| 9/3/10 |
|
Escape the Heat: Cooling Center Information and Current Status |
|
Senior citizens and others at risk from heat can find relief at new cooling centers across Kern County. Cooling center information will be updated daily. |
|
|
|
| 8/16/10 |
|
County salary information is available online
(PDF)
|
|
Reports of excessive City of Bell employee compensation have prompted increased requests for information about all public employee salaries. Please click on the link above to view a job-by-job listing of Kern County positions and salary ranges. (Salary information for all County positions has been available at the Kern County Personnel Department's Web site for over 5 years.) |
|
| 8/10/10 |
|
KMC Computers Restored Following Attack
(PDF)
|
|
Kern Medical Center computers have been restored to full operations after a malware attack required an intensive two-week effort by County information systems staff to remove harmful software, recover data, and install new security measures. |
|
| 6/8/10 |
|
Election Results - June 2010 Primary
|
|
|
|
| 5/13/10 |
|
Farmers Markets return in four locations
|
|
Remember the delicious farm fresh produce sold at last year's Farmers Markets? They're back! Every Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Public Health Services Department, 1800 Mt. Vernon Avenue, you can buy high quality, delicious fruits and vegetables picked daily by local farmers. Or try the weekly Tuesday markets in Central Park from 4 to 7 p.m., at Cecil Park in Delano from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, and starting May 25, at the corner of Norris Road and Chester Avenue in Oildale from 3 to 6 p.m. For more information, call (661) 868-0548. |
|
| 4/20/10 |
|
Oviatt receives permanent Planning Director post
(PDF)
|
|
Lorelei Oviatt has been appointed as Kern County Planning Director by Kern County Resource Management Agency Director Ted James. Oviatt has served as a Division Chief involved with special projects including the General Plan, CEQA, public lands management, renewable energy, endangered species, air quality, climate change, and military airspace sustainability planning. Oviatt will oversee land use planning as well as resource and energy development for California's third largest county. She will also lead Kern County's community development programs, which have been consolidated under the Planning Department. |
|
| 4/2/10 |
|
Ted James is named to head Resource Management Agency
(PDF)
|
|
The Board of Supervisors has appointed Ted James as Director of the Kern County Resource Management Agency. James headed the Planning Department for 19 years before being named Interim RMA Director in September 2009. The Resource Management Agency oversees policies and operations of the Community Development, Engineering and Survey Services, Planning, and Roads departments. |
|
| 1/21/10 |
|
Supervisor Watson Delivers State of the County Address
(video)
|
|
Fourth District Supervisor Raymond A. Watson, Chairman of the Kern County Board of Supervisors for 2010, delivered the twelfth annual State of the County address to a capacity crowd of community leaders from throughout Kern County on the evening of January 20. Supervisor Watson's remarks are available at the link shown above. To view a text-only version of the speech, click here. |
|
| 11/30/09 |
|
David Kuge appointed Chief Probation Officer
(PDF)
|
|
The Superior Court has named David Kuge as Chief Probation Officer for the County of Kern effective December 18. Kuge has more than 30 years of experience as a probation officer and administrator with the Kern County Probation Department. |
|
| 11/23/09 |
|
2009 Employee Award Winners
(video)
|
|
This program, currently in its second year, is designed to motivate, recognize, and reward exemplary performance that supports the overall organizational goals of the County. This year the Employee Recognition Award Committee processed 54 nominations and presented 7 individual and team awards. |
|
| 11/13/09 |
|
Art Titus appointed as Public Defender
(PDF)
|
|
The Board of Supervisors has named Art Titus as Kern County Public Defender. Titus will direct a staff of 57 attorneys who provide legal representation to defendants accused of criminal offenses. He joined the Public Defender's Office in 1981 and had served as acting Public Defender since August 2009 after being appointed Chief Assistant Public Defender in 2007. |
|
| 10/14/09 |
|
Matt Constantine named Public Health Director
(PDF)
|
|
The Board of Supervisors appointed Matt Constantine as Director of Public Health Services on October 13. Constantine had served as Interim Director of Public Health Services for two months prior to his permanent appointment by the Board. |
|
| 10/12/09 |
|
County receives federal stimulus funds
|
|
Federal stimulus funds for road and airport projects, energy efficiency, job training programs and other economic stimulus purposes have been awarded to the County of Kern under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Please click on the link above or on the "Recovery Grants" button at the bottom of this page to view programs and projects funded by the Act. |
|
| 8/5/09 |
|
New Library and Bookmobile Hours
(PDF)
|
|
The Kern County Library has announced new hours of opening effective August 1, 2009, for each branch library, bookmobiles, and the Beale Memorial Library in downtown Bakersfield. Please click on the link above to view the new schedule for all Kern County Library branches and bookmobiles. |
|
| 6/23/09 |
|
John Nilon named County Administrative Officer
(PDF)
|
|
The Board of Supervisors has appointed Public Health Director John Nilon as County Administrative Officer effective June 29, 2009. As CAO, Nilon will supervise a nearly $1.5 billion County budget and more than 9,000 full-time and part-time employees. |
|
| 5/14/09 |
|
Nick Dunn is appointed Kern County Fire Chief
(PDF)
|
|
