By Sara Woerter

‘Improvement’ was a continuous theme throughout the Mountain Communities Municipal Advisory Council (MCMAC) meeting on August 17. The members, appointed by Supervisor Ray Watson, held a monthly meeting to discuss our Mountain Communities district. They reviewed several problems including streetscape/business area maintenance, Frazier Park pond maintenance and creation of a MCMAC bulletin board to provide information to the community.

The session began at 7:03 p.m. with seven residents in the audience. MCMAC members Rob Peterson, Stacey Havener, Steve Newman and Anne Weber welcomed newly appointed clerk Karen Shulman to the board. Fifth member Linda MacKay resigned last month, expressing disappointment in the group’s lack of support for an elected MAC selected by the community. There was no mention of accepting her resignation or how her replacement would be chosen by Watson.

Angel Cottrell, director of the Mountain Communities Small Business Development Center of Women’s Economic Ventures, invited the community and the MCMAC to the grand opening on Thursday, Aug. 19 at Cuddy Hall in Lake of the Woods at noon.

Stacey Havener reported that the wood of the downed oak trees from the Frazier Park Library site “is finally ready to go to Veterans for Trees.” The Oak Tree subcommittee is still considering how to use the wood within the new library. Havener also said Valley Crest Tree Company will not be hired as an arborist.

During the meeting, audience member Micheal Berg, of the National Forest Association–Los Padres, requested a committee focusing on recreational activities such as connecting trails around the Frazier Park and Hungry Valley area.

Rick Davis from the Kern County Board of Trade led a discussion on economic areas of concern within the community and gave an update on the visitors’ kiosk near the Flying J in Lebec.

Davis also advised the MAC to “give people reasons to come” to the mountain and reminded them about eco-friendly attractions (such as snow play) that could boost ecotourism.

Susie “Moxie” McMahon said the intersection of Monterey Trail and Mt. Pinos Way is a public safety concern. Physical stop signs are present, but the painted words and white crosswalk lines in the intersection have faded to nearly invisible. The MAC said they would submit the concern and handle the situation.

The session concluded at 9:50 p.m. MCMAC meets every third Tuesday of the month. The next meeting will be September 21 at 7 p.m. in the Frazier Mountain Park Community Center. The public is invited to attend.

This is part of the August 20, 2010 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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