Hanford May Seek Funds To Plan Station Despite County Position
July 2,2015 -“
The Kings County Board of Supervisors have been unanimous in their multi-year legal battle raging against high speed rail vowing to win a battle that to date, they appear to be losing.
Now the Kings County Grand Jury has dared to criticize the supervisor’s spending of public monies and their refusal to cooperate in any way with the state on the big project.The grand jury titled their report released last month on the county’s stance on high speed rail “ The Train Has Left The Station.”
In their report dated June 5,2015 they grand jury knocked the supervisors strong opposition to “ submission of grants for the benefit of the general public in order to not give any indication of support for High Speed Rail.”
That was the case in February when there was request for business assistance funds that could have helped some local firms relocate because the rail line was coming in. The Board of Supervisors nixed the idea saying accepting the money would send the wrong message.
Such is the case in the City of Hanford’s current proposal to submit for a station planning grant to the CHSRA being opposed by members of the BOS and other critics.
The Hanford City Council will hold a study session July 21 to consider whether to submit the planning grant that would bring in $600,000 in federal funds to do the planning for a station on the east side of town.
The Hanford Council appears divided over whether to go forward with idea with some pointing to the question of whether the rail authority is committed to a station here.
Also attending the meeting will be other agencies and cities that could chip in on a $200,000 local match required to receive the grant. Attending will be a representative of the Tulare County Association of Governments(TCAG). Also attending would be staff of the California High Speed Rail Authority. Critics of the project including the BOS and the farm bureau may also attend in what could be a stormy session.
Hanford City manger Darrel Pyle says the proposed study will also include a possible light rail plan to connect to the Hanford HS Rail station that would run between NAS Lemoore to Hanford and cities in Tulare County along the existing rail right-of-way.
Regarding the controversy Pyle reasons that “the world has changed” with the alignment coming through Hanford’s General Plan area. “The idea is to do the planning we need to do anyway and send them (CHSRA) the bill.”
At least some members of the Hanford council want no part of it siding with the county.”I don’t want want to spend one dime of local money” says council member Pannett.
The criticism of the role of the BOS by the Grand Jury is the first sign locally that opposition to their strong stance has some local support even as the project moves to buy more right-of-way in the county and construction work has started in Fresno County.In Kings County the rail authority already owns over 50 parcels. A contract to do the work has been let valued at $1.5 billion to $2 billion.
The report says ”Supervisors should not be blocking or denying beneficial funding sources for the county residents and businesses.”
Kings County chair of the Board of Superviors Doug Verboon said he was “disappointed in the grand jury’s report adding that”I don’t know where they have been.”He says as a supervisor it his role to”protect private propertry rights.” As for efforts by Hanford to secure funds for their station planning,Verboon said “I don’t agree with what the city manager is doing.”
Here is some of the text of the Grand Jury’s report on high speed rail and their request to have to the BOS respond within 60 days.
Finding 1
The Kings County Board of Supervisors did not hold general public study sessions in regards to litigation efforts towards the High Speed Rail Authority.
Recommendation 1
The Kings County Board of Supervisors should make every effort to include the general public in all controversial matters of importance including litigation and individual districts to assess the public opinion.
Finding 2
The Board of Supervisors denied the submission of grants for the benefit of the general public in order to not give any indication of support for High Speed Rail.
Recommendation 2
The denial of grants is preventing possible funding sources for those that could be displaced, regardless of the results of current litigation. The Board of Supervisors should not be blocking or denying beneficial funding sources for the county residents and businesses.
Finding 3
According to the Geographic Information System, it does not appear the county owns any affected land proposed to be used by the High Speed Rail Project, with the exception of roadways which would be crossed.
Recommendation 3
In this specific case, the Kings County Board of Supervisors should not have approved the spending of public funds in litigation involving privately owned lands.