps a record of all data that goes on during an officer's shift. At the end of each week the officers are required to upload the information.
A 12-gauge Remington shotgun and a 223-caliber Colt rifle holder sits in between the seats on the front side of the Plexiglas that separates the officer from the backseat. The spit- proof Plexiglas is designed with a window that can be opened to the backseat if needed. The K-9 units have a bed-like back seat and a gate that can be opened for the dogs to go to the front. The back section is a molded one piece ABS plastic that safely seats two people and makes an easier cleaning situation he added.
“It helps keep it clean of drugs,” Hickey said.
Metal bars protect the back seat side windows from those who try to escape. It also makes it easier for the officers to talk to the suspects in custody while the windows are rolled down.
The trunk of the car holds extra equipment the officer may need for any type of situation. These items include a spare tire, a first aid kit, a safety vest, police tape, a finger print kit, a helmet, latex gloves, flares and a box of additional report forms.
The newer versions of the Crown Victoria's now have LED lights on the inside top of the trunk so when the trunk is open, visibility of the lights can still be seen. Over ten red, white, yellow and blue LED lights cover the car for extended visibility along with two large spotlights. A PA system is built into the front end of the car near the push bumper. Bullet proof doors with ballistic panels provide protection for the officers all around.
Talks of visibility for the officers inside the vehicle have been a concern.
“It's only dangerous if you make it dangerous,” he said. “Keep your eyes on the road,” he said is what he is reminded of daily.
New to the fleet are the new Dodge Chargers, said Police Specialist Randy George.
“I like the Dodge better, it's safer,” George said. The Chargers have a dual battery system and more visibility with its LED lighting he added. VPD recently received nine new Chargers. Two of the Chargers are for the K-9 units, six for patrol and one for gang patrol.
Eventually, all of the department's police cars will be something other than Fords. The manufacturer announced this year that it was no longer going to build the Crown Victoria. For the last couple of years, Ford had only built the Crown Victoria for police work.
The Crown Vic as police refer to it, has been a mainstay in police work for about a decade, but with more downsizing in the automobile industry, finding rear-wheel, V8-powered cars large enough for police work is getting more difficult.
Visalia - The second of four City of Visalia Town Hall meetings was basically a repeat of the first with the major concerns being the flood zone, gangs and streets.
Vice Mayor Amy Shuklian hosted the second forum last Thursday that was for residents in the northwest quadrant of the city. The first forum, hosted by Councilman Steve Nelsen, was held three months ago for residents in the northeast quadrant of the city.
Being on the northern end of the city, the concerns were very similar for residents be it those on the east or west side of the city. The newly enacted flood zone impacted mostly residents north of Highway 198.
It only took a few seconds to realize that the flood zone and required flood insurance that goes with that were the highest priorities with those in attendance.
“What is going on with these individual issues,” said Rosalie Greene, noting that every homeowner in the new flood zone has a different issue with the Federal Emergency Management Agency that drew the new maps that put about 8,900 new parcels in a flood zone, removed about 7,900 and left another 2,400 in a flood zone.
The new maps went into effect last June and
this June rates went up significantly, although residents
will get a break next June when they have to renew their
flood insurance again. The federal government requires property
owners in flood zones to purchase flood insurance. Cost
varies depending on the threat of flooding, with some homes
in a low-cost zone, others in the most costly and others
out of the flood zone all together – all in the same
neighborhood
Sharon Coffman said she was appalled that her neighbor's
insurance went to $1,200 this year and she misspoke when
she said her neighbor got another bill for $4,150. However,
a closer look at the bill showed it stated she needed an
addition $4,150 in coverage and her bill was only going
up another $21 – still a big increase for someone
on a fixed income, she said.
Shuklian explained that the city put up a lot of money to get Terminus Dam raised, thinking that would have removed more property from the flood zones. However, Chris Young with the city explained that between the time the dam was raised and the maps were drawn, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and that created a new emphasis on levees.
