KRVR Update

Valerie Cassity
Special to the Sun

Kern River Valley Revitalization (KRVR) held their monthly Community Meeting last Wednesday, Feb. 3, to discuss local current events and topics.

Hospital is Struggling but Still Surviving

Chet Beedle, Chief Financial Officer of the Kern Valley Healthcare District (KVHD), gave a presentation in lieu of scheduled presenter and new CEO Tim McGlew, who was unable to attend. Beedle said that in the most recent assessment of the hospital it was found that utilization is down because people do not have the money for elective services, although Emergency is still running at a high capacity. Beedle explained that on average, 10% of the hospital’s patients would be uninsured self-pay patients, but that number has quadrupled to 40% during these hard economic times. In addition, the hospital provided $36 million in free services last year, with a $13 million revenue bond bad debt to which they must pay $1.5 million each year for 17 years to pay off.

Conversely, there is some great and exciting news for the hospital. Thus far, although hours have been reduced for some employees, there have been no layoffs of the 300 that work in the hospital, 60-80% which live in the Kern Valley. Also, Pulminologist Dr. Ahmed will once again begin making rounds at the hospital, and they hope to reopen the ICU. The Skilled Nursing Facility is doing well and they have once again begun to hire local nurses; and the employees of the hospital are taking to new CEO McGlew very well. In addition, the hospital has received an extension until 2030 to do the necessary seismic requirements upgrades, and the board hopes that new services offered will once again make the hospital profitable. New services include gynecological surgery and a greater emphasis on wound care, as well as a program for tele-psychiatry.

Forest Service to Modify Rules for Camping by the Kern River

Rick Larson, District Ranger for the Kern River Forest Service Ranger District, announced that the agency is currently working on an action plan for the Upper Kern River “Wild and Scenic” River, which will include actions for the long, mid, and short terms to address some ongoing problems that have been accelerating. The Forest Service currently has six developed camp sites and ten dispersed camp sites from Riverside Park in Kernville to the Johnsondale Bridge, but have found that many random private campsites have been popping up off the beaten path, which are causing serious adverse impacts. On a field trip to these sites in Sept. 2009, the Forest Service and public discovered human waste, overcrowding, cutting of riparian habitat, litter, graffiti, and more.

The action plan that is being developed will include more stringent rules against off-site camping, with education and enforcement large components to the strategy, as well as a possible set back from the current 25’ to 100’. Jeanette Rogers suggested a PSA at the Reel Cinema in Wofford Heights, and Supervisor Jon McQuiston advised Larson that they consider making the campsites reservation only, where reservations must be made online in advance and those reserving sites must read and electronically sign an educational document about stewardship of campsites. Supervisor McQuiston explained that this strategy worked well at a campsite in Bakersfield’s Hart Park, which had become overrun with criminal activity and very dangerous. Larson listened to the suggestions and promised to consider them in the planning process.

Update from Supervisor McQuiston

Supervisor Jon McQuiston gave an update on the issues he has been working on for the Kern Valley in the last few years, and apologized for not being able to be more present in this area; something he plans to remedy in the upcoming year. Supervisor McQuiston talked about the town hall meetings he held in Kernville last year, which resulted in the submission of a $600,000 walkable communities grant for the first phase of the project which will include traffic changes, a bike lane, and, of course, the new 25 MPH speed limit that was requested by local business owners. The next phase that McQuiston would like to fund is getting the County Road Yard moved from Kernville near the Rodeo Grounds to Southlake, which will require another $300,000.

The Lake Isabella Beautification project has completed its first two phases, and the next will be to extend the sidewalks to Bodfish Canyon Road. The following phase will include getting the sidewalks extended from Hwy. 155 to the County Complex, including a pedestrian bridge over the canal. The Supervisor also shared that he has funding through a bond to put an emergency ingress at Borel Canal by the schools, which will allow pedestrian access year round and vehicular access during an emergency.

McQuiston also announced that Kern County will be filing an appeal against the Forest Service’s Travel Management Plan regarding the limited lake access, and believes that some of the level analysis done to determine the new regulations had an error in the calculations.

Finally, the Supervisor suggested that the people of Kern County band together to put an issue on the ballot to increase the Transient Occupancy Tax, which is a tax put on tourists through lodging places to pay for the wear and tear on infrastructure and natural resources during their visit; there is no cost to the residents of Kern County. Currently Kern County’s TOT is 6%, the lowest in the state, and the extra money brought in through a tourism tax would help fund some of the projects desperately needed in our area.

Living Green Festival Coming Soon!

Richard Rowe reported that the Living Green in the KRV Festival is going to be even bigger and better this year thanks to the 40 volunteers on 18 committees that are helping to make the event a success. Rowe said that the film festival has an additional date before the festival of Mar. 7, and that the “Green Leprechaun” kickoff dinner on Wednesday, March 17, will be at the Oddfellows Hall and will house an exhibit of recycled art by both children and adults. If your child would like to enter the kids recycled art contest, or you would like more information about the Living Green Festival email Richard Rowe at eworinkrv@mchsi.com.

Heart Walk Coming Feb. 27

Jeanette Rogers announced that the Kern Valley Hospital Foundation will be holding their 12th annual Heart Walk on Saturday, Feb. 27, from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Kern Valley High School gym track. Teams will consist of four walkers and a manager from organizations, clubs, schools and businesses. Team entry fees are $50 per team or $10 per individual walkers; all proceeds go to the Kern Valley Hospital Foundation to purchase new equipment for the hospital, or teams have the option of donating 80% of their moneys raised to the charity of their choice. Rogers also requested that people do what they can to help the ECHO program, which helps at-risk teens get a head start on medical careers. The hospital hires 80% of the program’s graduates for CNA and EMT positions, and it is losing 50% of its funding in June. For more information, call Jeanette at (760) 376-4419.

KRVR meets the first Wednesday of every month, and the public is welcome and encouraged to attend. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, Mar. 3, at 9 a.m. at the Kernville Chamber Building. For more information, visit www.krvr.org.