At its Tuesday, Aug. 17 Regular Meeting, the Kern River Valley Public Cemetery District unanimously repealed the controversial Resolution #119, effectively dissolving the Citizen’s Advisory Committee and its Board set up to help coordinate with federal and state Agencies.

The motion was made by KVRPCD vice-president Lanny Borthick, seconded by Trustee O. J. Atchison who joined with KVRPDC president James Richards and Trustee Jenny Hanley to approve the motion unanimously. This action puts “Coordination” on hold. The Kern River Valley Public Cemetery District is waiting for an expected communication from the County Counsel on the Coordination Issue. The Kern County Grand Jury, seated this past July, is set to consider citizen complaints on the Cemetery District role in it as well.

Resolution #119 was adopted back on April 13, 2010 and was titled “A Resolution of Implementation of a Citizen’s Advisory Committee who by Resolution #118 invoked coordination status with all federal and state agencies.” Resolution #118 remains in place. Titled “A Resolution of Implementation of Coordination by the Kern River Valley Cemetery District,” it was adopted on March 9, 2010. Attending the Tuesday, August 17 KRVPCD Regular meeting were Valerie Cassity, Richard Rowe, Al Steuart, Chris Horgan and John-Henry Strathmann. Cassity, Steuart and Strathmann served on the now disbanded Citizen’s Advisory Committee, which was chaired by Chris Horgan. Most who spoke favored the concept of improving the Valley’s voice working with federal and state agencies, but regretted how the Citizen’s Advisory Committee was established, leading to conflicting public perception and distrust.

By leaving Resolution #118 in place, the Cemetery Board could continue to seek coordination in the future, pending word from the County Counsel and the outcome of the Grand Jury investigation.