FEMA ruled that the levees along the St. John's River are not safe and placed more parcels in the flood plain.
Young did say, however, that had it not been for raising the spillway at the dam and other steps to mitigate flooding, more parcels would have been placed in a flood zone.
He told the approximately 70 people on hand that the city continues to look for solutions to move as many people out of the flood zone as possible and that a report will be given to the city council in October giving recommendations on some steps the city might pursue.
“Our goal is to get as many folks as possible out of the flood zone,” he said.
Gangs
As with the last forum, gangs drew a lot of discussion.
Jason Salazar with Visalia PD detailed the gang problem and some of the steps that are being taken to control them, but urged residents to get involved and assist police whenever possible.
He said the department has a gang hotline – 713-4737 – that is rarely used. He said people need to call, to let police know of suspicious behavior.
A key, he said, is parents.
“The biggest thing is for parents to be involved with their own kids and other kids. It's about relationships. They (gang kids) don't have a positive adult relationship in their lives,” he said.
Chuck White said people need to take back their neighborhoods. “We don't have these problems,” he said of his neighborhood where residents know and look out for each other.
By Marina Gaytan
Tulare County - Surrounded by a security fence and cameras, ABLE Industries, a non-profit organization that provides rehabilitative services to developmentally disabled adults in Tulare County, now offers services to digitize records.
The new Secure Document Service that uses
high tech software to put thousands of records on a single
disk, is the only secure document service that is offered
locally, said Ron Killingsworth, production and marketing
manager.
“It's a new concept for this particular area,”
he said.
While some companies are becoming mandated to be more green and going digital, Killingsworth added that digitizing records will help in these situations.
What sets the company apart from services in the southern area is that ABLE Industries charges per document rather than per image. An estimated cost of about $6,000 a year is saved through these services.
After meeting with clients to create a customized plan, the next step in digitizing the records is retrieving the records from a storage unit, which ABLE Industries takes part in. Prepping for the scanning process involves removing all staples, paper clips, tape, post it notes or any other attached items from the documents.
The machine the company uses scans items at 110 pages per minute for every two sided document, so the turnaround time is fairly quick, Killingsworth added. Since the scanning of the documents is done according to certain specifications provided by the client, it is ultimately up to the client how detailed the document will end up being.
The company can scan 10 filing cabinets full of documents, if not more, in a single week and fit it on a four inch DVD media disk, he said. The disk will either be saved in Portable Document File (PDF), which is commonly used in business applications, or TIFF format. Instead of searching for a document in a filing cabinet or storage unit, Killingsworth said, after using the service a document can be searched through a computer or on a server.
Israel Galindo, the digital scanning technician said now that the IRS recognizes a scanned original document as an original copy, it makes it easier to search for files.
“As long as you're scanning an original document, that reproduction is considered the original document,” said Killingsworth.
Although the files can be discarded after scanning, some clients will keep a secondary copy.
“It's like their security blanket,” Killingsworth said.
After the files are digitized on a disk, the files usually go back into storage; however, the company will either destroy the files by shredding them or even store it for the client in a storage facility.
Another service that the company offers is mail handling. ABLE Industries will pick up a company's mail, run it through a metal detector, scan it through an X-ray machine, put it through a down draft table and finally, scan it and e-mail it back to the company.
“Security is our highest priority,” Galindo said.
ABLE Industries can even store the documents on a secure server that client's will have access to since some businesses have a requirement for a secondary offsite storage facility.
“We have a lot of variances that we can customize to meet whatever it is you're looking to do,” he said.
Even after everything is unboxed and scanned, the company will restore everything back to its original condition, including, re-stapling and re-folding or attaching anything that was taken apart.
Killingsworth said, that those who are understanding the benefits of the secure document services are businesses like medical, law, financial institutions, manufacture facilities and school districts.
“It's a cost saving feature when you look at employee investment, ease of access, the security issues,” he said.
The above stories are the property of The Valley Voice Newspaper and may not be reprinted without explicit permission in writing from the publisher.
August 19, 2010