On May 12, the Board of Supervisors appointed 28-year Fire Department veteran Nick Dunn as the new Kern County Fire Chief. Dunn commanded the Fire Department's Metropolitan Division, Training Division, and Logistics. In addition to helping to protect Kern County lives and property, he has participated in emergency responses to wildfires in the western U.S., Hurricane Katrina, and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. |
|
| 3/31/09 |
|
Dr. Claudia Jonah appointed as Public Health Officer
(PDF)
|
|
The Board of Supervisors has appointed Dr. Claudia Jonah as Public Health Officer. Dr. Jonah has served as Interim Public Health Officer since May 2007. |
|
| 3/31/09 |
|
Dr. James Waterman appointed as Mental Health Director
(PDF)
|
|
The Board of Supervisors has appointed Dr. James Waterman to lead the Kern County Mental Health Services Department. Dr. Waterman has served as Interim Director since April 2008. |
|
| 3/10/09 |
|
Board appoints U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa Goldner as County Counsel
(PDF)
|
|
U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Theresa Goldner has been appointed by Kern County Supervisors as County Counsel effective April 13. Goldner will replace Bernard Barmann, who is retiring from the County after serving as County Counsel since 1985. |
|
| 2/11/09 |
|
Kern County joins lawsuit against State Controller
(PDF)
|
|
The Kern County Board of Supervisors voted on February 10 to join San Diego, Sacramento, and Riverside counties in a lawsuit to force the State Controller and the State of California to pay funds that counties are owed for State-mandated programs such as welfare, foster care, and child protective services. |
|
| 1/13/09 |
|
Doug Landon named interim Waste Management Director
(PDF)
|
|
The Board of Supervisors has appointed veteran solid waste manager Doug Landon as interim Director of the Kern County Waste Management Department, effective February 7, 2009. Landon will replace Daphne Harley, who is retiring after nearly 35 years of County service. |
|
| 12/30/08 |
|
Housing Crisis 411 - Town Hall Meeting
(video)
|
|
On December 8, Supervisor Rubio convened a town hall meeting in the Board of Supervisors' chambers at which real estate and financial experts provided information and answered questions about the home mortgage crisis that has hit Kern County. View the video by clicking on the link above. |
|
| 12/29/08 |
|
Parks and Rec Dept. moves to temporary offices after December 26 fire
(PDF)
|
|
The Kern County Parks and Recreation Department reopened on December 29 in temporary offices at 2717 "O" St. after a fire caused by an electrical problem late on the evening of December 26 damaged much of the building on Golden State Avenue in Bakersfield. County employees worked through the holiday weekend to have the department operating on Monday morning. |
|
| 11/26/08 |
|
Gloria Dominguez is new County budget and finance chief
(PDF)
|
|
Gloria Dominguez has been promoted to the position of Kern County Budget and Finance Director. Ms. Dominguez will oversee the County’s $2 billion annual budget. She has 12 years of budgeting and administrative experience in the Superior Courts, the District Attorney’s Office, and the County Administrative Office as well as six years of experience at private accounting firms. Ms. Dominguez earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an accounting concentration at California State University, Bakersfield. |
|
| 11/18/08 |
|
Spay-neuter is now affordable for low-income pet owners
(PDF)
|
|
Kern County Animal Control staff are selling $20 vouchers to help low-income residents pay the cost of spaying or neutering their pets. Spaying and neutering is key to controlling Kern's pet population, and vouchers allow low-income persons to have their pets spayed and neutered at less than half the average cost. Each eligible pet owner can receive up to four $20 vouchers that can be redeemed at participating veterinarians. Call 868-7100 or log onto www.co.kern.ca.us/acd for more information. |
|
| 8/20/08 |
|
Guy Shaw will direct Animal Control Department
(PDF)
|
|
Guy Shaw, a 29-year health sciences and environmental health professional with the County, has been appointed as Director of the Kern County Animal Control Department effective September 1, 2008. |
|
| 8/12/08 |
|
Powering Your Home with Solar Energy
(video)
|
|
Video presentation sponsored by the Kern/Bakersfield Energy Watch. |
|
| 5/27/08 |
|
Kern County Department of Public Health West Nile Virus Hotline
|
|
Call 1-877-81VIRUS (818-4787) for more information about West Nile Virus; how to report dead birds, dead squirrels, and green pools as well as how to locate the mosquito abatement district in your area. |
|
| 4/23/08 |
|
Kern Veterans Registry helps ensure that all Kern veterans are recognized
|
|
The Kern County Veterans Services Department's online registry displays the names of past and current Kern County residents who have served in the U.S. armed forces. Please click on the link above to view and search the registry. If the veteran you are looking for is not already listed, you can use the above link to request to have them added to the registry. Once a given request is reviewed and approved, the veteran will appear on the online registry. New entries will also be periodically added to the Kern Veterans Memorial computer kiosk on Truxtun Avenue. |
|
| 4/8/08 |
|
Isabella Dam Failure: New study description and maps
|
|
In early 2008, the United States Army Corps of Engineers completed the initial preparation of an updated map which shows the areas around metropolitan Bakersfield which would likely be flooded in the unlikely case that the Dam should fail at Lake Isabella. As part of the maps provided to the County, they have also included maps which show the anticipated depth and velocity of water and the anticipated time when the flows could reach the Bakersfield area if a fail of the dam occurred. |
|
| 1/4/08 |
|
If There Is a Flood
(PDF)
|
|
Flood preparedness, protection, and evacuation information is available online from the Kern County Fire Department and Kern County Sheriff Department. |
|
| 1/4/08 |
|
Si Hay Una Inundacion
(PDF)
|
|
Preparándose antes de una inundación (información en Español) |
|
Sign Up for E-mail Updates