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Wilson to take city helm Aug. 1
By REBECCA NEIPP, News Review Staff Writer
Budget preview reveals grim
decisions facing city council
decisions facing city council
By LAUREN LOEWEN,
News Review Staff Writer
News Review Staff Writer
Supervisor defends censure-drawing IT expenses
After a six-month recruitment process that drew a pool of 50 candidates, the
Ridgecrest City Council announced last week that Kurt O. Wilson will be the new
city manager.
“We believe that Mr. Wilson is going to do great things for our city,” Mayor Steven
Morgan told his listeners at the May 19 council meeting. “We are extremely
gratified that he accepted.”
Interim City Manager Harvey Rose, who came out or retirement to recruit the new
manager, negotiated a five-year contract with an initial salary of $158,000 per year
— well within the existing city manager pay range, said Rose. Wilson will start full
time Aug. 1.
Ridgecrest City Council announced last week that Kurt O. Wilson will be the new
city manager.
“We believe that Mr. Wilson is going to do great things for our city,” Mayor Steven
Morgan told his listeners at the May 19 council meeting. “We are extremely
gratified that he accepted.”
Interim City Manager Harvey Rose, who came out or retirement to recruit the new
manager, negotiated a five-year contract with an initial salary of $158,000 per year
— well within the existing city manager pay range, said Rose. Wilson will start full
time Aug. 1.
By REBECCA NEIPP, News Review Staff Writer
| Kurt O. Wilson |
Dirt bike lies on the desert after Samuel Richard Cano was
killed May 18 while riding on West Bowman Road, according
to Kern County Sheriff Office reports. The KCSO state that the
27-year-old was wearing a helmet, but lost control of his
motorcycle. John’s Pizza is collecting donations for the family
in order to help defray costs of the funeral. No other
information was available at press time.
Photo by Laura Austin
killed May 18 while riding on West Bowman Road, according
to Kern County Sheriff Office reports. The KCSO state that the
27-year-old was wearing a helmet, but lost control of his
motorcycle. John’s Pizza is collecting donations for the family
in order to help defray costs of the funeral. No other
information was available at press time.
Photo by Laura Austin
By REBECCA NEIPP, News Review Staff Writer
As the city of Ridgecrest goes into the coming fiscal
cycle with a $2.2-million funding shortage, Interim City
Manager Harvey Rose outlined for members of the
Ridgecrest City Council the its limited options —
which inevitably result in at least some cuts to staff
and reductions in service.
For five years the city has relied on one-time funds —
federal grants, land sales and other unrepeatable
funding sources — to balance the city’s approximately
$14-million budget.
Every city does this for a year or two in tough financial
times, said Rose. But you don’t expect to do it
indefinitely, and the practice is unsustainable in the
long term.
The city went into the year with a $1.5-million
shortfall that was exacerbated by the state’s recent
withholding of some $700,000 in transit funds.
cycle with a $2.2-million funding shortage, Interim City
Manager Harvey Rose outlined for members of the
Ridgecrest City Council the its limited options —
which inevitably result in at least some cuts to staff
and reductions in service.
For five years the city has relied on one-time funds —
federal grants, land sales and other unrepeatable
funding sources — to balance the city’s approximately
$14-million budget.
Every city does this for a year or two in tough financial
times, said Rose. But you don’t expect to do it
indefinitely, and the practice is unsustainable in the
long term.
The city went into the year with a $1.5-million
shortfall that was exacerbated by the state’s recent
withholding of some $700,000 in transit funds.
Grand jury investigates McQuiston
The Kern County Grand Jury released on Friday its comments,
findings and recommendations surrounding questionable
expenditures by Kern County 1st District Supervisor Jon McQuiston.
focused on expenses in excess of $10,000 relating to an e-mail
exchange service ordered by McQuiston.
findings and recommendations surrounding questionable
expenditures by Kern County 1st District Supervisor Jon McQuiston.
focused on expenses in excess of $10,000 relating to an e-mail
exchange service ordered by McQuiston.
High rating, queue jump fuel
modernization
modernization
By REBECCA NEIPP,
News Review Staff Writer
News Review Staff Writer
Being in a comparatively healthy fiscal position gave the Sierra
Sands Unified School District a boost in local modernization
projects, according to announcements made at last week’s meeting
of the SSUSD Board of Education.
Construction Management Consultant Bruce Auld reported
coinciding positive developments that have resulted in sooner-than-
anticipated starts for several projects to upgrade infrastructure at
district sites.
“Unbelievably, the state allocation board is going to depart from its
historical practice and allow jumping in line,” said Auld.
Sands Unified School District a boost in local modernization
projects, according to announcements made at last week’s meeting
of the SSUSD Board of Education.
Construction Management Consultant Bruce Auld reported
coinciding positive developments that have resulted in sooner-than-
anticipated starts for several projects to upgrade infrastructure at
district sites.
“Unbelievably, the state allocation board is going to depart from its
historical practice and allow jumping in line,” said Auld.
BHS drama invited to
international thespian fest
international thespian fest
lost, Tristan Kratz, Burroughs High School’s
drama teacher, received a phone call with
exciting news for her beloved students. The
school’s Drama Troupe 1683 had been hand-
selected to perform in Edinburgh, Scotland, in
2011 at the acclaimed Educational Theatre
Association’s International Thespian Festival.
“What this says to the kids is that it has been
determined by the people that run this festival
that they are not high-school performers,” said
Kratz. “These kids have the caliber to be on par
with the invitations that have been given to
professional groups from all around the world.”
“I am really excited!” said BHS Junior Andy
Konopak. “First of all, we’ll be performing for all
those people.
drama teacher, received a phone call with
exciting news for her beloved students. The
school’s Drama Troupe 1683 had been hand-
selected to perform in Edinburgh, Scotland, in
2011 at the acclaimed Educational Theatre
Association’s International Thespian Festival.
“What this says to the kids is that it has been
determined by the people that run this festival
that they are not high-school performers,” said
Kratz. “These kids have the caliber to be on par
with the invitations that have been given to
professional groups from all around the world.”
“I am really excited!” said BHS Junior Andy
Konopak. “First of all, we’ll be performing for all
those people.