Supervisor Long noted that Rep. Elton Gallegly has “been on top of this all along,” and in the past sent a letter urging the Corps to find the funding to complete the project, and “we added our voices to that.” The Board has requested $4 million to complete the creek work. “We’re continuing to work on this like a partnership,” and Supervisor Long vowed that the project will be completed.Good news centered on Santa Paula Hospital: “It’s doing very well and was strongly in our budget.... JAHCO visited unannounced,” and its performance review went “very, very well. They were impressed with our system and our commitment to a wonderful facility.”Also making a strong impression was the specialty care physician care and support, which JAHCO representatives commented were “exceptional, especially since the hospital just opened.” The county regional clinic system supports the hospital and offers “early on preventative care,” noted Supervisor Long.The $10 million Fillmore center has opened, a 26,000 square foot facility that offers health care and social services. “The center makes that level of care we provide in the river valley a much stronger safety net, and we have hopes to create another such center in Santa Paula,” said Supervisor Long.
County budget, local issues served up by Supervisor Kathy Long at June GMSP
July 11, 2007
Santa Paula News
Five pennies don’t fit into a nickel, but Supervisor Kathy Long said that, although the county budget is tight, work on a higher governmental level has delayed the Santa Paula Creek project.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesFive pennies don’t fit into a nickel, but Supervisor Kathy Long said that, although the county budget is tight, work on a higher governmental level has delayed the Santa Paula Creek project. Supervisor Long made her remarks at the June Good Morning Santa Paula, with Jim McCoy/McCoy Automotive hosting the Chamber-sponsored event held at The Grove.Although the $1.6 billion county budget “sounds like a huge amount of money,” every penny counts, although “We will continue to serve the community and keep our credibility in the community. We’ll continue fiscal discipline” while meeting obligations for ever-rising labor costs.Public safety remains a priority, with 55 percent of the budget devoted to the Sheriff’s, District Attorney’s and Public Defender’s offices, as well as support services such as Parole. The addition of a Gang Unit will benefit the city “if your Chief and his outstanding team says” they need the assistance, Supervisor Long noted.The cleanup of Santa Paula is “not bad news, but not as good news as I would like to give you,” as the lower portion of the creek remains the responsibility of the Army Corps of Engineers. The county Watershed Protection District has not accepted the lower section as “it must be in a maintained state, cleaned out and the fish ladder repaired,” none of which has been completed. Although the county offered to fund an environmental study that would allow the Corps to extend their construction permit, the project is no longer in the window of opportunity.
